Battery charging NiMH

There is a guy on your tue who makes a good point:

To never buy a NIMH charger from a battery MFG. They have a vested intrest in you over charging and needing to buy more cells before you would have to if you got a proper charger. (their business is batteries and dont forget that).

As far as I can tell this jives with what HKJ reported also, (my paraphrase) “cheap chargers kill cells”

I have to disagree. HKJ gave the Panasonic BQ-CC16, BQ-CC17, and BQ-CC14 good reviews and Panasonic certainly sells batteries :smiley:

Awesome thread, HKJ, thanks!

Must read for all NiMh users!

Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Good stuff

Can u recommend good Nimh & Li-on chargers

Hkj , please complete this list

Hkj favourites / Recommendations >> ( from ur reviews )

Hkj list >> Ni-Mh
——————————-
1,Opus BT-C700 >>

2,Panasonic BQ-CC14 >> ( 2slot )

3,Angeleyes / Shan SH-168DLCD*

4,

5,
—————————————————————————————————————
Hkj list >> Li-On

1,Xtar VP2

2,Xtar VP1

3,Xtar SP2

4,

5,
—————————————————————————————————————
Hkj list >> Combined Chemistry / ALL /Mix

1,

2,

3,

4,

5,

Please Make correction/ complete the list

Atleast 3-5 options in each category !!!

HKJ, thank you for that information! :slight_smile: WRT charging current, from what I remember, it is recommended that the cell be charged with a current close the max current it is going to be used at, ie for higher drain devices, higher charge currents should be used. I can’t remember the technical details but, it may be related to the size of the crystals formed inside the cell.

> maniac

I suggest you first try reading all his reviews and filling out your chart for yourself.

There are so many different features to consider that each person’s preferences will differ.
Also, you’ll want to revise that list every time he comes out with a new review.

We can’t expect him to take all our needs into account and give us personal service — our needs vary too much.

If I’m wrong about this, I have a little list of my own … (grin)

I do generally not make this type of list, it is way to much work to keep it updated and it will also depend on what the charger is used for.

The SkyRC MC3000 will probably be one of my favourite chargers, but it is way to technical for some people and not everybody needs all the functions in it, but for my charger testing it looks to be a perfect match.

HKJ, I would prefer that you continue exactly as you are now. While a list would make it easier, the way you do things encourages us to learn and understand not only what is good or bad, but why that is so and what it actually means to us.

And though it usually takes me several ‘reads’ to understand, it is part of the appeal of becoming a true “Flashaholic” :bigsmile: It would take me ages to find this stuff otherwise if I found it at all.

We can never thank you enough HKJ.

Phil

Hank, Can I have ur list … plssss…

Thanks , but comme on man , I am new to BLF, I have read 90-99% of reviews by HKJ ( multiple/many times ), really useful , learnt so many things, which otherwise would have taken ages ……

But for understanding HKJ reviews u need to be technical ,

Any suggestions on a fast Ni-MH ( AA/AAA only ) charger , I mean really fast !

Hmmm, Ok , Keep the GOOD work ur doing.

HkJ => Reading ur reviews and everything I understand charging @700mA-1000mA is ideal ( also for terminating correctly)

But I need something faster , to cut down on charging time , ( Ni-MH -> AA/AAA only )

I am thinking 1.4-2A ?,( Battery life reduction not a really big problem )

I am not looking for the ultimate charger , but a really fast charger.

charging 2000 Nimh battery @700ma –1000mA/1A takes around 2.5-3hrs or 150min+

I was thinking whether I can cut 30-60 min charging time by going for 1.4A/2A.

even 2 cells @ fast charging will do !!! ( looking for 90min range )

I know U really like the BT-C700 ( special algorithm! )

HkJ , Any suggestions/ advice

I have taken note of SkyRC MC3000, but couldn’t find reliable sources, or PRESALE , probably will have to wait.

I have two fast NiMH chargers in my review queue, but like all fast chargers they will be a bit hard on the batteries.

The MC3000 has been on presale for some time, but only from two shops. I got a review copy from one of the shops and are writing on the review at the current time.

Suuuuure, as you ask so nicely.

Here it is:

Maha MH-C808M
Maha MH-C9000

Doesn’t satisfy any of your requirements.

That’s because you’re you, and I’m not.

Ya know, there’s a sure way to always, very quickly, have two charged batteries when you need them.
This is the way I do it: Buy six Eneloop batteries. Keep four of them in a good charger — the Maha MH-C9000 — all the time.

You know you can set the charging power level on that charger, right?

Aside from unknown warranty, could the MC3000 be the C9000 slayer for NiMh’s feature wise :D?

Probably, but it always uses -dv/dt (or 0dv/dt).

2 in queue,Interesting , I will be waiting patiently.

Yes, will have to agree , it will be hard on batteries .

I am from India , here the average temperatures are 35 degrees and summers hovering around 40-42.

Summers it goes upto 44/45 and some rare cases once in a while even 48 degrees was observed!!!

Thank you , for the list

But was expecting atleast 3-5!!!

The Both Maha is on my list , and satisfies my requirement , ( me & u are the same !!!)
Maha MH-C808M >> 2A ( 8 Bay )
Maha MH-C9000 >> 2A (4 Bay )

Only problem is sourcing them !!!

Ebay is the only option and shipping from USA - India is $20-$45 range !!!,

Maha MH-C9000 >> price + $20 shipping
Maha MH-C808M >> price + $35-$45 shipping !!!

The amazon imports it @ $170 ( NO WARRANTY )

So, What 2 say …

set the charging power level , yaa I know that part

You have high expectations.

Try looking locally— put this into a Google search: Bangalore+India+“NiMH+charger”
Set the search tools to “verbatim” and a recent time span to improve the results.

You will find something close enough to what you want by looking close to where you live.

If India is not making a decent enough NiMH charger, there’s a business opportunity there.

But — seriously — instead of fast-charging your cells over and over, just buy four more cells and give them proper charging.
You will always have charged batteries handy that way.

Reasonable expectations

“verbatim”

Search tools >> All results changed to “verbatim”

Time frame >> any time

Changing time frame to “past year” changes “verbatim” to all results

I suppose u can either choose “verbatim” or time frame , not both

Verbatim => tool to have Google search only for the specific terms you entered.

Learning something new , thanks , have been a internet user for past 15+ yrs ,

I did’not know the verbatim option !!!

But the search did’not give any worthwhile options!!!