Soshine Hi-Tech LCD NiMH / NiCD Super Quick Charger is it Reliable?

[kay188]

According to 56 reviews, and 86 votes, apparently the charger is pretty decent.

Anyone with a insight on this charger?
Would it be as "smart" as 86 votes, and 56 ratings say?

I'm thinking of ordering one as a cheap solution for a smart charger instead of dishing out $50 for one of the nice ones.

Would it be recommendable for a cheap solution for a "smart" charger like one of the Lacrosse ones?
(Of course they cant be compared to them )

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6152

Super Quick Charger with its unique LCD Battery Indicator allows you to view the status of the battery charging process. The charges comes equipped with an advanced safety functions including alkaline battey detection, automatic charge off and built-in temperature controls. It charges up t a AA or AAA Ni-MH batteries.
.
Capable of charging 1, 2,3, or 4 batteries at a time (four separate charging channels).
Can charge up to 4 AA or 4 AAA NiMH Rechargeable Batteries.
Totally automatic selectable Refresh (Condition) Function.
** LCD Battery Charge Indicator - shows each battery as it charges - shows charge level at a glance.
Worldwide voltage capable - 100V ~ 240V AC 50~60 hZ.
Fully capable of Charging all capacities of AA and AAA NiMh rechargeable batteries.
Will even charge the higher capacities of the future.
Automatic analyzes each battery - to determine battery state prior to charging.
Automatic detection of defective batteries.
Automatic Charge Level Detection - for termination once your rechargeable batteries are fully charged.
Automatic Temperature Monitoring - as your rechargeable batteries charge - prevents heat damage.
Automatic Cut-off Safety Timer Feature - Protects your rechargeable batteries from over charging
Automatic Alkaline Battery detection - prevents charging of non-rechargeable batteries.
Requires NO heavy AC adapter - Power Supply is built into the Sony battery charger.
AA Charge Current: 1050mA when charging 2 AA rechargeable Batteries - 525mA with 4 AA Batteries
AAA Charge Current: 640mA when charging 2 AAA rechargeable Batteries - 320mA with 4 AAA Batteries
Can be used Internationally with any suitable Adapter Plug
Protective flip up LID with vents for heat disipation as your rechargeable batteries charge.
Input Power: AC 100~240V 50/60Hz 7 Watts

 

[kay188]

Lol. No one would have any opinions on this?

 

[Mr Happy]

I know someone here has bought one of them, but I forget who exactly. Have you tried searching this forum for past threads? I'm sure it has been discussed.

It is basically a look-alike of a Sony charger, but the insides seem to be a bit different.

If you are aware that you are buying what looks like a "cheap Chinese knock-off" then you will probably get satisfactory value for the money.

 

[jerry i h]

Humbly suggest the Tenergy/Titanium smart chargers on BatteryJunction. His are only about 10 bucks more, and he is a domestic merchant.

 

[bluesbeat]

Yes i have one, it appears to work ok, but has a 'cheap' feel to it. I use it to discharge mainly, but have charged some batteries with it, charges pretty quickly and batteries do get pretty warm. You get what you pay for, but I can't afford a Maha or Lacrosse at the moment. battery contacts for AAA's are a bit fiddly, but yes it appears to do the job.

 

[Elliot]

I buy lots of cheap stuff on DX - my good reviews are posted, while my very bad reviews never seem to get posted.

 

[kay188]

Yeah i'm very well aware that this looks like a "cheap Chinese knock-off" or "bootleg" charger as you can say, but i know i'll get what i pay for.

I'm not looking for one of the excellent chargers like the Lacrosse ones as i cant afford one, but DX stuff seem to be very decent, and they work.

So it does have a discharge features?
I kind of need a way to discharge for my BTY cells that i need to revive..

 

[roymail]

So where are Maha and LaCrosse chargers manufactured (not distributed)?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Roy,

The Maha is made in Taiwan, the LaCrosse is made in China.

Tom

 

[roymail]

Hello Roy,
The Maha is made in Taiwan, the LaCrosse is made in China.
Tom

Thanks, Tom. Apparently some of the chargers made overseas are, in fact, worthy of our consideration.

 

[Mr Happy]

Thanks, Tom. Apparently some of the chargers made overseas are, in fact, worthy of our consideration.

That's because practically everything is made overseas these days. However some things are subject to more rigorous design specifications and quality controls than others. Which brand inspires more confidence: Soshine or Maha?

 

[jerry i h]

Yeah, let's get real. ALL chargers are 'made in China', whether the cheapie $5 that never seems to work right, or the state-of-the-art-$50 Maha/LaCrosse. Question: how much are you, the entrepreneuer/businessman/importer, willing to pay per unit for assembly?
They are all pretty much made in the same factories, same employees, same tables, same lunch schedules, same toilet facilities, etc. The more you pay, the better the delivered product. So, if you see 2 chargers more or less the same on the same website, but one is 5x the cost of another, which one do you think will work better? And, no, the difference is NOT that the website is trying to make more profit by disguising an inferior product by simply charging more. You can usually tell quality by the $$$ being charged.
The only real way to tell is to read the posts here on CPF by those who have actually bought said item.
I have no doubt that CPF could, if they had the financial werewithal, to commission a $100 retail charger that will blow away all competition. And this would be done in the same factory that cranks out Sony-copies that costs $5 per.

 

[UnknownVT]

I know someone here has bought one of them, but I forget who exactly. Have you tried searching this forum for past threads? I'm sure it has been discussed.

Soshine SC-C3 Intelligent Rapid Charger

(long review thread)

It's the "best" charger I have -
gives me lots of confidence in use -
but remember that's merely a sample of one......

 

[Bonky]

If I hadn't decided on a LaCrosse I would have purchased that Soshine.

 

[li21]

Anyone else have any input about this charger?

For those that bought a while ago.. is it still going strong?

 

[kay188]

Anyone else have any input about this charger?

For those that bought a while ago.. is it still going strong?

I'm currently using this charger.
I needed to cut time of refreshing my cells so i bough another charger.

Both work nicely.

I cant tell you how well the refresh function works out of my own opinion as i dont have damaged cells that can be revived with refreshing.

 

[stefanj]

I thought long and hard about that charger- Had it on my wish list and researched it carefully. My biggest fear was the rapid charge feature and the almost universal comment about the cells getting hot. When all was said and done my Lacrosse only came to $40, it included 8 batteries (somewhat lower than rated- but then aren't they all), c and d cell adapters (thes are handy for me as I have several old Radio Hack free flashlights that take c and d cells- but are worth so much less that the price of the batteries) and a useful (yes actually useful) carry pack (I spend weekends at camp and have to haul my stuff back and forth). My Lacrosse has work flawlessly, was able to save 35 of the 36 bad Tenergy batteries I had (my other chargers are dummy chargers and were worthless trying to charge these cells) (saving me $40 worth of batteries), and has given me the ability to moniter my battery performance. I buy tons of stuff from DX- and have been very lucky with the quality of my purchases- but for me the Lacrosse just gave me a better value. YMMV

 

[kay188]

I thought long and hard about that charger- Had it on my wish list and researched it carefully. My biggest fear was the rapid charge feature and the almost universal comment about the cells getting hot. When all was said and done my Lacrosse only came to $40, it included 8 batteries (somewhat lower than rated- but then aren't they all), c and d cell adapters (thes are handy for me as I have several old Radio Hack free flashlights that take c and d cells- but are worth so much less that the price of the batteries) and a useful (yes actually useful) carry pack (I spend weekends at camp and have to haul my stuff back and forth). My Lacrosse has work flawlessly, was able to save 35 of the 36 bad Tenergy batteries I had (my other chargers are dummy chargers and were worthless trying to charge these cells) (saving me $40 worth of batteries), and has given me the ability to moniter my battery performance. I buy tons of stuff from DX- and have been very lucky with the quality of my purchases- but for me the Lacrosse just gave me a better value. YMMV

I do agree with having a smart charger such as the MaHa, and the Lacrosse would give you the better value for a long time to come, but to me, since i had no funds in paypal, nor would my friends lend me $50 at once to invest in a MaHa C-9000, this SoShine charger tends to suffice for me.

But they dont do the job when you need to revive stubborn old cells and you know stuff like that.