Battery Charger

[spencer]

I am looking for a battery charger that will charge all of the common types of NiMH batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V). It needs to have independent charging channels as I will be charging usually 3 batteries at a time. 9V charging is not a must but would be nice. I have been told to stay away from timer chargers. I am also looking for it to be fairly cheap. I'm leaning toward this one.

Thanks for your suggestions,
Spencer

 

[spencer]

Just browsing Battery Junction I see this charger. Is it worth my extra $8

 

[Mr Happy]

Here's a little search to get you started:

http://www.google.com/search?sitesearch=candlepowerforums.com&q=vanson

 

[VegasF6]

Here are a couple threads I had with similar questions:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=193562
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=199399

If you plan on charging large capacity D cells there will be no cheap answer. Yes, the vanson chargers work, but they don't cut off well, at least in my case, with 10,000 mAh cells.

 

[spencer]

I'm thinking I may just spend the extra money on the MAHA MH-C808M charger. What are the other options in this price range?

 

[VegasF6]

The only other consumer chargers I know of that may compete are some of the ansmann chargers, the 8 or 16 versions, but I doubt if they are as good as the maha. Now, for a little more money you could get into a hobby charger, like a triton, that is capable of much more, but I don't know your needs. If you want to charge 3 at a time like you mentioned below, I think the Maha is great. The Great Planes Triton, here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167500 could meet all your needs for lithium, nicad, nimh all the way up to 24 cells at once! But, you would need an external power supply, or a 12 volt car battery to run it from. There are so many hobby chargers to choose from, but I don't gather that is what you need.

Good luck either way, let us know what you decide on.

 

[AlexLED]

Just browsing Battery Junction I see this charger. Is it worth my extra $8

Not a bad choice.

The 8-bay Maha charger is certainly good as well, but a bit of a overkill, if you mostly only need 3 bays, not ?

In addition, I'd recommend this one:
http://www.thomas-distributing.com/ap-accupower20.htm

 

[VegasF6]

I had thought the accupower was pretty much just a rebadged version of the Vanson or Titanium, no? Perhaps it has better electronics?

 

[spencer]

I've given this some though. This is my first venture into rechargeables and I think to start I'll get the $34 charger mentioned in post #2. If I continue with flashlights I can definitely see the Maha being an option and that Great Planes Triton looks very versatile (I really like the option to charge li-ion). Thanks for all of your input guys.

 

[AlexLED]

I've given this some though. This is my first venture into rechargeables and I think to start I'll get the $34 charger mentioned in post #2. If I continue with flashlights I can definitely see the Maha being an option and that Great Planes Triton looks very versatile (I really like the option to charge li-ion). Thanks for all of your input guys.

Yes, sounds good !

The Triton is certainly great, but not really suitable for starters, since you need to know what you are doing (when you tell the Triton what to do). And besides, the Triton can usually charge only one cell at a time (unless you have a multi-cell pack or an adapter for multiple cells).

 

[spencer]

The adapter for multiple cells is trivial. A couple of cheap radio shack battery holders and away you go.

 

[FredM]

The adapter for multiple cells is trivial. A couple of cheap radio shack battery holders and away you go.

Those add much resistance which not only limits your charge rate to 1 amp or so, it also messes with the charging.

 

[spencer]

What would be suggested then?

 

[BVH]

Simple tiny magnets can be used to "series" the batteries together for charging. The Triton2 is a great choice. It's very versatile and you will definitely grow into it. Buy something you can grow into instead of out of.

Yes, the battery holders will self-destruct with very little current. Not worth your time.

 

[VegasF6]

How does the Triton Jr compare in functions to the triton 2? Obviously less power, but anything else?

 

[BVH]

These are some of the main differences:

14 Nimh (jr) vrs 24 cells
5 Amp charge max (jr) vrs 7 Amp
1 Amp discharge (jr) vrs 3 Amp

If you want to venture into the 28 Volt arena (LarryK14 for instance), the Triton2 is needed.

Triton Jr.:

Input Voltage: 10-15V DC
Battery Types, # of cells: 1-14 NiCd/NiMH
1-4 LiPo/Li-Ion (3.6 or 3.7V cells)
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12V Pb
Fast Charge Current: 0.1-5.0A NiCd/NiMH (0.1A step, 63W max.)
1C rating LiPo/Li-Ion (63W max.)
Peak delay at start: 3 minutes fixed
Discharge Current: 0.1-1.0A (0.01 step, 5W max.)
Cycle count: 1 to 5
Battery Memory: one
Display Type: 2 x 16 LCD, blue backlight
Case Size: 4.7 x 3.6 x 1.2 in (118 x 92 x 30 mm)
Weight: 13.1 oz (371 g)

Triton2:

Input Voltage: 11.0V – 15.0V DC
Input connections: banana plugs with mating alligator clips
Number of outputs: one
Battery types, # cells: 1-24 NiCd/MH (1.2-28.0V)
1-5 LiPo or Li-Ion (3.6-18.5V)
6, 12, 24V Pb (2V per cell)
Fast charge current: 0.1-7.0A linear NiCd/MH (0.1A step, 90W max)
1C rating for LiPo/Li-Ion (90W max)
Fast charge termination: "zero deltaV" peak detection NiCd/MH
"cc/cv" for Pb and Li-Ion/LiPo
* optional thermal cutoff for all battery types
Peak sensitivity: NiCd 5-20mV, NiMH 3-15mV
Peak delay at start: 0-60 minutes
Trickle charge current: 0-250mA (NiCd/MH only)
Fast charge safety timer: 0-990 minutes
NiMH max. charge capacity: 0-9900mAh
NiMH top off charge: 0-1000mA
Thermal cutoff: *50-150°F (10-65°C)
Discharge current: 0.1-3.0A
Discharge cutoff voltage: NiCd/MH 0.5-1.16V per cell
(0.9V/cell fixed during cycle)
Pb fixed at 1.8V per cell
Li-Ion/LiPo fixed at 2.8V per cell
Cycle count: 1-10 cycles (NiCd/MH only)
Cycle time delay: 1-60 minutes
Battery memories: 10 battery memories
Programming controls: modified jog dial, 2 pushbuttons
Display type: 2 x 16 LCD with blue backlight
Displayed info: input and output volts, peak volts, average discharge volts, charge and discharge capacity, currents and time, data for 10 cycles, errors
Audible indicators: 10 melodies, on/off
Output connectors: banana jacks
Case material: extruded aluminum
Cooling system: built-in fan
Current overload: solid state
Case size: 6.2 x 4.0 x 2.0 in (157 x 102 x 51mm)
Weight: 16.4 oz. (466g)

 

[spencer]

I just found out I can get the Triton 2 locally for a little bit more than on the internet. I'm surprised I can get it locally. We have hardly any stores that carry anything decent. It's $150 Canadian or I think $130 online (American). Are there any other hobby chargers that are comparable to the Triton 2?

 

[FredM]

http://www.rcaccessory.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=241

more expensive can do more and less stuff than the Triton2.

If you don't have any LiIon or battery packs right now you might want to consider just getting the Maha 808.

It is kinda a pain to use the hobby chargers on individual NiMH cells, and its not like you need the LiIon or pack charge ability right now. And if you get a Triton later you will probably still get much use from the Maha.

 

[BVH]

I have the Triton2 and the 808 plus just got a Schulze 10-36-12. I still use the Maha 808 for Nimh's.