i don't have any experience with the field charger. i use a kokam handy 2 smart charger that i picked up in korea and i love it. charges everything including 1-4 lipos.

if you're asking if you can use a 12V dry cell you can. however, understand that if you do, you also have to get a charger for that and always remember to charge it before the day.

for home use, see if you can find an old laptop adapter that your father doesn't want and see if the voltage is 12V, many of them are. if that's the case, you can use that adapter to power your charger when you are at home.