Rechargeable battery conundrums

[ghostlymoron]

My handheld VHF takes 5 AAA batteries, rechargeable or ordinary. I was going to demonstrate to my chum how long the batteries held their charge yesterday when I found they were completely dead - I'd left the radio switched on! I dug out my little battery charger, not much used recently as I rarely bother with rechargeables nowadays as I can buy AA and AAA disposables from CPC Farnell for 10p each.
Now, my charger will only do multiples of 2 (up to 4) so how do I charge 5? Also how long do I charge them for? I had thought that I could charge 4 for 80% of the recharge time and then substitute the fifth for each in turn but, on reflection, that won't work so I decided to tap in to the combined wisdom of PBO.

 

[nigelmercier]

Bin the lot, replace with two lithium rechargeable cells and a charger.

 

[yoda]

Buy 5 more, then you have 2 sets of 5 and can charge as pairs.

Yoda

 

[Ruffles]

I have a bag or around 40 NiMh AA and AAA cells in a kitchen draw. I gave up recharging batteries years ago. I found you had to charge them as a set or they would be unreliable.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Bin the lot, replace with two lithium rechargeable cells and a charger.

How would those fit into the battery compartment?

 

[nigelmercier]

How would those fit into the battery compartment?

It would need some work, but well worth it.