Just bought the new Kameleon URC 9962 and I see why many people have complained that the batteries die. The remote is very sensitive, it turns on when I walk by.

I'm guessing the batteries won't last long, so I thought I would use rechargeable.

Yes, you can use rechargables in a remote. However, you should never mix batteries of different chemistries or rechargeables of different capacity in the same device.

On the OFA website under FAQ it states:

"No LED on remote?
Replace batteries with (4) new AAA alkaline batteries. We do not recommend the use of 'rechargeable' batteries in the remotes."

Why do they not recommend rechargeables?

Rechargeable Nicad batteries have lower voltage than ordinary batteries and self discharge quickly and have low capacity. Does a Kameleon have a low battery indicator? If it does, Nicad batteries may indicate low even when they're not. If you don't use your remote much they're a bad idea because you would be recharging more for the self discharge than for actual use. If you use your remote a super large amount they're a bad idea because of low capacity. Somewhere in between they might make sense, but remember to take them out if the remote will ever be unused for a few weeks.

Rechargeable alkaline batteries are only sold in a few stores (Walmart is one) and need a special charger. They're more expensive than Nicad, but I think they're best for any high battery draw remote.

The newer rechargeable (I forget the initials NIMH or something like that) are even more expensive than Rechargeable alkaline. If you forget that price difference they're better than Rechargeable alkaline for a high battery draw remote.

I suspect OFA's reccomendation against rechargeable is entirely based on the issues with Nicad rechargeable batteries.

I was thinking of going with NIMH batteries, but before I do, is anyone using them with the Kameleon with success?

The manual says to use alkaline only. They might be saying that just because Nicad isn't the best but I would hate to buy a charger and batteries only to find out it won't work well with my remote.

Thanks!
Limech

Got this off a Rayovac FAQ
Can NiMH batteries be used in any device that takes alkaline batteries?
A: Yes, you can use the comparable NiMH battery size in any device that uses alkaline batteries. For example, if you typically use AA alkaline batteries, you can use AA NiMH also. However, NiMH batteries perform best in high-drain devices that use a great deal of battery power. These would include items like digital cameras, handheld TVs, two-way radios and personal organizers. For low-drain devices, such as pagers, handheld calculators, remote controls and flashlights, Rayovac Rechargeable Alkaline is the best choice.

However, isn't it fair to say that the Kameleon is a bit different? I.e. when I'm channel surfing with it, the light stays on and I would perceive this as a high drain compared to a normal remote that would only send small bursts of signals to the tv only when the button is pressed? (Hum, unless the keys are backlit).

So, should I go with alkaline then? :(
Confused...

In a heavily used, moderate to high draw remote control, either rechargeable alkaline or NiMH will have a long term cost advantage over disposable alkaline, and either will operate the remote just as well as disposable alkaline would.

The only advantage of rechargeable alkaline over NiMH is cost.

The rechargeable alkaline would need to be recharged slightly more often than disposable alkalines need to be replaced. After a few years of such use the rechargeable alkaline probably will stop taking a decent charge and need to be replaced.

The NiMH would need to be recharged less often than disposable alkaline need to be replaced and the NiMH batteries will still be taking a good charge when the remote is obsolete and needs to be replaced. Despite those advantages, if you did a business style "present value" computation you would find that the rechargeable alkalines have the lowest effective cost (which I assume is what Rayovac is telling you in their FAQ).

The "Renewal" rechargable alkaline batteries are junk. I use NiMH batteries in all my remotes without problems. Now if someone were to make Li-ion rechargable AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D, N and 9V batteries, they would mast likely be a step above NiMH batteries.

Slightly OT, why aren't there A or B batteries?

We've been using rechargeable NiMH AAA batteries for the Kameleon remote for about five months now without any problem. We got them at Walmart, with the charger; I think they're 800mA capacity. We have to replace them about once a month. I recommend using these NiMH rechargeables.

I have two 9960s and yes rechargable batteries are a definite plus unless you want to buy a large stock of batteries! :) I also try to leave the remote laying on the couch.. it helps buffer the vibrations and cuts down on the false ons.
I have been using NIMH with great success. They are a bit more pricey that the others, but they seem to last about twice as long as the NiCad versions.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences.
I'm sold. I'll be looking for a charger and AAA NIMH rayovac 15-min batteries next time I'm at Walmart or Radio Shack.

Another very good location to purchase NiMH batteries is thomasdistributing.com. I strongly advise purchasing one of the "smart" chargers. They charge in 2-3 hours instead of up to 14 hours, and have processors that charge based on the current battery requirement instead of a preset timer. I bought a cheap charger originally, but I gave it to my daughter when I bought a Maha C204f. Now, we both use the Maha!

I also have been using NIMH for a few months with no problems.

IMHO, the RadioShack rechargeables are over-priced under-performers!

When buying NiMH's, try to get the highest mAH rating you can find. I also recommend investing in a good smart charger; the batteries will last longer and usually perform better.

I've had very good luck with everything I've bought from Thomas Distributing... AAA's, AA's, even some C's. Maha and Quest are the brands I typically buy.