Author Topic: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?  (Read 6071 times)

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« on: 27 November, 2018, 10:12:21 am »
Mine has crapped out after less than two years.  Not impressed.  The power supply is giving 12V but I only get a blank display and it won't wake up.  It still seems to charge batteries (probing with a multimeter wirh batteries in there; the charging voltage seems correct) but the display is kaput so I have no idea when batteries are charged, can't change the charge rate, etc.  I've tried cleaning the rather crappy connection between the LCD and the PCB but it didn't help.

As I don't want to toss another £35 after another piece of Chinese kit engineered to fail just after the warranty expires, who makes a good charger that can do odd numbers of cells and has a slow charge rate with delta V detection?
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #1 on: 27 November, 2018, 11:00:29 am »
I'll watch this thread - my first one broke a couple of years ago and, not able to find a good alternative, I bought another one.  It now only charges in two of the four positions.  Mine have probably done 3-4 years each, though, so not a disaster.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #2 on: 27 November, 2018, 11:36:54 am »
Have you considered talking to the bloke at Technoline?

I've found him to be more than reasonable on more than one occasion.
FWIW I've had one BL-700 running since 2006, and a second one since 2012.
They're never turned off.

Oaky

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Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #3 on: 27 November, 2018, 11:44:50 am »
I got one of these a while back, seems to work OK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019CERQDI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It will also cope with other battery sizes (18650 etc.)
You are in a maze of twisty flat droves, all alike.

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quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #4 on: 27 November, 2018, 12:01:14 pm »
I got one of these a while back, seems to work OK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019CERQDI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It will also cope with other battery sizes (18650 etc.)

That looks like the next generation of the Technoline BC-700...

Thanks for the heads up tho, didn't realise they made one that supported every other battery size out there.
J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #5 on: 27 November, 2018, 05:13:21 pm »
I have a 7 day shop one that might be a rebranded Technoline model.  It doesn't get a huge amount of use, but is still OK five years in and for £15 that'll do me.
https://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-aa-and-aaa-intelligent-nimh-pro-ds-sc1000-super-fast-battery-charger-multi-mode-lcd-display-ds-127

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #6 on: 27 November, 2018, 09:47:59 pm »
I have an Opus BT-C3100 that's been very good. I've only ever used it for lithiums though. It looks like they do an AA/AAA only C700 model that's much cheaper.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #7 on: 28 November, 2018, 01:46:22 pm »
A "me too" for the Technoline, one of the four charging channels completely died after a few years (4 or 5?).

I replaced it in May 2017 with a https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00N7GHUH0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which has been fine so far.  It is very similar to the Technoline but with a 1000mAh rate and a USB port.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #8 on: 28 November, 2018, 07:07:38 pm »
The reviews on Amazon are full of stories of dead ones.  It's probably a cheap electrolytic capacitor that kills them.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Wowbagger

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Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #9 on: 28 November, 2018, 09:05:29 pm »
At the risk of jinxing mine, it still seems to be going strong. I can't remember where I got it from (not Amazon it seems, nor the 7 Day shop) but it was undoubtedly as a result of a recommendation on here.
Quote from: Dez
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Kim

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Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #10 on: 28 November, 2018, 09:19:13 pm »
Mine seems okay too.  ISTR the power supply being something really exotic like 3.5V at lots of current, though, so maybe a different incarnation to the OP's...

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #11 on: 29 November, 2018, 07:29:22 am »
When my Technoline burnt itself* out some long time ago, I replaced it with a Maha/Powerex MH-C9000. It's been good.

AA or AAA NiMh only.
Charge rates 0.2 to 2 A and discharge rates 0.1 to 1 A in 100 mA intervals.
Charge,
Analyze (charge, discharge, charge, report discharge capacity),
Discharge,
Cycle (up to 12 charge/discharge cycles)
Break in (new or knackered cells - 16 hour 0.1C charge, 0.2C discharge, 16 hour 0.1C charge).


* a proper job - charred and deformed casing, and killed (cooked and bulging) batteries
[edit] google tells me that I'd already been using the MH-C9000 for some time in 2008

fruitcake

  • some kind of fruitcake
Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #12 on: 16 December, 2018, 02:10:09 pm »
This year I've been analysing cells using a Tronic (Lidl) intelligent charger to display the charge level, then trickle charging using an old EverReady 45mA charger and a 'timer'. The nice thing about this vintage charger is there's not enough current to heat the cells. I'm now getting good battery life in digital cameras (which are a good test because they're fussy about charge level). In fact this system has revived some semi-knackered cells I'd previously considered 'only any good for bike lights'.

My timer of choice is usually a mechanical timer with 3-pin plug, and sometimes an informal system where I say to myself 'it needs about 10 hours so it'll be ready tomorrow morning'.

However, I've recently dropped £19.99 on one of these Uniross chargers (which may be your Technoline by another name), because it could be useful when I need to quick charge, but mostly because at that price it seemed rude not to.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391495597965

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #13 on: 23 November, 2023, 05:33:11 pm »
I have a 7 day shop one that might be a rebranded Technoline model.  It doesn't get a huge amount of use, but is still OK five years in and for £15 that'll do me.
https://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-aa-and-aaa-intelligent-nimh-pro-ds-sc1000-super-fast-battery-charger-multi-mode-lcd-display-ds-127
A bit of thread necromancy . . . . .

I used to have a BL-700N. After several years it failed. I bought the apparently identical 7 day shop model, which worked fine for a few years, then the displays started going. Seems to be charging batteries OK, but it's hard to see what's going on, & getting worse. They've stopped selling it.

So, any recommendations for a replacement?
"A woman on a bicycle has all the world before her where to choose; she can go where she will, no man hindering." The Type-Writer Girl, 1897

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #14 on: 25 November, 2023, 01:29:35 pm »
I bought an AccuPower IQ-328+ in the end, and am very happy with it.  It's lasted much longer than the Technoline.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #15 on: 25 November, 2023, 02:03:32 pm »
I still have 2 BL-700N chargers which, touch wood, have lasted the distance.  I had to use some sugru to save a cable from breaking on one of the chargers but all is still good.


Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #16 on: 28 November, 2023, 10:52:02 pm »
Youshiko (based in Romford) sells a charger which appears to be identical to the BL700N, just as the 7dayshop charger from some years ago was. They're currently flogging it for £30 including delivery, which is slightly cheaper than the cheapest new BL700N I've seen.

https://youshiko.co.uk/collections/battery-charger
"A woman on a bicycle has all the world before her where to choose; she can go where she will, no man hindering." The Type-Writer Girl, 1897

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #17 on: 29 November, 2023, 08:44:01 pm »
Uniross UCQ001 Charger

Another option which looks exactly like the Youshiko YC4000

£22.99 with free delivery

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #18 on: 30 November, 2023, 12:20:31 am »
A company I've heard of! Been around as far back as I remember, though I'm older than the company.
"A woman on a bicycle has all the world before her where to choose; she can go where she will, no man hindering." The Type-Writer Girl, 1897

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #19 on: 30 November, 2023, 11:23:18 am »
I have a Technoline BL-700 that's been lurking in a cupboard several years. As far as I know it still works fine, but I've no need to use it
It's badged on the box as BL-700, not BL-700N. I don't know what the difference is.

If anyone would like it for a small fee to cover postage, PM me.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #20 on: 30 November, 2023, 08:14:00 pm »
Youshiko (based in Romford) sells a charger which appears to be identical to the BL700N, just as the 7dayshop charger from some years ago was. They're currently flogging it for £30 including delivery, which is slightly cheaper than the cheapest new BL700N I've seen.

https://youshiko.co.uk/collections/battery-charger

They seem to sell it via Amazon for £2 cheaper.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N7GHUH0/?

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #21 on: 30 November, 2023, 08:15:51 pm »
Uniross UCQ001 Charger

Another option which looks exactly like the Youshiko YC4000

£22.99 with free delivery

It says it charges 2 or 4 batteries. I'm not sure if that means you have to charge in pairs.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #22 on: 01 December, 2023, 03:56:25 pm »
It says it charges 2 or 4 batteries. I'm not sure if that means you have to charge in pairs.

It's quite possible I've missed it but I've read through the blurb several times and can't see that statement.

I have this very same charger bought when my old Technoline died, so I can testify that you can charge 1,2,3, or 4 batteries at a time. They can also be any mix of AA and AAA sizes.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #23 on: 01 December, 2023, 07:56:43 pm »
It says that on the back of the packaging in the photo.

Re: Alternatives to Technoline BL-700N?
« Reply #24 on: 01 December, 2023, 09:40:43 pm »
Youshiko (based in Romford) sells a charger which appears to be identical to the BL700N, just as the 7dayshop charger from some years ago was. They're currently flogging it for £30 including delivery, which is slightly cheaper than the cheapest new BL700N I've seen.

https://youshiko.co.uk/collections/battery-charger
Some of the other Youshiko models look interesting - they can charge lithium ion batteries as well. Could be useful, I have a few torches, bike lights etc that use 18650 batteries.