Stupid charger/rechargable questions

[John N]

Well, I admit I don't use rechargables much. But I purchased a new scanner (BC246T if you must know!) and I figured that I'd be running it a fair amount and probably should go for rechargables.

Of course, this was sort of an impulse, so I just stopped at Circuit City on my way home from work (and was in a hurry). Best deal I could find was a Sony charger w/LCD (BCG-34HRMD) that came with (4) 2300 mAh NiMH batteries for $34.

That works fine.

My question?

Well, I'm curious how much I can mix and match chargers? Can I put the GP 1800 mAh NiMH batteries that came with the charger in there? How about the 1800 mAh NiMH PowerEx cells? I also have a Maha charger (Edit: Found it! It is MH-C204F) in a box somewhere that I purchased when 1800 mAh cells were the best you could get (hence the PowerEx cells). Can I put the batteries in there? The higher capacity ones too? If so, which charger would be better?

I told you these were stupid questions...

Thanks!

-john

 

[SilverFox]

Hello John,

The Sony charger looks like it will recharge all of your cells. The charge current is higher with 1 or 2 cells charging, so you may want to charge 3 or 4 of your GP 1800 mAh cells at once to keep cell temperature down. It should make no difference on the 2300 mAh cells. With the Sony, you can charge single cells.

The Maha charger will also work for all of your cells. It looks like it will charge at a little slower rate, but that means less heat. The Maha will also discharge the cells which is used to condition them. This is most useful for NiCd cells, but can improve the performance of NiMh cells if done occasionally. The Maha charger will not charge individual cells. You need to do 2 at a time.

You can mix 1800 mAh and 2300 mAh cells in the Sony with no problems. It has 4 independent channels. With the Maha, you have to work in pairs and the pairs should have the same capacity. For example in the Maha you could charge 2 1800's and 2 2300's. The Maha has 2 independent channels.

Tom

 

[John N]

Thanks Tom,

After I posted this, I both tried some stuff and found those links I posted on the other thread. Ironically, both of my chargers were in the review (or at least a version of the Sony).

Interesting thing is that it sounds like the Sony does a decent job fast charging, but then doesn't have a trickle charge. However, the four independent channels is nice, as is the LCD display.

So I found the charger and batteries in the garage after who knows how long. Plug in the Maha and drop the 1800s in there. Nothing. Try a couple of times. Same.

Drop them in the Sony. They start charging. The best I can figure is the batteries were so low that the Maha didn't know they were even in there.

I put the 1800s that came with the radio in the Maha and they charged no problem. I then took some partially charged 1800s from Sony and put them in the Maha and no problem.

So, it looks like the Sony also can deal with deeply discharged batteries better.

I did have one battery that didn't make it tho. Interesting thing is that it really showed how handy the independant channels were.

It did occur tho that the new Maha C401W might have revived the cell with it's new pulse charge thingy. But it is also a dual charger. It is interesting that nobody makes the "ultimate" charger.

Maybe the C401FS would work better as well. Wish I knew of a place around here that sold them retail.

-john