[Solved] Best AA & AAA Battery Chargers: Comparing NC-3000, Varta LCD & Eneloop Pro for Cameras

Hello all. I would like to know what charger you would choose to charge AAA and AA batteries. I have already looked at some posts (which were quite a long time ago) and articles regarding the ranking of chargers. However, I found out that the forum hints of the people who tested the pros and cons are the best. I read that the NC-3000 charger is at the forefront of chargers, but the price is PLN 130. it's a bit big- or maybe not? I had a charger in my possession https://imged.pl/ladowarka-varta-lcd-8x-akumulatorki-2600mah-r6-aa-792559.html My friend recommended that it was a nice charger for a nice price. I bought, also I think, nice eneloop pro rechargeable batteries for my camera. After the first charge, the rechargeable batteries were so hot that it was impossible to hold them in your hand !! I think - this is how they will end their lives quickly ... The charger went to the shelf and what next ..? Thanks in advance for the tips ...

From long and repeated discussions over several years (not based on my own experience) elsewhere on the Internet, it follows that:
http://www.hurt.com.pl/profezjaalna-ladowarka-bc-700,p1640.html

it is the only (or almost the only) worth recommending.

I propose the EMOS charger model KN-8501 It also has a switch that allows you to charge 2 or 4 batteries, I just have no problem with it. Moderate price around PLN 50

I read about the BC-700 charger. They write that NC-3000 is like a more threshold. I have not heard about the EMOS KN-8501 model, but I have read the description - nice. It is probably important to discharge and support ..?

I also recommend such a charger:
http://bratex.org/sklep/pl/p/Mikroprocesorowa-ladowarka-powerex-mh-c9000/641

This MH-C9000 is also interesting, but probably a bit too expensive for me. I will probably stay with the BC-700. Is the full name? Techno Line BC-700. ? I'm just wondering about the NC-3000 ...

The topic has already been rolled over several times.

I recommend taking a look:
https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3136687.html
https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3055199.html
https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3067587.html

If I were to summarize (I have / have / tested all these chargers):
BC-700 / BC-1000 - charges OK, but the design is quite old, with rather stupid limitations that can significantly limit the convenience of using the charger. Another disadvantage is the average measurement accuracy (mA / mAh) and the unfortunate 3V DC power supply.
MH-C9000 - this charger actually charges worse than the BC-700 (in my opinion it has a worse charging algorithm), but has a very high measurement accuracy. For a typical user, this charger has no major advantages, and at the same time it is very expensive.
NC-1000 - this is my favorite. Most often I refer to this structure. As a charger it works reliably and has a book-like, very good termination of the charging process - a real -dV mechanism. Minus is the average measurement accuracy (mA / mAh). The new NC-1000 Plus seems even slightly better ...
NC-3000 - it was supposed to be a charger better than the NC-1000 ... and in fact it is ... but the NC-1000 is more pleasant and convenient for me to use - it is smaller and "faster" to use. The advantage of the NC-3000 is the quite well-functioning internal resistance measurement and, similarly to the MH-C9000, high measurement precision.

I would choose between the NC-3000 and the NC-1000 (Plus) ... although it's best to have both

Oh and great. I already know what to look for. I also have a question. I wanted to buy rechargeable batteries. I need more for children's toys. They are for 5, 7, 10 or more zlotys on the allegrosz. But I also found those for PLN 2.5. I have better cameras for the camera, and are those for toys for 2.5 PLN enough?

In the case of rechargeable batteries, first of all, I would advise you to avoid unknown brands with the highest capacity. In addition, it is worth looking for batteries with reduced self-discharge (LSD, Ready 2 Use) - this guarantees greater reliability of use.

It should be remembered that the maximum capacity for R6 AA batteries is approx. 2600 mAh, while for R03 AAA it is approx. 1000 mAh - this is what the current technology allows ... but in questionable quality batteries these limits do not exist - as you know, paper / label will accept everything - unfortunately such "cheated" batteries are practically useless - the measured capacity is often even 10 times lower than the imprint on the label ... this can be easily assessed by performing molding / testing in any of the above-mentioned chargers.

In terms of durability, my favorite for many years are Eneloop batteries, unfortunately they are not the cheapest.
Others that also keep parameters are, for example: Fujitsu, GP - Recyko series, Everactive, Ansmann, Ikea Ladda.

Although I have the XTAR VC4, I often use a very handy one
Pentagram secure charger 444.

I would like to add that the temperature of Ni-MH batteries should clearly rise at the end of charging in each processor charger - it is really a guarantee that the batteries are properly charged.
The Varta charger mentioned in the first post is unfortunately quite unfortunate, because it only charges the batteries in pairs - this is a significant disadvantage and limitation of many chargers.
Such chargers treat each pair of cells as a package - for this to work well, the installed batteries must be identical, used and discharged in the same way when they are put into the charger ... in practice, it is impossible to ensure it - unfortunately, it usually ends so that some of the batteries are boiled and some of them are undercharged, as a consequence the whole set is worn out prematurely.

Thanks a lot. I will definitely choose something now ...

I have been BC700 for 10 years and I am annoyed by the muddy function buttons and sometimes charging AAA batteries indefinitely.
For example, Eneloop Pro AAA 900mAh (new) with a current of 200mA can sometimes be charged to a capacity of 2200mAh on the display ...
I bought the NC-1000 plus, which is admired here, and the buttons actually work properly and without any delays,
aaaaale
the default setting of the charging current at 500mA is stupid.
In the BC700 charger, the default current for AA / AAA batteries is 200mA and it was good because even a person unfamiliar with things (wife) could safely charge the batteries. As AAA will be treated by default in the NC1000 with a current of 500mA, they will not work for a long time, and each time switching the current through 700/1000 / 200mA is a pain. An attempt to explain to a woman for whom the current is something incomprehensible such a procedure of charging may end up with a bump on the head of the size depending on the weight of the pan )
In addition, I measured the voltage on the battery during charging and the BC700 is constant, slightly higher (about 0.2V) than on the display, while on the NC-1000plus the voltage jumps on the Voltmeter every 2 seconds, for example 1.39V - just 1.70V , and on the 4th 1.4v slot - and 2V - the charger display shows the constant lower voltage value.
I also measured the voltage when discharging the AAA battery and ...
the BC700 is the same as on the display, i.e. 1.28V,
and on the NC1000plus, for example, a 1.18V display, and a voltmeter on the charger contacts 1.28V !!! What's going on here?
Is this a defect of the charger or is it the same for you?
I will just add that my NC1000plus ended the discharge of the AAA battery in the 4th slot with a voltage on the display of 1.17V, which is clearly a disadvantage because the remaining slots reach 0.9V.

Welcome back. I purchased the NC-1000. Cool thing. Actually, it is such a small, very clever computer for charging batteries. Thanks a lot to everyone for your commitment and suggestions. Greetings

I apologize in advance for a long absence, but for private reasons I could not look at the electrode forum earlier.

1. The default current of 500 mA is, in my opinion, a big advantage of the NC-1000 Plus - for most AAA batteries it is fine, even less than 200 mA will cause problems with the proper completion of charging with larger AAA batteries (such as infinite charging noticed by mlero in the BC-700 charger), not to mention AA.

2. Ni-MH batteries should, as a rule, be charged in pulses. The frequency, the filling of these pulses differs between different chargers, in some cases some meters have a problem with measuring such voltage at the output of the charger, the jumps will also be the greater, the higher the resistance of the inserted battery. What we can see on the chargers' display is the value measured between the pulses (the real value of the voltage on the battery). I would be far from faulting this place. I suggest using the discharge mode in NC-1000 Plus, wait until the process is finished and then compare the voltage value from the charger and the meter - without load, these values should be the same.
The recalled voltage of 1.17V (measured without load) looks like the correct voltage of the discharged NiMH battery.

3. ExtremeLine NC2000 looks like a Chinese noname, but if someone can borrow it, I will be happy to test it.

I once bought liitokala 500 and I am very happy with it.

I tested the chargers in turn:
EverActive NC1000 plus,
ExtremeLine NC2000
EverActive NC3000 - the best and most accurate, and this one has stayed with me.

Hello,
the first charger I bought is the NC-1000 +. I already have some time and I won't say a bad word about her. The author will surely be pleased. I recommend Fujitsu batteries, I use them in flashlights. They all have very similar capacities and I think they will work well when connected in series. I mention it because the repeatability of the capacity is not so obvious. I also have a set of Varta batteries. There are considerable discrepancies there. Fujitsu is said to produce its batteries in Japan.

Hello again everyone. I can see that the topic is broadening with more statements. Cool. I haven't bought the rechargeable batteries yet. I picked up all the old ones and after turning on the refresh function I was able to regenerate them, to the point where they work very well. And I already used them to be lost. Certainly, if I need it, I will tempt you with these; Fujitsu. Greetings ....

I recommend the page with the test results of chargers from a well-known expert. http://lygte-info.dk/info/roundCellChargerIndex%20UK.html

I have a question for owners of the EverActive NC3000 charger
What voltage does the display show when the charger finishes charging and discharging?
Mine ends charging when the display shows 1.56V, and the discharge shows 0.9V - regardless of the current, age and size of the battery.
The presented battery capacities from charging and discharging performed immediately after charging differ significantly from each other:
after charging the new VARTA AAA shows 1190mAh, and after discharging 1050mAh
Eneloop AA shows 2190mAh when charged, and 1870mAh when discharged
I know it takes a long time to spot the end of the process, but I've caught it a few times and it's always the same.
I would like to add that the batteries at the end of charging are lukewarm or slightly warm even at a current of 0.5C.

Panasonic eneloop, ever active and other chargers in electronics / household appliances stores are good.

Added after 2 [minutes]:

mlero wrote:

I have a question for owners of the EverActive NC3000 charger
What voltage does the display show when the charger finishes charging and discharging?
Mine ends charging when the display shows 1.56V, and the discharge shows 0.9V - regardless of the current, age and size of the battery.
The presented battery capacities from charging and discharging performed immediately after charging differ significantly from each other:
after charging the new VARTA AAA shows 1190mAh, and after discharging 1050mAh
Eneloop AA shows 2190mAh when charged, and 1870mAh when discharged
I know it takes a long time to spot the end of the process, but I've caught it a few times and it's always the same.
I would like to add that the batteries at the end of charging are lukewarm or slightly warm even at a current of 0.5C.

Or maybe it is best to use e.g. eneloop panadonic eneloop charger for varta batteries, varta chargers etc.

Out of curiosity, I opened my NC-1000 + and my thermistors were properly installed. They fell into small pockets filled with conductive paste. The implementation of the tile is very solid and elegant.
The disadvantages include a small display, you need to have good eyesight (or glasses) to see what is written there. Also the fact that it does not start working with fully discharged batteries. But this is not a big disadvantage, it is enough to have an old, ordinary charger and charge it for a few minutes, put it into the NC-1000 + and it's OK.
I recommend checking the websites:
http://ladowarki.com/porownanie-ladowarek-pro...ni-mh-nc-1000-bc-1000-bc-700-mh-c9000-nc-3000
http://everactive.pl/Ladowarka-NC-1000-polecana-przez-serwis-PCWORLD.PL!

Hello!
I am trying to buy a charger and a battery.
I think I will take the everActive NC-1000 PLUS charger, but I have no idea what batteries to take.
I need the LR03 which I use for the headlamps, so it fits reasonably well.
For this also lr6 for pilots, etc.
Does anyone have any specific and proven battery models?

Maybe make yourself a charger for AA and AAA, it's not that difficult, for example on the MAX712 or the old TC675.

buhehe12 wrote:

to the pilots

Rechargeable batteries are uneconomical for pilots. You probably replace the batteries every few years?

rafbid wrote:

buhehe12 wrote:

to the pilots

Rechargeable batteries are uneconomical for pilots. You probably replace the batteries every few years?

All in all, I will give these LR06 lamps to such battery lamps, they fall off quite quickly.
As I wrote, I need LR03 for two headlamps, 3 batteries for one, because the usual ones are dead.
As for the charger, I have an old Panasonic BQ-2FE.
230V 50 HZ 5W
2.8V-220mAx2 (R6)
2.8V-65mAx2 (R03)

It is not good for anything, is it?

Can I ask for help?

Hello. Hi. I bought the everActive NC-1000 charger and Eneloop PRO rechargeable batteries. In the camera, for me, great thing. For the flash, I think they work extra. They can withstand a lot.
As far as I know and read a bit, the eneloop R6 (the white ones) also works well.
But a good charger is essential - it's worth the investment.

buhehe12 wrote:

As for the charger, I have an old Panasonic BQ-2FE.
230V 50 HZ 5W
2.8V-220mAx2 (R6)
2.8V-65mAx2 (R03)

It is not good for anything, is it?

The charger is very simple - it is time-based - there is no meaningful automation in it, it also only charges in pairs. With frequent recharging of the batteries, it is better to look for something automatic with the possibility of charging odd amounts.