More Eneloop's or La Crosse BC-900

[nutsnbolts]

Here is the situation. I currently have 8 eneloop batteries with a charger (4 at a time) for my flash.

I have another flash which I'm thinking of getting another set of 8 eneloops and a charger as well.

However, I have read that La Crosse BC-900 charger kicks butt. I found a kit that is comparable in price for essentially the same amounts of "stuff" that is included in the kit.

For example:
Eneloop
4AA
4AAA
Adapters for C and D
Charger
Carrying bag.

La Crosse
Same thing...

Of course, I heard the La Crosse BC-700 is out as well. I'm probably leaning towards the BC-700 and purchase 8 eneloops. Will that work?

[nutsnbolts]

Dang no one has these?

[JohnJ80]

The LaCrosse chargers work great with the Eneloops. I use them all the time.

The advantage to the Lacrosse chargers is that you adjust the charging current through a quite wide range. The best for the batteries is to use as low charging current as possible over as long a time as possible to keep the heating down. However, there are times when you need it fast too. The LaCrosse will do that for you and is also the smartest charger out there that I know of.

The only chargers I would buy are the LaCrosser charger and the Maha charger and in that order.

J.

[nutsnbolts]

I have been reading more about the LaCrosse Charger and stumbled across the Maha Chargers as well. From what I have been reading, the Maha is out performing the La Crosse . I think I may go with the Maha due to the fact that every showdown between the two, the Maha always come out on top.

Don't get me wrong, I think anyone who buys the Lacrosse and/or the Maha will be both pleased.

[JohnJ80]

I have the small Maha. It works ok but only has two current settings (hi and low). the big advantage to it is that it will work in a car.

This is the Maha charger that I have:

http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=178


J.

[Jakpro]

MAHA C9000 Charger (http://www.thomas-distributing.com/maha-mh-c9000-battery-charger.php)

Pretty much the best charger out there right now. Will work magic on your older NiMh batteries that need to be reconditioned and works great with Eneloop batteries and the other low self discharge batteries

[nutsnbolts]

MAHA C9000 Charger (http://www.thomas-distributing.com/maha-mh-c9000-battery-charger.php)

Pretty much the best charger out there right now. Will work magic on your older NiMh batteries that need to be reconditioned and works great with Eneloop batteries and the other low self discharge batteries

This is the one that I'm looking at specifically for Maha.

I think I have made up my mind. MAHA C9000 Charger as my charger and now just deciding if I should get 8 eneloops or get 8 MAHA 2700. I already have 8 eneloops and willing to give the high MaH a try. Although I don't like the fact that it will discharge unlike the Eneloops. There is also a Maha version called the Imedions which is MaH 2100 as opposed to Eneloops Mah2000.

I don't know much about ratings but the Eneloops have been pretty good for me. (at least for my flashes 580ex II).

[ben_r_]

Save your money and get the Maha C9000. Its the best out there and will take VERY good care of the eneloops for you!

[JohnJ80]

I wouldn't get any more NiMH that are not the low discharge.

J.

[nutsnbolts]

So eneloops all the way with a Maha Charger C9000....!

Now just have to find a good place to buy them!

[Jakpro]

One thing that I have noticed about the Eneloop batteries versus using the high Mah batteries like the Powerex 2700's is that they seem to hold their charge longer even though they are a lower rated Mah battery.

The Mah rating on the low self discharge batteries is more accurate than the higher rated regular NiMh batteries, also.

The Sanyo Eneloops are rated at 2000 Mah, but they actually check out at 2050 and the same for the Maha ones. The 2700 Mah regular NiMh rarely check out at 2700, but seem to come in at slightly under 2600 and drop fast when using them under a load.

I am sold on the Eneloops and Imedion batteries. Not only do they hold up better in storage, but I believe that they recycle quicker and hold their charge longer. However, I have not tested this belief.

[nutsnbolts]

One thing that I have noticed about the Eneloop batteries versus using the high Mah batteries like the Powerex 2700's is that they seem to hold their charge longer even though they are a lower rated Mah battery.

The Mah rating on the low self discharge batteries is more accurate than the higher rated regular NiMh batteries, also.

The Sanyo Eneloops are rated at 2000 Mah, but they actually check out at 2050 and the same for the Maha ones. The 2700 Mah regular NiMh rarely check out at 2700, but seem to come in at slightly under 2600 and drop fast when using them under a load.

I am sold on the Eneloops and Imedion batteries. Not only do they hold up better in storage, but I believe that they recycle quicker and hold their charge longer. However, I have not tested this belief.

Well that's the thing about the Eneloop's batteries. Hold the charge capability. A comparison between the Powerex isn't really surprising. That's the point of the Eneloop batteries.

Now comparing the Eneloop versus the Imedion batteries, I'm still waiting on whether which one of the two tops the other. Eneloops at MaH 2000/2050 and Imedion at 2100. Hmm...which is better now... :rolleyes:

[JohnJ80]

Now comparing the Eneloop versus the Imedion batteries, I'm still waiting on whether which one of the two tops the other. Eneloops at MaH 2000/2050 and Imedion at 2100. Hmm...which is better now... :rolleyes:

Wouldn't surprise me if they come out of the exact same factory with a different label stuck on the outside.

J.

[nutsnbolts]

Wouldn't surprise me if they come out of the exact same factory with a different label stuck on the outside.

J.

Definately doesn't surprise me as well. I'm just curious (for the battery guru's) whether the 2100 Mah makes any difference or quality is better over one over the other? etc. etc.

No one seems to know much about batteries details lol, other than it has been rock solid working.

[JohnJ80]

I don't know about any changes in chemistry, but I suspect a big part of it is purity of materials and maybe some structural changes to dramatically drop the internal resistance of the battery.

Judging from how they work so far, I'm aggressively using them in a number of applications in my house (non photo - like motion detectors, remote controls etc..) where I've been using disposable alks before.

[nutsnbolts]

I don't know about any changes in chemistry, but I suspect a big part of it is purity of materials and maybe some structural changes to dramatically drop the internal resistance of the battery.

Judging from how they work so far, I'm aggressively using them in a number of applications in my house (non photo - like motion detectors, remote controls etc..) where I've been using disposable alks before.

As far as costs are concerned, the Imedions are a few cents more expensive. (not judging by price) but I'm debating which is a better buy. For all I know, the 2100 Mah *may* make a huge difference versus the Eneloop. I just need to get a confirmation before I buy.

Knowing myself, I would buy one then some Battery Guru comes down the mountain and be like, you should've gotten the other one! LOL.

[JohnJ80]

I suspect *strongly* that 2050maH is rounded to 2100maH and they are the same if not indistinguishable given mfg lot variation.

J

[ben_r_]

So eneloops all the way with a Maha Charger C9000....!

Now just have to find a good place to buy them!
Try thomasdistributing.com. Thats where I got my charger, and I got the eneloops from amazon back when they were $15 shipped no tax for 8.

[nutsnbolts]

Try thomasdistributing.com. Thats where I got my charger, and I got the eneloops from amazon back when they were $15 shipped no tax for 8.

Cool thanks! I saw this site and they have one package that has 4 maha batteries, case and what not. I may go with that in addition to 8 eneloops.

[gnnbtrn]

Cool thanks! I saw this site and they have one package that has 4 maha batteries, case and what not. I may go with that in addition to 8 eneloops.

1. La Crosse Technology BC-900 AlphaPower Battery Charger @ Amazon - $39.99 free shipping
2. SANYO ENELOOP AA 2000 mAh 4 Battery Pack in Sanyo Case @ ThomasDist - 16 batteries - $42.45 - shipping included
Total : $72.44
Deal or no deal?

[ibdb]

Got my BC-900 last week (and I've had batteries in it non-stop ever since testing things out).

If you need the Eneloops soon, that's about as good a deal as you're going to find. If you can wait a while, Amazon has had an 8 pack for a great price, but they're out of stock and I don't know if they have an estimated date that they'll be back.

[tdodd]

I recently bought a Technoline BL700 charger (in the UK), which I understand to be technically identical to the La Crosse BC700 (same as the BC900 but without the bundled C and D cell adapters.

This thing is fantastic. I have some 2100mAh AA cells which are 4-5 years old but unused. I stuck them in the charger and at the first pass none of them could make it to even 1000mAh. They're now on a discharge/refresh cycle and so far they're up to 1940, 1548, 1713, 1828 and the cycling is not yet complete. I'm hoping I'll get them all up to full spec by the time they're ready to use.

Even if they don't all make it, I have information on each battery's capacity to allow me to make matched pairs or quad-packs. No sense having a flash gun die because one cell is flagging out of the set. I love the way the charger treats each cell individually to the TLC it needs, and doesn't just blast them with a high current regardless of individual need.

I have others sets of these same batteries, bought at the same time, but used in my flash gun and recharged every now and again, and they are staying up in the 1900-2100 bracket.

EDIT : photo updated with latest charge capacity ratings (and a bit sharper too :) )

I've marked the batteries with their individual capacities so that I can keep matched pairs or quad-sets together. Some are continuing to gain a little more capacity, even exceeding the rated capacity :)