Best Budget Eneloop Charger

[pobox1475]

I just gave my oldest son a ConneXion for his 21st. Intend to gave my other son a AA light for X-Mass. Want to split a 4-pack of Eneloops between them and also gift a couple of simple chargers so the can both keep their lights powered up. What is the best inexpensive choice?

 

[TakeTheActive]

I just gave my oldest son a ConneXion for his 21st. Intend to gave my other son a AA light for X-Mass. Want to split a 4-pack of Eneloops between them and also gift a couple of simple chargers so the can both keep their lights powered up. What is the best inexpensive choice?

2 sons, 2 single AA flashlights (LumaPower ConneXion LED Flashlight 1xAA ?), 4 AA Eneloops 😱 and 2 separate chargers? They can't share 1 charger? 😕 :tinfoil:

1. Duracell CEF23 Mobile Charger (w/USB)
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2. Duracell CEF20 Mini Charger

If they can't share one CEF23, get two. If too much money, get two CEF20s. Whatever charger you buy, it needs to have individual channels per cell and known good termination.

 

[Bones]

You may also wish to consider the highly regarded Eneloop MQN05U charger pobox1475:

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

Or this little 'sleeper' from Sony, the BC-CS2A charger:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post2407840

Here's an eBay listing for the MQN05U for 13.00 delivered:

http://cgi.ebay.com ... item=270476131064

And here's an eBay listing for the BC-CS2A charger for 10.00 delivered:

http://cgi.ebay.com ... item=230395187479

Please note that eBay listing for the MQN05U contains two significant errors. Firstly, its charging channels are fully independent, so it can (independently) charge from 1 to 4 cells. Secondly, its power supply is 110 volts and not 110/220 volts as inferred.

The english language version of the MQN05U manual:

http://rapidshare.com ... sanyo.eneloop.nc-mqn05.pdf
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[pobox1475]

They can't share 1 charger?

They are not always under the same roof 🙂.

This item is currently out of stock!

From the link you posted 😀

I actually already gave my oldest that light (Gen I) and probably will just give his brother the second version for X-Mass.

Thanks Bones. Which one would you get?

 

[Bones]

...

Thanks Bones. Which one would you get?

I would go with the Eneloop model MQN05U charger for the few extra dollars. It remains my go-to charger notwithstanding that I have considerably more expensive alternatives. The only caveat I can think of is that the Eneloop charger lacks the world-wide voltage capability of the Sony.

 

[pobox1475]

Bones,

I'm looking at eBay pic in link and it looks like the slide cover 5U but does not list model in description. Do you have experience with this seller???

 

[Bones]

Bones,

I'm looking at eBay pic in link and it looks like the slide cover 5U but does not list model in description. Do you have experience with this seller???

Forum member davidt1 purchased from this vendor pobox1475, and subsequently confirmed the charger is the MQN05U.

The most pertinent details are set out in these two posts:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post3067646

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post3068870

Incidentally, I also note there's only 1 remaining for sale, and the auction for it terminates in about 20 minutes...

 

[pobox1475]

Yea, I know I waited really late. Pulled the trigger about 10 min ago. I will probably keep it for my own uses in case I ever travel. C9000 should stay at home. If I find another I may give them to my boys. If not will just get a couple Sony's. Thanks for all your input.

Trying to get clarification on these as well; http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=204940762&listingid=4962018

 

[Bones]

Yea, I know I waited really late. Pulled the trigger about 10 min ago. I will probably keep it for my own uses in case I ever travel. C9000 should stay at home. If I find another I may give them to my boys. If not will just get a couple Sony's. Thanks for all your input.

Trying to get clarification on these as well; http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=204940762&listingid=4962018

You don't have to bother pobox1475.

Forum member benhar has already taken delivery of one of these chargers and confirmed it's the less desirable MQN06U:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post3049220

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post3056847

Your best bet may be to monitor the the vendor of the MQN05U you just purchased. I believe this was their second listing of multiple units, so they may have more on hand:

http://shop.ebay.com/santek-shop/m.html
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[BillG]

thanks for the heads up. i just ordered one off ebay.

Bill

 

[madmook]

I bought one of those mqn05's from that santek ebay link posted above, thanks for the link. I was even contemplating buying two of them, but I wanted to get one first to make sure its as good as its made out to be. Nice and compact, liking it thusfar!

 

[PeAK]

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What is the best inexpensive choice?

Whatever choice you make, try this sanity check on your new unit.

PeAK

 

[Perfectionist]

I use this little bad boy, I reckon it's damn near perfect !! :thumbsup: http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/uniross-globe-trotter-pocket-rc103719.asp

Dirt cheap on Amazon too !! http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0008EI9W4/

Just buy it and Chillax !! :twothumbs

 

[PeAK]

I use this little bad boy, I reckon it's damn near perfect !! :thumbsup: http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/uniross-globe-trotter-pocket-rc103719.asp

Dirt cheap on Amazon too !! http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0008EI9W4/

Just buy it and Chillax !! :twothumbs

The charge current is low at 500mA (should be around 1000mA for 0.5C recommended charge rates with 2000mA-hr batteries). The unit does not have individual LEDs for each battery so that you can tell when they are each done charging.

PeAK

 

[Lynx_Arc]

If it hadn't been mentioned.... The energizer Duo USB charger is $8 at BigLots. It has an AC adapter charges 1 or 2 AAA/AA batteries (make sure and put the single cell in the correct slot). They come in I think 4 colors also so you can tell who has what charger.

 

[pobox1475]

The charge current is low at 500mA (should be around 1000mA for 0.5C recommended charge rates with 2000mA-hr batteries).

Isn't lower better for service life of the cells at expense of longer charge times?

 

[Perfectionist]

The charge current is low at 500mA (should be around 1000mA for 0.5C recommended charge rates with 2000mA-hr batteries).

Not necessarily ...... I prefer a lower current as I'm not fussed about super quick charging (that might damage the cell!) 😉

The unit does not have individual LEDs for each battery so that you can tell when they are each done charging.

Not really a major problem

The plus points are it's tiny size, worldwide voltage capability, universal travel plugs ...... and price !! :thumbsup:

 

[PeAK]

Not necessarily ...... I prefer a lower current as I'm not fussed about super quick charging (that might damage the cell!) 😉
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The notion of using lower currents is a carryover from the NiCd days when detecting "full" batteries was not an issue. All things being equal, slower charging is less stressful. Today, the issue is that the lower currents lead to overcharge due to the charge "not stopping" with NiMh batteries at low currents. The result is a destructive cycle. See the definitive explanation by SilverFox.

...come back here when you're done reading his treatsie. Better yet, have a look at this FAQ compile by a fellow member of this forum.

...perfection is imperfection,
PeAK

 

[Bones]

The notion of using lower currents is a carryover from the NiCd days when detecting "full" batteries was not an issue. All things being equal, slower charging is less stressful. Today, the issue is that the lower currents lead to overcharge due to the charge "not stopping" with NiMh batteries at low currents. The result is a destructive cycle. See the definitive explanation by SilverFox.
...

That fact that it's a carryover doesn't negate it's validity though. It's still my understanding that slower charge rates are inherently less stressful, especially as the cell approaches a fully charged state when an ever-increasing percent of the current is converted to heat.

Despite this fact, the faster rates of charge are still recommend because they cause the cell to create a stronger negative deltaV signal for those chargers that utilize it to terminate their charge.

What's often overlooked these days is that fewer and fewer chargers appear to rely on negative deltaV as their primary methodology to terminate their charge. This includes the revised MH-C9000 which now appears to utilize peak voltage as its primary charge termination method.

Accordingly, it seems to me that the recommendation to utilize a rate of charge between 0.5C and 1.0C is mute as long your particular charger can terminate reliably at lessor rates of charge, presumably by utilizing an alternative methodology to negative deltaV.

 

[Perfectionist]

The notion of using lower currents is a carryover from the NiCd days when detecting "full" batteries was not an issue. All things being equal, slower charging is less stressful. Today, the issue is that the lower currents lead to overcharge due to the charge "not stopping" with NiMh batteries at low currents. The result is a destructive cycle. See the definitive explanation by SilverFox.

...come back here when you're done reading his treatsie. Better yet, have a look at this FAQ compile by a fellow member of this forum.

Great thread by SilverFox ...... but 2 years old now ...... Chargers and Cells have improved since then ......in fact I'd say that 500mA is more than enough to activate correct termination with the latest tech ...... to me it's not too low and not too high, and often the rating recommended by manufacturers

Naturally, the only way to be sure is if this (and other new chargers) are put through their paces by an expert 😎

...perfection is imperfection,

Huh ??