What would be the best charger for me?

[IlluminatingBikr]

Kind of a spin off this post, but I have some more specific parameters I would like the charger to have....

<ul type="square"> [*]Charges AAA, AA, C, and D cells [*]Capable of charging both NiMh and NiCd [*]Has some electronics that adjust to each individual battery's own special needs /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif [*]Relatively low price [*]Charges minimum of two batteries at a time [*]Allows batteries to be kept in charger for long periods of time without overcharging/damaging cells [/list]
It does not need to charge the batteries quickly, nor does it need to charge a lot of cells. Also, some sort of indicators of how the cells are charging would be nice.

Thank you very much for your advice.

 

[shankus]

I like my Accupower 20. It meets all of your criteria, except maybe, "relatively low price".

 

[IlluminatingBikr]

Looks like a very nice charger. Thanks shankus.

 

[shankus]

No one else has any input? I'm surprised...

 

[radellaf]

I'll chime in with the usual CCrane recommendation

http://www.ccrane.com/chargers.asp

 

[Short Circuit]

I also would recommend the Acumanager 20 charger. It works well on all of my AA.C and D cells.

 

[milkyspit]

Shankus, for some reason things have seemed quiet around CPF in the past day or two. Wonder why? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Aaron, I'm looking for a charger like that myself. One unit, capable of handling all the popular sizes in both NiMH and NiCd, and YES! Keeps the cells in place until you need 'em. You're the first CPFer who understands why that last point is worthwhile!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Afraid I can't help you with the answer, but for what it's worth, I've been using a Rayovac IC3 charger with a bunch of AA NiMH cells lately, and it's pretty impressive. Charges the cells in 15 minutes, and handles AA or AAA. But it won't do anything larger, and you need the cells that are made for this charger to get your 15 minute charge time.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

 

[ramptapult]

I have had my accupower 20 for a couple of months. Put it through some moderate usage (AA,D batteries) and I am very impressed. Cool as a cucumber. Like shankus said "meets all your criteria 'cept price". Order it with some cells to save some cost, relatively speaking.

 

[batterystation]

I use a Rayovac PS3. It does 8AA or 8AAA, 4 C or D, 1 9v.
Very nice charger but not a fast charger. I got it at Wal-Mart for $20

 

[IlluminatingBikr]

So Shankus, Short Circuit, and Ramptapult, how come I don't see any reviews on the Accupower 20? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously though, I would love to see a review on the Accupower. It seems there is only one site that sells it or even has information about it, so I would like to hear about the charger from another source. Thanks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Short Circuit]

The charger is not as well known as the Rayovac, MAHA brands. All I can tell you is the AccuPower 20 works very well on my 7000 and 9000 MA D cells as well as with my 700 MA AAA cells.

Here is a long thread that debates the Vanson and Accupower chargers.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB6&Number=308335&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1



Here is a couple of links:

http://store.yahoo.com/batteryspecialists/ap20201.html

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/ap-accupower20.htm

 

[jdriller]

I also have the Accumanager 20. It is a works fine for me and stays pretty cool.

 

[Phlack]

The thread about the AccuPower20 was mentioned above, so I won't paste it again (although I did search 5min for it *GRUMBLE*).

I'll recommend the AccuPower20 as well, though take heed of my advice in the thread about how to deal with the charging of a battery that is so depleted that the charger doesn't realize that a battery is there (and thus refuses to charge it). If you can handle that (which at this point has happened to me several times & had to use the power-cycle trick), then it's a great charger.

-Mike

 

[Brock]

I like the Vanson 1HU, but by the looks of it the Acupower 20 and the Vanson might be the same unit. The specs are the same and they look the same. But you can get the 1HU for about $35

 

[Empath]

Other than the cabinet, Brock, they're not the same. User 'Accupower" gave us some useful information regarding the difference.