Best "smart" charger for nimh, nicad, (lithium ion and alkalines a plus)

[JollyRoger]

How do chargers work? (What is different in how nicad and nimh and alkaline chargers work). Do they just give different amounts of current (less for alkalines to safely charge them, etc.)

I'm looking for a fairly compact charger that can "do it all." I need it to charge different size nimh and nicad. I have AA and AAA nimh and nicad. I also have 2700mah A size nimh that I recently bought that I need it to charge. So then, while I'm at it, I might as well look for something that charges C and D as well!

The current charger I have is "timed" and charges nimh for 7 hours, then switches to "trickle" mode.

I have a Saitek "eco charger," that charges alkalines and nicads, but is it ok to charge nimh in this? If so, then I don't need another charger...
And that's another question:

What is the difference between a nicad charger and a nimh charger?

Too bad the Maha 204 can't charge bigger than AA. But it can probably squeeze the A size. Should I just go with this?
Thanks

 

[PhilAlex]

Re: Best "smart" charger for nimh, nicad, (lithium ion and alkalines a plus)

I have an ECO charger, and I charge NiMH in it all the time.

BTW: Slacker that I am, I mix battery chemistries (NiCD and NiMH) all the time. No problems... Yet.

And.. It recharges not-too-far-gone alkalines, too.

Me? I'm not too worried about new chargers. I say they'll get a Li-ion AA rechargable in the future...

Phil

(Still lusting after some Quest CR123 rechargables)

 

[PhilAlex]

Re: Best "smart" charger for nimh, nicad, (lithium ion and alkalines a plus)

The Delta V peak in NiMH is much smaller than in NiCd.

As to whether or not NiMH is or isn't fully charged, I have no idea.

It seems to work fine.

Phil

 

[JollyRoger]

Re: Best "smart" charger for nimh, nicad, (lithium ion and alkalines a plus)

I have the eco charger and recharge alkalines and nicads in it all the time as well. So nimh are ok in this? On my ECO charger, there are only two settings...one for alkaline and one for nicad. I wonder if it actually charges nimh to full capacity ...It doesn't seem to trickle charge them after done either. Well, I'll have to try this then. Sure beat buying another charger. I'm not concerned with waiting a couple more hours for batteries to charge...so....I guess this is ok then? Maybe then to charge my "A" nimh I will set it to "C" cell size so it know it needs to charge a higher capacity? I wonder if there is a "smart" charger that will eliminate this guesswork and safely charge all sizes and capacities...I think the Maha 777 plus isn't a good choice, since it is based on temperature?

Just found this comment on the internet: http://md-l.amulation.com/archive/199612/msg00464.html

What are the implications of not being able to "properley detect peak voltage"???? I thought nicads and nimh have similar "peak" voltage?