Traveling Eneloops Charger??

[photonhoer]

I have read several of SilverFox's extensive and very valuable (due to their empirical soundness) contributions on CPF. Tom, I want to thank you directly for your time and care in the several reports I have read!!

...BUT...I still have a question which I hope is not too much trouble for you all to help answer.

My wife and I do medical volunteering in rural parts of the world, including some VERY remote ones like the rainforest jungle in Guyana. [http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178839 is a light review after one of our trips last year, if you are interested.] This means that we rely on batteries for our safety and our work (as well as for some of the fun things like photography.) We have standardized on AA batts for lights, radios, cameras, etc. so we only have one form factor to wrestle with.

Recently we have migrated to the Eneloop batteries, as their slow self-discharge equals availability for us. And so far, they seem to perform very well. Sometimes we can get access to mains or generator power to recharge, but the Sanyo NC-MQNO5U charger that came in the kits we bought from Costco take ±7 hrs to recharge the batteries - which we almost never have enough power to accomplish in the rough - and this charger is not 220v adaptive.

So, am looking for a good quality, lightweight charger which will not mistreat the Eneloops. I'd like to use something like a MAHA MH-C9000 but it's too big and too heavy. Knowledgeable people like Tom have recommended both the Lacrosse BC-900 and the Sanyo NC-MQH01U which fit our weight/size needs. Since we are using only 2000 Ah cells (and would not be pressing the edge of the envelope with speed and heat), would the BC-900 be a good choice? It seems to offer more flexibility at a reasonable price/size point. But I cannot tell if it has a power brick at the end of its power cord? If so, what is the overall weght?

Also I do already have a MAHA MH-C204W. From what I can tell, this charges at a pretty fast fixed rate and I am wondering if it will be unnecessarily rough on the life/falure rate of our Eneloop batts? I am willing to replace them, as batteres are of such vital importance to us on these trips, but I very much want to avoid having any on-trip recharging contribute to battery failure which is way more than inconvenient for us.

Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

Many thanks, John

 

[cave dave]

The BC900 has a fairly sizable "wal-wart".

 

[Kankujoe]

My new LaCrosse BC-900U charger has a power brick adapter. The power brick is about 1/2 the size of the charging base & weighs about as much as the charging base.

From all accounts it is a good charger (but many on this forum seem to prefer a Maha branded charger). I am a battery/charger neophyte so I can't intelligently debate the pros & cons. I did however buy this charger based on what I read here and in other places. I wish the power brick was integrated and that the charger had a 12V car adapter since on most of my travels I atleast have 12V available.

I am still in the market for a more compact travel charger w/ both AC & DC cords which will keep my NiMH LSD batteries charged and healthy. I would prefer a charger that will charge my batteries safely in 2 hours or less. I also would prefer not to spend $60-$70 and an additional $8-$10 for a DC cord.

 

[Turbo DV8]

I suggest that the BC-900 requires a clean power supply. If you plan to use the BC-900 with a generator, this may be an issue. A significant number of people, myself included, have reported their BC-900's occasionally reset themselves. The concensus was that the unit/wall wart does not have sufficient filtering under some circumstances. Some, including myself, have added filtering capacitors to the PS input, and the resetting has been cured, which might lend credibility to the insufficient filtering theory.

 

[kavvika]

Sanyo does make another smart, single-channel Eneloop charger but it only charges two cells at a time. Rate is 550mAh, so it will only take ~4 hours to charge a depleted cell. Don't know if it's what you're looking for, but here's the amazon link if you're interested.

 

[whippoorwill]

Would a solar power charger make any sense in your situation?

 

[Mr Happy]

On a whim, I just picked up this charger in Fry's for $19.99 to check out: http://www.audio-discounters.com/ul-inov2.html

I had a mind to buy some Hybrios anyway and this came with four of them, so I got a 90 minute charger for $10.

It is a claimed 90 minute charger that has a direct power lead and no wall wart, and can also be powered by a 12 V car plug or a USB input power cable.

It has a discharge/refresh function, and has (I think) 4 independent channels with individual progress indicators.

I will report back after I have tried it out.

[Edit] Breaking news: I opened the package and found that they lied, it is a 3 hour charger not a 90 minute charger. Also the supplied "Hybrios" are not the same as the regular Eneloop-alike cells, they are like the POWEREX Immedion cells pictured here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2400921&postcount=211

 

[Bones]

If you can live with a separate adapter, then I think the MahaEnergy PowerEx MH-C401FS may be a viable choice:

Fully independent channels, capable of charging 1 to 4 cells individually.

Includes a 110-220 volt AC adapter and a 12 volt DC adapter.

Charges at 1000mAh on fast charge, 300mAh on slow charge, and 50mAh on trickle charge.

This equates to charging four fully depleted Eneloops in 2 to 2 1/2 hours on fast charge or 7 to 8 hours (overnight) on slow charge.

On fast charge it will heat the cells up towards the end of the charge, but that's the trade-off for getting a fairly complete charge in a reasonably brief period of time.

The DC adapter, which is of negligible weight and bulk, will allow you to catch up on your charging whenever you have access to a vehicle.

It may also be worth contacting MahaEnergy to determine if the charger draws a current from the cells when unplugged; perhaps it can double as a travel and storage case since it comes with a lid.

In case your tempted to take another look because of its flexibility, I would still avoid the MH-C9000. It quite simply has dependibility issues. One forum member is on his fourth replacement, and there are numerous others reporting warranty returns as well.

It is to MahaEnergy's credit that they have been able to keep this fact largely under the radar with their no questions asked replacement policy, but that's of little consequence where you're going.

HyperLinks: Charger Plugs Manual Review Dealer's Page for Black or White

Please note that although the MahaEnergy site displays a 110 volt adapter, the dealer bundles a 110-220 volt adapter with the charger.

And thanks for doing more than your part.

 

[GaryF]

I've used the Titanium TG700 charger as a travel charger. It's a cheapie, but does a decent job: http://www.batteryjunction.com/tpec-ttg700.html

Pros:
Compact
No Wall Wart!
Works with 110v-240v
Comes with 12 volt adapter for car
Independent channel smart charger
Only $17.50

Cons:
Batteries do heat up more than average
I've seen it miss terminations, but only on 12v car power, and I think it was because it was resetting when I would stop and restart the car engine.

It's gonna be a little harder on the Eneloops than some of the newer chargers because of extra heat, but I really don't think it would be enough to worry about for a few cycles here and there.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello John,

After much thought... I am still undecided, but

Right now, considering the climate you will be in, I would recommend taking two chargers.

Your main charger would be the Sanyo NC-MQH01U. This has a 2 blade plug in that works with 100 - 240 volts. You will need an adapter to go from the two blade to what you are plugging into.

This charger has ample space between the batteries, which I think will be helpful when charging during higher ambient temperatures.

The second charger I would recommend is the Energizer 15 minute charger. If yours came with a 12 volt adapter cord, only take that. If it didn't, make one up. The idea here is to be able to charge off of a 12 volt battery, if needed. You can set your watch timer for 10 minutes and pull the cells before they have a chance to heat up. The AC adapter is big and heavy, so leave it home.

This gives you two options. 10 minute charging if there is access to a 12 volt battery, or a little over 2 hour charging if you plug in.

In both cases, the cell have good spacing to help with cooling, and the 15 minute charger also has a fan.

If I think of anything else, I will get back in touch with you.

Tom

 

[Lunal_Tic]

Would solar charging be out of the question? Maybe something like this or this?

-LT

 

[photonhoer]

Tom
Thank you for the thoughtful reply. Yes, the ambient temperatures can certainly have an impact on our conditions!

Sounds like the Sanyo is in our future! When we have 2 hours this will be our go-to.

Question: would the Rayovac 15 min charger [PS6] be equivalent to the Energizer in the 12v recharge mode? Three years ago before a trip to Africa, I purchased a Rayovac 15 min unit, the I-C3, and several of their 1800 Ah batts. They have worked well so far, tho I have no quantitative way of defining their remaining charge-holding capacity. However, I still have the charger and a 12v plug for it. Might it work as well as the Energizer unit?

Thanks, John

 

[SilverFox]

Hello John,

The Ray O Vac IC3 charger only fast charges IC3 batteries. They have a resistive strip at one end that is used to identify them. If you use normal batteries with the charger, the charge takes 24 hours.

Tom

 

[photonhoer]

Would solar charging be out of the question? Maybe something like this or this? -LT

Thanks LT! I have considered these, but certain factors reduce their apparent utility.

First, one has to attend to them regularly to keep them more-or-less aimed for 12 hrs. This is a lot of interference and distraction away from the clinic-at-hand. [By comparison, we try like crazy to keep a solar shower in the sun, and fail more than 70% of the time due to crowded schedules, etc.]

Second, finding 12 hrs of contnuous sun light is, believe it or not, even at the equator, quite a lot of work. [Some of the "clinics" have a roof-mounted solar panel to recharge the lead-acid battery for a radio, but they have to be carefully situated way above roof tops to get enough sun light.]

Third, they are quite heavy compared to the weight of other items we have to carry (food, tent, medical equipment.)

Fourth, I have the concern that when we run a battery down we need an immediate replacement (during the day for exams, pap smears and biopsies) and at night for conducting our lives. The weight-energy ratio, the shelf-life and the immediacy of availability - for me -weight the decision in favor of extra L91 primaries for us in this sort of circumstance. We really are operating well-outside the edge of civilization, can only bring limited amounts of gear, and have to fully depend on what we have with us.

So... great idea, but hard to accomplish. Nevertheless, thank you for the thought!!

John

 

[Lunal_Tic]

Thanks LT! I have considered these, but certain factors reduce their apparent utility.
First, one has to attend to them regularly to keep them more-or-less aimed for 12 hrs. This is a lot of interference and distraction away from the clinic-at-hand. [By comparison, we try like crazy to keep a solar shower in the sun, and fail more than 70% of the time due to crowded schedules, etc.]
Second, finding 12 hrs of contnuous sun light is, believe it or not, even at the equator, quite a lot of work. [Some of the "clinics" have a roof-mounted solar panel to recharge the lead-acid battery for a radio, but they have to be carefully situated way above roof tops to get enough sun light.]
Third, they are quite heavy compared to the weight of other items we have to carry (food, tent, medical equipment.)

So... great idea, but hard to accomplish. Nevertheless, thank you for the thought!!

John

No problem just trying to think outside the box. I use a solar roll/powerflex and battpack and have never noticed that I need to attend to anything. I just hang out the solar and wait till the indicator lamp goes off. Only thing I was worried about was actual sunlight getting through the jungle canopy.

-LT

 

[chewy78]

how about the accumanager 10? herehttp://www.thomasdistributingshop.c...er-2010-aa-aaa-battery-charger_p_155-999.html

 

[selfbuilt]

Great question photonhoer - I've been wondering the same thing myself.

My wife and I like to go on some remote trips where weight is an issue, so I've been struggling to find the best lightweight travel charger myself. Appreciate all the responses here!

My wife and I do medical volunteering in rural parts of the world, including some VERY remote ones like the rainforest jungle in Guyana. [http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178839 is a light review after one of our trips last year, if you are interested.

That was a fantastic review - it's what convinced me to pick up a Zebralight. :thumbsup:

FYI, readers of my review threads will know that I don't do low mode runtime tests on NiMH, because I refuse to allow them to completely discharge. I only do high mode runs so that I am available to manually stop the run once ~10% initial light output is reached (and then immediately start a recharge cycle on my Maya-C9000 :grouphug. Given the short runtimes on hi, I'm able to predict runtimes pretty well and keep an eye on things toward the end (my datalogger is hooked up to my work computer, making monitoring easier).

But given how impressed I am with the Zebralight as a long-runtime, low-weight light solution, I've broken my rule and potentially sacrificed an eneloop to see how the Zebralight handles them on low. I'll be updating my Zebralight review thread with ongoing info, but so far have determined you get ~3.5+ days on a standard duracell alkaline, but only ~2.5+ days on a fully-charged eneloop. Output level is roughly equivalent on the two battery types. I'm about to try a L91, so I'll keep you posted on that one!

FYI, I'm not sure yet of the state of my abused eneloop (i.e it spent potentially up to 8 hours overnight completely drained), but I've identified it and will continue experimenting with seeing how well it recovers and holds its charge compared to its batch mates. Especially the LSD characteristics, which I know from SilverFox are likely the first to go.

Anyway, just wanted to add my kudos to you for all the humanitarian work you and your wife do. Keep up the good work!

I have read several of SilverFox's extensive and very valuable (due to their empirical soundness) contributions on CPF. Tom, I want to thank you directly for your time and care in the several reports I have read!!

Well said - SilverFox's battery threads are been invaluable to me as well, and are a phenomenal contribution to CPF.

 

[scott.cr]

Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

I know this isn't directly pertaining to your question, but have you considered using Duracell lithium AAs? You can buy a case of them at Costco for $10 and change. I figure you might benefit from their relatively large capacity, shelf life and robust construction. However, there is a potential problem of disposing of the depleted cells (I don't know if they represent a toxicity hazard).

 

[Yucca Patrol]

I definitely agree that taking some single-use lithium batteries with you into the field is a great idea. As much as I hate to buy anything disposable, there are times in the field where this is the best possible solution.

In Panama last year, my chargers didn't really like the poor quality electricity we had from the generator and I found myself with partially charged batteries on a caving trip. Fortunately, I was able to buy a couple generic alkaline AA's from a child in a remote Kuna Indian camp.

This is my #1 reason for only owning one Sure-Fire flashlight and having all of my other field gear running rechargeable AA's. Even if I don't have enough batteries to run every piece of equipment, I'll always have what I need for the most critical piece at the time.

 

[photonhoer]

I know this isn't directly pertaining to your question, but have you considered using Duracell lithium AAs? You can buy a case of them at Costco for $10 and change. I figure you might benefit from their relatively large capacity, shelf life and robust construction. However, there is a potential problem of disposing of the depleted cells (I don't know if they represent a toxicity hazard).

Scott

I have googled the web and searched Costco extensively, but I cannot find "Duracell AA Lithium" batteries. I find Lithium AA (Energizer), but not Duracell.

any help?

John