Topic: Rechargeable AAs & Charger recommendation?

[noahbickart]

Hi good folks:

I need 6 AAs for my rig (Naiant littlebox [4] & Sony m10 [2]).

can someone recommend a good set of high capacity batteries and smart charger?

[cashandkerouac]

i've been quite happy with my eneloop rechargables for my M10.  i get about 5 hours with the batteries fully charged.  there are higher capacity options out there, but i have the most experience with the sanyo eneloop AA.  also, this is the charger that i use (LaCrosse BC-700) and it has been very reliable - http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technology-BC-700-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50/ref=sr_1_16?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1322767663&sr=1-16

[hoppedup]

I've been using Maha Imedion AAs for almost a year and have been really happy with them. I'm getting 16 more as my only christmas present.

I use this charger but  I think I bought a bundle with 8 batteries for around $55-60:

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/-MAHA-MH-C800S-AA--AAA-8-CELL-BATTERY-CHARGER_p_153.html

[F.O.Bean]

Heres what I use and LOVE IT

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/Maha-Powerex-MH-C9000-AA--AAA-Battery-Chargerbr_p_134.html

[bryonsos]

Another vote for eneloops, they're particularly good at holding a charge so you don't have to use them immediately.

[Gutbucket]

Eneloops and Imedions are about the same, both are low self discharge and work well.   I use Imedions, and they also offer a 9.6V battery.

Heres what I use and LOVE IT
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/Maha-Powerex-MH-C9000-AA--AAA-Battery-Chargerbr_p_134.html

Good charger but somewhat confusing and over complicated in it's options.  I use that for inital break-in and pair-matching, and to revive old batteries for less critical non recording uses.

I mainly use another Powerex charger, which is as good for regular charging but super simple (only option is fast vs. slow charging) and runs off 12VDC so it works both at home and on the road in the car or from a 12V battery at festivals.  Here's a package deal for it with AC x-former supply, DC cigarette lighter cable, and 4 AA Imedions- http://www.thomasdistributing.com/MAHA-MH-C204GT-with-4-Maha-Imedion-AA-Batteries-and-Deluxe-Case_p_2570.html

[F.O.Bean]

Eneloops and Imedions are about the same, both are low self discharge and work well.   I use Imedions, and they also offer a 9.6V battery.

Heres what I use and LOVE IT
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/Maha-Powerex-MH-C9000-AA--AAA-Battery-Chargerbr_p_134.html

Good charger but somewhat confusing and over complicated in it's options.  I use that for inital break-in and pair-matching, and to revive old batteries for less critical non recording uses.

I mainly use another Powerex charger, which is as good for regular charging but super simple (only option is fast vs. slow charging) and runs off 12VDC so it works both at home and on the road in the car or from a 12V battery at festivals.  Here's a package deal for it with AC x-former supply, DC cigarette lighter cable, and 4 AA Imedions- http://www.thomasdistributing.com/MAHA-MH-C204GT-with-4-Maha-Imedion-AA-Batteries-and-Deluxe-Case_p_2570.html

Its not THAT complicated

[jbell]

5 hours doesn't seem like good run times for eneloop batteries in an M10!!  I usually get much longer runtimes using 2000mah and even longer with my 2700mah. 

i've been quite happy with my eneloop rechargables for my M10.  i get about 5 hours with the batteries fully charged.  there are higher capacity options out there, but i have the most experience with the sanyo eneloop AA.  also, this is the charger that i use (LaCrosse BC-700) and it has been very reliable - http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technology-BC-700-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50/ref=sr_1_16?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1322767663&sr=1-16

[F.O.Bean]

5 hours doesn't seem like good run times for eneloop batteries in an M10!!  I usually get much longer runtimes using 2000mah and even longer with my 2700mah. 

i've been quite happy with my eneloop rechargables for my M10.  i get about 5 hours with the batteries fully charged.  there are higher capacity options out there, but i have the most experience with the sanyo eneloop AA.  also, this is the charger that i use (LaCrosse BC-700) and it has been very reliable - http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technology-BC-700-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50/ref=sr_1_16?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1322767663&sr=1-16

I exclusively use Energizer 2300mah AA's. They served me well over the year that I have had them, and once "Broken-In" on my Lacrosse charger, they last about 30hrs in my M10's

[rastasean]

I use the charger cashandkerouac linked to at amazon although unfortunately it looks to be more expensive than what I paid. A taper named Frank (forget his alias here) recommended it over the $10 one I was using and I have no regrets of it.

I use Imedions batteries and got an 8 pack from newegg awhile ago for a pretty good price.
When I originally bought the sony m10 it came with non-rechargable batteries and that pair lasted MONTHS. To be fair, I don't think it was recording 2 hours at a time but it lasted awhile. However, using rechargeables in the m10 don't seem to last as long (even with correct settings) so I may try out a pair of one time use batteries to see if it lasts longer.

[Gutbucket]

The two most important things to look for in any charger are independant charging circuits for each battery, and an internal charge control scheme that is more complex than just a simple timer.  Some cheap chargers have only one circuit and/or simply charge for a predetermined set time, regarless of the state of charge of the battery.

[stevetoney]

The two most important things to look for in any charger are independant charging circuits for each battery, and an internal charge control scheme that is more complex than just a simple timer.  Some cheap chargers have only one circuit and/or simply charge for a predetermined set time, regarless of the state of charge of the battery.

All chargers don't work for all battery types, so make sure that the charger is right for the type of batteries you are using (which means it charges at the correct voltage).

BTW, if you want a charger that works for almost every battery type that you'll ever use, get one of those Imax B6 programmable chargers on ebay for about $30.  It takes a little bit of knowledge on battery operation before you can use it confidently, but once you know how rechargeables work and how this charger works, you'll probably never need another charger.  I love mine...now that I know how to use it, I can fast or slow charge any battery at any rate that I want, although some batts (like SLAs) don't take a fast charge very well and you can go too fast and overheat any battery on fast charge...you just need to use some simple math skills and common sense though to use this thing properly.

[Gutbucket]

Right.  The simplified points I make above about chargers assume use for typical NiMH batteries (namely AAA'a & AA'a) which the OP was specifically asking about.  AA & AAAs of both normal NiMH and Low Self Discharge NiMH type will be fine in any such charger.  The one NiMH exception I can think of that is tangentially relevant around here is a special charger is required to properly charge higher voltage 9.6V NiMH rechargables (either normal or LSD) that some of us use in Nboxes and Church preamps instead of disposable alkaline 9V batts.  But most users have seperate chargers for 9Vs verses AAs and AAAs anyway, and most manufacturers make seperate chargers for 9vs.

[edit- the complexity of using an advanced charger such as the Maha one Bean mentioned or the LaCrosse is mostly choosing between what mode you want (charge, dischage, cycle, break-in, and a few others that are combinations that I can never remember and have to get the manual out to remember what they do and what to use them for) and having to specify the charging rate you want based on the battery's capacity.  Those options make the charger more universal and applicable to older NiCads and other things beside NiMH AAs, but a simple good-quality charger that you simply stick the AA's into and a LED for each battery turns green when each is charged is the best and most economical answer to Noah's needs IMO.

[stevetoney]

but a simple good-quality charger that you simply stick the AA's into and a LED for each battery turns green when each is charged is the best and most economical answer to Noah's needs IMO.

In spite of my earlier message which may have implied differently, for the sake of the OP I second this statement.

[F.O.Bean]

but a simple good-quality charger that you simply stick the AA's into and a LED for each battery turns green when each is charged is the best and most economical answer to Noah's needs IMO.

In spite of my earlier message which may have implied differently, for the sake of the OP I second this statement.

You just need 2 or 3 of them so you can recharge quicker

[Gutbucket]

You just need 2 or 3 of them so you can recharge quicker

The only user switch on the charger I suggested chooses between ~40 min fast charge or ~8 hr charge for all 4 slots. 

[fmaderjr]

Eneloops and Imedions are about the same, both are low self discharge and work well.   I use Imedions, and they also offer a 9.6V battery.

That's why Imedions are the best to get now. 2400 mAh Imedions cost about the same as 2000 mAh Eneloops! There is now a 2500 mAh Eneloop, but they cost way too much (twice as much as the 2000 mAh's or Imedions).

Low self discharge is definitely the way to go. You don't have to recharge them before every single concert and they seem to last a good bit longer than regular NiMh's before they need to be replaced.

[noahbickart]

thanks everyone!

[F.O.Bean]

thanks everyone!

So, which one did you go with?

[noahbickart]

Nothing yet. my m10 is still running on the one that came with the machine. 

[F.O.Bean]

Nothing yet. my m10 is still running on the one that came with the machine. 

SAWEET!

[dgale]

A belated thanks for all the info in this post - always nice to find everything you need without even having to make a post.  I just ordered the Powerex MH-C9000 charger and 8 Imedion 2400ma AA's - I can't wait to put them to use and unload the numerous Ecocharge batteries I've been lugging around for way too long...

[F.O.Bean]

Do the 'Break-In' on that charger and they can be charged close to 100% after cycled a few times

[markrsmith]

Can you explain the "break-in" process?  Thanks

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Depending on the charger, it will usually charge the batteries to full capacity, then fully discharge them and, finally, fully recharge them to capacity.  I don't know the exact physics behind it but I believe that will refresh and get rid of any residual charge "memory" that the battery may have.  I've had a set of rechargeable AA's for years that I cycled like that when I got a good charger and the batteries' capacity went from around 1500-1600 mAh per charge to over 2000 mAh.  The process definitely put some new life in them.

[F.O.Bean]

Depending on the charger, it will usually charge the batteries to full capacity, then fully discharge them and, finally, fully recharge them to capacity.  I don't know the exact physics behind it but I believe that will refresh and get rid of any residual charge "memory" that the battery may have.  I've had a set of rechargeable AA's for years that I cycled like that when I got a good charger and the batteries' capacity went from around 1500-1600 mAh per charge to over 2000 mAh.  The process definitely put some new life in them.

Well stated. The 'Break-IN' process charges the batts VERY SLOWLY and discharges VERY SLOWLY, and making them as good as possible

[dgale]

Do the 'Break-In' on that charger and they can be charged close to 100% after cycled a few times

Got it - "break-in" in progress on the first of two sets of AA's I bought.  So far I like this charger and it doesn't seem too complex or to have too many options to me - instructions are pretty straight forward.

[F.O.Bean]

Do the 'Break-In' on that charger and they can be charged close to 100% after cycled a few times

Got it - "break-in" in progress on the first of two sets of AA's I bought.  So far I like this charger and it doesn't seem too complex or to have too many options to me - instructions are pretty straight forward.

Agreed! Im not too tech savvy either

[Chuck]

Who has the best prices on the MaHa Imedion AA's?

[Chuck]

Well, I just ordered 20 Imedion low discharge AA's from Thomas Distributing to replace a bunch of the older regular NiMH batteries I've been using. There are slightly cheaper places to buy them, but I've ordered from Thomas before and I was very happy with their customer service on that purchase.

[Gutbucket]

That's where I've bought them several times. Had a 9.6V bloat in the charger once a few years back and they immediately sent a new one.  Great service.

[F.O.Bean]

I deal w/ Thomas Dist. as well Great service/price!

[Drgiggles1]

I deal w/ Thomas Dist. as well Great service/price!

I've been meaning to place an order with them for like a year now. Every time I am about to checkout I close the page saying to myself, oh what i have should last a while, prices should go down. They really haven't, so I pulled the trigger today. I am now set with my 9V and AA needs. Thank you TS.com for being the great forum that you are. Using bill me later will help soften the blow making small monthly payments over 6 months.

[1] K-MH-C9000-4AA    MAHA MH-C9000 Charger with Deluxe Accessory Case and Batteries Included
[4] MH-R9VI    Maha Imedion 9V (9.6V) 230 mAh Low Discharge NIMH Rechargeable Battery
[1] MH-BH49V    Maha Powerex BH49V 4-Cell 9V Battery Holder
[1] K-MHC490FDCW    - Maha Powerex MH-C490F-DC 9 Volt (9V) Battery Charger 4-Channel Smart Battery Charger

[F.O.Bean]

I deal w/ Thomas Dist. as well Great service/price!

I've been meaning to place an order with them for like a year now. Every time I am about to checkout I close the page saying to myself, oh what i have should last a while, prices should go down. They really haven't, so I pulled the trigger today. I am now set with my 9V and AA needs. Thank you TS.com for being the great forum that you are. Using bill me later will help soften the blow making small monthly payments over 6 months.

[1] K-MH-C9000-4AA    MAHA MH-C9000 Charger with Deluxe Accessory Case and Batteries Included
[4] MH-R9VI    Maha Imedion 9V (9.6V) 230 mAh Low Discharge NIMH Rechargeable Battery
[1] MH-BH49V    Maha Powerex BH49V 4-Cell 9V Battery Holder
[1] K-MHC490FDCW    - Maha Powerex MH-C490F-DC 9 Volt (9V) Battery Charger 4-Channel Smart Battery Charger

Nice pickup bro

I, too, need rechargeable 9v's but I doubt I'll get them til this fall