Method for sequentially charging a plurality of rechargeable batteries (18, 18a... 18f), in which a charging distributor interacts with a charging device by means of an electrical connection, wherein the charging distributor has at least two connectors (10, 10a... 10f) for connecting rechargeable batteries (18, 18a... 18f) to the charging distributor and furthermore comprises a control unit (12, 24) and at least one switching apparatus (16, 17), wherein the switching apparatus (16, 17) is connected to the control unit (12, 24), wherein the at least one switching apparatus (16, 17) comprises at least one charging switch, which switches and/or can switch the charging current coming from the charging device to a battery (18, 18a... 18f), which is connected to the connectors (10, 10a... 10f) and which is to be charged, said method comprising the following steps: a) checking, in a start sequence, each connector (10, 10a... 10f) of the charging distributor to determine whether a battery (18, 18a... 18f) is connected to said connector (10, 10a... 10f), wherein the voltage at the connectors (10, 10a... 10f) is measured during checking, b) connecting the charging current through the charging distributor coming from the charging device to a battery (18, 18a... 18f), which is connected to a connector (10, 10a... 10f), by means of a charging switch, c) further switching the charging current through the charging distributor coming from the charging device by means of a further charging switch to a further battery (18, 18a... 18f), which is connected to a connector (10, 10a... 10f), d) checking the voltage at the connectors (10, 10a... 10f) and detecting the state in one or more batteries (18, 18a... 18f) with respect to discharge, wherein, in the case of complete discharge being identified during said voltage check of the connectors (10, 10a... 10f), said battery (18, 18a... 18f) is brought to a chargeable state by virtue of a pulse current being switched onto the completely discharged battery (18, 18a... 18f) during charging of an at least partly charged battery (18, 18a... 18f) and wherein, in the case of the battery (18, 18a... 18f) still being recognized as completely discharged during a further voltage check, said battery is excluded from further charging by the control unit (12, 24), wherein the charging distributor of said battery (18, 18a... 18f) does not connect a charging current by means of the charging switch. a) checking, in a start sequence, each connector (10, 10a... 10f) of the charging distributor to determine whether a battery (18, 18a... 18f) is connected to said connector (10, 10a... 10f), wherein the voltage at the connectors (10, 10a... 10f) is measured during checking, b) connecting the charging current through the charging distributor coming from the charging device to a battery (18, 18a... 18f), which is connected to a connector (10, 10a... 10f), by means of a charging switch, c) further switching the charging current through the charging distributor coming from the charging device by means of a further charging switch to a further battery (18, 18a... 18f), which is connected to a connector (10, 10a... 10f), d) checking the voltage at the connectors (10, 10a... 10f) and detecting the state in one or more batteries (18, 18a... 18f) with respect to discharge,