I'm looking for a charger for at least 4 AA or AAA batteries. I have been looking at Varta and Energizer, for example.
I've been using a
Power2000 XP675 (from Amazon) for a couple of years. It charges AA & AAA pretty quickly, has four individual LED's 'battery charge' indicators (one for each battery loaded; they operate independently), a discharge button...plus it is dual power (110/220v) and has a nice fold-in plug for a compact design.
This is my standard 'travel charger', as I love its compact size.
However, when getting ready for last month's trip, I had concerns over the capacity of my NiMH batteries...they were getting old. So I picked up a
La Crosse Technology BC-900 (also from Amazon), as it is able to charge-discharge-test batteries and tell you what their remaining capacity is. This proved to be extremely valuable, as some of my older AA's were found to be in the 'nearly dead' (<500 mA-hr) range, and were replaced.
This has instantly become my preferred use-at-home charger.
For new AA NiMH batteries, the LaCrosse came with some Sanyo 2,700 mA-hr, plus I picked up a dozen Pearstone 2900 mA-hr from B&H (PEAANM2900). It took roughly two charge-discharge cycles to condition them, and they were all reliably returning real capacities in the 2000-2400 range; FWIW, I suspect that they are discharging some within 48 hours; this is apparently a problem with the higher capacity ratings.
- Varta comes or has 2700 mAh AA's, but it seems the non-universal chargers cannot charge 9V batteries.
- Energizer seems to top at 2500 mAh, but at least some of the non-universal chargers can charge 9V batteries too.
I don't have any need to charge 9V, so neither of these chargers has that feature; sorry.
- I would like that it charges well such kind of batteries, but that it doesn't take too long.
- I've seen a couple of bad comments about the Energizer 15min charger
I think that in general that the more rapid the charge, the worse that it is for the health/welfare of the battery.
- A car adapter would be very nice
- USB in/out would be cool, but it's not a main factor
- Best charger technology
- Individual LEDs are preferred
- I don't want to see battery rejects or killing
- 1 or 2 hour charge time would be OK, I wouldn't like 4
Charger features vs. the above wish list:
Car Adaptor: neither
One of mine -->
dual 110/240VAC power:
both
9V batteries: neither
USB: neither
"
Best" charger tech:
- individual cell charging:
both
"
Best" charger tech:
- individual LEDs:
both, but the XP675 uses a simple 4 segment icon, whereas the BC-900 gives you a number (capacity value).
"
Best" charger tech:
- ability to discharge:
both, but BC-900 is again better (numbers are more informative than icons).
"
Best" charger tech:
- variable charge rate(s): BC-900 variable (XP675 is fixed);
Charge Time <2 hours: neither, if you're measuring as a full charge on a 2000+ mA-hr cell ...or both, since a partially discharged cell does generally charge up to full within 2 hours.
In general, I've found that the highest charge setting on the BC-900 (1000mA) causes AA cells to get quite hot. Based on 'how hot does it get?' unscientific test, I'd guess that the XP675 is probably charging at 500-700mA. In general, I'm less inclined to run the BC-900 at 'full blast'.
IIRC, when I was doing break-in (full charge-discharge-recharge cycles) with the Pearstone 2900 AA's with the BC-900, it was probably taking 6-8 hours with it on its highest charge/discharge setting. Some things you just shouldn't rush.
One final comment worth noting: if I fully charge a set of batteries on a quick charger and then put them into my Hyperdrive HD80's and put it on to charge, they'll almost always take more time...often 30+ minutes. I'm not sure why, but the HD80 isn't a rapid charger, and I suspect that this has something to do with it.
My general conclusion is that I'd carry just the BC-900 if it didn't have a long cord that makes it less convenient to pack/carry. The XP675 isn't necessarily the best charger, but it is quite good and it packs very small.
-hh
