C. Crane Quickcharger

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vcal

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 16, 2000
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Larry R. Pace:
I know that this charger is very nice and expensive....is it worth the price?

Thanks!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's a good charger if:
A. you want to save a lot of time and B.S. when you need fully and properly charged NimH and Nicads.
B. You'd like those batteries to go the absolute maximum number of re-charges they were designed for.

I've used that smart/pulse charger for almost 2 years now, and like it a lot, -knowing that I'm never overcharging OR undercharging the batteries. IMO-it'll save 'ya money in the long run.
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p.s.-Maha also makes great chargers, -but they're not cheap either.
 
Thanks Doug! One more question, will it show the voltage of the battery at any time? How does it tell you a battery is charged? Again, thanks Doug!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Larry R. Pace:
Thanks Doug! One more question, will it show the voltage of the battery at any time? How does it tell you a battery is charged? Again, thanks Doug!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You bet, -it shows a digital readout in 100ths of a volt i.e. 1.29v etc.(at All stages) as well as the present phase of the process-soft start, main charge, top-off and trickle, as well as "finish" icon.

p.s. I've used so many different chargers over the years, I get a headache just thinkin' about it
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan:
The only feature I wish to add for in this charger is digital readout instead of bar on capacity.
I have a Saitek has similar features (and some extra that I don't need)
As CCrane charger has similiar features, I think it's a better buy.
Alan
PS. I'm not sure if CCrane's charger is also produced by Saitek. Saitek is a manufacturer while CCrane is marketer.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

General info:
I use both the Saitek (bought from Radio Shack-$50.) and the Crane unit, and as you said, they are functionally the same-with 2 small differences:
1. the Saitek does 2-9v.batts
2. nice see-thru lid on the Saitek.

Alan, have you looked at the Maha 77 series charger? -It has all kinds of fancy digital readouts at $82.U.S.
 
The only feature I wish to add for in this charger is digital readout instead of bar on capacity.

I have a Saitek has similar features (and some extra that I don't need) http://store.yahoo.com/saitekusa/smartcharger.html

As CCrane charger has similiar features, I think it's a better buy.

Alan

PS. I'm not sure if CCrane's charger is also produced by Saitek. Saitek is a manufacturer while CCrane is marketer.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vcal:

Alan, have you looked at the Maha 77 series charger? -It has all kinds of fancy digital readouts at $82.U.S.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do you mean 777 Plus series? Yes, i did. I love it on the first sight especially its support for battery pack that could replace those chargers from Sure Fire and Streamlight. After having read the manual, I drop the idea. It scarely mention about battery holder for batteries and I don't even understand how it connect batteries. I don't mind if battery holders doesn't come standard and be paid option. However, I don't even know if I could get those battery holders for different battery setup (3-cell and 5-cell). I guess the product is target to those users who are willing to spend time to source various parts from various vendors and put it together to make it work. If it doesn't, then get more various parts for trial and error.

Do you know if Meha suppy battery holders that I could simply plug (not solder) in 777 Plus? This could be my dream charger:-(

Alan
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan:
Do you mean 777 Plus series? Yes, i did. I love it on the first sight especially its support for battery pack that could replace those chargers from Sure Fire and Streamlight. After having read the manual, I drop the idea. It scarely mention about battery holder for batteries and I don't even understand how it connect batteries. I don't mind if battery holders doesn't come standard and be paid option. However, I don't even know if I could get those battery holders for different battery setup (3-cell and 5-cell). I guess the product is target to those users who are willing to spend time to source various parts from various vendors and put it together to make it work. If it doesn't, then get more various parts for trial and error.
Do you know if Meha suppy battery holders that I could simply plug (not solder) in 777 Plus? This could be my dream charger:-(
Alan<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I did notice that the battery holders can be bought with the unit as an optional extra(s). Also, the unit also offer leads w/clips for optional flexability. Two links for you to check out: www.4cbradio.com/mh-c777plus.htm and www.garlic.com/bills2way/equip/mhc777plus.html

p.s.-from what I read, you should have no problem charging 1-12 cells and, if you get the xtra holders with the unit, you should be able 2 charge just about any voltage values or number of cells......
 
I have the maha 777plus and forgot to connect the battery temp. sensor on a 3 aa nimh pack. The pack got too hot to handle. One of the parameters, according to the maha instruction manual, of a complete charge is the temperature of the battery pack rising to a certain limit, then it turns itself off, or to trickle..I have doubts about this being the best way to get the most use out of 3 aa pack - I know I should have connected the sensor - but I think it would have reached the heat threshold with the sensor on anyhow - ...now when I charge the 3-pac nimh, I use the 'nicad nimh / li-ion' switch set to 'nicad nimh' to drain the pack, then unplug it, switch to 'lion' and charge the pack, this charges at 400ma instedd of 800ma -- it takes longer but I feel better not cooking the batteries...I haven't tried it with 2 or a single cell yet...has anyone?
 
Ted, from what I've heard, it's not a great idea to completely drain the NimH -like you would a Nicad.
Doesn't that unit have an override button/switch to disable the auto-discharge?
 
I've heard things from both sides of the to- discharge-or- not- to- discharge fence about nimh...from the 'discharge it' camp, I hear that it's a good idea with new packs to put them through a few charge-discharge cycles to get full performance from them...
As for "complete discharge" - the maha takes the individual cells down to (an average) of 1 volt - so it's not a "complete" discharge...
By the way I just charged a 3.6 volt 3aa nimh pack on the maha using the temp. probe, and it did terminate the charge by itself, but the battery pack was hot! Too hot to hold. Guess I'll email maha and ask about it...is 112 F. too hot to hold? That's the temp I think the maha is supposed to cut off at.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ted the Led:
I've heard things from both sides of the to- discharge-or- not- to- discharge fence about nimh...from the 'discharge it' camp, I hear that it's a good idea with new packs to put them through a few charge-discharge cycles to get full performance from them...
As for "complete discharge" - the maha takes the individual cells down to (an average) of 1 volt - so it's not a "complete" discharge...
By the way I just charged a 3.6 volt 3aa nimh pack on the maha using the temp. probe, and it did terminate the charge by itself, but the battery pack was hot! Too hot to hold. Guess I'll email maha and ask about it...is 112 F. too hot to hold? That's the temp I think the maha is supposed to cut off at.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Very warm, ok, but HOT, -time to ask Maha a coupla questions
confused.gif
....
I found lotsa references to that charger on a MSN search engine. Let us know what you find.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ted the Led:
One of the parameters, according to the maha instruction manual, of a complete charge is the temperature of the battery pack rising to a certain limit, then it turns itself off, or to trickle.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Monitoring temperature of cells to determine when to discontinue the charge is the inexpensive short cut used by the lower quality chargers. The better "intelligent" chargers monitor each cell seperately, pulse charge, and monitor the electrical properties between pulses. Another charger being billed as a high quality charger (I don't remember it's name) requires two cells at a time to be charged. When a charger can't charge a single cell, that should be a big tip-off that it's not monitoring each cell. Single cell monitoring is essential for proper NiMH charging.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vcal:
I did notice that the battery holders can be bought with the unit as an optional extra(s). Also, the unit also offer leads w/clips for optional flexability. Two links for you to check out: www.4cbradio.com/mh-c777plus.htm and www.garlic.com/bills2way/equip/mhc777plus.html
p.s.-from what I read, you should have no problem charging 1-12 cells and, if you get the xtra holders with the unit, you should be able 2 charge just about any voltage values or number of cells......<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have read them at the time I read about c777plus and that's exactly the reason I didn't purchase it. From those pictures for battery holders, they don't have plug and socket that directly connected to the charger. Instead, it looks extremely premitive products that requires soldering or using open lead and clip. I would not consider it as *finished product*. It looks like one designed for hobbyist who don't mind clipping this and that for different battery size and voltage. Besides, it doesn't have battery holders for battery stick like 3-sub C cells.

I really don't mind to pay premium for a good complete product but not one that I need to make it work by *figuring it out by myself*.

For Saitek one, it's no brainer to use it and it's what we call complete product🙂

I have also seen some high end chargers that requires plugging it with your computer:-(

Don't get me wrong. I'm saying this is a bad charger, what I'm saying this is not the charger for dumb and lazy pople like me.

Alan
 
the leads for the maha plug in, and do not require soldering. that's one of the things I liked about it. you can use the 2 'cradle' terminals, the 2 leads, or one of each. that's how I charge my ultrastinger battery; there is a magnet that holds the 5 sub c stick in place and the cradle 'charging arms' can be positioned to contact the middle and edge of one end of the battery- this battery pack has + and - terminals at one end. for other packs you can have the magnet hold one end of the stick against the positive 'arm' and use the negative lead clipped to the negative end (I clip the lead to the edge of the battery shrinkwrap material so that it makes contact...)
it seems to work as advertised, except on 3 aa packs, and less. they get hot, if you let them go till the charger beeps...
(edit) I wonder if you connected alligator clips to the positive and neg. of the ccrane charger, and connected it to a nimh 3 aa pack, would it do a better job; i.e. not get hot?? any one like to try this. I figure a couple of leads with clips at each end should do it...?
 
Ted, I assume you don't want to seperate that 3-pak of AA NimH cells into individual cells. It won't work otherwise. I just checked the charging bay voltages -individually and together, and the circuit is parallel, not in series. (i.e.there is no way to get the proper amount of voltage for the 3-pack with jumpers, -without re-wiring the unit)
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Thanks, Doug, I see; so the ccrane 'sees' only one cell...and so the voltage doesn't go above 2 or 3 volts probably...I gess I'll keep using the maha for battery packs, but give them a feel every five minutes and remove them when they get just warm..
(I did email maha about the heat prob...will keep you posted)
 
Ted, how big is the temp probe on that Maha?

Is it small enough to really get close to the battery? You might need to clamp it to the battery pack with a small spring clamp or similar... Possibly even cover it with a small piece of foam rubber so it senses the battery temp, not the air temp.

Or, you could just have a unit that is calibrated to the wrong temperature.
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan:

Don't get me wrong. I'm saying this is a bad charger, what I'm saying this is not the charger for dumb and lazy pople like me.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oops ... I meant "Don't get me wrong. I'm NOT saying this is a bad charger," I missed the word *not*.

That's why I said I'm dumb:-(

Alan
 
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