Maha C-9000 vs. La Crosse BC-900

[FrontRanger]

I'm looking to buy a good AA charging/discharging/conditioning unit. After perusing Silverfox's excellent and detailed review here, it appears that the Maha C-9000 and the La Crosse BC-900 are about the best. To me, they appear to have similar features: four channels, independently variable charge/discharge rates, a nice display, "refresh" mode, temperature protection, etc. The C-9000 has a "break-in" mode for long-stored cells, and I'm not sure the BC-900 has that, but I'm not sure how useful that will be. The biggest difference I see is price: One can find the BC-900 for $36, but I found no better than $60 for theC-9000.

Can anyone offer additional insight between these two units? I know they have product revisions, so I'm interested in the latest version of each. Thank you.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello FrontRanger,

In my opinion, once you understand the usefulness of the Break-In mode on the C9000, you will find that feature justifies the price of the charger. The fact that it does other functions is secondary as far as usefulness goes.

Tom

 

[FrontRanger]

Hello FrontRanger,

In my opinion, once you understand the usefulness of the Break-In mode on the C9000, you will find that feature justifies the price of the charger. The fact that it does other functions is secondary as far as usefulness goes.

Tom

Thanks, Tom. I don't mean to be dense, but why is the "Break In" feature so useful? I downloaded the user's manual for the C9000, and it states what procedure that mode performs, but it's not clear to me why that function is so useful. Or unique, for that matter - regarding the BC-900 in your review, you mention that "The refresh mode lets you break in new cells and revive old ones." What is the difference in functionality?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Mr Happy]

It seems that the specific kind of long slow charge and discharge cycle that the "break-in" performs does something good to improve the operation of cells that it is applied to. Whether it redistributes the electrolyte evenly within the cell, or breaks down large crystal formations into smaller ones, or does something else, the results are beneficial. Internal resistance is often reduced, peak current capacity increased, voltage depression reduced, maximum capacity restored. Results may vary with the particular cell brand. For instance when applying a break-in cycle to a brand new and recently manufactured Eneloop it might be hard to measure the difference. For other brands, or older and more tired cells, the improvement can be significant.

 

[TorchBoy]

To me, they appear to have similar features: four channels, ...

On its highest charge rate (which is lower than the MH-C9000's highest charge rate) the BC-900 has all of two channels. Similar, sure, but there are significant differences.

 

[FrontRanger]

It seems that the specific kind of long slow charge and discharge cycle that the "break-in" performs does something good to improve the operation of cells that it is applied to. Whether it redistributes the electrolyte evenly within the cell, or breaks down large crystal formations into smaller ones, or does something else, the results are beneficial. Internal resistance is often reduced, peak current capacity increased, voltage depression reduced, maximum capacity restored. Results may vary with the particular cell brand. For instance when applying a break-in cycle to a brand new and recently manufactured Eneloop it might be hard to measure the difference. For other brands, or older and more tired cells, the improvement can be significant.

Thanks for the high-level description, Mr Happy. That does sound like a worthwhile feature. For further detail, I'd have to learn a lot more about battery chemistry, but I don't need to do that right now.

 

[FrontRanger]

On its highest charge rate (which is lower than the MH-C9000's highest charge rate) the BC-900 has all of two channels. Similar, sure, but there are significant differences.

Thanks, I didn't know that. Now I see it in the user manual but it's not mentioned on La Crosse's web page for the BC-900.

 

[Dogmeat]

Mind if I piggyback on this thread?

I'm looking for a charger too. I don't need it to sing and dance. I plan to basically rotate four rechargable AA's in a wireless mic pack I use on Sunday mornings. I'd like to pull two out of the charger on Sunday and put them in the unit. I'll put the two I just took out of the pack in the recharger and hope not to have to worry about them until the following Sunday.

To be honest that's about all this unit will be used for.

As I've read threads, it seems I need a charger what will charge the batteries, then shut off and then trickle charge to keep the power level up.

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but I don't want something I have to spend a lot of time learning to use or fussing with to get it to work right. I have plenty of complicated things in my life and my job, I don't need another.

I looked at the very basic charger that came with the Eneloops at Costco, I couldn't tell what it did or didn't do. Perhaps that's all I need, but having some way to tell what the charge was on an individual battery looks attractive.

The Maha C-9000 and La Crosse BC-900 look like nice units, but may be overkill for the limited use I'm planning. I don't want to spend more than I need to.

Any suggestions? Sorry for the long question, but I find giving as much info as I can upfront helps.

 

[NA8]

If lowest price is your main consideration, you might try the newer, cheaper LaCrosse BC-700. If you'd prefer the better engineered charger, there's no doubt the more expensive Maha C-9000 is lightyears ahead of the LaCrosse. This is kind of an old topic, so you'll get more information by just googling both models in this forum. There's been a lot written.

 

[Dogmeat]

Oddly enough, it looks like the BC-700 is only a few dollars less than the BC-900...and more in some places. It looks like the 700 would do all I want, and more, but for $3-4 extra dollars I might buy the 900 instead.

 

[TorchBoy]

Re: Maha MH-C9000 vs. La Crosse BC-900

If lowest price is your main consideration, you might try the newer, cheaper LaCrosse BC-700.

What's the default charge rate on that? I vaguely recall that it's quite low.

 

[NA8]

The BC-700 battery charger has all the same features as the popular La Crosse BC-900, except the BC-700 is capable of charge rates of either 200, 500, or 700 mA. The BC 900 has charge rates of either 200, 500, 700, 1000, 1500, or 1800 mA (sort of ). Other than the slower charge rates the BC-700 is identical in performance to the BC-900. The BC-700 is Black in color.

Black !!! Cool.

http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/...ml?SP_id=74&osCsid=0dqk8eteveu40e9t1gf1dkp1b1

 

[Niconical]

I've also been making the same choice recently, la Crosse Vs Maha.

Both chargers seem great, with popular opinion coming down on the side of the Maha. That doesn't mean the La Crosse is bad though, in fact it seems to get stunning reviews wherever I look.

The one thing that has swayed me towards getting the La Crosse BC900 is that the Maha C9000 and all of its multitude of settings and options, is from what I've read, very complicated to use.

Look at this review on Amazon, scroll down a bit past the item and product details.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NLUSLM/?tag=cpf0b6-20

All those repeated key presses to do things on the Maha just puts me off.

 

[TorchBoy]

Re: Maha MH-C9000 vs. La Crosse BC-900

NA8, I tried to find the answer to my own question but only found an implication. Is the default charge rate 200 mA?

 

[NA8]

Oh, I see. I've got the BC-900, just checked and it's 200mA default. I suspect the BC-700 is the same. No biggie though, you just hit the "Current" button and it toggles up.

Assuming you know to change it

Personally I think the Maha MH-C808M is the way to go. The C and D size low self discharge NiMH batteries in a Maglite with a P7 are just too sweet.

 

[Black Rose]

Other than the slower charge rates the BC-700 is identical in performance to the BC-900. The BC-700 is Black in color.

So that means it too could have a meltdown?

 

[Dogmeat]

This may be a question for another thread, but as far as the charging amps....

I've read that heat is a bad thing for batteries and that charging at a high amperage can damage the batteries. So, assuming you had the time to wait, is charging at the lower amperage better for battery life and preformance?

For me, if I have a whole week to let a AA sit on a charger, is 200mA better than a higher charge rate?

 

[TorchBoy]

Re: Maha MH-C9000 vs. La Crosse BC-900

For me, if I have a whole week to let a AA sit on a charger, is 200mA better than a higher charge rate?

I bet SilverFox will shortly mention something about vibrancy...

But seriously, have you seen his fast charging/discharging test? That would be treating a NiMH about as harshly as is possible, but it still gave respectably good life. :twothumbs

 

[Bones]

So that means it too could have a meltdown?

Prior to purchasing my MH-C9000, I scoured the web for any reports that the BC-700 was prone to meltdowns, and never located any indication whatsoever that this was the case.

Should anyone else wish to do the same, its known to carry at least three brand names and four models numbers:

Voltcraft IPC-1L | Technoline BC700 | Technoline BL-700 | La Crosse BC-700

Except for a major identity crisis, it was my impression that its a very dependable charger.

 

[Niconical]

Prior to purchasing my MH-C9000, I scoured the web for any reports that the BC-700 was prone to meltdowns, and never located any indication whatsoever that this was the case.

+1

From my investigations, it seems the BC900 did have some heat issues in certain cirmumstances, but the BC700 has had no such problems.