Author Topic: Battery charger  (Read 3794 times)

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Battery charger
« on: 23 June, 2015, 04:13:02 pm »

I currently have a BC-700 Battery charger that I use at home. But I'm looking for something that's as good, but can be powered of a 5V USB supply. Needs to be able to charge 1-4 AA or AAA cells.

Can anyone recommend a decent charger?

Thanks

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

contango

  • NB have not grown beard since photo was taken
  • The Fat And The Furious
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #1 on: 23 June, 2015, 05:27:09 pm »

I'd be interested to know if such a thing even exists, given how slow it could be to charge 4x2500mAh batteries unless your USB power supply was putting out a good current.
Always carry a small flask of whisky in case of snakebite. And, furthermore, always carry a small snake.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #2 on: 23 June, 2015, 05:28:41 pm »

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #3 on: 23 June, 2015, 08:40:50 pm »
I'm also looking for a compact lightweight USB powered charger for Ni-Mh AA batteries.

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=49571.0
... those look like mains powered chargers - am I missing something?


Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #5 on: 23 June, 2015, 09:14:57 pm »
I'm also looking for a compact lightweight USB powered charger for Ni-Mh AA batteries.

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=49571.0
... those look like mains powered chargers - am I missing something?

The SCH600F is USB (or mains via an adaptor) powered.  The relevant link in the OP of that thread appears to be dead, but I stand by my summary of its features.

Also discussed in this thread: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=43062.0

To clarify: It exists, it runs from USB power and has 4 independent charging channels.  That makes it more useful than any other USB-powered charger I've encountered, but it's still poorly-designed plastic crap.

fuaran

  • rothair gasta


321up

  • 59° N
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #8 on: 24 June, 2015, 08:23:49 am »
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PortaPow-Battery-Charger-Power-Bank/dp/B00HCBDV10
... looks like this one is mains powered with a usb power output

Looks like this is the same one on 7dayshop: http://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-600lcd-battery-charger-for-nl-mh-aa-aaa-fast-smart-3-power-options-WH2-7DAY600LCD
:thumbsup:  looks like this one will charge from a USB power source.  The mains power option is via a seperate adaptor which can be left at home if usb power is available (although I guess it might be slower charging from a usb power source).  Has anyone tried this with a Luxos U?  I'm thinking of charging the spare batteries from the Luxos U whilst riding and mains power if it's available overnight from our small 2 port usb power adaptor.

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #9 on: 24 June, 2015, 08:34:04 am »
To clarify: It exists, it runs from USB power and has 4 independent charging channels.  That makes it more useful than any other USB-powered charger I've encountered, but it's still poorly-designed plastic crap.

Is the poor design specifically related to it's mechanics, rather than it's electronics. I.e. is it poorly designed enough to knacker my cells if I use it, or is it just likely to make me scream cos I hit the discharge button by mistake? The former is a deal breaker, the later is just annoying.

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Re: Battery charger
« Reply #10 on: 24 June, 2015, 08:36:43 am »
I have one of those chargers. Seems to work well.

It would charge off USB but will take a really long time. Probably about 4 times as long, compared to mains.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #11 on: 24 June, 2015, 08:46:47 am »
I have one of those chargers. Seems to work well.

It would charge off USB but will take a really long time. Probably about 4 times as long, compared to mains.

Do you think it would manage to charge 4 AA batteries in 24 hours from usb?

Looks like that 'refresh' button would need a cover taped over it to prevent accidental discharge

Re: Battery charger
« Reply #12 on: 24 June, 2015, 08:50:49 am »
Probably. Depends on the capacity of the batteries.

I'll take a look at the power supply when I get home.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #13 on: 24 June, 2015, 08:56:55 am »

Do you think it would manage to charge 4 AA batteries in 24 hours from usb?

USB is no longer the 5V @500mA it once was, the battery unit on my solar panel will output 5V @2.1A, and the USB power unit by my bed will do 5V at upto 60Watts across it's 7 ports. Charging 4xAA off a 5V 500mA supply may take a while, but off a device kicking out 2Amps? a tad quicker...

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Re: Battery charger
« Reply #14 on: 24 June, 2015, 09:08:26 am »
Well, yes, you are talking about USB format plugs, not USB standard . . . (erm, which one?).

I presumed 321Up is talking of charging from a computer USB socket. Without software to negotiate that up, the max current will be 500mA (and lower from some sockets).
<i>Marmite slave</i>

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #15 on: 24 June, 2015, 09:18:26 am »
To clarify: It exists, it runs from USB power and has 4 independent charging channels.  That makes it more useful than any other USB-powered charger I've encountered, but it's still poorly-designed plastic crap.

Is the poor design specifically related to it's mechanics, rather than it's electronics. I.e. is it poorly designed enough to knacker my cells if I use it, or is it just likely to make me scream cos I hit the discharge button by mistake? The former is a deal breaker, the later is just annoying.

Mechanics.  It doesn't appear to kill cells.

TBH, I mostly use a BC700 for the bike stuff, the SCH600F hangs off a USB port on my desktop computer and mainly gets used for the battery in my wireless mouse.  Which is two pairs of 1800mAh Vanson cells of a 1999 vintage, and don't show any sign of stopping yet.

Re: Battery charger
« Reply #16 on: 24 June, 2015, 09:23:23 am »
I did buy one of the 7dayshop chargers, and been very happy with it, I've never tried USB charge, but I'm happy to give it a whirl and report back.

First to discharge a set. 7Dayshop eneloop 2150 equivalents should be a good test.

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #17 on: 24 June, 2015, 09:50:44 am »

Do you think it would manage to charge 4 AA batteries in 24 hours from usb?

USB is no longer the 5V @500mA it once was, the battery unit on my solar panel will output 5V @2.1A, and the USB power unit by my bed will do 5V at upto 60Watts across it's 7 ports. Charging 4xAA off a 5V 500mA supply may take a while, but off a device kicking out 2Amps? a tad quicker...

J

The Luxos U output probably won't be much more than 500mA and the mu duo will output up to 2A shared between its two sockets.

Biggsy

  • A bodge too far
  • Twit @iceblinker
    • My stuff on eBay
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #18 on: 24 June, 2015, 11:37:29 am »
Regarding charging from PC USB sockets:
    - The current limit for bog standard USB 2.0 is 500mA, but some systems allow this to be increased via an optional software utility (eg, Asus Ai Charger for Asus motherboards for "50% faster charging").  Or use USB 3.0 if you have it, rated at 900mA as standard.  Even better are USB Power Delivery ports, providing 2A at 5V.  So reasonably fast battery charging is possible from modern computers.

Mains adapters providing so-called USB power:
    - Depends on the model, can be more than 500 mA, but not necessarily.
    - Beware of fake and crap chargers, which can electrocute/explode/ignite.
●●●  My eBay items  ●●●  Twitter  ●●●

Re: Battery charger
« Reply #19 on: 24 June, 2015, 01:09:54 pm »
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PortaPow-Battery-Charger-Power-Bank/dp/B00HCBDV10
... looks like this one is mains powered with a usb power output

Second bullet point in the description
Quote
Charge 2 or 4 AA or AAA rechargeable batteries from any USB socket.

Re: Battery charger
« Reply #20 on: 24 June, 2015, 08:55:21 pm »
All 4 batteries discharged in two torches, two stopped at 0.8v two went all the way doooooown, needing a few seconds in a stoopid charger before the clever one would charge.

Plugged in to a 500ma USB charger - I reckon near on 12 hours to charge, will report back

Re: Battery charger
« Reply #21 on: 25 June, 2015, 07:51:40 am »
After 10 hours 3 out of 4 fully charged, by 11 hours all 4 fully charged, reading > 1.4v straight out the charger.

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #22 on: 25 June, 2015, 08:40:15 am »
After 10 hours 3 out of 4 fully charged, by 11 hours all 4 fully charged, reading > 1.4v straight out the charger.

 :thumbsup:
Thanks.

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Battery charger
« Reply #23 on: 25 June, 2015, 08:44:52 am »
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PortaPow-Battery-Charger-Power-Bank/dp/B00HCBDV10
... looks like this one is mains powered with a usb power output

Second bullet point in the description
Quote
Charge 2 or 4 AA or AAA rechargeable batteries from any USB socket.

Ah, now I understand, the AA batteries are charged from usb then can be used as a cash battery to charge another usb device.  So it's a AA charger, cache battery, and presumably can also charge usb devices from disposables in an emergency.  Thanks.