Looking for decent rechargeables

[happyguy155]

I have done a lot of research and Sanyo Eneloops seem to be the best overall value. I am looking to buy 4 aa nimh batteries and a charger for 20-30 bucks. Are there cheap, yet reliable chargers in this price range? I just need a simple charger that won't cause batteries to leak or do any harmful damage.

 

[Locoboy5150]

I like this one from Titanium Innovations, the M-8800:

http://www.batteryjunction.com/8800.html

Battery Junction has a 5% off discount code for CPF members too:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=181841

 

[Mr Happy]

If you are near a Fry's, they currently have the Sanyo bundle of 4 AA eneloops and MQN06 charger for $19.99. The charger unfortunately is restricted to charging batteries in sets of 2 or 4, but if you are on a budget it is not a bad starting point.

 

[happyguy155]

Thanks for the help. I have read that the charger that comes packaged with the Sanyo batteries was not very good. Will it give inconsistent charges and battery life? Will it be good enough for simple tasks like powering remotes?

 

[stringfold]

I bought a Lacrosse BC-9009 charger and being able to monitor the health of all the rechargables has been worth the extra cash.

You can get the cheaper BC-700 from Amazon for $30, which is within your stated budget.

 

[happyguy155]

Yes, but with 4 aa batteries that brings the budget a little over 30 which is what I'm trying to avoid.

Is there anything bad about using the cheap charger sanyo provides? As long as I discharge most of the batteries after my remotes or controller die, won't they for the most part be fine?

 

[Bones]

Yes, but with 4 aa batteries that brings the budget a little over 30 which is what I'm trying to avoid.

Is there anything bad about using the cheap charger sanyo provides? As long as I discharge most of the batteries after my remotes or controller die, won't they for the most part be fine?

Yes.

Sanyo has bundled an untold number of these (NC-MQN06U) chargers with the Eneloop in North America for well over three years now, and if they really tended to kill cells, there wouldn't be such a dearth of reports of Eneloop failures.

The wording of your post indicates that you're aware that it won't correct a significant imbalance in the state of charge of individual cells during its primary charge cycle. However, as you've also indicated, you can correct this imbalance by either fully discharging the cells prior to charging or by periodically allowing them to trickle charge for an extended period of time after the primary charge terminates.

As Mr Happy has stated in post 3, the basic charger bundle that you're contemplating is not a bad starting point. Especially considering that, within reason, the Eneloop is proving sturdy enough to largely shrug-off less than ideal treatment.