AA Battery Charger and Batteries

[Louis]

what an amazing response thank you so much for this, I have just bought a LaCrosse BC-1000 with x8 Sanyo Eneloops Batteries

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanyo-eneloop-HR-3UWX-8BP-batteries-Mignon/dp/B004HFKVR6/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1352314678&sr=8-16

Im really looking forward to not buying normal batteries for a while!

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Check Thomas Distributing in the USA for batteries and chargers.  The charger is very important, the el cheapo ones can ruin expensive batteries in just a few recharges.  Battery makers love them.

[Rat]

Im really looking forward to not buying normal batteries AT ALL ANYMORE EVER!

There, I fixed it for you You may find yourself buying more Eneloops for a while, however, for everything you own with AA or AAA compartments.  I did, about five years ago. Never looked back, never spent another dime, very happy

Oh, as for the charging: as a rule of thumb, charge at a current of 1/3rd of the listed capacity tops. So for a 2100mAh battery, use 700mA or less. Makes 'em last longer.

[tron]

what an amazing response thank you so much for this, I have just bought a LaCrosse BC-1000 with x8 Sanyo Eneloops Batteries

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanyo-eneloop-HR-3UWX-8BP-batteries-Mignon/dp/B004HFKVR6/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1352314678&sr=8-16

Im really looking forward to not buying normal batteries for a while!

hello, good for you that you didn't get the MAHA801D.

I was using one for some time but started having problems (slow charge not working). Finally it melted the batteries!

http://www.amazon.com/review/RLZ3RWDJ14JE8

Another person who had the same experience had written the above review.

Now I do not say that MAHA products are necessarily bad. I bought the MAHA9000 and I am satisfied for now.

[RC]

As recommended by Syl Arena:

Powerex Maha MH-C801D Eight Cell 1-Hr PRO AA/AAA Charge
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E5S648/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00

Keeps a charge for a longer time:
Sanyo 1500 eneloop 8 Pack AA Ni-MH Pre-Charged
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UG41XW/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i01

More power but discharges quicker:
Powerex AA 2700mAh Rechargeable NiMH Batteries
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FOV92E/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i01?tag=crf-20

And get one or two of these in different colors
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YG7JXW/ref=oh_details_o00_s02_i00

[joshmurrah]

Don't buy 15-minute or 1-hour chargers!

As somebody has already posted, you want to charge at ~500ma or thereabouts, no faster.

[Daniel Flather]

+2 for the Sanyo Eneloops.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Don't buy 15-minute or 1-hour chargers!

As somebody has already posted, you want to charge at ~500ma or thereabouts, no faster.

Actually, there are some fast chargers that are good.    Its the cheap ones that just pour on the current and badly overheat your battery that are a problem.  10 or 20 or a few more recharges before a battery dies is not uncommon with them.  Then users blame the batteries.
I'd recommend the MH-C801D charger, and it's a 1 hour charger.

[joshmurrah]

Don't buy 15-minute or 1-hour chargers!

As somebody has already posted, you want to charge at ~500ma or thereabouts, no faster.

Actually, there are some fast chargers that are good.    Its the cheap ones that just pour on the current and badly overheat your battery that are a problem.  10 or 20 or a few more recharges before a battery dies is not uncommon with them.  Then users blame the batteries.
I'd recommend the MH-C801D charger, and it's a 1 hour charger.

I did some additional research, and the fastest rate recommended is 0.5-1C, which is just over a hour.  So a one-hour charger might be ok, but you're working at the limit.  I know for a fact 15-minute chargers kill batteries, been there done that.

I was definitely conservative in my 500ma recommendation, however, I'll give you the nod there.  That's an "optimal" number and not really a limit... I'm just careful to baby the batts, as it was a pretty large investment to replace all my household with eneloops!

[jonathan7007]

Useful thread!

I too have the Maha 801 charger and take it on location with my lightkit of speedlite-style units, all of which use AA rechargeables. I always press the "Soft" charge button when loading it unless really pressed to get a dead unit back up. I bought a lot of Thomas Distributing house-branded batteries in AA and AAA at the same time I bought the Maha charger. I have been satisfied, but did not ever do a side-by-side against Eneloop. I like the ability to recondition with this charger.

Thomas will also swap out a defective battery you recently bought from them, so they offer good customer service. This outfit also sells the Eneloop.

jonathan7007

[Louis]

Yes I agree,

This Thread and its responses have been fantastic, what I would also like to ask is Battery maintenance, In my current situation, I might not get a big job for maybe 2 months, lucky I teach to earn most of my money, and the small jobs here and there, but no need to worry over batteries and power every week, what is the best way to look after these type of batteries during the down times?

thanks again

Louis

[Rat]

Eneloops hardly need any attention. The figures vary, but Sanyo claims capacity decreases by 15% yearly. I recharge all spares about once a year and the rest when necessary, which is basically only after use.

[PeterJ]

I normally also carry a pack of primary (non-rechargable) lithium batteries for an emergency. They have a 10-year shelf life and 3000mAh is common so cheap insurance at $15 odd a pack. I've never had to use mine in a flash yet but with 1.5V rather than 1.2V nominal and similar or higher pulse currents I'd expect them to cycle a flash faster than anything short of the external pack, so they might also be worth a try for anyone that doesn't want to carry an external pack and don't mind blowing $15 a pop.

I had a charger years ago that went through the motions as though it was charging but really wasn't, or at least not properly. That's probably fairly unusual but is one way you could be left with all your batteries in a poor state of charge.

[Louis]

So if your not sure when you are going to use them next, at least charge them to full?, instead of leaving them empty?

[rpt]

So if your not sure when you are going to use them next, at least charge them to full?, instead of leaving them empty?

I always charge them up. Also helps to tag them into sets so you can rotate them...