Anyone tried this AA/AAA charger from DX?

[johnny13oi]

Hey guys, I am really in search of the cheapest charger out there with a negative delta V cutoff and independent channels. I found this one from DX
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2055
And have searched for hours and a few days and have maybe found some specs on the unit. The link below is what I believe the unit is as it matches the picture and everything.
http://www.heterpower.com/english/Chargers11.htm

Does anyone have this charger with any suggestions?

Does this sound like a good charger for the average person as I want something more than just a timed charger. Thanks guys

 

[johnny13oi]

Anyone guys? I think I'm about to buy one and take it for the team. But if there are others out there that already have, please pass on the info. Thanks. The only thing that bothers me is the 1.2V output .. shouldn't it be higher than that?

 

[FlashCrazy]

This charger only shows 2 LEDs on the front, so I wouldn't think it was an independent channel charger. However, it does look like it's the one on the Heter battery site, and it says it is an independent channel charger. If so, that's a great price. I wouldn't be concerned about the 1.2V ouput spec. Many NiMh chargers state this, even though they charge the batteries to 1.45V or so. They probably just don't want to confuse the public, since the batteries are rated at 1.2V nominal.

 

[johnny13oi]

Thanks for the info, it's because the flashlights I use don't work when the charge is below around 1.25V or so and if the charger only charges the batteries to 1.2V then it would be completely worthless to me.

 

[balazer]

I too was looking for a cheap & good charger, and found this selling for $12 on eBay. It has 4 charge status indicators.

 

[balazer]

Johnny,

This looks like a good charger to me. The "delta" control is key. Whether that's delta V or delta temperature, I don't know, but either way it indicates some kind of advanced end-of-charge detection. 'Charges 1-4 pieces' indicates that the charger has independent channels.

What's got me confused is the two switches on the charger. It looks like the left switch says "high" and something, and the right switch says "charge" and "disc", and there's a 3rd LED indicator in the middle that says "disc". Kyle should be able to tell us everything.

 

[johnny13oi]

I have emailed them and they don't seem to know much about the charger. (DX) that is.

 

[balazer]

I found a better picture and now I can read a little more. The left switch is high/normal, and the right switch says charge/disc. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this charger has selectable charge rate, and a discharge function.

 

[balazer]

But the fact that the charge rate is selectable suggests to me that this is not a very smart charger at all: it's probably a cop-out to make it work with AA and AAA cells. And the fact that there are only two charging indicators, and bays labeled "A A B B" suggests that it has only two charging channels, despite the manufacturer's description!

I take it back. I think this charger is no good.

 

[johnny13oi]

Do you think it would have delta V cutoff and I dont really mind all of that as long as it has a delta v cutoff and the ability to charge a single battery.

 

[VidPro]

and the right switch says "charge" and "disc", and there's a 3rd LED indicator in the middle that says "disc". Kyle should be able to tell us everything.

as in DISCharge

 

[balazer]

Do you think it would have delta V cutoff and I dont really mind all of that as long as it has a delta v cutoff and the ability to charge a single battery.

No idea. I think the manufacturer copied the description from the wrong charger, so I wouldn't trust anything it says.

 

[IdiotsAbound]

How about this one? I am thinking of driving over and picking up one of these from my local store. Granted, it doesn't have single channel charging, but it seems to be one of the "Smart" chargers with the delta V cutoff and the price is right for a charger for both home and car use.

http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=BA0005

 

[johnny13oi]

Theres other ones on ebay for around 12 bucks shipped that can charge 1-4 cells and it claims to have delta V cutoff
http://cgi.ebay.com/Smart-AA-AAA-9V...103868047QQcategoryZ48618QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[SilverFox]

Are you remembering how -dV works?

According to the battery manufacturers, you need to be charging at 0.5C - 1.0C to insure a strong -dV signal for termination. These chargers that you are looking at seem to be charging at around 800 mA. That means that you can expect a strong -dV signal when charging cells that have a capacity of 800 mAh - 1600 mAh.

Sometimes you can stretch it to a 0.3C charge rate, so that would bring you up to 2400 mAh cells.

Now, if they have something other than -dV to terminate the charge, you may be OK. Quite often these chargers have a timer that stops the charge in the event that the -dV signal is missed.

If you are planning to charge Eneloop cells, these will probably work fine. However, if you have some 2700 mAh cells to charge, you may have some problems with them.

I think instead of looking for the cheapest price, you should be looking for the best value...

Tom

 

[johnny13oi]

Sorry I didn't know or must have forgot that it only works best at around .5 - 1C charge rate. I was planning on using this for only my hybrids but what would be the best value around? I currently use the hybrid charger that came with it and it seems to set those batteries on fire. (not literally but really hot)

 

[ken2400]

Well I can't blame you for wanting to save $$$ BUT take a look at the BC-900 from LaCrosse. It is around $40 from
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00077AA5Q/?tag=cpf0b6-20

Mine came with like at least two set of batteries and it does a lot. Test, recondition, tells you how good the batteries are that you have and has a good track record.

IMHO I think the total cost of ownership would be the same or less over time as the one you have listed.

Good luck and tell us what you ended up with and how it worked out.

P.S. Thanks for wanted to charge batteries and keeping batteries out of landfills.

 

[mchlwise]

I've got this one:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.71

It says it won't charge cheap batteries, but I've charged the cheapest Wal-Mart crap in it just fine.

It's single channel and will charge a single cell (done it).

I believe it has a voltage regulation cut-off (not sure about delta). I once confused my charged/discharged batteries, and was able to put them in the charger to find out which was which. The charge indicator would light up on the charged ones, and them quickly dim indicating it was not charging.

I kinda like it, and it's a good price.

:shrug:

 

[balazer]

Well I can't blame you for wanting to save $$$ BUT take a look at the BC-900 from LaCrosse. It is around $40

For as much as the BC-900 costs, the typical user is better off to put the extra money towards new batteries as they need replacement. Plus the BC-900 is not easy enough for the average user to use. There ought to be some kind of auto cut-off charger the average person could buy for $15 to go with his new Rayovac Hybrids.

 

[johnny13oi]

I've got this one:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.71

It says it won't charge cheap batteries, but I've charged the cheapest Wal-Mart crap in it just fine.

It's single channel and will charge a single cell (done it).

I believe it has a voltage regulation cut-off (not sure about delta). I once confused my charged/discharged batteries, and was able to put them in the charger to find out which was which. The charge indicator would light up on the charged ones, and them quickly dim indicating it was not charging.

I kinda like it, and it's a good price.

:shrug:

If that thing really knows when to stop charging then I think that would be a great charger. Does the batteries get really hot whenever you charge it indicating that the charger is overcharging or have you had no problems with it? The time it takes to charge is not really a problem to me and I have a bunch of flashlights that take 1AA so charging a single cell would be awesome. I now have quite a few rayovacs about 16 or so now and would like to take care and not abuse them. I used to use Energizer 1700mah's and they were good to me until I tried using them in my low drain devices and would die quickly. I know 1700mah isnt much but I had them for over 3 years I believe and they have been awesome. From what I hear the new 2500s are total crap.