Charging single batteries with Maha C204F?

[BatteryCharger]

I've got the Maha C204F charger that charges two batteries at once. First of all, are they in series or parallel? Is there any way I can trick the charger into thinking there's two batteries, when there is only one? Maybe a low ohm resistor?

 

[NeonLights]

The easiest way I've found to charge a single battery in my MAHA charger (which I do on occasion) is to put a 2nd battery in with it.

-Keith

 

[PEU]

I also own a 204f and have this doubt:

I have a device which uses 3 nimh's so I wonder what happens if I put those 3 cells with another one not discharged at the same rate or level?

will all the 3 cells end up charged equally?


Pablo

 

[KevinL]

I don't own the C204F, but here's what they said about the C777+2 charging cells in series (the C777 takes 1-12 cells, but all in series, one channel only) - they will cut off the moment the first cell reaches capacity.

From what I know, the alternative would be to keep forcing a charge into the pack (or the pair of cells).. the fully charged cells would slowly cook to death from overcharge while the rest of the cells charged up to capacity.

 

[Brock]

Nope, the 204 is really a 2 cell or dual 3v charger. If you just thow another cell in there depending on it's charge state it will over charge one and undercharge the other.

If you put a dummy cell or blank cell it in there with it, the charger will try to push it to 3v

 

[PEU]

so no solution for odd (1 or 3) batteries in the 204F?


Pablo

 

[BatteryCharger]

[ QUOTE ]
Brock said:
Nope, the 204 is really a 2 cell or dual 3v charger. If you just thow another cell in there depending on it's charge state it will over charge one and undercharge the other.

If you put a dummy cell or blank cell it in there with it, the charger will try to push it to 3v

[/ QUOTE ]

So wouldn't a resistor with similar resistance to a NiMh battery work? Basically you'd have a battery that never gets full.

 

[legtu]

Here's a similar thread.

Do post the result if the resistor "trick" works. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif

 

[kitelights]

A very big case for independant chargers. Get a 401.

 

[LitFuse]

[ QUOTE ]
PEU said:
so no solution for odd (1 or 3) batteries in the 204F?
Pablo

[/ QUOTE ]

I would think that *eventually* the secondary "trickle" charge would bring all the cells up to the same state of charge. Obviously, this would take a long time though.

Peter

 

[MrAl]

Hi there,

I finally got around to trying the resistor 'fooling' idea
and it didnt work at all on my charger. Instead, i found
that two diodes in series worked.
See the new thread "Two Diodes Fool Charger".

I tried 1 and 1.5 ohms, but only the two diodes worked.

Take care,
Al