Are these chargers as similar as they seem? A better Accupower Accumanager 20?

[DevL]

I own an Accupower Accumanager 20. Damn it is ugly but it works. My GF wants a new charger but hates the colors so much she does not want my "Blue and Yellow Beast" around. I was looking at the Amondo Tech website and came across the Titanium Universal Battery Charger. It looks like the same charger but with an international wall wart and discharge features added. The only physical difference I can see is it is balck and silver instead of blue and yellow. Are there any other differences I cannot see? It is even less expensive!!!

http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=727

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/ap-accupower20.htm

 

[mdocod]

from what I have heard the accu uses the same case, but has some different guts. the "amondotech" box, is the same thing as a vanson speedy box, (BC1HU)... that amondobox there is a decent charger, well worth the price... I think there may even be cheaper offerings (under the vanson speedy box name) sold at a few other retailers online.

 

[DevL]

The Vanson Speedy Box looks like it is the BC1HU but with a US only wall wart and no car charger. Item descriptions and cases are identical. Are those the same including guts? Loks like the only difference is the sticker.

 

[bridgman]

As far as I know :

- the AccuManager has completely different internals and charging algorithms, ie completely different design but appears to be BUILT by Vanson under contract

- the amondotech is a newer version of the SpeedyBox but I don't remember the difference (note that it's called BC2HU on the site rather than BC1HU)

 

[Nomad]

I have that Vanson unit, the BC2HU, purchased from AmondoTech over a year ago, it's performed well for me. If your girlfriend has such an issue with the colors of your battery charger that you feel the need to replace it...uhm...can you say "issues"? Ah well, I digress. The Vanson unit is a goodie.

 

[cathywu]

I saw some cheap and nice charges on shenzhen-wholesale, if you are interested in it please visit and have a look. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[bridgman]

Seems to me that you should try to pick up a replacement lid from a SpeedyBox and use that to replace the yellow lid on the Accumanager. Blue and grey should pass the GF approval test, plus you get to keep the AP charger internals which seem to be pretty good.

Going all the way (putting AP2020 guts in a Vanson box) would be hard because the AP2020 has a different number of LEDs so the holes probably won't line up.

If you want a different looking AAA/AA/C/D charger the Maha C808M (8 cells of any type) is the only one that I see considered "better" than the Accumanager, primarily because it can charge at 2A and still be gentle on the cells. No 12v input though, and it won't charge 9v cells although that's probably not a concern.

Have you considered :

- painting the Accumanager to match GF's preferred colours ?

- leaving it in a drawer when you're not using it (this is my strategy )