In the last 30 years I have bought _every conceivable kind_ of battery charger: slow, fast, ultra-fast, "smart", digital, etc.: you name it, I tried it...
The problem with them has always been (for me) finding a reliable, multi-functional fast recharger, capable of recharging AA/AAA batteries of ANY capacity in a relatively short time WITHOUT KILLING THEM.
There are actually _lots_ of so-called "smart" chargers out there, capable of recharging any odd number of batteries of any kind in a very short time (which can be very bad for the batteries, if done wrongly, by the way...), stopping the charging when the batteries are full (...supposedly!).
The problem with many "smart" chargers of this kind (as any person that ever used these devices probably knows already) is that they can turn out to be quite "dumb", actually: as a matter of fact, many of them are designed to work properly only with batteries having the SAME (or LOWER) CAPACITY OF THE BATTERIES INCLUDED WITH THE CHARGERS THEMSELVES! This usually becomes evident when you start using newest, more powerful batteries, having a _higher_ capacity, compared to the "old" ones included with the chargers... The "latest" batteries often have _the same operation time_ of the old batteries you got with the chargers!
For example, I noticed that I could never recharge properly my newest 2800 mAh AA batteries in my old "smart" chargers, which were sold with 2300, 2000 or 2500 mAh batteries...
IMHO, the problem sits with the fact that most "smart", quick chargers with _fixed_ charging rate use a combination of different methods to stop the charge, including, among others, _a safety timer_ and a temperature sensor.
In many cases, the timer is programmed based on a maximum capacity that matches the one of the included batteries. (This is usually specified on the packaging, but it always appears in such small characters, that you might need an electronic microscope to read them... So, you usually find this out only AFTER you buy the chargers.) With these chargers, you will simply NOT be able to recharge properly batteries with capacities that are higher than those included, and newest, more powerful (and much more costly) batteries might end up being actually "conditioned" to work as lower-capacity batteries!
In other cases, when quick chargers use a _fixed_, very high charge rate, they can overheat the batteries so much, while charging them, that the charge can be stopped too soon by the temperature sensor, and you might end up with partially-charged or even damaged batteries.
I wasted bucketloads of money in such useless chargers (all from major, tested and tried brands, costing a fortune, by the way...), until, in recent years, finally I started seeing _programmable_ chargers on the market: these are multi-functional chargers that not only can charge any kind of AA/AAA battery at a charge rate _chosen by the user_, but are also capable of analyzing, CYCLE-CHARGING-DISCHARGING old batteries and even CONDITIONING ("forming") new batteries, based on _user-defined_ charge/discharge rates.
All such functions are really necessary if you want to: A) Properly "break-in" new batteries in order to have them work at their _FULL_ capacity (this means charging-discharging-recharging them a few times at the proper rates, usually) B) Try reviving old batteries that have not been used for some time, by re-conditioning them, if possible (this is not always possible, unfortunately...) C) use DIFFERENT, separated charge rates for EVERY SINGLE battery, in order to charge properly very different batteries at the same time and D) SEE the actual status of the batteries, in order to calculate approximately how long the charge will take.
Well, after a long search through photographer's and electronics blogs and websites, and having discarded most cheaper chargers of this kind (that often end up MELTING themselves, as I found out in reviews of similar products...) I discovered the Powerex C9000, (this product comes under different brands in the USA and Europe, but it is the same).
According to many professionals, this is THE ultimate "smart" charger, since it offers ALL of the functions I listed above, and more: it can be programmed with charge currents from 200 mAh to 2000 mAh, it can charge, discharge, cycle-charge-discharge, analyze, break-in and refresh AA and AAA NiMh batteries, and it offers: a very large, durable hard plastic body (11x12x4 cm approximately, excluding the external small AC adaptor, so it is definitely not very portable, even if it is not too heavy); professional battery contacts; a LARGE, very detailed _backlit_ LCD display which shows cyclically functions (charge-discharge-analysis, etc.), battery voltages, variable charge rates, accumulated charges, and other information for EACH battery; separated, programmable digital controls for each battery, allowing you to set a specific charge current and function for _each_ battery (you can also just choose one charge rate and wait a few seconds: it will be applied to all batteries); finally, very clear instructions, that even explain the best charge methods/rates for various conditions, etc.
The charger has worked flawlessly, so far, and never overheated, since I could choose the most appropriate charging rates for each kind of battery, without stressing them. Unfortunately, it was not able to recharge or recover some really dead NiMh batteries, (which now I can deem as definitely R.I.P., at least...), but it was perfectly capable of reviving and recharging some 10-year old AAA batteries that I had not used for _years_!
The only cons I could find so far are: 1) There is no estimated _remaining_ charge time indication, only the _elapsed_ time is shown, so you can only guess the remaining charge time by the actual voltage, and 2) There are no separate physical buttons to control the charge parameters for each battery: you need to select them with the 4 buttons (very solid and easy to operate, by the way), through a menu system, and if you are using 4 different kinds of batteries this can take some time; anyway, these are only minor design limitations that IMHO do not hinder the performance of this amazing device in any way.
This time I have really reached the peace of mind: until this charger breaks (or until fuel-cels will become a reality), this is really going to be the LAST NiMH charger I will ever buy!
The best AA/AAA charger available - Gets the best out of your batteries
This is an excellent charger and my only real complaints are the Euro adapter, the backlight, which is so bright it lights up a dark room, the default settings are higher than I like to use and the setup needs to be done for every battery if the defaults are not wanted. A better option would be to copy the previous program to all batteries to the right of the last program for new batteries. Then different programs could be done in the first slots and then any multi setups done in the remaining slots. Doing that only for multiple battery additions should work well IMO. It doesn't take that long but I do have to lower the charge rate for ever battery I charge which is a bit of a nuisance, especially for multiple battery charges.The power adapter has a Euro 2 pin plug so an adapter is required to work in a UK socket. A push in adapter is supplied but it isn't one of the better types of adapter which securely attach to the power adapters. The better adapter has a code of BCA-BK. There are UK power adapters available for this charger, however I prefer the Euro one because of the way it fits in a UK socket when used with a converter. The UK adapter has the cable coming out of the top and when the charger is lower than the socket the cable would get bent. With an adapter the cable comes out of the side, with the supplied adapter.I have ordered one of the following and will see how well it works. Amazon had the best delivered price.Ex-Pro Euro European Clamping fast on fast off - Converter Plug with power connections Black / 3amp - easily convert European 2pin mains lead circular type connections to UK standard plug.The most useful feature of this charger is the break in mode which gets the best out of new batteries and even older batteries. I have improved some very poor new batteries above their rated maximum capacity. Vapextech AAA low self discharge batteries with a rated maximum of 950mAh and nominal of 900mAh, which on receipt were very poor, have now reached 960mAh after several break ins. Anyone who has experienced rechargeables knows that rechargeables very rarely get to their rated capacity and even their nominal is difficult to reach. I have managed to get several batteries above their nominal and one above it's rated capacity. All thanks to this charger. Highly recommended!
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 March 2010
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2012
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2012
The power adapter has a Euro 2 pin plug so an adapter is required to work in a UK socket. A push in adapter is supplied but it isn't one of the better types of adapter which securely attach to the power adapters. The better adapter has a code of BCA-BK. There are UK power adapters available for this charger, however I prefer the Euro one because of the way it fits in a UK socket when used with a converter. The UK adapter has the cable coming out of the top and when the charger is lower than the socket the cable would get bent. With an adapter the cable comes out of the side, with the supplied adapter.
I have ordered one of the following and will see how well it works. Amazon had the best delivered price.
Ex-Pro Euro European Clamping fast on fast off - Converter Plug with power connections Black / 3amp - easily convert European 2pin mains lead circular type connections to UK standard plug.
The most useful feature of this charger is the break in mode which gets the best out of new batteries and even older batteries. I have improved some very poor new batteries above their rated maximum capacity. Vapextech AAA low self discharge batteries with a rated maximum of 950mAh and nominal of 900mAh, which on receipt were very poor, have now reached 960mAh after several break ins. Anyone who has experienced rechargeables knows that rechargeables very rarely get to their rated capacity and even their nominal is difficult to reach. I have managed to get several batteries above their nominal and one above it's rated capacity. All thanks to this charger. Highly recommended!
The best AA/AAA charger available - Gets the best out of your batteries
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2012
This is an excellent charger and my only real complaints are the Euro adapter, the backlight, which is so bright it lights up a dark room, the default settings are higher than I like to use and the setup needs to be done for every battery if the defaults are not wanted. A better option would be to copy the previous program to all batteries to the right of the last program for new batteries. Then different programs could be done in the first slots and then any multi setups done in the remaining slots. Doing that only for multiple battery additions should work well IMO. It doesn't take that long but I do have to lower the charge rate for ever battery I charge which is a bit of a nuisance, especially for multiple battery charges.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2012
The power adapter has a Euro 2 pin plug so an adapter is required to work in a UK socket. A push in adapter is supplied but it isn't one of the better types of adapter which securely attach to the power adapters. The better adapter has a code of BCA-BK. There are UK power adapters available for this charger, however I prefer the Euro one because of the way it fits in a UK socket when used with a converter. The UK adapter has the cable coming out of the top and when the charger is lower than the socket the cable would get bent. With an adapter the cable comes out of the side, with the supplied adapter.
I have ordered one of the following and will see how well it works. Amazon had the best delivered price.
Ex-Pro Euro European Clamping fast on fast off - Converter Plug with power connections Black / 3amp - easily convert European 2pin mains lead circular type connections to UK standard plug.
The most useful feature of this charger is the break in mode which gets the best out of new batteries and even older batteries. I have improved some very poor new batteries above their rated maximum capacity. Vapextech AAA low self discharge batteries with a rated maximum of 950mAh and nominal of 900mAh, which on receipt were very poor, have now reached 960mAh after several break ins. Anyone who has experienced rechargeables knows that rechargeables very rarely get to their rated capacity and even their nominal is difficult to reach. I have managed to get several batteries above their nominal and one above it's rated capacity. All thanks to this charger. Highly recommended!
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Top reviews from other countries
Fabrice L.
Un peu de complexité pour maitriser ses accus
Reviewed in France on 5 April 2023CHRISTOPHE A.
Excellent chargeur, juste un point à améliorer :)
Reviewed in France on 30 March 2023
CHRISTOPHE A.
Reviewed in France on 30 March 2023
Ce chargeur est le premier que je trouve bien dans sur tous les points, d'où les 5 étoiles :) Le seul soucis, comme toujours quand on a un équipement intelligent avec une partie diagnostic, c'est l'interface, qui sur un écran LCD est forcément limitée. Pourquoi ne pas en faire une version intelligente avec une appli pour contrôler les paramètres et les informations de santé des accumulateurs ? Juste une suggestion
Il y'aurait cependant un point à améliorer : prévoir une protection pour éviter qu'en cas de recharge accidentelle de pile alcaline, le liquide corrosif ne coule pas directement sur la PCB, occasionnant logiquement la mort du chargeur. Je pense qu'il suffirait d'une plaque sous le compartiment des piles, et de déporter légèrement le contact pour que le liquide ne le suive pas jusqu'à la pcb. Je mets les photos du résultat d'un branchement de pile AA alcaline par erreur. C'est dommage en voyant la partie plastique je ne craignais pas un tel dommage ! Par contre bravo le démontage est absolument enfantin et propre ! on dévisse 4 vis, on déclipse le cache écran et on peut retirer le boitier.
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