Eneloop USB Chargers & AA to C and D Adaptors

[Bones]

This link leads to an Eneloop site in Europe:

http://www.eneloop.info/208.html

It lists a couple of USB powered Eneloop chargers along with images of their AA to C and AA to D cell adaptors.

I googled the USB chargers and couldn't find any indication that they are available in North America yet.

Incidentally, I just checked my 4 cell Eneloop charger, and it is a model MONQ5U.

I'm not sure whether or not the ' 5 ' represents a newer version.

 

[Floating Spots]

There are others that make these.
Tripp Lite makes one that I came across on the Circuit City website.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Trip...sem/rpsm/oid/166792/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
It can be had for a lot less.

I like the idea and if I see the Eneloop one, I might jump.
I have a wireless mouse for my laptop, so I could use and recharge batteries without too many items.

 

[Bones]

Thanks for the alternative source Floating Spots.

I quite like the idea as well, especially when travelling overseas.

You only have to carry the correct adapter for your laptop, and then plug the charger into it.

It also appears to me that Sanyo has designed the charger with onboard storage for the USB cable, making for a particularly neat package.

 

[koala]

Sweetest thing ever, this thing does 1 cell or 2 cell. Independant charging channel. Official Sanyo press release. Can be had for about $18 includes 2xAA Eneloop cells. Not exactly an ultrafast charger but good enough for emergency/ topping up. It's very light for a charger at 48grams/ 1.69oz!

 

[radellaf]

Is it really independent channel or just parallel?

Also wondering that about the wall-plug eneloop chargers. If they are independent channel, why only one LED?

 

[koala]

Most of Sanyo chargers have 1 or 2 LEDs. They are indeed independent chargers as advertised. Check em out here http://www.energy.sanyo.com.sg/chargerproduct.asp have a look at the specs.

Not sure about the USB charger above, I have one coming in next week. Will report back with circuit details.

 

[radellaf]

Hmm, so what they never say is after the 1st battery stops charging, does the light go out or stay on until the 2nd one is done....

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Radellaf,

The ones that I have seen stay lit until the last cell is charged.

Tom

 

[FlashCrazy]

Tom,
Do you know if the charger in the Costo Eneloop kit is indeed an independent channel charger? The kit is already a great deal, but if it's an independent channel charger, it's a fabulous deal! I just may have to go back to Costco to see if any are left.

Thanks!

 

[prasinos]

The model number of the charger in that eneloop bundle seems to be "MQN04". This charger does not have independent channels (you have to charge batteries in pairs), uses probably a timer termination (or at least the leds go off always after 16 hours so you cannot know when the batteries are charged) so it is not really a good charger. It seems that there are two 4-bay eneloop chargers and this is the "bad" one (the good one has the string MQN05 in the model number).

If someone has similar info for the 2-bay eneloop chargers please post it.

 

[ElectronGuru]

Do you know if the charger in the Costo Eneloop kit is indeed an independent channel charger? The kit is already a great deal, but if it's an independent channel charger, it's a fabulous deal!

I tested this last month. Put a single AAA cell in the Costco 4 bay, the light went on, hours later the light went off and a full charged battery came out.

 

[Phaetos]

Guess I should go look at the one that I just bought at WallyWorld the other day. If I remember right, it only has one LED on it also. I wondered how it would work if one cell was done before the others.

 

[paulr]

I love that slim 2 cell charger. Are any of these chargers universal voltage?

 

[BB]

Just checking my Costco kit I got ~2 weeks ago--Charger model number is :

NC-MQN05U
Input:
AC 100-120 VAC 50-60 Hz 4W
Output:
300 mA x 4 (AA)
150 mA x 4 (AAA)

Date Code/Revision KFB (????--just a guess that is what KFB means)

-Bill

 

[redfish]

If someone has similar info for the 2-bay eneloop chargers please post it.

The 2-bay eneloop charger is an independent, smart charger, with universal voltage (100V-240V). Sanyo made many versions of this charger, including OEM and different colors. NC-MDR02-XX where XX is the variant.

 

[Bones]

The 2-bay eneloop charger is an independent, smart charger, with universal voltage (100V-240V). Sanyo made many versions of this charger, including OEM and different colors. NC-MDR02-XX where XX is the variant.

Sanyo specifications on the MDR02:

http://www.energy.sanyo.com.sg ...

Expanded specifications including the MDR02 (from koala's post 6):

http://www.energy.sanyo.com.sg ...

The Sanyo USA Eneloop portfolio includes the MDR02 (and .pdf user guide):

http://www.eneloopusa.com ...

The Sanyo Europe Eneloop portfolio includes a different model number (MDR03 rather than MDR02):

http://www.eneloop.info ...

Although this could simply indicate an identical charger that includes a separate line-cord for the Euro-plug or UK-plug, it could also indicate an entirely different charger.

I couldn't find any documentation to support either supposition...

 

[Bones]

Not sure about the USB charger above, I have one coming in next week. Will report back with circuit details.

Koala's report on the Eneloop USB charger:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... t=165664

 

[redfish]

I couldn't find any documentation to support either supposition...

I see. You don't have to believe me, and you won't find documentation that says it's an "independent", "smart" charger (I've tried also). But I have taken it and other Sanyo, panasonic, etc chargers apart, this one does have two current drains, one for each channel, and it'll do negative delta v for each channel.

As far as I know, all Sanyo made "quick" chargers are independent and smart. I have not seen otherwise.

Maybe you'll find this interesting (these guys hacked in channel indicator LEDs to a sanyo):
http://www.kansai-event.com/kinomayoi/NCM58/NCM58.html

and also for Panasonic BQ-390:
http://www.kansai-event.com/kinomayoi/BQ390/BQ390.html

 

[Bones]

I couldn't find any documentation to support either supposition...

I see. You don't have to believe me, and you won't find documentation that says it's an "independent", "smart" charger (I've tried also). But I have taken it and other Sanyo, panasonic, etc chargers apart, this one does have two current drains, one for each channel, and it'll do negative delta v for each channel.

My post was actually intended to support your's redfish.

The Sanyo documentation I referenced clearly states that the model MDR02 charger sold in North America with the Eneloop battery is an independent channel (very) smart charger.

The quoted statement was specifically referring to the model MDR03 charger sold in Europe with the Eneloop battery.

That is the model for which I couldn't find any supporting documentation.

 

[prasinos]

I would like to clarify my post above.
I have the 4-bay charger, with model number MQN04 and it is definitely *not* an independent channel charger (says so in the specs that came in the bundle and I tested it). I bought mine in Greece. It is the model with the two leds above the batteries, without the sliding cover, with an integrated (but not fold-out) plug. I've seen this model also on german online shops.
So, maybe the European eneloop products are different (but with confusingly similar part numbers).
Further info about the charger: the leds go off after 16 hours (as it is written in the manual - and I tested it with different batteries), so I don't know if there is any other cutoff mechanism (however I removed some batteries after 10 hours and they seemed to be charged already). Charging current is 250mA for AA and 150mA for AAA. It can charge 2 or 4 batteries simultaneously. It is also not a "travel" charger, it can operate only on 230V.
IMHO it is unacceptable that Sanyo sells such a crap charger (in this day and age) in the European market (or it is only Greece?).