For 4 years i've used Enloop batteries... Step by step, which modes would i use to get them back to full capacity with this charger?
1647314
so when ever i need to charge my AA batteries i should use "Discharge/Refresh" mode? I just bought this charger & i do have the booklet but just want to make sure i am charging my batteries correctly every single time. I am using the eneloop AA.
1647315
Hi Krystina, The short answer is the "Discharge/Refresh" mode. Do you have the owner's manual for the BC-700? You didn't mention what size the batteries are. Are they AA, or AAA? What is the voltage reading on the batteries, in their current state? If you are getting voltage readings below .05 volts, you may need to put them in a "dumb charger" for a few minutes to bring them up to a voltage level that the BC-700 can work with. When initially placed in the BC-700, you should get a voltage reading for a few seconds. If the screen reads, "NULL," then you do need to use the "dumb charger" to sort of jump-start the charging process, before the BC-700 can "see" a viable battery. Do I assume correctly that the batteries have not seen their full number of duty cycles? This can be up to 1000 cycles or more, when properly cared for. But if these batteries were at the mercy of a "dumb charger" during their first four years of use, they may have already been sufficiently abused, so as to render them less than fully capable. Dumb chargers are ones that charge for set lengths of time, and usually deal with batteries as pairs, rather than individually. These chargers have no way of gauging a battery's capacity; they stay on for a certain amount of time, whether the battery wants it or not. Overcharging as well as over-using are both detrimental to the battery's health and longevity of service. Get back to me with your answers to the above questions, and we'll procede from there. Hopefully you have the owner's manual. If not, the LaCrosse website may have one for you read and/or printout.
839216
The Sanyo "low leakage" Eneloops will work in this charger, but a lower current unit (around 200 or 250 mA) will result in a longer total life (more charge/discharge cycles). This Sony does heat up the batteries which will reduce their ultimate life. I have (12) AA Eneloops that I use in Canon 580EX flash heads (very high high peak discharge current) and they seem to be holding up much better than other brands using the LaCrosse BC-900 charger set to 200mA. The Sanyo capacity when new was around 2100 mAH, but has not dropped off as other (higher initial capacity) batteries (LaCrosse and Eveready) have with heavy use.
1551718
Horrible idea to use "fast" chargers with quality rechargeable batteries! Many other chargers will charge your batteries at too high a rate and reduce both the life span and total number of cycles for your batteries. The Panasonic charger that is often sold with these batteries will charge your eneloops at the correct rate recommended by both Sanyo and Panasonic engineers to optimize the life of your batteries, (300mA for AA and 150mA for AAA). Plan ahead and have other charged batteries on hand...fans of "fast charging" will NEVER get the maximum capacity, performance or life span that slow charging batteries can give you. Horrible idea to use "fast" chargers with quality rechargeable batteries! Many other chargers will charge your batteries at too high a rate and reduce both the life span and total number of cycles for your batteries. The Panasonic charger that is often sold with these batteries will charge your eneloops at the correct rate recommended by both Sanyo and Panasonic engineers to optimize the life of your batteries, (300mA for AA and 150mA for AAA). Plan ahead and have other charged batteries on hand...fans of "fast charging" will NEVER get the maximum capacity, performance... » Read More Horrible idea to use "fast" chargers with quality rechargeable batteries! Many other chargers will charge your batteries at too high a rate and reduce both the life span and total number of cycles for your batteries. The Panasonic charger that is often sold with these batteries will charge your eneloops at the correct rate recommended by both Sanyo and Panasonic engineers to optimize the life of your batteries, (300mA for AA and 150mA for AAA). Plan ahead and have other charged batteries on hand...fans of "fast charging" will NEVER get the maximum capacity, performance or life span that slow charging batteries can give you. « Show Less
1039868
Pop the batteries into the unit and it charges. Will stop when they are full. If you want to refresh, then place batteries into unit and press and hold refresh button for a few seconds. Refresh will take over night. Overall on the best chargers!
995212
I don't think so. All I know is that it takes maybe 3 - 6 hours to do a full charge. I've been using Eneloop batteries for over a year now and haven't noticed any difference in their charge life from then to now.
465223
I bought this one Rayovac PS3PL Smart Charger AA/AAA/C/D/9V Platinum Universal Battery Charger http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LY67YA/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0or if you want to use spacers instead of buying C batteries you could buy the eneloop power pack. probably would have to charge the AA batteries a lot more if you use a high drain device. eneloop Super Power Pack, 1800 cycle, 12 AA, 4 AAA, 2 "C" and 2 "D" Spacers, 4 Position Charger, and Storage Case
1810814
I have been using this charger on Eneloop batteries for the past year. I have stopped using the Eneloops on critical items because they have a low charge protect circuit built in each battery. They shut down abruptly with little warning instead of getting gradually weaker as they discharge. I still use them for music players and game toys.The MH-C800S charger works as advertised and I really appreciate it giving a charge status on each battery.
1108740
From what I have seen on the internet this unit will blink if it detects a problem with the battery inserted. I presume you are not charging an eneloop battery. It apparently does not like batteries that have been discharged stone cold dead, which in that case you may try charging that battery in one of your older chargers that are not smart for awhile and then this charger may accept the battery. I also saw on the i-net that it did not like some particular brands of batteries.
2066256
I use the Sanyo Enloop AA batteries and they work great. I would say that rechargeables will work well but will NOT last as long as regular alkaline batteries. They are of course way cheaper than throw aways. This statement assumes that you are using some kind of quality rechargeable batteries. I have purchase some batteries from China, that advertize high capacity ratings, that do NOT carry the capacity they are advertized to carry. That is why I purchased the Sanyo batteries - I had confidence that they would carry the charge and as important, the Sanyo batteries also will carry the advertized capacity, at least to a high degree, for a year. Some of the cheaper rechargeables lose 90% of their charge in 30 or 60 days. So, if you are going to use this battery on an ongoing basis, go rechargeable. If you are going to put it in your wife's car glove box for an emergency 2 or 5 years down the road, use a Duracell that will hold a charge for 10 years. Hope this helps.
2186354
AA NiMH. I use Sanyo Eneloop - much better than the stock batteries and I keep the original batteries as a backup.
1261235
I use a Eneloope battery charger that I got from Costco along with my original batteries I also use a Goal Zero solar charger when camping.
1835586
I have never had my batteries give me a problem nor have they ever ran a charge down. I do however believe you can replace them but if you have another problem like you didn't do a full charge before you ever used them, then I believe that would cause the charger to max out with less of a charge and never do a full one.
1089953
Stuart i don't know ebl - but i am using the eneloop for a while - that battery manufacturers are writing as capacity and what the battery is actual giving out are 2 tings - esp after you used them 20+ times the eneloop is made for dependency and for long live - they will hold most of their charge even after one year storage - the price is a little lest mah other batteries can give you more mah but loosing most of it in the first month of storage - so depending where you are using it you should choose. I prefer eneloop because I know i have something solid for the next years - they hardly dies in the charger last pretty long and holding their charge. This doesn't say that other ones are not equal. Stuart i don't know ebl - but i am using the eneloop for a while - that battery manufacturers are writing as capacity and what the battery is actual giving out are 2 tings - esp after you used them 20+ times the eneloop is made for dependency and for long live - they will hold most of their charge even after one year storage - the price is a little lest mah other batteries can give you more mah but loosing most of it in the first month of storage - so depending where you are using it you should choose. I prefer eneloop because I know i have something solid for the next years - they hardly... » Read More Stuart i don't know ebl - but i am using the eneloop for a while - that battery manufacturers are writing as capacity and what the battery is actual giving out are 2 tings - esp after you used them 20+ times the eneloop is made for dependency and for long live - they will hold most of their charge even after one year storage - the price is a little lest mah other batteries can give you more mah but loosing most of it in the first month of storage - so depending where you are using it you should choose. I prefer eneloop because I know i have something solid for the next years - they hardly dies in the charger last pretty long and holding their charge. This doesn't say that other ones are not equal. « Show Less
60011
If I understand it correctly, it"s kind of like a "Miracle Charge" you would put on your motorcycle or antique car, but this one, "a microprocessor-controller that constantly monitors the RV battery status and automatically selects one of four charging modes: Boost Mode - (14.4) to quickly bring the battery to 90 percent of full charge, Normal Mode - (13.6) safely completes the charge, Storage Mode - (13.2), automatically activates after 30 hours of non-use or Desulfation Mode - (14.4), for 15 minutes every 21 hours to prevent battery stratification and sulfation (the leading cause of battery failure)." I think it monitors the batteries, locates the lo battery and re-routes power from another battery. It's not really a battery chargers, but more of a routing station. My RV has 5 batteries and sometime certain batteries use more power than others and this helps keep them all charged ith in the same range. That is what the hi-lighted section refers to. Mine has worked very well. Dont buy the cae they try to sell with it. Its plastic and will disappear with a good kick. I used a chain of a cable with a lock. I hope this helps, but I could be totalyy wrong.
580976
I have had the same experience. I have found that if I unplugged the battery tender from the power outlet and then plugged it back in it would recycle and perform as intended. Have you attempted to start your vehicle? I'm sure your battery is up to snuff. The other aspect is that this is not a battery charger in the common term. It is a battery tender and will cycle in and out. The purpose is to maintain the battery at optimum charge without overcharging. I keep four vehicles that I don't use often on these tenders constantly and have never had a problem with my batteries. Great piece of equipment. I have had the same experience. I have found that if I unplugged the battery tender from the power outlet and then plugged it back in it would recycle and perform as intended. Have you attempted to start your vehicle? I'm sure your battery is up to snuff. The other aspect is that this is not a battery charger in the common term. It is a battery tender and will cycle in and out. The purpose is to maintain the battery at optimum charge without overcharging. I keep four vehicles that I don't use often on these tenders constantly and have never had a problem with my batteries. Great piece... » Read More I have had the same experience. I have found that if I unplugged the battery tender from the power outlet and then plugged it back in it would recycle and perform as intended. Have you attempted to start your vehicle? I'm sure your battery is up to snuff. The other aspect is that this is not a battery charger in the common term. It is a battery tender and will cycle in and out. The purpose is to maintain the battery at optimum charge without overcharging. I keep four vehicles that I don't use often on these tenders constantly and have never had a problem with my batteries. Great piece of equipment. « Show Less
2012741
Using up to 400mAh (500mAh might be fine but the batteries will be a bit warmer) in a smart charger and usually i will refresh the batteries in a high drain device (or the device you plan on using them in). If the device is not a high drain device such as a USB battery pack or a Maglite flashlight (you'd have to monitor the flashlight to avoid over discharging) then using a smart charger with a discharge feature is the best way. You shouldn't need to cycle the batteries more than once (top off charge &gt; discharge &gt; full recharge), you could actually test the batteries and that would be good enough, i suggested the latter though because i don't want to waste cycles on a smart charger. One full discharge cycle upon purchase is necessary due to self discharge and most likely because the batteries are more than a few months old and then subsequent refreshing is only needed based on usage. The more you recharge them the more you refresh them, but is generally a good idea to regularly charge them if you are using them daily.
679916
I have both kinds of chargers and use both but trust my better charger, not from enloop. I use a swiss charger with the read-outs and I know it will turn off charging when fully charged. I wanted an auto shut off when fully charged or it can hurt the life of the battery. I would invest in a better charger when you get a chance but it will do. Hope this helps.