Charge! (What's New? Small Appliances, Tools, And Gadgets).

• Position: Mach 1 Speed Charger, battery charger - Brief Article - Evaluation

* The growing popularity of camcorders and digital cameras has brought along with it an aggravating source of annoyance--the batteries either run low or die altogether at the most inconvenient moments. The high cost and relatively short life of lithium-ion types call for a better solution than loading your camera bag with spares. Lenmar Enterprises, Inc., Westlake Village, Calif., has that solution with the Mach 1 Speed Charger, which assures that you set out with fully charged batteries each day.

This ingenious, compact devise simply plugs into a standard electrical socket and recharges the batteries in less than a half-hour, three times faster than most other rechargers. The key is the delivery of a rapid charge while continuously measuring and optimizing the acceptance level of the battery, according to the manufacturer. The battery can be charged back up to full capacity, even if it has not completely run down, without overcharging or overheating, extending the battery life up to five times.

The Mach 1 works at home or in the car, with AC and...