Cheapest independent 4-channel smart AA charger?

[Eruditass]

What is it?

The Sony BC-CS2A can be found all over ebay and I was about to get it until I realized it only had 2 slots!

I can't find the Panasonic BQ-390 cheap anywhere although it used to sell here locally.

A lot of duracell chargers are independent but I can't find them either

[NigelBond]

probably SKU 6152 from dealextreme. 4 independent channels with a discharge feature. I've been using it and like it. There are others that are probably going to tell you not to buy it because of where it comes from.

[R@ndom]

I got a Duracell 4 channel smart charger for 18 dollars because someone stole the adaptor. 3 dollars on DX fixed that.

[Marduke]

There are lots of Duracell Mobile chargers on eBay.

[TakeTheActive]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

What is it?

1. Duracell CEF23
   .
2. Sanyo MQN05

Asked and answered on CPF just recently. Do a SEARCH.

Originally Posted by Eruditass

...it used to sell here locally...

Where is 'here'?

There's a STICKY with LOTs of good info at the top of the page.

[Turbo DV8]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

The Sony BC-CS2A can be found all over ebay and I was about to get it until I realized it only had 2 slots!

Ummm ... buy two? They must be dirt cheap, since Sony bundles them with just about every AA camera. I have two that came with my cameras. Two Maha C808's, three BC-900's, one BC-700, four Sanyo MQNO5's, five Duracell Mobile Charger's later, I thought I had no use for them. Until one night I was using my ROV Sportsman 1AA headlamp reading in bed, and it just flickered out as the cell died (as it is wont to). I popped the spare in, but thought what a pain to have to transport the cell to the laundry room every two hours to recharge, so I dug out a Sony BC-CS2A and put it under my bed. Problem solved.

[mfm]

Originally Posted by Turbo DV8

Ummm ... buy two?

Or just buy a Sanyo MQH02 for the price of two Sonys? which supports world voltage, doesn't hang in the power socket, charges faster (at 1C) and doesn't trickle charge.

[qwertyydude]

That sanyo doesn't have independent channels.

[Eruditass]

Originally Posted by TakeTheActive

1. Duracell CEF23
   .
2. Sanyo MQN05

Asked and answered on CPF just recently. Do a SEARCH.


Where is 'here'?

There's a STICKY with LOTs of good info at the top of the page.

Thanks, after I posted it I find some good stuff here - in the past month or so I hadn't really found a place that compared a number of them.

Here is B&M stores like target, best buy, walmart.

I stole the MQN05 for $13 and am quite happy - I was turned off of it for a long time for its <0.5c charge current, but then found a dissection of it and its clever 1.2A duty cycle and was sold.

Before I had been eying one of the few chargers with "peak detection" or I take it, 0dv cutoff.

The only thing the mqn05 doesn't have is refresh/recondition - is there any difference between that button and hooking it up to a flashlight for a couple days besides reading the mAh of the discharge?

Lastly, for the MQN05, do you guys take the cover off when charging? Also, I am considering using an extension cord to mount it horizontally, parallel to the floor for maximum heat dissipation.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

...

The only thing the mqn05 doesn't have is refresh/recondition - is there any difference between that button and hooking it up to a flashlight for a couple days besides reading the mAh of the discharge?
...

There's no real difference between a button and a flashlight Eruditass. However, there's a significant risk of discharging your cells below 1.0 volts with a flashlight. While this may actually be beneficial insofar as conditioning the cell is concerned, it's important to re-charge the cells as soon as possible following the discharge. Leaving them in an over-discharged state for an extended period of time can cause permanent damage.

Originally Posted by Eruditass

...

Lastly, for the MQN05, do you guys take the cover off when charging? Also, I am considering using an extension cord to mount it horizontally, parallel to the floor for maximum heat dissipation.

Firstly, you'll find your cells stay remarkable cool in the MQN05.

Regardless, you want to leave the cover on and use the charger as designed in a upright position in a wall-outlet.

Mr Happy explains why in this thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post3070129
-

[mfm]

Originally Posted by qwertyydude

That sanyo doesn't have independent channels.

The Sanyo MQH02 certainly does have independent channels, and the above mentioned one seems to have that too, so I have no idea which one you are talking about.

[Eruditass]

Originally Posted by Bones

There's no real difference between a button and a flashlight Eruditass. However, there's a significant risk of discharging your cells below 1.0 volts with a flashlight. While this may actually be beneficial insofar as conditioning the cell is concerned, it's important to re-charge the cells as soon as possible following the discharge. Leaving them in an over-discharged state for an extended period of time can cause permanent damage.

Awesome, thanks for the information. My battery seems to leave it just above 1.0 volts, but I do want to recondition some old cells, maybe I can find another flashlight. I assume going down to just above 1.0 volts will still recondition to some extent.

Also, how important is the discharge rate? I am not sure of the current draw.

Firstly, you'll find your cells stay remarkable cool in the MQN05.

Regardless, you want to leave the cover on and use the charger as designed in a upright position in a wall-outlet.

Mr Happy explains why in this thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post3070129
-

I don't see the answer in there, I see why to not place it upside down which increases the heat delivered to the temperature sensor causing premature shutdown, but this is delivering heat away from the sensor, ensuring that the delta voltage detection is used to cutoff the voltage. I can only see the temperature cutoff as being a last resort, because I don't think it would be reliable due to room temperature differences from say summer to winter. So in summer, it could cutoff earlier than winter. I suppose the unmentioned reason would be to ensure that it cuts off an overcharged or bad high-resistance battery as soon as possible.

However, if anything, it seems encouraged:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...9&postcount=13

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

...
My battery seems to leave it just above 1.0 volts, but I do want to recondition some old cells, maybe I can find another flashlight. I assume going down to just above 1.0 volts will still recondition to some extent.

Also, how important is the discharge rate? I am not sure of the current draw.
...

The standard forming charge actually calls for a timer controlled 0.1C charge for 16 hours, then a one hour rest period, and then a 0.2C discharge to 1.0 volts. Obviously the cell has to then be re-charged to make it usable. The Powerex MH-C9000 accomplishes this with another timer controlled 16 hour charge at 0.1C.

There have been credible conversations inferring that slower, deeper discharges may be even more the beneficial than the standard, but I haven't noted a consensus on how slow or how deep. However, there does seem to be a considerable amount of leeway as long as the cell is not left in an over-discharged state for an extended period of time. As mentioned previously, this can apparently lead to irreversible damage.

Originally Posted by Eruditass

...
I don't see the answer in there, I see why to not place it upside down which increases the heat delivered to the temperature sensor causing premature shutdown, but this is delivering heat away from the sensor, ensuring that the delta voltage detection is used to cutoff the voltage. I can only see the temperature cutoff as being a last resort, because I don't think it would be reliable due to room temperature differences from say summer to winter. So in summer, it could cutoff earlier than winter. I suppose the unmentioned reason would be to ensure that it cuts off an overcharged or bad high-resistance battery as soon as possible.
...

Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing whether the MQN05 actually utilizes its sensors for other than simply determining a high temperature cut-off point. However, its ability to reliably terminate its charge at rates that elude more expensive chargers does indicate its utilizing something more sophisticated than basic negative deltaV.

Fortunately, it's a mute issue because there has never been a report of this charger over-heating cells notwithstanding its cover. In turn, this makes it difficult to rationalize removing the cover and potentially compromising its ability to operate fully within its designed parameters.

Still, if you choose to experiment with operating the charger in a horizontal position without its cover, it would be interesting to hear whether or not you find it beneficial.

[PeAK]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

What is the Cheapest independent 4-channel smart AA charger??

The idea of a smartcharger is that it will charge the batter appropriately...meaning that a partially discharged battery will finish charging quickly based upon sensing the "fullness" somehow. My experience is that you must also pick a battery that "works" with the "smart" aspect of the charger in a co-operative manner. My experience is that the Sanyo eneloops (not the cheapest battery) might be a good match for the cheapest charger. Ideally you would construct a "sanity test" to make sure that they work well/properly together. The best way to do this is to:

1. Discharge a fully charged battery by a known fixed amount. Say 50% of the charge rate for 5 minutes.
2. Check to see if the charger finishes charging within
   10 minutes at charge rate.

Beyond the 3 minute point, the battery should be charged by the typical negative delta-V point take longer to get to. It is doubtful that the battery will reach a overtempture condition within 10 minutes, so the 10 minute window will probably be due to the negative delta-V termination kicking in.

...my two cents,
PeAK

[pobox1475]