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==NiMH Battery Chargers==
==NiMH Battery Chargers==


When shopping for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) chargers it is important to find a charger that will do three things: 1. Charge the cells independently instead of in pairs (this is important in case one battery is bad, which happens frequently), 2. Charge at an appropriate rate --taking at least 1-2 hours (no 15-minute fast chargers!), and 3. Correctly stop charging when the battery is full (rather than charge for some number of hours regardless of the charge currently in the battery). Very few chargers you see in stores will do all of these.  
When shopping for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) chargers it is important to find a charger that will do three things: 1. Charge the cells independently instead of in pairs (this is important in case one battery is bad, which happens frequently), 2. Charge at an appropriate rate --taking at least 1-2 hours (no 15-minute fast chargers!), and 3. Correctly stop charging when the battery is full (rather than charge for some number of hours regar.dless of the charge currently in the battery). Very few chargers you see in stores will do all of these. Note that some of the lithium chargers listed later will also charge NiMH cells correctly.


NiMH cells will last more cycles if they are charged at an appropriate rate. The ideal charging rate is 0.5C, where C is the capacity of the battery in mah. For example, a 2700 mah cell (C=2700) should be charged at about 1350 mA (there is some debate about whether lower rates or a rate up to 1.0C is better). Therefore chargers with a charge rate that can be selected by the user are preferred. For capacity testing, the discharge rate is usually 0.20 to 0.25C.
NiMH cells will last more cycles if they are charged at an appropriate rate. The ideal charging rate is 0.5C, where C is the capacity of the battery in mah. For example, a 2700 mah cell (C=2700) should be charged at about 1350 mA (there is some debate about whether lower rates or a rate up to 1.0C is better). Therefore chargers with a charge rate that can be selected by the user are preferred. For capacity testing, the discharge rate is usually 0.20 to 0.25C.


=== AA/AAA Chargers ===
=== AA/AAA Chargers which can Measure Cell Capacity ===


[[File:Maha-c9000.jpg|thumb|The Powerex Maha-C9000 AA/AAA battery charger and conditioner]]
[[File:Maha-c9000.jpg|thumb|The Powerex Maha-C9000 AA/AAA battery charger and conditioner]]
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* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J6DLD4?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004J6DLD4 La Crosse Technology BC-1000 AlphaPower Battery Charger] is similar to the Maha MH-C9000, but it is smaller and usually comes packaged with 4 AA and 4 AAA NiMH batteries (see caveat later). It lacks the "break-in" charge and can not discharge a battery without subsequently recharging it. It is usually about $60. It was formerly called the BC-900, then the BC-9009, but all three models are essentially the same. The [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RSOV50?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000RSOV50 BC-700 charger] is a less powerful version, usually less than $40. Some Amazon reviewers reported problems with the BC-9009 chargers melting a few years ago, summarized in this [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=252188 CPF thread], but the BC-1000 appears to have been redesigned on the inside to avoid this problem. [http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/bc1000/manual.pdf Manual]
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J6DLD4?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004J6DLD4 La Crosse Technology BC-1000 AlphaPower Battery Charger] is similar to the Maha MH-C9000, but it is smaller and usually comes packaged with 4 AA and 4 AAA NiMH batteries (see caveat later). It lacks the "break-in" charge and can not discharge a battery without subsequently recharging it. It is usually about $60. It was formerly called the BC-900, then the BC-9009, but all three models are essentially the same. The [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RSOV50?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000RSOV50 BC-700 charger] is a less powerful version, usually less than $40. Some Amazon reviewers reported problems with the BC-9009 chargers melting a few years ago, summarized in this [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=252188 CPF thread], but the BC-1000 appears to have been redesigned on the inside to avoid this problem. [http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/bc1000/manual.pdf Manual]


* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DL9WDG?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001DL9WDG  Sony BCG-34HRE4KN] A 4xAA charger with charge indicators for each battery. Includes 4 2100mAh LSD batteries. It has a refresh button to discharge the battery before charging it and costs about $25. [http://esupport.sony.com/docs/BCG34HRE.pdf Manual]. This charger is a successor to the [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002IOIMQ?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002IOIMQ Sony BCG-34HRMF4 Battery Charger] [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=138475 CPF thread] [http://products.sel.sony.com/battery//pdfs/BCG-34HRMF4_LCD_Charger_Users_Manual.pdf Manual]
=== AA/AAA Chargers which Cannot Measure Cell Capacity ===


* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GS6FIE?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003GS6FIE Sony BCG-34HLD2RN] [[File:Sony-bcg34hld.jpg|thumb|Sony Cycle Energy BCG-34HLD AA/AAA NiMH charger]]Older versions of the silver 34HLD may have been based on timer, but the newer white version is a smart charger that charges cell individually and cuts off when each cell is full (only one indicator light which goes off after the last battery is complete). AA's are charged at 360mA (a pulse charge of up to 1400mA that averages to 360mA) while AAA's are charged at 140mA. The 2RN comes with 2 1000mAh batteries, the [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00166BNI0?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00166BNI0 4KN] comes with 4 2100mAh batteries, and the 4EN comes with 4 2500mAh batteries. This is a very inexpensive ($5-$12) basic charger. (CAUTION: Avoid the very similar looking BCG-34HH (more of a squarish shape at the top) series of chargers which charge only in pairs) [http://esupport.sony.com/docs/BCG34HLD.pdf Manual], [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=295313 CPF thread], [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/1499 review].
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHKSLM8?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00JHKSLM8 Panasonic BQ-CC17] - 4 cell compact AA/AAA charger charges cells individually with indicator lights when charging is complete for each cell. Applies a small topping off charge and no trickle charge. Recent price at Amazon was around $13 without batteries. Review: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/38195 HKJ]
 
* Sanyo Eneloop MQN05U (NC-TGR01 in Japan) - Charges 1-4 AAA or AA cells and usually comes with 4 AA eneloops. Note that this charger has a single indicator light which comes on after all of the cells are charged. It should not be confused with the very similar MQN06x which has two indicator lights and charges in pairs. Any NiMH charger can be used to charge Eneloop cells. [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2281988 CPF thread]


* [http://www.thomasdistributing.com/maha-mh-c800s-battery-charger.htm Maha MH-C800S] - 8-cell smart charger with LCD display. Has fast (1000mA) or gentle (500mA) charging mode (lower rates for AAA cells), conditioning cycle, 100-240V power. $57. MH-C801D is similar but has twice the charging rate (2000 mA default rate is too high for most batteries) and costs a little more. [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=137843 CPF thread] [http://www.mahaenergy.com/download/mhc800s.pdf Manual]
* [http://www.thomasdistributing.com/maha-mh-c800s-battery-charger.htm Maha MH-C800S] - 8-cell smart charger with LCD display. Has fast (1000mA) or gentle (500mA) charging mode (lower rates for AAA cells), conditioning cycle, 100-240V power. $57. MH-C801D is similar but has twice the charging rate (2000 mA default rate is too high for most batteries) and costs a little more. [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=137843 CPF thread] [http://www.mahaenergy.com/download/mhc800s.pdf Manual]
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=== AAA/AA/C/D 9V Chargers ===
=== AAA/AA/C/D 9V Chargers ===


*[http://www.amazon.com/Ansmann-5407022-Energy-8-Charger/dp/B00017LRCM Ansmann Energy 8] - A consistent award winner in Photography magazines. 1-6 AAA/AA, 1-4 C/D, 1-2 9V. Ni-Cd or NiMH. [http://www.amazon.com/Ansmann-5207123-Energy-16-Charger/dp/B00017LRCC Ansmann Energy 16] is similar but has twice as many bays. Auto discharges to avoid memory effect. Charges each battery individually, based upon readings taken once each minute. Charge rate is not user-selectable, but rates are appropriate (300 mA for AAA, 700 mA for AA, and 1000 mA for C or D). [http://www.ansmann.de/cms/fileadmin/ansmann-www/products/chargers_power-supplies/5207132/5207132-Energy-8-manual.pdf Manual]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V89RYS?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003V89RYS Ansmann Energy 8 Plus] - A consistent award winner in Photography magazines. 1-6 AAA/AA, 1-4 C/D, 1-2 9V. Ni-Cd or NiMH. [http://www.amazon.com/Ansmann-5207123-Energy-16-Charger/dp/B00017LRCC Ansmann Energy 16] is similar but has twice as many bays. Auto discharges to avoid memory effect. Charges each battery individually, based upon readings taken once each minute. Charge rate is not user-selectable, but rates are appropriate (300 mA for AAA, 700 mA for AA, and 1000 mA for C or D). [http://www.ansmann.de/cms/fileadmin/ansmann-www/products/chargers_power-supplies/5207132/5207132-Energy-8-manual.pdf Manual]


*[http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=408 Maha MH-C808M] - 8-cell for AAA, AA, C, or D (no 9V). Has fast (2000mA for AA, 700mA for AAA) or gentle (1000mA for AA, 350 mA for AAA) charging cycle. This could be too fast for some batteries. Sanyo recommend a maximum charge rate of 950mA for their Eneloop AA cells for example. Can condition batteries and has LCD display. $90. Review: [http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1211333&postcount=1 CPF thread] [http://www.mahaenergy.com/download/mhc808m.pdf Manual]
*[http://www.thomasdistributing.com/MAHA-MH-C808M-AA--AAA--C--D-Battery-Charger_p_244.html Maha MH-C808M] - 8-cell for AAA, AA, C, or D (no 9V). Has fast (2000mA for AA, 700mA for AAA) or gentle (1000mA for AA, 350 mA for AAA) charging cycle. This could be too fast for some batteries. Sanyo recommend a maximum charge rate of 950mA for their Eneloop AA cells for example. Can condition batteries and has LCD display. $90. Review: [http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1211333&postcount=1 CPF thread] [http://www.mahaenergy.com/download/mhc808m.pdf Manual]


*[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A0IL9C Rayovac PS3 Rechargeable Battery Universal Charger] - Has four bays with independent charging, but you can put two AA or AAA batteries in one bay (which you would want to avoid). As long as batteries are charged individually, this should work. It is a very old model charger (introduced no later than 2001). $22. [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=219300 CPF thread] [http://www.rayovac.com/recharge/manuals/ib_ps3.pdf manual]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A0IL9C?ie=UTF8&tag=tedsbatterpac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000A0IL9C Rayovac PS3 Rechargeable Battery Universal Charger] - Has four bays with independent charging, but you can put two AA or AAA batteries in one bay (which you would want to avoid). As long as batteries are charged individually, this should work. It is a very old model charger (introduced no later than 2001). $22. [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=219300 CPF thread] [http://www.rayovac.com/recharge/manuals/ib_ps3.pdf manual]
 
*[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P6L99 Energizer Family Charger (CHFC)] - Like the Rayovac, has 4 independent bays. As long as you charge one battery per bay, you are charging independently. Though it uses smart termination, it also automatically cuts off after a few hours, so high capacity D cells will take multiple charging cycles to actually get full from empty. 1100mA is a little high for some AA cells. It is available online but also bricks and mortar stores like [http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10242691 Walmart]. [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=204588 CPF thread] [http://www.energizer.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/pdf/rechargeable/chfc_instructions_english.pdf manual]


=== Not Recommended ===
=== Not Recommended ===
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Duracell: CEF14DX¹, CEF24¹, CEF26¹²
Duracell: CEF14DX¹, CEF24¹, CEF26¹²


Energizer: CH15MN², CH15MN2², CH1HR², CHCC³, CHCVM¹, CHDC¹³, CHDC8¹, CHFCV¹, CHFCV2¹³, CHFM¹, CHP4¹, CHVC3¹³, CHVCM¹³, CHVCM3¹
Energizer: CH15MN², CH15MN2², CH1HR², CHCC³, CHCVM¹, CHDC¹³, CHDC8¹, CHFCV¹, CHFCV2¹³, CHFM¹, CHP4¹, CHP42¹, CHVC3¹³, CHVCM¹³, CHVCM3¹


Kodak: K620¹, K6200², K6600¹
Kodak: K620¹, K6200², K6600¹
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==Lithium Ion Chargers==
==Lithium Ion Chargers==


Li-ion chargers aren't as commercially widespread as NiMH chargers. Precautions must be taken to avoid overheating cells and they should be monitored while charging. Some people only charge li-ion cells in their fireplace or in a steel bucket! For tips on safely using Li-ion cells refer to [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=235164 this post]. The important thing for li-ion chargers is to correctly stop charging when the battery voltage reaches 4.2 volts (for a typical 3.7 volt cell) and not to charge at a rate exceeding the capacity of the cell (e.g. "1C" for an 800 mAh battery is 800 mA). See [http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries this article] from Battery University for information about properly charging li-ion cells. A good charger will slow the charge rate as the battery gets closer to being fully charged.
[[File:Digichargerd4.jpg|thumb|Nitecore Digicharger D4 is a 4-bay charger with digital readout]]Li-ion chargers aren't as commercially widespread as NiMH chargers. Precautions must be taken to avoid overheating cells and they should be monitored while charging. Some people only charge li-ion cells in their fireplace or in a steel bucket! For tips on safely using Li-ion cells refer to [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=235164 this post]. The important thing for li-ion chargers is to correctly stop charging when the battery voltage reaches 4.2 volts (for a typical 3.7 volt cell) and not to charge at a rate exceeding the capacity of the cell (e.g. "1C" for an 800 mAh battery is 800 mA). See [http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries this article] from Battery University for information about properly charging li-ion cells. A good charger will slow the charge rate as the battery gets closer to being fully charged. All of the chargers below charge NiMH as well as lithium ion cells.
 
* [http://www.flashlightz.com/product.php?product=171829 Pila IBC 4-Stage Charger] - Has 2 independent bays and will charge batteries 65-67mm long batteries by default and 50mm long using the included adapters. It charges batteries at up to 600 mA and correctly terminates at 4.2 volts. This charger is often recommended in the forums. Because of the 600 ma charging rate, it is not appropriate for 10440 cells which often are 500 mAh. Note that Pila only recommends this charger be used with Pila cells, but it will work fine with any li-ion cells, but will require your own adapters for 16340's. About $45. [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=201323 CPF thread]


* [http://www.sbflashlights.com/Batteries-Chargers/Xtar-SP2-p233.html XTAR SP2] - 2-bay charger can adapt to many sizes. Can charge at 500mAh, 1000mAh, or 2000mAh initially and uses proper CC/CV charging. About $35. Review: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/11081 HKJ].
* [http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_260891.html SkyRC MC3000] a well regarded 4-bay charger that can do just about anything including testing and charging of all kinds of batteries, including 26650 size at up to 3000mA (4 batteries at once) and discharging at up to 2000mA (1 battery). Can charge/discharge a battery for storage. Has USB and Bluetooth computer connectivity. Firmware can be updated. $89-$99 at GearBest. Review by [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/43699 HKJ]


* [http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/nitecore-intellicharger-i4-liion-nicd-nimh-4channel-smart-battery-charger-us-plug-p-9638?rp=75393 Sysmax/Nitecore Intellicharger i4 v2] - 4-bay 2-channel charger (Bays 1 and 3 share a channel, as do 2 and 4). Charges li-ion cells as well as NiMH. Usually around $25, but sometimes can be found on sale for $20 with group buys at BLF. Reviews: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/9508 HKJ], [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?336936 Selfbuilt].
* [http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_173012.html Opus BT-C3100] Popular 4-bay charger that can test capacity of cells at a selectable discharge rate of up to 1000mA down to 2.8V. Tests internal resistance of a battery to tell you how healthy it is. Charges at a user selectable rate from 200mA up to 1000mA with 4 cells or 2000mA with 2 cells. Can charge batteries to 3.7V (LiFePo), 4.2V (most lithium ion batteries), or 4.35V (some lithium ion batteries designed for this voltage). Also charges NiMH batteries. The BT-C3100 v2.2 ([http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_173012.html $34] at Gearbest) appears to be the same charger as the BT-3400 which was sold at Amazon. Review of v2.1 by [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/33910 HKJ].


* [http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1251~r.72863811 Ultrafire WF-139] - Rarely recommended, but this two-bay charger seems to be used often and is less expensive than the Pila. Some models seem to charge batteries over 4.2 volts, while others seem to terminate correctly. It can do various sizes of batteries up to 18650, but the charge rate is too high for 10440's. It has two independent bays. In addition to DealExtreme, it is available from AW, Lighthound, and some other online dealers. Less than $20.
* [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-d4-digicharger.html Nitecore Digicharger D4] An easy to use 4-bay charger similar to the I4 below, but with a digital readout for voltage and current (about $25-30) as well as a 2-bay [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-d2-digicharger.html D2]. Maximum charging current is 750mA, but only 375mA when charging 3 or 4 batteries (slots 1 and 4 share a channel, slots 2 and 3 are the other channel). Has an option for low current (150mA) for charging 10440 an 14500 batteries. Can also charge LiFePO cells which have a lower maximum voltage. Review by [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/35145 HKJ].


* [http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105~r.72863811 DX 18650 charger (US)] or [http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13820 DX 18650 charger (EU)] are dedicated chargers for 18650 batteries and have two independent bays. Very inexpensive but seem to charge correctly by using a higher rate at the beginning and then tapering off as a battery nears completion. Seems to correctly terminate at 4.2V. $8.
* [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-i4-intellicharger-2014-edition.html Nitecore Intellicharger i4] - 4-bay 2-channel charger (Bays 1 and 3 share a channel, as do 2 and 4). Charges li-ion cells as well as NiMH without the display and options of the D4 model. Does not have a low current option for smaller li-ion cells and is not for LiFePo cells. Usually around $15-20. Reviews: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/9508 HKJ], [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?336936 Selfbuilt]. Similar [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-intellicharge-i2.html 2-bay model].  


* [http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14885~r.72863811 Universal Smart Charger] - A single bay charger with a charge rate low enough to safely charge 10440 cells, but can also charge up to 18650 (though it will take a while). Seems to safely terminate at or below 4.2 volts ([http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=213447 discussion]). Has no switches or controls, but automatically adjusts to 110 or 220 volt power (has folding US type folding power prongs) and will charge either li-ion or NiMH batteries (for NiMH batteries, terminates at 1.4 volts). It is very, very cheap: less than $6.
* [http://www.sbflashlights.com/Batteries-Chargers/Xtar-VP4-p376.html XTAR VP4] - 4-bay charger with digital readout. About $40. Review: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/36335 HKJ]. A 2-bay version is also available.


==Hobby Chargers==
==Hobby Chargers==

Latest revision as of 22:08, 13 October 2016

NiMH Battery Chargers

When shopping for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) chargers it is important to find a charger that will do three things: 1. Charge the cells independently instead of in pairs (this is important in case one battery is bad, which happens frequently), 2. Charge at an appropriate rate --taking at least 1-2 hours (no 15-minute fast chargers!), and 3. Correctly stop charging when the battery is full (rather than charge for some number of hours regar.dless of the charge currently in the battery). Very few chargers you see in stores will do all of these. Note that some of the lithium chargers listed later will also charge NiMH cells correctly.

NiMH cells will last more cycles if they are charged at an appropriate rate. The ideal charging rate is 0.5C, where C is the capacity of the battery in mah. For example, a 2700 mah cell (C=2700) should be charged at about 1350 mA (there is some debate about whether lower rates or a rate up to 1.0C is better). Therefore chargers with a charge rate that can be selected by the user are preferred. For capacity testing, the discharge rate is usually 0.20 to 0.25C.

AA/AAA Chargers which can Measure Cell Capacity

The Powerex Maha-C9000 AA/AAA battery charger and conditioner
  • Maha Powerex MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger-Analyzer charges 4 AA or AAA NiMH batteries. It charges cells individually at a user-selectable rate and cuts off when the battery is full (actually it has a small topping off charge and a very slight trickle charge to keep the battery full). It can also discharge batteries to determine their capacity (has LCD display), or apply a "break-in" charge. It is often recommended in the CPF forums. About $50. Manual Review by Silverfox
  • La Crosse Technology BC-1000 AlphaPower Battery Charger is similar to the Maha MH-C9000, but it is smaller and usually comes packaged with 4 AA and 4 AAA NiMH batteries (see caveat later). It lacks the "break-in" charge and can not discharge a battery without subsequently recharging it. It is usually about $60. It was formerly called the BC-900, then the BC-9009, but all three models are essentially the same. The BC-700 charger is a less powerful version, usually less than $40. Some Amazon reviewers reported problems with the BC-9009 chargers melting a few years ago, summarized in this CPF thread, but the BC-1000 appears to have been redesigned on the inside to avoid this problem. Manual

AA/AAA Chargers which Cannot Measure Cell Capacity

  • Panasonic BQ-CC17 - 4 cell compact AA/AAA charger charges cells individually with indicator lights when charging is complete for each cell. Applies a small topping off charge and no trickle charge. Recent price at Amazon was around $13 without batteries. Review: HKJ
  • Maha MH-C800S - 8-cell smart charger with LCD display. Has fast (1000mA) or gentle (500mA) charging mode (lower rates for AAA cells), conditioning cycle, 100-240V power. $57. MH-C801D is similar but has twice the charging rate (2000 mA default rate is too high for most batteries) and costs a little more. CPF thread Manual
  • Titanium M-8800 Smart Fast 8 Bay AA/AAA charger - 8-cell smart charger with individual channels, LCD indicators, 500 mA charging rate (for 5-8 cells, otherwise seems to be 1000mA which is high for AAA batteries), and ability to discharge cells. $30. Helpful post on CPF. Includes AC (100-240V) and car adapter.

AAA/AA/C/D 9V Chargers

  • Ansmann Energy 8 Plus - A consistent award winner in Photography magazines. 1-6 AAA/AA, 1-4 C/D, 1-2 9V. Ni-Cd or NiMH. Ansmann Energy 16 is similar but has twice as many bays. Auto discharges to avoid memory effect. Charges each battery individually, based upon readings taken once each minute. Charge rate is not user-selectable, but rates are appropriate (300 mA for AAA, 700 mA for AA, and 1000 mA for C or D). Manual
  • Maha MH-C808M - 8-cell for AAA, AA, C, or D (no 9V). Has fast (2000mA for AA, 700mA for AAA) or gentle (1000mA for AA, 350 mA for AAA) charging cycle. This could be too fast for some batteries. Sanyo recommend a maximum charge rate of 950mA for their Eneloop AA cells for example. Can condition batteries and has LCD display. $90. Review: CPF thread Manual

Not Recommended

The following chargers either charge cells in pairs(¹), use too high a charging rate (²), or use a timer (³).

Duracell: CEF14DX¹, CEF24¹, CEF26¹²

Energizer: CH15MN², CH15MN2², CH1HR², CHCC³, CHCVM¹, CHDC¹³, CHDC8¹, CHFCV¹, CHFCV2¹³, CHFM¹, CHP4¹, CHP42¹, CHVC3¹³, CHVCM¹³, CHVCM3¹

Kodak: K620¹, K6200², K6600¹

Lenmar: MSC815², PRO120¹, PRO290¹, PRO32A¹, PRO541¹, PRO78¹, R2G804U¹, R2G808U¹, R2GE04¹

Maha: MH-C204F¹, MH-C204GT¹, MH-C204W¹

Rayovac: PS131C¹, PS131D¹, PS13-4BC¹, PS13-4BD¹, PS32-2BC¹, PS4²

Sanyo: MQN06U¹

Sony: BCG-34HH¹, BCG-34HUE²

Most Vanson chargers

Any 15 or 30 minute charger. These cook cells and dramatically shorten cell life.

Lithium Ion Chargers

Nitecore Digicharger D4 is a 4-bay charger with digital readout

Li-ion chargers aren't as commercially widespread as NiMH chargers. Precautions must be taken to avoid overheating cells and they should be monitored while charging. Some people only charge li-ion cells in their fireplace or in a steel bucket! For tips on safely using Li-ion cells refer to this post. The important thing for li-ion chargers is to correctly stop charging when the battery voltage reaches 4.2 volts (for a typical 3.7 volt cell) and not to charge at a rate exceeding the capacity of the cell (e.g. "1C" for an 800 mAh battery is 800 mA). See this article from Battery University for information about properly charging li-ion cells. A good charger will slow the charge rate as the battery gets closer to being fully charged. All of the chargers below charge NiMH as well as lithium ion cells.

  • SkyRC MC3000 a well regarded 4-bay charger that can do just about anything including testing and charging of all kinds of batteries, including 26650 size at up to 3000mA (4 batteries at once) and discharging at up to 2000mA (1 battery). Can charge/discharge a battery for storage. Has USB and Bluetooth computer connectivity. Firmware can be updated. $89-$99 at GearBest. Review by HKJ
  • Opus BT-C3100 Popular 4-bay charger that can test capacity of cells at a selectable discharge rate of up to 1000mA down to 2.8V. Tests internal resistance of a battery to tell you how healthy it is. Charges at a user selectable rate from 200mA up to 1000mA with 4 cells or 2000mA with 2 cells. Can charge batteries to 3.7V (LiFePo), 4.2V (most lithium ion batteries), or 4.35V (some lithium ion batteries designed for this voltage). Also charges NiMH batteries. The BT-C3100 v2.2 ($34 at Gearbest) appears to be the same charger as the BT-3400 which was sold at Amazon. Review of v2.1 by HKJ.
  • Nitecore Digicharger D4 An easy to use 4-bay charger similar to the I4 below, but with a digital readout for voltage and current (about $25-30) as well as a 2-bay D2. Maximum charging current is 750mA, but only 375mA when charging 3 or 4 batteries (slots 1 and 4 share a channel, slots 2 and 3 are the other channel). Has an option for low current (150mA) for charging 10440 an 14500 batteries. Can also charge LiFePO cells which have a lower maximum voltage. Review by HKJ.
  • Nitecore Intellicharger i4 - 4-bay 2-channel charger (Bays 1 and 3 share a channel, as do 2 and 4). Charges li-ion cells as well as NiMH without the display and options of the D4 model. Does not have a low current option for smaller li-ion cells and is not for LiFePo cells. Usually around $15-20. Reviews: HKJ, Selfbuilt. Similar 2-bay model.
  • XTAR VP4 - 4-bay charger with digital readout. About $40. Review: HKJ. A 2-bay version is also available.

Hobby Chargers

Turnigy Accucell 6 hobby charger

Hobby chargers are built to charge battery packs that are often used with remote control cars, planes, boats, etc. They will charge packs of multiple cells and therefore must have higher power and typically have 12V input (RC users will charge from their car or a battery in the field). Due to the variety of cells they charge, they do not usually include battery holders, however most users will use strong neodymium magnets to hold the alligator clips to the ends of a battery as shown here. They can be used to charge a wide variety of battery chemistries and combinations of cells. Here is a good introduction to hobby chargers. Hobby chargers can test the capacity of a battery by discharging it. When charging, they will tell you how much charge is going into the battery, reading out voltage and current during the process, and cut off when the battery is full, or cut off based on time or amount of charge applied. They can also charge a li-ion battery to 3.8V for storage (it is not good to store li-ion batteries fully charged or discharged). They are not as easy to use, but do a lot more than just give you a green light when the battery is done.

  • Turnigy Accucel-6 60W 5A Balancer/Charger. Very popular and not as expensive as the Bantam charger that it copies. Has a maximum discharge rate of 1A. Seems to work well with this power supply though it can also be found on eBay for less (seller toymodel888 sells 12V 5A adapters for IMAX B6 which work great for $8 shipped). Can also be used with this temperature probe to make sure battery is not overheating (set to 45°C from default of 80°). Manual Review.
  • Turnigy Accucel-8 150W 7A Balancer/Charger. More power than you really need for charging flashlight batteries and requires a heavier duty power supply like this one.
  • iCharger 106B+ - Multifunction battery balance Charger (250W 6s Balance/Charger/Discharger).
  1. Available here - HobbyKing
  2. You can buy it in USA - ProgressiveRC
  3. Support forum - RCGroups
  4. Manual - Shenzhen Junsi Electronic Co. LTD
  5. Upgrading software (Firmware) - Shenzhen Junsi Electronic Co. LTD
  6. The iCharger 106B+ supports the "Open Format" data of the LogView software and can display, plot and analyze the charge and discharge data by it. (See detail information about logview on the following website: LogView Shows Your Serial Data...)
  • iCharger 1010B+ - Multifunction battery balance Charger (300W 10s Balance/Charger/Discharger)
  1. Available here - HobbyKing
  2. You can buy it in USA - ProgressiveRC
  3. Support forum - RCGroups
  4. Manual - Shenzhen Junsi Electronic Co. LTD
  5. Upgrading software (Firmware) - Shenzhen Junsi Electronic Co. LTD
  6. The iCharger 1010B+ supports the "Open Format" data of the LogView software and can display, plot and analyze the charge and discharge data by it. (See detail information about logview on the following website: LogView Shows Your Serial Data...)

Manuals

Triton Charger