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Author Topic: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.  (Read 2585 times)

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ultrabike

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Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« on: May 13, 2013, 05:02:15 AM »
So... many portable amps seem to get their juice from either AAA, AA and 9V batteries. I researched a bit about rechargeables mainly due to baby/kid toys. I needed rechargeables with low memory effect and low self discharge.

Enter Eneloops. They come with my highest recommendation, but they are only AAA and AA AFAIK, and I needed C and D as well... There are adapters for AA to C/D form factor, but it got old to change batteries more often than I liked. Low self discharge 9V, C and D batteries seem to remain elusive in brick stores (real ~4500 mAh and ~10000 mAh that is). I found what I needed with the AccuPower Evolution and AccuPower AccuLoop D and C batteries.



I use a Maha MH-C808M to charge them and so far so good...



Currently another brand called Imedion seems well regarded but I have no experience with it. That said Imedion (low self discharge) and Powerex (high capacity) maybe part of Mahaenergy and their MH-C808M has served me well for a few years now. There are Imedion low self discharge 9V offerings and chargers by Maha (8.4V and 9.6V). Dunno about them but for those with 9V battery operated amps these might be interesting... Anyone has any experience with those or any other brands?
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Questhate

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2013, 03:53:38 PM »
This is the one I carry around in my messenger bag:


I got this particular model because it was cheap on Woot one day. Very convenient to have around, as I like leave the car at home and take public transit into the city on the weekends and will need a charge in the afternoon or so. Also handy on camping trips. Supposed to be 10,000mah but I don't know how accurate those claims are. It does fully charge up my phone about 4-5 times.
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shipsupt

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2013, 09:12:22 PM »
Another HUGE Eneloop fan here for AA and AAA.  They hold a charge so well even if they've been sitting around forever.  I use this charger for them, it's killer for a geek type!
http://www.amazon.com/La-Crosse-Technology-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50/ref=rec_dp_2


For 9V I use these guys, they have been pretty good, but I've always wondered if I could find something better.  I have somewhat limited use for 9 volt so I never seem to look very hard...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maha-MHR-9V-Powerex-Re-Chargeable-Battery/dp/B000WGCYPQ/ref=sr_1_16?s=electronics-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1368479013&sr=1-16


I grabbed one of these for a DIY project but ended up grabbing another because as Quest says they are super handy to have in a bag.  They've saved me a few times now. These things are super cheap now.
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

ultrabike

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2013, 09:51:38 PM »
I've read about the La Crosse in the past. It is very well regarded. In the beginning I thought my MH-C808M would cover all my needs, but it's a bit of a monster and sometime inconvenient for the AA and AAA. I might get the La Crosse for practical reasons. The price looks awesome too!

I may also get one of those charger thingies for the trips. The Anker Astros seem to get quite a bit of positive reviews.
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Kirosia

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2013, 08:26:12 PM »
I ordered a LaCrosse BC-700 from Amazon a few days back. It was $29 and my current charger is probably close to a decade old, and is likely killing my cheapo Sony AAs. Got some Tenergy's on sale as well, and realized it would be best to not sacrifice them for the sake of being extremely dick-headed.

Current charger, which I purchased as an external battery pack to use with those vintage Sony PCDP's Duncan and the like used to hype up:



EDIT: Here it be

« Last Edit: August 15, 2013, 09:27:06 PM by Kirosia »
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ultrabike

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2013, 05:02:01 AM »
$29 sounds like a killer deal!

BTW Had very bad luck with the Eveready Rayovac rechargeables. They seem to have some kind of memory effect... After a few recharges they last little.



Dunno if anyone had a positive experience w these, but the ones I got where  poo

Got more Eneloops...

EDIT: poo on the wrong batteries... My mind was playing games with me.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 03:40:39 AM by ultrabike »
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Kirosia

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2013, 08:15:32 PM »
I'm currently using Tenergy branded ones, mostly because the AA/AAAs go on sale regularly. I've read they compare favorably to Eneloops. (The Sony's in the pic are really just for my wireless mouse now)
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funkmeister

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2013, 12:45:11 AM »
I dig the Eneloop stuff in principal but I want fast charge so about 5 years ago I picked up a Duracell 15-minute charger at the store with four AA's. They lasted me 4 years of bi-weekly charging at the super high rate a 15-minute charger does before they wouldn't charge anymore. 3 of 'em died in the same week... good QC. They held most of their 2400mAh power to the end. So I simply picked up some more for $15. Very worth it.

Tips:
1- if you want batteries that are durable enough to take the 15-min charger, you need the Duracell "PreCharged" or "StayCharged" batteries because the others suck. The StayCharged -pack was on a shelf in my grocery supermarket. Win!

2- if you find a 15-min charger, get it. They're getting more rare because consumers aren't generally equipped to know about NiMH durability so they have poor battery life if they do it wrong, so the mfgr's don't want the negativity, hence fewer of these fast chargers are around. I would slit my wrists if I didn't have fast charge. Or maybe I'd slit yours. You never know.

3- it'll be on your second or third charge that your batteries reach full capacity, so don't be alarmed if your battery life sucks the first few times. I was blown away how the Duracells seemed to triple capacity by their third charge from their first. I wasn't prepared for that.

4- guys you want to be like use rechargeables. >:D
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Grahad

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2013, 04:06:38 PM »
The only battery I use now that isn't Li-Ion and built in is that in my mouse, and that comes with it's own charger! (1x AA Eneloop, provided FOC by Logitech with my G700)... =P
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shipsupt

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Re: Wimme Moar Powah!... A batteries and chargers thread.
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2013, 05:36:12 PM »
One of the nice features about the BC-700 is that you can bump up the charge rate if you need to, and of course you can condition batteries that you've abused.

That said, I have a 15 minute charger that I keep handy because, lets face it, sometimes I forget to keep a stock of charged batteries and something like a keyboard or mouse will die when I need it!  Super handy.

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