Is the C-9000 worth $49.14 more than the BC-900

[NightBandit]

I know that this might set off a firestorm of debate, but is the Maha C-9000 worth this much more than the LaCrosse BC-900?

I came up with this dollar amount by trying to campare apples to apples. I found the BC-900 for $39.99 with free shipping. I found the C-9000 for $62.97 plus I added in the price of 4 AA and 4AAA batteries since the BC-900 comes with these batteries. Plus, I threw in shipping charges since I couldn't find free shipping for the C-9000.

Now back to my question. Is the C-9000 charger that much better than the BC-900 to justify the cost difference (still almost double the price even if I don't get the extra batteries)?

I am NOT a charger junkie (yet), I just want a charger that will safely charge my batteries (mostly the new hybrids) and I like the idea of being able to see the capacity of my batteries.

Any thoughts (I'm sure that there are more than a few).

Thank you,

NightBandit

 

[SilverFox]

Hello NightBandit,

Yes.

For a detailed comparison, refer to post #9 of this thread.

Tom

 

[AnalogDog]

No question in my mind. But if you really want to stay with the 401, send me all your crummy batteries and I will use the C9000 to regenerate capacity in them, and add them to my collection.

NiMH batteries rule when dealing with the C9000.

 

[TorchBoy]

I am NOT a charger junky (yet)

I predict you will become an analyser/analyzer junkie after getting the MH-C9000. And if you get the BC-900 you'll be left wanting more control, and/or wishing that you could be an analyser junkie.

 

[NightBandit]

Tom,

Thank you. This is the post that I have been looking for. I have been reading threads about chargers until I'm blue in the face, but somehow I missed this thread. I had been leaning toward the C-9000, and that thread just pushed me over the edge.

I only have one question (yeah, I've heard that before). You stated that in the break-in mode (for the C-9000), when you are prompted for the cell capacity, that the maximum is 2000 mAh. Many (most?) new cells these days have quite a bit more capacity than 2000 mAh. Does that mean that we wouldn't be able to use the break-in mode for the newer high capacity cells?

Great charger review (as usual).

Thank you,

NightBandit

 

[Anders]

Hello Nightbandit.

If you read it again, you will see that it is 20000 mAh, not 2000.

It give you the possibility to somehow connect C or D cells to it externally.

Anders

 

[SoundMix]

I own both. The answer is YES! Not from reading the reviews but from actual experience.

 

[NightBandit]

Thank you everyone for your responses, it didn't take many posts to convince me. The Maha C-9000 it is!

Anders, now that I looked at it again, it IS 20,000 NOT 2,000 mAh. My bad.

NightBandit

 

[GCBStokes]

NightBandit,

I don't know if you have ordered/already received your charger yet. But, yes the Maha C-9000 is worth the extra money. I just bought a C-9000 from http://www.thomasdistributing.com/maha-mh-c9000-battery-charger.php and even though it's not listed on their web site, it was on sale for $59.97. That's only $20.00 more for a charger that is not just more capable, but would also be useable for many future battery generations to come.:naughty:

 

[NightBandit]

GCBStokes,

I just ordered my Maha C9000 from Thomas Distributing on Monday. According to the website (and my shopping cart), I paid $62.97. I'll have to check my visa and see how much I was actually charged.

Thanks for the heads up.

NightBandit

 

[Handlobraesing]

The LaCrosse is cheaply made in my opinion. To get any use out of the BC-900 beyond a simple 200mAh charger, you need to push the buttons and those buttons are prone to failure. All three of my front button became finicky and I had to replace them with higher quality tick switches.

 

[GCBStokes]

NightBandit,

I just ordered my Maha C9000 from Thomas Distributing on Monday. According to the website (and my shopping cart), I paid $62.97. I'll have to check my visa and see how much I was actually charged

.

That sound about right with tax, and UPS Shipping, I'm in Jersey so I may pay a little more for shipping. It's 1:15 am here now, so as of yesterday 4/17/2007 just about 1 hour after sending you my post I called Thomas Distributing to see if they were still on sale and they were. And quess what, I bought another one C-9000! Now I have a MH-C801D and two C-9000 Battery Chargers.

I just got a 16 new Sanyo 2700 and 8 Powerex 2700 mAh AA's along with 16 Sanyo 1000 mAh AAA NiMH Cells and I'm using the Break-In Mode to form them and it takes forever and a day. So, the extra C-9000 will come in handy. I'll use the MH-C801 (An eight bay chager) for most of my charging needs. And use the C-9000 when I only have 4 cells to charge, to break-in new cells and to analyze/refresh analyse cells.

I work with a group of other researchers and have lots of cells to charge all the time. I'll keep one C-9000 here at home at all times and I'll take the MH-C801D and the second C-9000 with me when I go to the cabin, on vacation and/or working in the field. When I do Goverment work we get put up in a cabin or hotel. I can keep the MH-C801D at the cabin or hotel and use the C-9000 in my truck when in the field.

Even here at home I always find my self with at least two chargers going at one time. Not only do I have my two Apex and two EOS Headlamps, but my wife has an Apex and each of the 3 kids all have EOS Headlamps. Then there is the remotes for the PS2's, PS3's, XBox, XBox 360, wireless computer mouse for 3 computers, VCR, DVD, Camera and Video Gear, GPS, Two-way Radios and everything else you can think of. And to same money and get better performance I use NiMH Rechageables in all. So, all my charger will get good use.

I really like both the MH-C801D and C-9000, they are both great chargers! I know lots of people like to keep their batteries cool with charging, and I've found with the MH-C801D the batteries stay much cooler the any charger I've ever used, even when charging 8 2700 mAh AA's at 2,000 mAh! But it doesn't have all the features of the C-9000. It just has Soft Charging at 1,000 mAh, Fast Charging at 2,000 mAh and the Cycle Charge/Conditioning Mode.

Good luck with your new C-9000 Charger, I'm sure your going to very happy with it. Let us know when it comes and how you like it after getting to play with it.

 

[TorchBoy]

I just bought a C-9000 from http://www.thomasdistributing.com/maha-mh-c9000-battery-charger.php and even though it's not listed on their web site, it was on sale for $59.97. That's only $20.00 more ...

I got mine from there too, but I think the "$49.14 more" was from an equivalent package including batteries etc.