AA,AAA,C,D Budget Charger

[NotSoBrightBob]

I honestly have spent more than an hour this morning reading the stickies, FAQs and search results about chargers. There is alot of good information there but not finding what I need.

I want to charge AA,AAA,C and D and hopefully 123s if such a charger exists. I prefer the drop in cradles for the cells as opposed to the hobby style chargers with just test lead or alligator clip outputs. (Like MAHA C808M even though it doesn't do the 123s)

I like the seperate channels feature to charge different cells at the same time.

I know I want some conditioning of cells and not just a 15 minute timer cooker type charger as I plan to purchase quality cells.

I respect and admire the technical knowledge shared here in the forum but most is over my head as I don't need the very last .000001 volts out of a fresh charge. I'm more interested in reaching a good charge rate, conditioning the cell and no dangerous overcharging.

From my reading this morning I think for my budget of $50 I will have to stick to a NiCD / NiMH charger only. But would like the ability to do LiON as well if it's available.

I would appreciate any recommendations of makes and models. Or a point to the appropriate message in the froum.

Advance apologies if this is a repeating request but I really did use search and looked around alot this morning.

Thank you

Bob

 

[metlarules]

http://www.batteryjunction.com/v1ec-bc2hu.html

 

[NotSoBrightBob]

Homerun thanks metlarules

Bob

 

[rhymemaze]

The BC2-HU has a 14 hour timer which would not fully charge the high capacity D cells (11,000mah, 11,500mah etc.) completely @ a 700ma charge rate...no "set it and forget it" though it would get close before the charge termination.

I have been teetering on a NiMH charger for a while now...I want the MAHA 808m but am waiting for a sale on that charger or until I get tired of waiting for a sale.

The Accupower 20 charges everything at 700mA and I believe the timer is 35 hours so it would accommodate the large D cells: http://thomasdistributing.com/ap-accupower20.htm

The Titanium MD3000 is another viable choice for the NiMH AA/AAA/C/D cells (charge rates: AA/C/D is 1600mA +/- 200mA (depending upon exact input voltage; 100-130 and 200-240) AAA is 500mA +/- 50mA (as above) 9V is 80mA +/- 20mA (as above): http://www.batteryjunction.com/md-3000-charger.html

Those seem to be the nicest AA/AAA/C/D NiMH chargers out right now. I am sure I missed a couple but this is what I narrowed my choices to. The MD3000 has a 1 year warranty I think, whereas the Accupower20 or the MAHA 808m give you a 3 year warranty.

 

[TakeTheActive]

I honestly have spent more than an hour this morning reading the stickies, FAQs and search results about chargers. There is alot of good information there but not finding what I need...

You've GOT to be kidding me!

Just foolin' with ya!

My opinion on what to buy is based on:

1. What SIZE (and CAPACITY) will the MAJORITY of your cells be?
   .
2. What DEVICES will you be using these cells in (current draw)?
   .
3. How FREQUENTLY will you be needing to recharge them (by cell size)?

I'm highly into NUMBERS, so after going through at least SIX dumb and 'kinda' smart chargers over ~20 years, I bought the La Crosse BC-900 (AA/AAA only) in 2006 and the Maha MH-C9000 last month. For my Cs and Ds, I use (*used):

• GE Wallwart with adapters (dumb, NiCD)*
• GE 4-bay (dumb, NiCD)*
• Saft 4-bay (dumb, NiCD)*
• Rayovac PS3 4-bay ('kinda' smart, NiCD, NiMH, RAM)
• RadioShack 23-428 4-bay (smarter, NiCD, NiMH)

Click on my Sig Line LINK and read about 'Charge Rate', 'Storage', and 'Crystals'. Also read the 'Theory' stuff.

...I want to charge AA,AAA,C and D and hopefully 123s if such a charger exists...

I haven't seen one yet.

...I know I want some conditioning of cells and not just a 15 minute timer cooker type charger as I plan to purchase quality cells...

...I'm more interested in reaching a good charge rate, conditioning the cell and no dangerous overcharging.

From my reading this morning I think for my budget of $50 I will have to stick to a NiCD / NiMH charger only...

...I would appreciate any recommendations of makes and models. Or a point to the appropriate message in the froum...

IMO, the majority of the 'combo' AAA, AA, C, D chargers currently available charge at TOO LOW a current. You're looking for at least 0.5C. Since you're not going to find that for the Ds, do you want to compromise the AAAs and AAs?

If the Ds aren't going to be your MAIN usage, I'd say get the 'inexpensive' BC-1HU (multiple varieties available) for them and either the La Crosse BC-900 or the Maha MH-C9000 for the AAAs and AAs (and Cs and Ds if you're up to making adapters).

If the Ds (and Cs) are important to you, then either the established $$$ Maha MH-C808 or the newcomer Titanium MD3000 are more appropriate. (If you buy the MD3000, YOU can write the FIRST review! )

Grab your favorite beverage, read a few more hours, come back with the answers to 'what cells you plan to buy and how you intend to use them' (and any new questions) and we can proceed from there.

 

[mdocod]

I have a BCU charger and for the price it isn't bad, but If I had to make a recommendation it would be to avoid it if you are planning on owning a number of C and D size NIMH cells that actually have proper capacity. (5AH/10AH + etc)...

----

There are no consumer "combo" cradle chargers that will do li-ion and NIMH. Too much liability there. When you say you want to charge "123s" I hope you don't mean that you want to charge CR123s.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

I bought an Accumanager 20 over four years ago and it has performed very well. I do not charge 9V but I charge all of the other sizes with it in both NiCD and NiMH. It is somewhat slow but very gentle on the cells.

In the last year the MAHA C808M that I bought only three years ago died and I decided to not spend another $100 with a company that holds it's customers in as low regard as MAHA does. While the 808 has many advantages and is indeed a good charger, MAHA has always been very deceptive about it's feature set. Their 'users manual' for this 'professional charger' is one page that does not even give the buyer instructions for the kludgy workarounds that are necessary to make their alledged 'discharge cycle' work even half the time with NiCDs.

Sure, CPFers are in a good position to research this unit's foibles and bugs -- but after spending a hundred dollars in good faith for a product chosen because of the manufacturer's claims I do not feel that the customers should have to chase the truth down about it on their own dime. The 808 is good enough that I would have bought another one, warts and all, if MAHA could just learn to tell the truth about it and perhaps write some meaningful documentation. Until then I'll pay my money to someone who holds their customers in higher regard.

I bought a second Accumanager 20 and running two of them is working very well for me. Highly recommended. No surprises and no extra research after purchase just to make it work as advertized.

 

[Turak]

I too would say go for the Accumanager 20.

It does everything (i.e AA, AAA, C, D, and 9v) except the Lithiums and rather well too.

 

[NotSoBrightBob]

Thanks everyone, I'm narrowing it down now and hopefull soon make a good decision on a purchase

TakeTheActive I appreciate your offer to dive in deeper but I don't think I'm smart enough to answer your questions.

I'm a budding flashaholic so my main interest is getting more free play time with my lights and memorizing UIs. Hence the desire to charge RCR123s (sounds like a seperate charger now though)

So I would say primary would be the AA and AAA and my thoughts on the C and D stuff were two small children in the house that leave alot of toys on and they suck down batteries real fast that way.

I'm leaning towards three now:

Cheapie for C and Ds
Better one for AA and AAA
Last a better one for RCR123

Probably start with the AA AAA variety to play with.

I haven't bought cells yet as I was going to do that when I bought the charger. Second I have no idea what the current draws are. I have the standard variety torch collection Fenix, Nitecore, Surfire, etc.

Thanks again for everyone's help

Bob

 

[Bones]

...

Probably start with the AA AAA variety to play with.

...

A viable option may be a top quality charger and top quality cells with AA to C and AA to D adapters.

My choice would be the Powerex MH-C9000 charger/analyzer and the Costco Eneloop power pack:

http://wiredqube.com ... products_id=9

http://www.amazon.com ... product/B00198BF9W/

Incidentally, I hyperlinked WiredQube because their pricing is competitive and they are currently offering a 5% discount and a genuine Powerex carry bag to forum members who purchase this charger

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com ... post2253039

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com ... post2246314

Also, the best price for the Costco Eneloop power pack can, of course, be found at Costco.

The bundled charger, while not the best, can be used by somewhat younger humans. Cells charged with it though, should be conditioned occasionally with the MH-C9000.

 

[john2551]

The Titanium MD3000 is another viable choice for the NiMH AA/AAA/C/D cells (charge rates: AA/C/D is 1600mA +/- 200mA (depending upon exact input voltage; 100-130 and 200-240) AAA is 500mA +/- 50mA (as above) 9V is 80mA +/- 20mA (as above): http://www.batteryjunction.com/md-3000-charger.html

quote]

Where did you find those charge rates? I didn't see them posted.

 

[john2551]

When you think about it the Maha C808M & the MD-3000 is about the same price. The MD-3000 charges 4 cells at once & is ~$42 & the C808M charges 8 cells at once & is ~$85. So the only reason to buy the C808M is if you MUST charge 5-8 cells at one time. I rarely charge 8 cells at once even though i've had the C808M for about 4 years now. I'd have bought the MD-3000 if it was available 4 years ago. It even has the added advantage of charging two 9v cells at one time.

 

[rhymemaze]

The Titanium MD3000 is another viable choice for the NiMH AA/AAA/C/D cells (charge rates: AA/C/D is 1600mA +/- 200mA (depending upon exact input voltage; 100-130 and 200-240) AAA is 500mA +/- 50mA (as above) 9V is 80mA +/- 20mA (as above): http://www.batteryjunction.com/md-3000-charger.html

quote]

Where did you find those charge rates? I didn't see them posted.

Here ya go (post 3):
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=187985

 

[TakeTheActive]

...TakeTheActive I appreciate your offer to dive in deeper but I don't think I'm smart enough to answer your questions...

Oh, come on.

...So I would say primary would be the AA and AAA and my thoughts on the C and D stuff were two small children in the house that leave alot of toys on and they suck down batteries real fast that way...

That sounds like an application for AAs w/adapters - either CHEAP NiMHs or NiCDs - to take the abuse from the children. Since it's not an 'adult - must have device operating for xx hours/day' situation, personally I'd look at NiCD AAs w/adapters and not worry about the children deep discharging them daily.

...I'm a budding flashaholic so my main interest is getting more free play time with my lights and memorizing UIs. Hence the desire to charge RCR123s (sounds like a seperate charger now though)...

...Second I have no idea what the current draws are. I have the standard variety torch collection Fenix, Nitecore, Surfire, etc...

I only own incandescent BrightStars (2D) and MagLites (2AAA/2AA/5D) so I can't help out there but there are TONs of other users with 'modern' flashlight experience.

...I'm leaning towards three now:

Cheapie for C and Ds
Better one for AA and AAA
Last a better one for RCR123

Probably start with the AA AAA variety to play with.

I haven't bought cells yet as I was going to do that when I bought the charger...

1. SKIP the Cs and Ds for now and use AA adapters
   .
2. BUY a good 'Charger/Analyzer' like the BC-900 or MH-C9000 for AAAs and AAs.
   .
3. BUY some AAA and AA LSDs for yourself (like the Costco Eneloop package with adapters) and some AA NiCDs for the children's toys.

 

[rhymemaze]

That sounds like an application for AAs w/adapters - either CHEAP NiMHs or NiCDs - to take the abuse from the children. Since it's not an 'adult - must have device operating for xx hours/day' situation, personally I'd look at NiCD AAs w/adapters and not worry about the children deep discharging them daily.

...

3. BUY some AAA and AA LSDs for yourself (like the Costco Eneloop package with adapters) and some AA NiCDs for the children's toys.

TakeTheActive, looks like I am following you around this morning
I am in the same boat as NotSoBrightBob where I need to get 24 AAA batteries for the kids' Geotrax trains and planes. I also need 12-16AA for toys and other uses. I planned on going with the Eneloops. So you think that NiCD (or cheap NiMH) would be better suited for the toys? Are the Eneloops overkill for toys? What brand NiCD or NiMH cells do you suggest if not the Eneloop for the toy apps?

 

[TakeTheActive]

Replies added below in bold:

...I am in the same boat as NotSoBrightBob where I need to get 24 AAA batteries for the kids' Geotrax trains and planes. I also need 12-16AA for toys and other uses. I planned on going with the Eneloops.

• So you think that NiCD (or cheap NiMH) would be better suited for the toys?
  Yes. I think NiCDs would be best for this application. CHEAP NiMHs would only lessen the pain and financial impact from their early demise. :mecry:
  .
• Are the Eneloops overkill for toys?
  Yes. No NiMH likes being deep discharged and with a toy that 'just stops running', the child leaves it for another 'still working' toy and it sits 'ON' overnight (or DAYS!) is going to do just that. WHEN you eventually discover it, you'll be sad...
  .
• What brand NiCD or NiMH cells do you suggest if not the Eneloop for the toy apps?
  I'd suggest going with a major brand like Sanyo, although I recently read here on CPF that they've discontinued their NiCD/Cadnica line and you'll have to get what you can from their distributor's remaining inventories. I'm sure others with hands on experience also have brand names to recommend.