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July 06, 2006
[ MAHA POWEREX battery charger & batteries ]
MAHA POWEREX battery charger & batteries
Price: $70, inc. 4 AA 2500mAh batteries.
Recommended
The low-down: The Maha PowerEx battery charger comes with four AA NiMH batteries that the makers say can be charged in an hour. Four 2500mAh batteries bought separately cost $18. 2700mAh units are $22 for four. AA batteries come in pairs at $9 and they also fit in this C204W unit. (Order from Servaas Products)
Some digital camera users prefer generic batteries to the rechargeable proprietory batteries. If you are using conventional AA or AAA batteries you are never likely to be far from a replacement for a flat set. Rechargeable AA and AAA batteries, while initially expensive, pay for themselves and give the user the economies of rechargeable and the reassurance that single use batteries will be close at hand in an emergency.
And think of the environment. Billions of single use batteries are tossed into landfill every year and any technology that reduces that impact on the environment is welcome.
Like this: One of the drawbacks with rechargeable batteries has been that once they run down and are left flat for a time they die. The Maha PowerEx promises (we haven’t tested this so we are relying on the specification sheet) that Lazarus batteries can be raised from the dead. The makers say that they use a “conditioning algorithm that first fully drains the batteries and then recharges them.”
This charger is ideal for the international traveller because it can cope with any voltage/AC frequency combination without the need for additional transformers.
Dislike that: The instruction sheet leaves some important questions unanswered but the distributors tell us that the charger can be safely left connected to the power supply because it automatically switches off when the batteries are charged; this means that they can’t be accidentally overcharged and they don’t suffer from the dreaded “memory” effect, so you don’t need to worry about undercharging. It would be better if this information were supplied with the charger.
Parting shot: We go through a lot of batteries at dpexpert and we are conscience-stricken every time we throw a set of flatties in the garbage. To save money and to calm our troubled consciences we are buying the Maha charger.
Posted by terry at July 6, 2006 10:55 AM
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Comments
For only a little more $ you can buy a Varta model PS6 type 57253 that charges 4xAA's in 15 minutes and includes a 12v car charger cable but can only take 230/240v.
For a little less $ the Varta model PS5 type 57255 charges 2xAA's but copes with 120/240v but doesn't have the 12v car charger feature.
See http://www.en.varta-consumer.com/content.php?path=/15minutes&&&domain=www.en.varta-consumer.com
Both do AAA's.
This charge time applies to Varta's own IC3 2000mah batteries which are competitively priced. For non-Varta NiMH's a 1 hour charge applies.
Ho do I know? I have the PS6 and it is great!!!
I got mine at Dick Smith, which means they may be available at Powerhouse and Tandy stores.
Cheers
Posted by: Doogle at July 8, 2006 01:31 AM
mmmmmm.
I know very well the limitations imposed by battery 'memory' in NiCad cells but has this been scientifically qualified with other cell types ?
NiCads will charge quickly if you supply more current but this can easily damage them where heat dissipation becomes an issue. (Get too hot)
Can anyone tell me where qualified technical info on the charge/discharge profile for NiMH's is available ?
Posted by: Deebu at July 11, 2006 07:17 AM
Deebu, the attached websites may help:
This one is a technical summary of different battery types:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/images_uploaded/recharge.pdf
This one talks about military/emergency applications:
http://www.electroline.com.au/elc/feature_article/item_062002.asp
Very simply, everything with batteries is a tradeoff. Nicads have a memory effect, NiMH much less so or have none depending on who writes the article. Li-ion have no memory effect.
NiMH can have up to 30% more energy density to Nicads although in the long run NiMH will run less charging cycles than Nicads or Li-ion before failure.
NiMH can be recharged much faster than Nicads, which in turn can be charged faster than Li-ions.
The above Varta system is in a fast charging category of all its own as equivalent NiMH chargers for similar capacity NiMH batteries range from 60 to 240 minutes charging time.
For PDA's, digital cameras, radio control devices and similar load electronics a 15 minute recharge cycle is fantastic as it gets you going again very quickly.
If you are a professional photographer and you have two sets of batteries you can recharge a set of AA's faster than you discharge them taking photos, meaning as long as you have 240v available (or 12v in a car) you cannot be caught short of battery power.
Posted by: Doogle at July 12, 2006 09:00 AM
There are a lot of NiMH battery discharge charts at http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79302
Is this what you are looking for Deebu?
Posted by: Kellie at July 13, 2006 12:08 AM
Finally! I've been waiting for a local distributor for Maha chargers for so long. The closest I could find previously was a New Zealand distributor
Posted by: Dana at July 17, 2006 01:15 PM