I’m in need of a 100-200ma NiMH charger for my 1/2 AAA 250mAh NiMH batteries.
As much as I’d love to grab a hobby charger, I can’t afford $40+ on a charger.
Any ideas on a budget option (<$10 would be optimal if possible)?
I’ve got an old NiMH charger, the slow type and with delta peak detection because it can still charge more than a day of work on 2000mAh NiMH (if it was a timer charger it would have stop before).
The genuine sanyo eneloop charger is a slow type charger, 150mAh for AAA
You can pick up the lacrosse BC 700 on amazon for just over $30 I believe…
Well worth the money in my opinion.
I paid $55 to get it to me in SA, so if I could make use of the amazon option it would be a no brainer for me….
The I4 would also work I guess…
I know you said <10, but I say again it’s well worth the money…. :bigsmile:
Your choice….
Cheers
i4 and i2 charge a little too high the AAA NiMH.
Go for slow charge dedicated NiMH charger.
The Xtar Hummingbird Li-ion/NiMH charger seems to work well with my small cells (AAA/10440/16340) @250mA. That's the lowest charge rate I've found without going to a hobby charger. $6.50 at E2 Field Gear. I think there might still be a discount code (XTAR) ??
http://www.e2fieldgear.com/xtar-xp1-hummingbird-travel-charger-model-16340-14500/
Oops, sold out there.
I have an i4 and i2; they charge aa and aaa eneloops fine, maybe a bit too high current, but Eneloops can take it.
I’m trying to charge 1/2 AAA NiMH 250mAh capacity though. Tiny little cell.
The Sanyo charger looks promising, but it mentions 2 or 4 charging (not single cell charging) which I’m assuming that means it is like the i4 with dual linked channels.
Any DIY smart boards out there that could be utilized?
Edit: missed the xp1 post, that could be a winner will look into it, thanks.
Having difficulty finding a reputable dealer for the Xtar XP1. Seems they’ve been discontinued?
The little brochure for the Sanyo Eneloop charger says in the Spec section:
Charge time
1 - 4 Battery
Approx. 7 hours (for AA)
Approx. 6 hours (for AAA)
Note the time is given for ” 1 - 4 ” battery.
Where did you get the info on charging by pairs?
“This charger is designed to charge 2 or 4 AA or AAA…”
My info is from model NC-MQN0 5. It does not have such restriction. One digit difference in model number, but vastly different.
[EDIT]
Charge time is given for 1-4 battery. The manual must be in error when it says charge 2 or 4.
Think the manual intended to say when you charge 2 batteries, use Channels 1&2 or 3&4, not 1&3 or 2&4. When you charge 1 battery, you can use any Channels.
N05 manual is missing the info and N06 manual ‘over corrected’ it.
So the charge rates listed would be doubled if charging a single cell or no? That’s the main concern.
Ie single AAA (not sure how it determines AA charge vs AAA), but there’s a AAA spacer for the 1/2 AAA NiMH.
Hi Unknown 00101 - I just bought one of these from E2 Fieldgear last week.
$9 shipped. got it to use w/10440 & it works great.
I almost got it from goinggear but E2 was a slightly lower price.
I think goinggear is running a 15% off storewide sale using coupon code ‘snowedin’.
Check it out.
I just checked, they have it in stock for $8.95 plus shipping.
Thanks, I didn’t recognize goinggear when looking for the xp1.
I couldn’t get snowedin to work, but ‘Sootch00’ works for 10%.
HKJ mentioned some issues with .25A charge rate with the xp1, I’ll look into it a bit more before buying.
The manual is too complex/confusing for me.
It says “AA and AAA batteries can be charged at the same time.” How about charge your AAA in ch.1 and 3 regular AA’s in the rest of the slots?
That would probably work as long as the AA’s remain charging; I don’t know if once they’re full the charger would divert the full current to the uncharged cell, basically as if it was the only cell in the charger. Another issue would be I’m rarely charging my eneloops since they’re LSD, and really only see daily use in the summer/fall.
I think I might just go with the Xp1 that way I’ll have the ability to charge small Liion cells along with this tiny NiMH; hopefully .25A isn’t too much for the 250mAh cell.
I don’t think you have any other choice. Your manual says under Suitable Battery, Ni-MH battery eneloop: AAA HR-4UTG (Max 1000mAh. Min. 750mAh). That appears to eliminate your AAA in the Eneloop charger. Don’t know what’s so special about your AAA, but this reminds me of spending $1 to save a penny.
It’s 1/2 AAA. It’s like a half an inch long with the diameter of a AAA.
Unfortunately, it’s the only cell this silly light will run on. 
Who makes the battery? Link to the ‘silly’ light?
http://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1979
It’s not silly in a bad sense, more like odd/peculiar. This battery is kind of becoming a bit of a hassle though.
No idea who makes the battery. I think it may have been salvaged/taken out of an RC car battery pack.
That’s a cute little thing. Maybe somebody in the group has some information.