What is the BEST aa + charger...
+1 to the La Crosse Technology BC-900 it's a good value, and IMO, performs quite well. it's also smaller than some other fine chargers, and comes with a nice carrying case and some extras (C and D cell adapters for using AA cells in C & D cell applications; i don't find this too useful myself, but others like them). i believe mine came w/some AAA and AA NiMH cells which i gave away, so i'm not sure of this last point now.
IMO, a better, though more expensive charger, is the Maha C9000. IIRC, the Maha will still charge at its higher current levels (though 0.5C is perhaps a better charge current) when charging four cells simultaneously. IIRC, the La Crosse can only charge at higher levels w/only two cells inserted in the charger in bays 1 and 4 - not two bays directly next/adjacent to each other. i use the Maha C9000 a bit less often than the La Crosse, however, for reasons that have nothing to do whatsoever with performance. separating the cells in most any charger, when NOT charging the maximum number of cells simultaneously is a good idea to make it a bit easier for the cells to cool (besides any design limitations related to charge current which might be built into the design of any particular charger).
since, according to my reading, it is perhaps better to charge at 0.33C to 0.5C (not too fast and NOT too slow also, but a sorta' "Goldilocks" "just right" charging current), this four cell charge current limitation of the La Crosse charger, in actual practice, may NOT prove to be too great a limitation at all.
as far as AA NiMH cells go, i can recommend only three types (though i've tried several others):
1) Sanyo 2700 (in my testing, had the least self-discharge of the several non-LSD NiMH AA cells i tested; main downside of these cells is that their O.D. is just a wee bit larger than it should be and in certain somewhat rare instances they are too "fat" to fit in a particular application; otherwise they are excellent)
2) Maha PowerEx 2700 (in my testing, had an insignificant amount more self-discharge than the Sanyo 2700 cells; i'm talkin' one to several hundreth's of a volt more self-discharge after 30 days among the cells i tested; these cells have a proper O.D. and no problem fitting in applications that the Sanyo 2700 cells are just a wee bit to "fat" to fit in).
and
for LSD (low self-discharge) AA NiMH cells go with Sanyo Eneloops.
i like to have both types, i.e. LSD and non-LSD cells available and ready to go. if i've freshly charged up the Sanyo 2700's and Maha 2700's i will grab them for immediate use. for a AA light that i might load up w/cells and NOT use right away, but have ready to go at a moment's notice, i go for the LSD Eneloops and know that since they self-discharge so slowly that a few months down the road they will still perform well.
also, if i know that i'll be needing some cells later in the day or the next day, i'll freshen up the charge in the Sanyo 2700 and/or Maha 2700 cells so that later that day or the next they will be all ready for immediate use.
don't go by just the Mfr. claimed capacity. i've seen some boasting >2700 mAh capacity which get their higher rating by using a very LOW discharge current which is perhaps lower than any discharge rate that you will use in most of your lighting applications. at higher discharge rates these cells, which i have also owned, won't perform as well as the Maha and Sanyo 2700 cells i'm recommending that you use.
i've purchased ALL of the above mentioned cells and chargers (plus a whole bunch of others) from Thomas Distributing - no problems w/any of the probably 12+ purchases fr/them over the last 2+ or so years of doing business with them.
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[Note: if others reply w/differing opinions on any aspect of this Post, please, go with their suggestions; i won't debate anyone again on batt. related issues even if i either believe or know that i'm correct.]
