No more Duracell CEF23 chargers?

[Lynx_Arc]

Just ordered one of these on ebay, it comes with 4x 2000mah AA battery`s but no car adaptor , do the ones that dont come with the card adaptor still have the 12volt socket? as i have a few car adaptor cable lying about.

Thanks.

John.

yes, the ones without the car adapter are identical. The model numbers are related to the extras that come with it (2 vs 4 batteries, car adapter) not the charger itself. The current draw is low enough that any 12v car adapter with proper plug/polarity should work fine as it draws only ~500ma. Center pin is +.
EDIT: there is different models for different countries but my guess is that is related to the power plug (AC) on the back. On my US model it is spring loaded and removable so if they follow the same design they could just include a different plug on non US models using the identical design as the specs on mine says 100-240vac 50/60 hz

 

[Mr Happy]

On my US model it is spring loaded and removable so if they follow the same design they could just include a different plug on non US models using the identical design as the specs on mine says 100-240vac 50/60 hz

It is a real shame Duracell never produced an international adapter pack for this charger. It would be really handy to have a selection of various plugs to go with the charger.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

Thanks guy`s for the response.

I think i will use a 12volt mains wall wart to power my cef23 using the car adaptor socket, as the built in mains power plug looks like it will be a bit awkward to use.

John.

yes, the ones without the car adapter are identical. The model numbers are related to the extras that come with it (2 vs 4 batteries, car adapter) not the charger itself. The current draw is low enough that any 12v car adapter with proper plug/polarity should work fine as it draws only ~500ma. Center pin is +.
EDIT: there is different models for different countries but my guess is that is related to the power plug (AC) on the back. On my US model it is spring loaded and removable so if they follow the same design they could just include a different plug on non US models using the identical design as the specs on mine says 100-240vac 50/60 hz

 

[RepProdigious]

It is a real shame Duracell never produced an international adapter pack for this charger. It would be really handy to have a selection of various plugs to go with the charger.

It may not be the pretties mod i've ever done but it is a very very handy one:

Now i don't have to carry that stupid plug with me everywhere i go (lets face it, when you want to carry this charger with you in a bag the plug has to be removed or it will be poking you and everything in your bag like crazy), i can now just use the cord for my laptop that's in my bag most of the time anyways. Also fixes the international adapter pack issue!

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

How did you manage to fit an AC/DC converter inside, I cannot see from the photo, but if you want to clean up the socket area, if you get some two part epoxy resin and mix in a "little" black ball point pen ink, mask off the area and it will look great.

 

[RepProdigious]

All these chargers already have the AC/DC stuff built in (it has no wall-adapter or whatever, it takes 100-240V ~ 50/60HZ) and its already put together with black epoxy to make it all nice and strong..... i just didn't want to put the time into the thing to make the back all nice and pretty, maybe ill do this one day if i feel like it but for now its just great as it is!!

 

[RepProdigious]

Needed to charge two loopies so here's a shot on my little modded charger in action:

Sorry bout the bad lighting, we currently have those tiny little evil clouds shooting past so the ever-changing lighting is wreaking havoc on my camera.....

 

[Mr Happy]

It may not be the pretties mod i've ever done but it is a very very handy one: ...

That external power cord is why I really like my Duracell CEF21 chargers:

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

I bought four Duracell CEF21 chargers only £5 each , but i don't like the fake battery level indicators 🙁 , but it charges great 🙂

 

[RepProdigious]

Yeah, but unfortunately ive never seen the CEF21 on the shelves here.... My little CEF23 i can get brand sparkling new locally for about 15 euros including some four nice AA LSD cells.... not bad even if i have to mod it a bit before its perfect for me 😉

 

[CountryBoy19]

Don't expect it to be a hot rod USB charger, the output I believe is only something like 300ma.

Thanks for the advice, but I think I'll take my chances. Not looking for a hotrod, just something to charge my wife's Droid.

Quoted from one of the more helpful amazon reviews

Just in case anyone is still interested in this charger: I recently found out that its USB port is capable of supplying 1000mA output current - even though the spec says 500mA only. I discovered this by accident when using it as a portable recharger for my Archos 5 500 GB Internet Tablet.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Thanks for the advice, but I think I'll take my chances. Not looking for a hotrod, just something to charge my wife's Droid.

Quoted from one of the more helpful amazon reviews

I wonder if that output was from battery power or AC power. It is possible the USB circuit just taps off the 12vdc line using a linear regulater which would limit it to ~500ma while off battery the limit would be more defined by the how much power the regulator is designed to handle than the input power limits as nimh can dish out a lot more even regulated down to 5vdc

 

[sparky2]

I have been out of touch for a few days. I could read, but it is a bit difficult to type using my cell phone's "keyboard."

Your instructions were very helpful. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond. What a great forum!

 

[CountryBoy19]

I wonder if that output was from battery power or AC power. It is possible the USB circuit just taps off the 12vdc line using a linear regulater which would limit it to ~500ma while off battery the limit would be more defined by the how much power the regulator is designed to handle than the input power limits as nimh can dish out a lot more even regulated down to 5vdc

I'm not sure... I don't really know much about the charger, just that it came highly recommended. As long as it will charge her Droid I'll be more than happy with it.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

Just got my CEF23 , a few of things i have noticed as it`s doing it`s first charge.

1: It does make a ticking noise, about once a second, is this pulse charging?

2: The clip that is supposed to keep the charger lid shut is very poor.

3: It would have been nice, if when you remove the, clip on ac plug, the charger was able to sit flat so you can use the 12volt socket, I am going to have to make some feet for the back of the charger.

 

[RepProdigious]

1) Mine doesn't make any sound whatsoever.
2) Clip? Mine doesnt have a clip, just a little bump on the lid that fall in a notch on the charger body so if you mean that then yes, its bad.
3) I was also annoyed by that so when i modded my charger to take the two-prong cord i completely removed everything from the back so it now sits perfectly flat as you can see in post 67. However, if you choose to flatten the back like i did do not put it flat on a surface when charging cells because it won't be able to cool enough.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Just got my CEF23 , a few of things i have noticed as it`s doing it`s first charge.

1: It does make a ticking noise, about once a second, is this pulse charging?

2: The clip that is supposed to keep the charger lid shut is very poor.

3: It would have been nice, if when you remove the, clip on ac plug, the charger was able to sit flat so you can use the 12volt socket, I am going to have to make some feet for the back of the charger.

I had a ticking noise once... found out it was coming from a battery that was venting. once I figured out which battery was doing it and pulled it out of service the ticking stopped for good.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

I just felt the battery`s that came with the charger 2000mah , they felt hot, so i used in infra-red thermometer and it`s says they are at 55-58c , oh two have just finished.

 

[RepProdigious]

Thats a bit on the warm side for brand new cells being charged at only 550mA.... I charge my cells at 1800mA from time to time when im in a hurry and that does get em a bit warm but 500ish shouldn't do that. How old are the cells you received with the charger? It should be stamped on the cells somewhere.

 

[CountryBoy19]

I'm not sure... I don't really know much about the charger, just that it came highly recommended. As long as it will charge her Droid I'll be more than happy with it.

Received my chargers yesterday. I just had to try it out so I dropped for Eneloops into it and plugged my wife's droid in. It charged it just fine! I'm happy with my purchase.