Rate Your Battery Charger!
- Thread starter KE0GXN
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thanks. ordering it. still charging my original batteries in my 396xt and its working fine, however. but, i might as well join the rechargeable battery hobby. thanks again for the information.
KE0GXN
Member
No problem. I know one could probably re-charge forever in the scanner and never have an issue. I just didn't want to be "that guy" that did. I spent a little over $400 for my HP, which is not chump change for me.
So in the end decided for a little over $50 bucks I can have some piece of mind and at a minimum another toy to play with.
You could also go with the one for $1 and change cheaper sold by DC Workshop on Amazon, they seem just as reputable as Thomas Distributing. TD was recommended by Maha support when I interacted with them on my questions, so I figured it would be best way to go. Only difference is you get a travel bag with the one from TD, hence the slightly higher price.
Good luck man and happy scanning!
So in the end decided for a little over $50 bucks I can have some piece of mind and at a minimum another toy to play with.
You could also go with the one for $1 and change cheaper sold by DC Workshop on Amazon, they seem just as reputable as Thomas Distributing. TD was recommended by Maha support when I interacted with them on my questions, so I figured it would be best way to go. Only difference is you get a travel bag with the one from TD, hence the slightly higher price.
Good luck man and happy scanning!
If one just wants to keep it simple, Panasonic / Eneloop's latest chargers brought BACK the very important *individual cell* charge feature in the slower CC17 charger that can come with some batteries, or gotten stand-alone.
In previous years, much of what prompted the 9000's popularity was that the included Sanyo chargers only charged in pairs, which is not really good.
Fortunately, they saw the light (much of it from candlepower forums most likely - where the 9000 got user feedback initially) and brought back the individual cell charge.
For us charger nerds, while the rate may seem a tad on the low side to get an accuarate dv/dt "eoc" signal from the battery when reaching full charge, the use of pwm helps to make sure it actually does.
So while I love the 9000, the new CC17 included in some Eneloop packages does fine if you have about 7 hours or so. Each cell has it's own charge led indicator under the plastic cover.
In previous years, much of what prompted the 9000's popularity was that the included Sanyo chargers only charged in pairs, which is not really good.
Fortunately, they saw the light (much of it from candlepower forums most likely - where the 9000 got user feedback initially) and brought back the individual cell charge.
For us charger nerds, while the rate may seem a tad on the low side to get an accuarate dv/dt "eoc" signal from the battery when reaching full charge, the use of pwm helps to make sure it actually does.
So while I love the 9000, the new CC17 included in some Eneloop packages does fine if you have about 7 hours or so. Each cell has it's own charge led indicator under the plastic cover.
Just for experimental purposes (one-shot case study, no control group design) I purchased an $11 energizer battery charger that came with 4 1200 mah AA batteries. i also bought a pack of 2400 mah batteries from energizer. i want to see what these do and how well the charger works.
any predictions? it takes 5 hours to charge the 1200 mah and 9 to charge the 2300 (does not list the 2400 on the package but states it can charge up to 2650 mah batteries).
what are my disadvantages for this cheap energizer "recharge" battery charger and energizer batteries? if it works as well as the ones that came with my 396XT and using the radio to charge them, i say it's a success.
the batteries wont last as long? it has a safety shut off at 11 hours.
Chargers
I guess the best one I come across at a reasonable price would be the SkyRC NC2500, which is pretty much a modded version of the MAHA charger and then the MH-C9000. I did teardowns and try a few different chargers, including the Lacrosse and serveral Opus chargers. I also tested them with various lab equipment. The only ones to pass test without burning up was the Sky RC NC2500 and MH-C9000. The Lacross and Opus chargers has a couple serious design flaws and cheap built quality I seen different revision pull components to cut cost and not be able to handle the rated current it suppose to be able to handle and missed termination causing fire. If anything avoid Lacross and Opus, they are quite cheaply built for price and lack components to be able to handle rated specs and no firmware going to fix that.
The only issue I found was with the MH-C9000 will charge the batteries up to 95% and then you have to wait till it tops off. The SkyRC NC2500 is adjustable in software app. But with built quality light years ahead of the Lacrosse, or Opus without the serious design flaw.
I will one day do a extensive video explaining in better detail and maybe a thread for chargers, as notice a interest in these. .
I guess the best one I come across at a reasonable price would be the SkyRC NC2500, which is pretty much a modded version of the MAHA charger and then the MH-C9000. I did teardowns and try a few different chargers, including the Lacrosse and serveral Opus chargers. I also tested them with various lab equipment. The only ones to pass test without burning up was the Sky RC NC2500 and MH-C9000. The Lacross and Opus chargers has a couple serious design flaws and cheap built quality I seen different revision pull components to cut cost and not be able to handle the rated current it suppose to be able to handle and missed termination causing fire. If anything avoid Lacross and Opus, they are quite cheaply built for price and lack components to be able to handle rated specs and no firmware going to fix that.
The only issue I found was with the MH-C9000 will charge the batteries up to 95% and then you have to wait till it tops off. The SkyRC NC2500 is adjustable in software app. But with built quality light years ahead of the Lacrosse, or Opus without the serious design flaw.
I will one day do a extensive video explaining in better detail and maybe a thread for chargers, as notice a interest in these. .
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The best batteries are Eneloops, Energizer "recharge" "New revision", as they did have a bad beginning. Then the GP rechargeable batteries and Amazon batteries.
One note: The Energizer had a bad name due to older series they had that were pretty much crap. The new ones have tested them and have 100's of cycles on them and still hold full mAh with no issues and a couple years old now.
One note: The Energizer had a bad name due to older series they had that were pretty much crap. The new ones have tested them and have 100's of cycles on them and still hold full mAh with no issues and a couple years old now.
what i am asking is, with my cheap $11 energizer charger and the new energizer recharge batteries, what am I really mssing over the better, more expensive chargers and batteries. just giving it a try as walmart does have return policy. see how they work, how long, etc
KE0GXN
Member
You could get by that way. That is what I have been doing so far. I am using an Energizer Pro model CHPRO and rotating a set of 2300mAh Energizer batteries and the 2300mAh CORUNs that came with the HP. The PRO takes about 4 to 5 hours to charge 2300mAh batteries.
9 hours seems a bit slow for 2300mAh, but without a link or model on your charger, I can't check it out.
The disadvantages are:
-Its a bit slow for a wall-wart "dumb" charger
-It will not condition and maintain your batteries properly
-You will never truly know your full capacity after recharge and therefore you will not never know if your batteries are truly "fully" charged.
-It will eventually shorten the life of your batteries
I am sure there are many others, but those are the main ones that stick out to me.
If you can live with those disadvantages, then I say stick with what you bought. At the end of day you are successfully avoiding the "taboo" of in-scanner charging. However, in the long run, you will end up having to buy more and more batteries to replace the ones the "dumb" charger ruins or degrades. Rechargeable Energizer, Duracell, and Rayovac batteries can be bought locally for reasonable prices so going that route is feasible.
My only counter-argument would be your eventual battery costs.
For example, lets say after a couple weeks or so of using the Energizer charger you start seeing decreasing run times (more than likely because the Energizer charger is not charging them properly), so you run out and get another quad of $10 or so dollar AAs. Just doing that five times will eventually cost you at least $50 dollars or more, which is the going price for a smart analyzing charger, which can conceivably make your batteries last for years before needing replaced....
I throw the $50 dollar estimate out there, but actuality you could get a good smart/analyzing charger for even $30 or so dollars too. Both the Opus and Ambient Weather ones come to mind. Each are about $30 bucks.
Or you could go with the Eneloop CC17 charger that comes with some Eneloops. It is one of the only wall-wart "smart" chargers I know of that works good. It will run you about $20 bucks or so and comes with some AA Eneloops to boot. You will just not have any analyzing/conditioning features, nor will you be able to tell what your actual battery capacities are either. With that said, I think I posted a review I found of the CC17 and it indicated it works very well.
At the end of the day, if you avoid in-scanner charging, you win. It all just depends with what you are willing to live with.
I think you are right. battery costs for replacements will eventually surpass the savings on the "cheap" walmart style charger. so, in the long run, i be better off spending the $ now. agreed. will try these for a few weeks before i decide whether or not to return to walmart. i am sure you have 30 days for a return with receipt. i will compare run times on the 1200 vs 2300 mah batteries. again, this is a new hobby, batter chargers, so i have nothing but insight to gain. lolYou could get by that way. That is what I have been doing so far. I am using an Energizer Pro model CHPRO and rotating a set of 2300mAh Energizer batteries and the 2300mAh CORUNs that came with the HP. The PRO takes about 4 to 5 hours to charge 2300mAh batteries.
9 hours seems a bit slow for 2300mAh, but without a link or model on your charger, I can't check it out.
The disadvantages are:
-Its a bit slow for a wall-wart "dumb" charger
-It will not condition and maintain your batteries properly
-You will never truly know your full capacity after recharge and therefore you will not never know if your batteries are truly "fully" charged.
-It will eventually shorten the life of your batteries
I am sure there are many others, but those are the main ones that stick out to me.
If you can live with those disadvantages, then I say stick with what you bought. At the end of day you are successfully avoiding the "taboo" of in-scanner charging. However, in the long run, you will end up having to buy more and more batteries to replace the ones the "dumb" charger ruins or degrades. Rechargeable Energizer, Duracell, and Rayovac batteries can be bought locally for reasonable prices so going that route is feasible.
My only counter-argument would be your eventual battery costs.
For example, lets say after a couple weeks or so of using the Energizer charger you start seeing decreasing run times (more than likely because the Energizer charger is not charging them properly), so you run out and get another quad of $10 or so dollar AAs. Just doing that five times will eventually cost you at least $50 dollars or more, which is the going price for a smart analyzing charger, which can conceivably make your batteries last for years before needing replaced....
I throw the $50 dollar estimate out there, but actuality you could get a good smart/analyzing charger for even $30 or so dollars too. Both the Opus and Ambient Weather ones come to mind. Each are about $30 bucks.
Or you could go with the Eneloop CC17 charger that comes with some Eneloops. It is one of the only wall-wart "smart" chargers I know of that works good. It will run you about $20 bucks or so and comes with some AA Eneloops to boot. You will just not have any analyzing/conditioning features, nor will you be able to tell what your actual battery capacities are either. With that said, I think I posted a review I found of the CC17 and it indicated it works very well.
At the end of the day, if you avoid in-scanner charging, you win. It all just depends with what you are willing to live with.
KE0GXN
Member
Interesting....
I too looked at the SkyRC NC2500, but read some reviews about how loud the fan is and the app needing improvements, one guy has a video on youtube about it, where he likes to snap off the plastic tilt lift on the back a few times, I have no idea what he was trying to prove except that it is flimsy I guess. I see those as minor issues, but what kept me at bay was the price.....all the ones I found were in the $90 to well over the $100 dollar range. It seems well ahead of the curve in charger technology though.
I for one would value watching your video and learning more about it. Even if you could do one about the Maha MH C9000, I think that would be great, a lot of folks on here own it, I should be getting mine at my doorstep Monday I hope.
Those store bought chargers are usually no good. They don't have separate channels and charges batteries normally in pairs, which is bad for the batteries, as if one charge, then keep sending charge to both and overcharges the one that already fully charge then get generated in heat. Then you have some that are timer based that worst, as soon as you plug in send charge to batteries, regardless if they are charge, or not intill timer is up.
The more expensive chargers are worth the money spend as has independent-circuit charger is much better for your batteries than a regular "dumb" charger. If you want a package deal with charger, then buy the Eneloops, as usually come with their "Advanced" Individual Battery Charger BQ-CC17
ok, dont laugh, but here is the charger i bought to experiment with
Value Charger | Household Battery Charger | Energizer
Value Charger | Household Battery Charger | Energizer
Interesting....
I too looked at the SkyRC NC2500, but read some reviews about how loud the fan is and the app needing improvements, one guy has a video on youtube about it, where he likes to snap off the plastic tilt lift on the back a few times, I have no idea what he was trying to prove except that it is flimsy I guess. I see those as minor issues, but what kept me at bay was the price.....all the ones I found were in the $90 to well over the $100 dollar range. It seems well ahead of the curve in charger technology though.
I for one would value watching your video and learning more about it. Even if you could do one about the Maha MH C9000, I think that would be great, a lot of folks on here own it, I should be getting mine at my doorstep Monday I hope.
The NC2500 does need some improvements, fan will annoy some for sure and app needs some work. One issue I notice, if you walk away from it without closing app, then Bluetooth stop working correctly when you go by it again, even if you restart app and you have to unplug charger to reset it to get Bluetooth to work again. So you have to make sure you close out app when walking away from it. Bluetooth needs better range also. It is very well built charger, hopefully next version will fix the minor other issues.
They are no good, charges batteries in pairs. These are all suitable packs with good chargers that will get the job done. The black PRO ones have 2550mAh, or 2450mAh, so more run time. The white 1900mAh ones will last a lot more cycles .
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Adv...8&qid=1445100128&sr=8-7&keywords=eneloop+pack
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-K-K...&qid=1445100224&sr=8-32&keywords=eneloop+pack
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-K-K...8&qid=1445100128&sr=8-1&keywords=eneloop+pack
Amazon.com: Panasonic K-KJ17KHC82A eneloop pro NEW High Capacity Power Pack, 8AA, 2AAA, with "Advanced" Individual Battery Charger: Electronics
KE0GXN
Member
Dam dude...
My son has a Rayovac charger he uses to charge his AAs that looks better that that for his Xbox controllers....sorry man, but...LOL!
Best I can tell its "okay", however it does state it is timer based, which is something you want to stay away from. That it is what our scanners use to determine shut off, which is no bueno. It does state it uses Delta V as well, which is a good thing.
Another bad deal is, it does not charge each battery independently, as it requires 2 or 4 batteries to be inserted for the charger to work. Independent battery charging is best, for various reasons.
And finally, 10 hours for 2300mAh is quite long. My cheapo charger does that in half the time (4 to 5 hours).
I was just teasing you in the beginning, (couldn't help myself), but yeah, anything is better then in-scanner charging. If you don't believe me, check this thread out:
http://forums.radioreference.com/gre-scanners/321631-batteries-blew-up.html
My son has a Rayovac charger he uses to charge his AAs that looks better that that for his Xbox controllers....sorry man, but...LOL!
Best I can tell its "okay", however it does state it is timer based, which is something you want to stay away from. That it is what our scanners use to determine shut off, which is no bueno. It does state it uses Delta V as well, which is a good thing.
Another bad deal is, it does not charge each battery independently, as it requires 2 or 4 batteries to be inserted for the charger to work. Independent battery charging is best, for various reasons.
And finally, 10 hours for 2300mAh is quite long. My cheapo charger does that in half the time (4 to 5 hours).
I was just teasing you in the beginning, (couldn't help myself), but yeah, anything is better then in-scanner charging. If you don't believe me, check this thread out:
http://forums.radioreference.com/gre-scanners/321631-batteries-blew-up.html
KE0GXN
Member
Well, I saw the mail lady pull up, noticed she had a package and SHO NUFF, my Maha has arrived!!!!!
Time to play boys.....I'll check back in later.
Time to play boys.....I'll check back in later.
Has anyone tried out the Tenergy chargers, or batteries?
KE0GXN
Member
Had some time to mess with my Maha and I am nothing but satisfied so far.
Works great right out the box!
Been running it non-stop since I got it. Ran a Refresh/Analyze on my Energizers and the CORUNs that came with the HP. Will post the results on the battery thread...
Only cons I could see, which are not that big of deal to me anyway, is the LCD is a tad bright at night and it is kind of hard to read at certain angles. If you look at it straight on, like most do anyway, its very legible, but if you are laying in bed or standing at an angle to it and try to look at it, it is not very readable.
Otherwise, I can't complain. I have no doubt it will keep my batteries running in top shape for a long time.
Works great right out the box!
Been running it non-stop since I got it. Ran a Refresh/Analyze on my Energizers and the CORUNs that came with the HP. Will post the results on the battery thread...
Only cons I could see, which are not that big of deal to me anyway, is the LCD is a tad bright at night and it is kind of hard to read at certain angles. If you look at it straight on, like most do anyway, its very legible, but if you are laying in bed or standing at an angle to it and try to look at it, it is not very readable.
Otherwise, I can't complain. I have no doubt it will keep my batteries running in top shape for a long time.
KE0GXN
Member
SkyRc MC3000
Read over CP these two places are taking orders:
SKYRC MC3000 Smart Bluetooth Charger with App Control-88.57 and Free Shipping | GearBest.com Mobile
SkyRC MC3000 Universal Battery Charger Analyzer iPhone / Android App
Be interesting to see a review soon. Hopefully they got the app fixed...
Read over CP these two places are taking orders:
SKYRC MC3000 Smart Bluetooth Charger with App Control-88.57 and Free Shipping | GearBest.com Mobile
SkyRC MC3000 Universal Battery Charger Analyzer iPhone / Android App
Be interesting to see a review soon. Hopefully they got the app fixed...
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