Which battery charger is better for old batteries?

*HermanLee* · 08-11-2009, 03:05 PM

I have several sets of 15 minutes rechargeable batteries from Radio Shack & Rayovac.
I noticed that they're dying and not charged evenly anymore.
That's why I'm thinking to get the Maha MH-C800S so I can charge 8 batteries at the same time for my 2 flashes.
But after reading the reviews, I'm a little bit confused.
Can this charger help restore my old 15min rechargeable batteries? Can C800S revive dying batteries like C9000?

Or would I be better off to get the Maha MH-C9000?
The trade off is I won't be able to charge 8 batteries at the same time.

Another question, what's the fastest recharging time for MH-C9000?

Oh, I'm also thinking to get some Eneloop / Emedion Hybrid batteries.

Any opinion especially from those who own these charger is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

*Ash* · 08-11-2009, 03:38 PM

All rechargeables have a life-span and degenerate after a number of cycles (usu. around 1,000 or so). So there's probably only so much you can do to help revive them if they've survived that far.
Many of the Maha chargers (as those you mention) have the deep-discharge and recharge function, which really makes the difference. Perhaps the C9000 with its programmable discharge-rest-recharge function adds more life, but I couldn't vouch for that.

I have the MH-C240W and even that one (probably the cheapest of the bunch) has a discharge-recharge function that has definitely boosted the life in some of my older rechargeables.

alohadave · 08-11-2009, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by HermanLee

I noticed that they're dying and not charged evenly anymore.

Get new batteries. They don't last forever.

GerryL · 08-11-2009, 06:16 PM

New batteries would be cheaper than to get new chargers.

WheresWaldo · 08-11-2009, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by GerryL

New batteries would be cheaper than to get new chargers.

Gerry a new charger would help those new batteries last longer.

GerryL · 08-12-2009, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by WheresWaldo

Gerry a new charger would help those new batteries last longer.

If you could still squeeze out enough usable life out of them..but if you find out that you can't revive them anyway, then you will still end up buying new batteries.
Oh well, at least you will have a good battery charger and new batteries after that.

*HermanLee* · 08-12-2009, 11:35 AM

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Yes, I will eventually buy some more hybrid batteries like Eneloop/Imedion as I've posted on my original post.

The main question is actually if I was going to squeeze some extra juice from old batteries, not necessarily the ones I already had, which would be a better option between those two chargers: Maha MH C-800S vs MH C-9000?

Will the C-800S be able to revive/repair weak batteries just like C-9000?

Thanks,

WheresWaldo · 08-13-2009, 12:00 AM

You will be better served by the C-9000

*HermanLee* · 08-13-2009, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by WheresWaldo

You will be better served by the C-9000

Do you mind to explain as to why it is better?

Thanks,

WheresWaldo · 08-13-2009, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by HermanLee

Do you mind to explain as to why it is better?

Thanks,

You can do more stuff with the c-9000. They both can condition batteries, but the options on the c-9000 allow you to adjust charge and discharge rates. If you have a battery that just seems a bit weak, you can test the output of the battery automagically on the c-9000.

But if you must charge 8 cells at a time then the 800s is the one, I prefer the 808 since it also handles C and D cells.

*HermanLee* · 08-14-2009, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by WheresWaldo

You can do more stuff with the c-9000. They both can condition batteries, but the options on the c-9000 allow you to adjust charge and discharge rates. If you have a battery that just seems a bit weak, you can test the output of the battery automagically on the c-9000.

But if you must charge 8 cells at a time then the 800s is the one, I prefer the 808 since it also handles C and D cells.

Thanks, WheresWaldo.
I don't know how important is for me to be able to adjust charge/discharge rate.
But I have 2 flashes so maybe 800S is better since it can recondition old batteries also.

Thanks again.

*res3567* · 08-14-2009, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by HermanLee

Thanks, WheresWaldo.
I don't know how important is for me to be able to adjust charge/discharge rate.
But I have 2 flashes so maybe 800S is better since it can recondition old batteries also.

Thanks again.

Thank you also Waldo. My batts. are still going strong thanks to one of your reccomendations.

IMHO Waldo is one of this forum's battery and charger experts.

WheresWaldo · 08-16-2009, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by res3567

Thank you also Waldo. My batts. are still going strong thanks to one of your reccomendations.

IMHO Waldo is one of this forum's battery and charger experts.

You'll be happy to know that I am going to take my cheap Chinese NP400 clone batteries and run them through my battery analyzer again to see how they are still holding up compared to the genuine Pentax D-L150's. I will report my findings shortly, now that I can run the CBA-2 under Windows 7 with the Virtual XP Mode.