Recharging S50 in the US.

[Prakash]

I live in the UK and i'm visiting the US for a camping type holiday soon. Access to a powerpoint won't be so easy and I don't want to leave a battery charger unattended in a washroom. Do I need to buy some kind of transformer thingy (240v in UK and 110v in US). Would it be easier/cheaper to buy some kind of charger in the US - maybe through duty free? We will be travelling in a mini bus of some kind, which may have a cigarette lighter, which I might be able to use, but I don't have the power lead to plug into it. Any suggestions? (I also have a Panasonic video camera with a different kind of battery which I will also need to recharge).

[pblevitt]

Use the two pin to figure of eight lead supplied, and use an electric shaver adapter (a couple of dollars) plugged into a wall socket - or - the normal three pin and a US adapter.
The charger works as well in both countries. Been a couple of times.

Paul

[piper]

I suggest you get this:
http://store.yahoo.com/sterlingtek/dcbatchar.html

This is actually two chargers - an AC to plug into the wall with a special cord that lets you charge off a car battery through the cigarette lighter. I got this unit (and an extra battery) from SterlingTek in May right after I bought my camera. I've been on several camping trips and the unit actually charges the battery faster off the car battery than when plugged into the wall! It is a great product.

SterlingTek provided great service and I highly recommend them and their battery/accessory products.

[maxd]

Piper,
the charger you are talking about is advertised as for NB1L battery. Does it fit also with the NB2L battery type used for the S50?

[piper]

Good question. I sent an e-mail to Sterlingtek and here's what I got back:

__________________________________________
The battery charger you ordered only comes with the
NB-2L plate however we do carry the plate for the
NB-1L battery its $5.00.
__________________________________________

It is a bit confusing.

What is a little hard to see in the product photo is the fact that the main charger body is made up of two pieces. The part where you slide in the battery is detachable so the same base can be used for different types of batteries by changing the detachable socket part.

I'm quite sure if you ordered the charger off this page:
http://www.sterlingtek.com/cannbacbatch.html and clearly told them you wanted the NB2L adapter you would get it. They do have a toll-free order number, but I don't know if that will do you any good from Italy - 1-877-742-1700