New Eneloops: BC900 or Maha C9000?

[bryan11]

After reading many pre-2009 posts about battery chargers, the La Crosse BC-900 and Maha C-9000 seem now to be very similar in price. I'm seeing the BC-900 with some okay batteries for $10 less than a Maha C-9000 for $49.

My plan is to buy a charger and some Eneloop AAs and AAAs. I also have a box of cheap NiMH AA batteries that might or might not be worth rescuing. Use will be in digital cameras and MP3 players. I'm leaning toward the Maha for the ability to revive old batteries, but having something easy to use for my wife is also important.

If you just put in batteries and only at first try to revive some old batteries, are they both about the same now?

thanks,
Bryan

 

[Niconical]

I'd say definately the Maha C9000. Not based on any features, but because you mentioned ease of use for the Mrs.

Although many people like to charge AA eneloops at 1C (2000ma), it is also quite common and acceptable to charge them at 0.5C (1000ma). That charge rate is the default for the Maha. So, all the Mrs would have to do is to insert the AA eneloops and walk away, and for AAA just a minor change to each slot used, bringing it down to 800ma, or maybe a little lower depending on your choice, but this is a "which charger" question, not a "how to charge" question.

"Training" her to up/down the charge rate as and when needed shouldn't be a problem though, but having the option to just insert and leave is useful.

 

[BentHeadTX]

+1

I own both and prefer the quality, ease of use, backlit display, features and 12VDC capability of the Maha C9000. The LaCrosse will max out it's charge ability at 1000mA for 4 batteries or 1800mA for two. The C9000 cranks out 2 amps and the batteries are cooler when charged. The buttons on the BC900 get sticky after awhile so the extra $10 is well worth it for the Maha.

 

[Turbo Guy]

I hve had my BC-900 for 3 -1/2 years now and it is a very good charger however I purchased a C-9000 about 6 weeks ago and it is on all account the better of the two.

 

[alfreddajero]

I have two C9000 and i wish i bought two more since the two that i have, have been doing double duty. Very nice charger to keep your batts in top shape.

 

[stefanj]

I just got a BC900- and I love it. I was able to pull a couple dozen Tenergies from the brink of extinction. It also is very easy to use and understand (which is a big plus for me as I read the Maha manual and was so confused that I almost gave up on getting a new charger). Either charger should work well for what you want- But for ease of use I give the BC900 a thumbs up.

 

[Hoggy]

I'm leaning toward the Maha for the ability to revive old batteries, but having something easy to use for my wife is also important.

If you just put in batteries and only at first try to revive some old batteries, are they both about the same now?

Be aware that the C9000 will reject some older batteries - mostly old AAA's. I find the BC-900 will NOT reject those same batteries. So, for reviving older batteries, I would suggest the bc-900.

As for being easier to use and maybe gentler on your Eneloops, I might suggest the C9000.
People have said (mainly NLEE the Engineer on Amazon) that the C9000 is harder to use than the bc-900.
I don't find that to be the case at all. With the bc-900, you have to be careful when inserting new batteries to make sure your only programming the newly inserted ones and not all of them at once. You get used to it though.
With the C9000, each slot is programmed individually so there is no worry of accidentally interrupting a possible 50/60+ hour refresh cycle of the bc-900.

As for your wife..
If you mainly have AA's, the c9000 is easiest. With AAA's, you need to tell her how to downgrade the current (a couple/few down-arrow presses before the 'enter' button).
As for the bc-900&wife, it will automatically charge all batteries at 200ma if no buttons are pressed. There are some concerns with charging at low rates though. Personally, I haven't had any noticed problems with the low rates yet.. I have rev-35.


Hope this helps. (There are definite reasons for owning both, IMO. It's just a matter of which you want to get first! )

 

[jt4703]

I've purchased both and have had for about a week and I have to say the Maha C9000 is by far way easier to understand to program and does not have the accidental 'reprogramming' of already working cells. The number of button pushes to get everything set up sounds daunting, but it's really easy since the menu guides you through each step.

The BC900 can be very irritating when trying to do different tasks starting at different times. I've reset so many cycles and just about given up trying to make the different slots do different things at the same time. I do like how you can program all 4 slots at once, but if you really don't want to do that, it's a PITA to make it NOT do that. I find I can get the mode I want most of the time, but the new slot always uses the default charging current and I can't seem to increase it. Only by programming all of the slots do I get this control which is rather annoying. I do however like the refresh setting. I've brought back 4 batteries from the dead on the BC900. The Maha wouldn't even try to charge them initially.

For right now I'm concentrating on reviving some older and poor performing batteries, but I think when that's done, the Maha will be more for battery conditioning and maintenance over time while the BC900 will be my every day charger. I'm certainly glad I have both!

 

[stefanj]

Funny how different people have different perceptions- I read both manuals online- after finishing the MAHA I was scared silly!!! No way I would be able to work it. Then I read the BC-900 and all my fears were gone. Also a big point for me was the default charge setting. My wife could just plug in a bettery and let it go- no need to worry about it overcharging or having too high a current. Now I'm reading all these post that state how easy the Maha is to use in REAL LIFE and it has me rethinking it's dismissal. Oh well not today as I just ordered a couple more flashlights.

 

[Russel]

Funny how different people have different perceptions- I read both manuals online- after finishing the MAHA I was scared silly!!! No way I would be able to work it. ...

I have both the BC900 and the MH-C9000. Don't be fooled by the manual. If you were to try to operate each one without a manual I am convinced that you would find the MH-C9000 easer to figure out due to the display.

 

[khadux]

I have both and my vote strongly goes to the Maha C9000. The breakin and discharge functions prove to be quite valuable.

My BC900 overheat its own 2600 mA AA batteries when charging at 1000 mA. The overheating would trigger a temporary termination and resumes charging once the batteries cool down (after 10 minutes or so). After the charger resumes charging, the 4 batteries overheated again and triggers another temporary termination. I got quite concern and stopped the charging so not to risk any further .

 

[sardian]

What exactly does the break in function do on the Maha C9000. I currently have a Powerex MH-C801D which is my main AA charger (really a great charger) but the C9000 has me interested. The break in thing caught my eye but what does it do? Just charge, discharge, then charge again?

 

[Mr Happy]

What exactly does the break in function do on the Maha C9000. I currently have a Powerex MH-C801D which is my main AA charger (really a great charger) but the C9000 has me interested. The break in thing caught my eye but what does it do? Just charge, discharge, then charge again?

The break-in cycle does a long slow charge, charging at 0.1C for 16 hours on a timer and not looking for an end of charge signal. This process helps to redistribute the electrolyte within the cell, reduce the internal resistance, and "wake-up" cells which are dormant. It then discharges at 0.2C giving an accurate estimate of the true cell capacity, and repeats the 0.1C timed charge.

It takes a long time to complete the whole cycle, but it does an excellent job of bringing cells to peak performance.

 

[alfreddajero]

I find that the c9000 was simple to use, one can do without the instructions. I say get two if you can makes doing breakins on one charger and your normal everyday charging on the other easier.

 

[N162E]

Trying hard not to comment.

 

[vali]

I just got a C9000 two days ago and I dont think it is difficult to operate.

 

[Turbo Guy]

It is plain to see the general trend here.

I have had my BC-900 for 3 -1/2 years now and it is a very good charger however I purchased a C-9000 about 6 weeks ago and it is on all account the better of the two.

I have both the BC900 and the MH-C9000. Don't be fooled by the manual. If you were to try to operate each one without a manual I am convinced that you would find the MH-C9000 easer to figure out due to the display.

I've purchased both and have had for about a week and I have to say the Maha C9000 is by far way easier to understand to program and does not have the accidental 'reprogramming' of already working cells. The number of button pushes to get everything set up sounds daunting, but it's really easy since the menu guides you through each step.

I have both and my vote strongly goes to the Maha C9000. The breakin and discharge functions prove to be quite valuable.

 

[H.Roark]

I have had a Maha C9000 since sometime after Christmas. It is super simple to use for charging, discharging, and break-in. I cannot remember how to use the refresh and analyze or cycling modes, but I'm sure a couple of minutes with the manual would clear it up. The manual isn't great, but running the thing is not exactly rocket science.

 

[Beacon of Light]

There are some concerns with charging at low rates though. Personally, I haven't had any noticed problems with the low rates yet.. I have rev-35.

There are? If anything lower rates are safer for the longevity of the cells. They stay cooler and charge more thoroughly with a slow and steady approach than a rip roaring 1800ma bake fest. I am assuming you mean always charging at 200ma might be problematic long term.

I think the idea of changing the charge rates periodically will keep the cell working better. Think of it like when you are working out, you have to shock the muscles by adding weight or changing tempo etc. Same idea with cells.

 

[Turbo Guy]

I am assuming you mean always charging at 200ma might be problematic long term.

Such a low rate ,200mA for a 2000 plus NiMH can indeed be a problem if you do not use a timer or check the cells after enough time has passed to fully charge them. Problem is that at such low rates the peak sometimes goes undetected and the cells bake for a while until the over temperature pauses the charge then they cool and continue to be over charged again and again.