Best (for the money) AA NiMH portable charger?

[AFARR]

I tried doing some searches here and come up with a couple of recommended chargers (Duracell, Sony)...but they all seem to be discontinued.

I have a Maha 9000 that I use as a base charger.

I have a Sony Eneloop charger that I keep in the kitchen for recharging the various mixed cells that float around (mostly for the kids stuff).

I need a SMALL charger (a 12v. option might be nice, but not necessary) that I can charge 1,2 or 4 AA NiMH batteries....to leave in a photo bag. That kind of leaves out the Maha or other similar sized chargers....so, I want a small, portable charger to have as a quick backup (in case I go through several sets of batteries on a trip/event).

Preferably something that's still available (or only recently discontinued).

Thanks!

AFARR

 

[AFARR]

Ok, it's slow here at work...so I did some more research.

I see a couple of possibles:

Duracell charger with USB/Car plug.
Energizer quick charger (yes, it definitely has a downside, but nice to be able to charge quickly if I run one set of batteries in a flash out too quickly).
Sony Quick Charger.


Any recommendations on the above...or others. Smaller is better.

Again, I have a nice Maha at home to use for the main charger....this is more a portable backup...and in this case, smaller to fit into the camera bag is better than larger.

Thanks!

 

[calipsoii]

Duracell CEF23DX4N is an amazing little 4-AA/AAA NIMH charger. Has 4 independent charging channels and shuts off when the cell is actually DONE, not on a timer. Can put any combination of batteries in it and it'll charge off a 12v car plug or you can charge a USB device off it if you fill it with 4 AA's. Highly recommended.

It's discontinued and so is on sale at many retailers.
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product...spx?path=3d46dfa07d08090ab70e6b8c3c93e86fen02

 

[Mr Happy]

You ask a good question, but you left out one important detail -- your location. Since you didn't specify I will assume you are in the USA.

Unfortunately, all the good, compact, smart chargers have been discontinued in the USA. My interpretation is that the US market is seen as unsophisticated and price conscious, such that only the really cheap and basic chargers can sell in any volume. In Europe there are more choices.

Of the discontinued options, one pick would be the Sanyo MQN05, however it does not have worldwide voltage input and I have no idea where it can be obtained any more.

Another pick is the UltraLast ULINOV2. It is light and compact, has four channels with individual LCD bar graphs, has a discharge function and comes with a 12 V power cord as well as a mains cord. And it comes with four AA Hybrio batteries. (It is described as a 90 minute charger, but it lies. It is in fact a four hour charger, but it still works OK.) It goes without saying that such a good charger is now discontinued, but you might find it online if you search.

I personally quite like the Duracell CEF21 Power Gauge charger. Lightweight, solid build, four charging channels, individual bar graph displays. It does well on AA batteries but less well on AAA batteries (but it can be modified to charge AAA batteries faster and more effectively). Although long discontinued, you might still find some new old stock in Big Lots.

 

[AFARR]

You ask a good question, but you left out one important detail -- your location. Since you didn't specify I will assume you are in the USA.

snip.....

Yep, in the USA.

I would spring for a LaCrosse or another Maha...but they are too big for what I want (as I can control the speed, etc. with them much better...but they are just too big to put into a camera bag).

AA is pretty much the only use for them....my camera Flash(s...including the wife's), and now a battery pack for my wife's camera take AA batteries. I keep a set of 4 Lithiums in the bag (in case we need many shots and don't have the ability to swap out batteries in the middle of the event), but will run primarily duraloops.

The Eneloop charger I have at home is the MQN05 (that's the one I keep in the kitchen for general charging use). I have an energizer charger(can't recall the model number, but it's a slide out unit that does 4 AA and you can flip a lever in each and make it fit the AAA batteries)...I keep that at work to charge AAA batteries we use in our dictation system...it's easy to throw back in the drawer with the spare batteries.

Thanks!

AFARR

 

[fishinfool]

I also bought a Duracell CEF23DX4N to use as my car charger when I'm out and about taking pictures with my dslr and flash. It works great with my eneloops and duraloops and is fairly small enough to put in my camera bag but I just keep it in the glove box. I also have 2-C9000's at home so this is perfect for an auto charger plus it has a built-in plug for use at home as an extra charger. :thumbsup:

 

[Lynx_Arc]

The duracell mobile charger is getting very scarce to find now if you want one better get one soon. The cheapest I have seen is the CEF23DX2 it is the same as the DX4N with exception of the car charger cord is not included and you only get 2 AAs (which mine were duraloops) vs 4 batteries (which I don't think are duraloops). You can find a car cord later that will work. I use mine on a table top with a 12DC wall wart instead so it sits nearly flat, I also removed the cover (which is not as recommended on the power guage charger) and put a dob of poster putty over the blazing bright blue LED so it doesn't light up the room at night when I am sleeping.

 

[Quension]

I would spring for a LaCrosse or another Maha...but they are too big for what I want (as I can control the speed, etc. with them much better...but they are just too big to put into a camera bag).

The Duracell CEF23 is essentially the same size as the LaCrosse BC-900, except for the LaCrosse having a separate power cube. I've never seen a Maha C-9000, but my impression is that it's significantly larger than both.

 

[AFARR]

Thanks for the replies. A local grocery store has the Duracell with the car cord for $25 (the correct model...I checked)....and the Best Buy link above[\s]...oops, that's a Canadian BB link.... Probably the best way to pick up one (or probably two)....

I still haven't ruled out another Maha or LaCrosse (but will probably leave them at home as a base station).

Thanks!

AFARR

 

[keeftea]

You ask a good question, but you left out one important detail -- your location. Since you didn't specify I will assume you are in the USA.

Unfortunately, all the good, compact, smart chargers have been discontinued in the USA. My interpretation is that the US market is seen as unsophisticated and price conscious, such that only the really cheap and basic chargers can sell in any volume. In Europe there are more choices.

Of the discontinued options, one pick would be the Sanyo MQN05, however it does not have worldwide voltage input and I have no idea where it can be obtained any more.

Another pick is the UltraLast ULINOV2. It is light and compact, has four channels with individual LCD bar graphs, has a discharge function and comes with a 12 V power cord as well as a mains cord. And it comes with four AA Hybrio batteries. (It is described as a 90 minute charger, but it lies. It is in fact a four hour charger, but it still works OK.) It goes without saying that such a good charger is now discontinued, but you might find it online if you search.

I personally quite like the Duracell CEF21 Power Gauge charger. Lightweight, solid build, four charging channels, individual bar graph displays. It does well on AA batteries but less well on AAA batteries (but it can be modified to charge AAA batteries faster and more effectively). Although long discontinued, you might still find some new old stock in Big Lots.

I have recently come across a bunch of sanyo mqno5's at bh photo in manhattan. 4 eneloops and the coveted mqno5 for 20 bucks. They are in a ziplock bag with a priinted out info sheet from sanyo. Definetly not the packiging we are used to from sanyo. But the chargers are legit mqno5's. Hope this helps. When I get back from the beach I can get the sku for you guys

 

[dhewie]

Anyone use the Meijer intelligent charger? Pretty good price at $17, but not sure if it charges individually?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

The Duracell CEF23 is essentially the same size as the LaCrosse BC-900, except for the LaCrosse having a separate power cube. I've never seen a Maha C-9000, but my impression is that it's significantly larger than both.

Even though my lacrosse came with a bag it doesn't compare in portability to the duracell mobile charger. I could see the duracell taking a beating all except maybe the flip open lid looks rather tough compared to the LCD display and buttons of the lacross along with the 3v walwart which would be very hard to get to run off an auto system without an inverter.

 

[davidt1]

What about this charger?

http://www.batteryjunction.com/combo-tp1hr-4aaa.html

 

[Black Rose]

Duracell CEF23DX4N is an amazing little 4-AA/AAA NIMH charger. Has 4 independent charging channels and shuts off when the cell is actually DONE, not on a timer. Can put any combination of batteries in it and it'll charge off a 12v car plug or you can charge a USB device off it if you fill it with 4 AA's. Highly recommended.

I picked up one of these this week. Great deal for $20.

 

[blunoser]

Black Rose, I'm curious where you found one for that price.Love to have one for car use.I'm in Nova Scotia so hoping it's a national chain.
cheers,
Terry.

 

[Black Rose]

Hey Terry, as soon as I saw your screen name I knew where you were from

I was born and raised in NS....had to leave in '93 for work and now stuck in Ontario.

I bought the charger last week at Best Buy.

 

[blunoser]

That's too bad you had to leave for work..happens a lot these days.I'm too much of a water rat to be away from the ocean.Luckily I'm steadily employed at Dal and shouldn't have to travel.

Thanks for the name of the place, I'll drop by and see if they have any left.
cheers,
Terry.

 

[flasherByNight]

I picked up one of these this week. Great deal for $20.

I totally didn't notice the expiration date :shakehead

Was enroute to BB day after it expired...until I noticed expiration date :fail:

 

[Black Rose]

Go and look anyway.

At the Best Buy I went to, these were not marked as sale items, the price tag was set at $19.99 and stuck on the peg with adhesive.
I don't recall if they do that for sales (been awhile since I've been to BB)

 

[flasherByNight]

Go and look anyway.

At the Best Buy I went to, these were not marked as sale items, the price tag was set at $19.99 and stuck on the peg with adhesive.
I don't recall if they do that for sales (been awhile since I've been to BB)

yeah? I'll check it out...tx