- Battery charger for 4 rechargeable NiMH and NiCad AA and AAA batteries; with 4 modes: charge, discharge, refresh, and test
- With individual compartment for each battery with own LCD display and mode selection for multitasking
- Operates on 100-240-volt AC input for international use; 3 charging rate options of 200 mA, 500 mA, and 700 mA
- Detects overheating for safety; not for use with any other batteries other than those specified
- Measures 5 inches long by 3 inches wide by 1-1/2 inches high; limited 1-year warranty
The La Crosse Technology BC700 Alpha Power Battery Charger has four modes and charges all NiCd and NiMH AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. The four modes include charge, discharge (discharges the batteries and then recharges them), recharge (discharges and recharges up to 20 times to bring old batteries back to life) and test (displays the battery capacity). BC-700 Battery Charger " Features: • All modes automatically default to 200 mA charge on the BC-700 Battery charger • Charge both AA and AAA rechargeable batteries simultaneously and will charge all Low-Discharge batteries. Sanyo Eneloop, Uniross Hybrio, Nexcell EnergyOn, Accupower Acculoop and other future low discharge batteries. • Hhas Four independent channels - Charges 1, 2, 3 , or 4 rechargeable batteries at a time. • Overheat detection to protect over-charging and LCD shows capacity for each battery when charging is complete • Charge Mode - allows a range of user selectable milliamp settings from 200 to 700 for faster charging times. Within 4 seconds after rechargeable batteries are inserted charging automatically begins at 200mA, or you may select 500, or 700mA charge rates for faster charging times. • Discharge Mode - reduces memory effect by discharging rechargeable battery completely before recharging to full capacity. User selectable. • Refresh Mode - discharges and recharges up to 20 cycles or until rechargeable battery is refreshed to full capacity. User Selectable. • Test Mode- First charges the rechargeable battery to full capacity, then discharges completely to measure rechargeable battery capacity for display in mAh or Ah, and then recharges each rechargeable battery to full battery capacity. • UL approved, BC 700 charger also has safeguards that sense rechargeable battery polarity, rechargeable battery temperature and defective rechargeable batteries. • World Voltage capable - Operates on 100~240V AC Input.
By NLee the Engineer
[Update on April 4, 2012]
My original review was written back in August 2007. Now, nearly 5 years later, most of its content is no longer current. So I will use this spot for publishing my "Frequently Asked Questions" relating to BC-700/900/1000 family of chargers. This list is work in progress and will grow with time. Let me know if you have new questions to be added. Here goes...
[Q1] There are four operation modes on the BC-700 (Charge, Discharge, Test and Refresh). Which mode should I use and when?
[A] Most of the time you just need CHARGE mode. That means put in the batteries and select the charging current desired (500/700mA, etc)
- If you want to know how much capacity your batteries can actually hold, use the CHARGE/TEST function. Be careful not to run this operation if the batteries are freshly charged (doing so may lead to over-charging).
- If you want to find out the remaining charge in a battery, run DISCHARGE/REFRESH and record the 'mAh' number at the end of the first discharge.
- If you suspect your batteries suffer from reduced capacity, run the DISCHARGE/REFRESH operation. Or you can use this mode to refresh your batteries once every 6 months or so. Don't over do it!
[Q2] Why won't the MODE button response when I press it?
[A] Press and hold the MODE button for 3 seconds, then toggle it to change mode.
[Q3] What is the difference between TEST and REFRESH?
[A] TEST starts with a full recharge, then it discharges the cell once to determine its capacity. Next it recharges the cell to full again.
REFRESH starts with a discharge to determine the cell's remaining charge capacity, then it charges the cells back up and drain it down again to determine its new capacity. It wil repeat this Charge/Discharge cycle multiple times until the capacity stops improving. Finally it charges the cell in the end.
[Q4] My BC-700 has been discharging and refreshing for 3 days!! When does it stop?
[A] The REFRESH operation takes at least three Discharge/Recharge cycles to complete. If you use the default 100mA discharging (200mA charging) current for a 2000mAh AA cell, each Discharge/Recharge cycle takes about 30 hours! Terminate the Refresh operation and restart it using 350mA discharging (700mA charging) instead.
[Q5] What is the best charging current for recharging AA or AAA batteries?
[A] For AAA cells the default 200mA is just right. If you're in a hurry, increase the current to 500mA.
For AA cells you should increase the charging current to either 500mA or 700mA. This reduces the charge time and, more importantly, ensure that the charger will not miss charge termination signal and ends up over-charging your cells.
[Q6] How does the BC-700 know when to stop charging?
[A] The primary termination mechanism is "negative delta-voltage detection" (-dV/dt). If this signal is missed, backup mechanism include: high voltage termination, over-temperature shutdown, and safety timer (stops when total charge > 3700mAh)
[Q7] I ran a Charge/Test operation but in the end it shows a capacity reading of "000 mAh". Are my batteries dead?
[A] Most likely the charger missed the -dV/dt termination signal, and subsequently tripped either over-voltage or over-temperature shutdown.
[Q8] I used the BC-700 to recharge my Duracell 2650mAh batteries, and the capacity readings are over 3000mAh. Are those batteries great or my charger is bad?
[A] When you use CHARGE, the 'mAh' reading is for amount of charge going INTO the battery, not what is actually STORED by the batteries. Because the energy conversion is not 100%, you always need to put in more charge, especially if your batteries are old or leaky. To find out the charge stored, use either Charge/Test, or Discharge/Refresh
[Q9] I put in a set of exhausted batteries and one of them shows 'null'. Is the battery dead?
[A] If a battery has been over-discharged, its terminal voltage may fall below 0.5V and the BC-700 cannot detect it. You can kick-start it by using my "Paper Clip trick" (see customer image section for details), or by charging the dead cell in a dumb charger for a few minutes. Then the BC-700 will recognize it.
[Q10] Why can't I tell how much charge is left in my battery instantly?
[A] No battery testers in this world can do that. The only reliable way is to run Discharge/Refresh. However, you can estimate the `fullness' of your battery by looking at its voltage. When you first insert in a battery, its voltage is displayed for 8 seconds. If the voltage is higher than 1.30V, the battery is mostly full and you don't need to recharge it. If it is below 1.20V, it is nearly exhausted.
[Q11] How do I power the BC-700/1000 from my car battery?
[A] You need a CLA (cigarette lighter adapter) with 3V output at a 2.1/5.5mm barrel jack; current rating of 3A for the BC-700, 4A for the BC-1000. For example: AccuPower AP12243 Car Adapter. An easier solution is to get the La Crosse BC500 which runs off 12V directly.
[Q12] What is the REAL advantage of having an advanced charger like the BC-700?
[A] It allows you to determine the true capacity of all your batteries, and to revive those under-performing cells. Then you can group cells with similar capacities together for best result. Plus it looks cool and is a chick-magnet... just kidding!
[Q13] Is it normal for noise to come out from my BC1000 when it is charging batteries?
[A] Yes. The BC-700/1000 uses pulsed charging current at 25% 1 Hz. So when you set the current to 700mA, internally it is putting out 2800mA for 1/4 second. That's why it emits a faint ticking sound once every second.
[Q14] Why am I not able to see a charge termination even at 500 mA charge rate on my brand new AA Eneloops? (Voltage on the battery was 1.43 V when I manually pulled out. When I insert the same battery again it promptly says full!)
[A] It is normal for eneloop cells to reach at least 1.48V just before the delta-voltage drop is detected. If you remove a cell while it is only 1.43V and re-insert it right back, the charger detects a higher than expected voltage for NiMH cell, so it treats the cell as full and will not recharge it. Otherwise it could miss the delta-V detection from this stage.
[Q15] What is "charge rate" and how does it relate to charge time?
- Charge rate C = charging current (mA) / Capacity (mAh)
- Charge time (hr) = Capacity (mAh) / Current (mA) = 1/C
Therefore 0.2C means a charge time of 5 hours, for example
[Q16] What is the best charge rate?
[A] The general recommendation from battery manufacturers is to keep the charge rate between 0.5C and 1C. Higher charge rate shortens battery lifespan. Lower charge rate may cause charger to miss termination signal. In practice, a rate between 0.25C and 0.5C is preferred if pulse-charging technique is used.
[Q17] If I recharge an 800mAh AAA battery at 200mA, is there a danger of missing charge termination signal at 0.25C?
[A] No. The BC-700/900/1000 uses pulsed current at 25% duty cycle. So when you select '200mA', the actual charging current is 800mA for 0.25 second, followed by 0mA for 0.75 second. Therefore although the DC heating effect is at 0.25C, the charge termination signal is determined at 1C. On the other hand, charging a 2000mAh AA cell at 200mA is borderline too low and should be avoided.
[Q18] I have some old batteries that developed high internal resistance. Will it help by cycling those batteries in REFRESH mode?
[A] The problem with higher internal impedance cannot be reversed. Your best hope is to charge them at the slowest rate, then use them for less demanding appliances such as wireless keyboards. But if they also suffer from rapid self-discharge problem, then you should just recycle them.
[Q19] How do I find out the firmware version of my charger?
[A] When you first connect the charger to AC adapter, the rightmost column shows the firmware number. For example, '35' means firmware v35.
[Q20] How does the AccuPower IQ-328 Battery Charger compare to the BC-700/1000?
[A] Except for some very minor differences, the IQ-328 is identical to the BC1000, down to the same bugs. But it has thermal dissipation problem and will trip over-temperature when charging 4 cells at 1000mA. See details here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1W62S0X09QMMQ/
[Q21] Is the BM200 Intelligent Charger same as the BC1000?
[A] The BM200 has a similar looking LCD panel, and seems to offer many improvements over the BC1000. But it has thermal dissipation problem and will trip over-temperature when charging 4 cells at 1000mA. Read my review on it for details: http://www.amazon.com/review/RRZI4G772IAVR/
[Q22] How does the BT-C2000 Battery Charger Tester Analyzer compare to BM200 and BC-700/1000?
[A] The BT-C2000 looks identical to BM200, but it has updated hardware and firmware to resolve the thermal problem. The latest firmware v2.1 fixed the REFRESH function and offers better user interface.
My original review was written back in August 2007. Now, nearly 5 years later, most of its content is no longer current. So I will use this spot for publishing my "Frequently Asked Questions" relating to BC-700/900/1000 family of chargers. This list is work in progress and will grow with time. Let me know if you have new questions to be added. Here goes...
[Q1] There are four operation modes on the BC-700 (Charge, Discharge, Test and Refresh). Which mode should I use and when?
[A] Most of the time you just need CHARGE mode. That means put in the batteries and select the charging current desired (500/700mA, etc)
- If you want to know how much capacity your batteries can actually hold, use the CHARGE/TEST function. Be careful not to run this operation if the batteries are freshly charged (doing so may lead to over-charging).
- If you want to find out the remaining charge in a battery, run DISCHARGE/REFRESH and record the 'mAh' number at the end of the first discharge.
- If you suspect your batteries suffer from reduced capacity, run the DISCHARGE/REFRESH operation. Or you can use this mode to refresh your batteries once every 6 months or so. Don't over do it!
[Q2] Why won't the MODE button response when I press it?
[A] Press and hold the MODE button for 3 seconds, then toggle it to change mode.
[Q3] What is the difference between TEST and REFRESH?
[A] TEST starts with a full recharge, then it discharges the cell once to determine its capacity. Next it recharges the cell to full again.
REFRESH starts with a discharge to determine the cell's remaining charge capacity, then it charges the cells back up and drain it down again to determine its new capacity. It wil repeat this Charge/Discharge cycle multiple times until the capacity stops improving. Finally it charges the cell in the end.
[Q4] My BC-700 has been discharging and refreshing for 3 days!! When does it stop?
[A] The REFRESH operation takes at least three Discharge/Recharge cycles to complete. If you use the default 100mA discharging (200mA charging) current for a 2000mAh AA cell, each Discharge/Recharge cycle takes about 30 hours! Terminate the Refresh operation and restart it using 350mA discharging (700mA charging) instead.
[Q5] What is the best charging current for recharging AA or AAA batteries?
[A] For AAA cells the default 200mA is just right. If you're in a hurry, increase the current to 500mA.
For AA cells you should increase the charging current to either 500mA or 700mA. This reduces the charge time and, more importantly, ensure that the charger will not miss charge termination signal and ends up over-charging your cells.
[Q6] How does the BC-700 know when to stop charging?
[A] The primary termination mechanism is "negative delta-voltage detection" (-dV/dt). If this signal is missed, backup mechanism include: high voltage termination, over-temperature shutdown, and safety timer (stops when total charge > 3700mAh)
[Q7] I ran a Charge/Test operation but in the end it shows a capacity reading of "000 mAh". Are my batteries dead?
[A] Most likely the charger missed the -dV/dt termination signal, and subsequently tripped either over-voltage or over-temperature shutdown.
[Q8] I used the BC-700 to recharge my Duracell 2650mAh batteries, and the capacity readings are over 3000mAh. Are those batteries great or my charger is bad?
[A] When you use CHARGE, the 'mAh' reading is for amount of charge going INTO the battery, not what is actually STORED by the batteries. Because the energy conversion is not 100%, you always need to put in more charge, especially if your batteries are old or leaky. To find out the charge stored, use either Charge/Test, or Discharge/Refresh
[Q9] I put in a set of exhausted batteries and one of them shows 'null'. Is the battery dead?
[A] If a battery has been over-discharged, its terminal voltage may fall below 0.5V and the BC-700 cannot detect it. You can kick-start it by using my "Paper Clip trick" (see customer image section for details), or by charging the dead cell in a dumb charger for a few minutes. Then the BC-700 will recognize it.
[Q10] Why can't I tell how much charge is left in my battery instantly?
[A] No battery testers in this world can do that. The only reliable way is to run Discharge/Refresh. However, you can estimate the `fullness' of your battery by looking at its voltage. When you first insert in a battery, its voltage is displayed for 8 seconds. If the voltage is higher than 1.30V, the battery is mostly full and you don't need to recharge it. If it is below 1.20V, it is nearly exhausted.
[Q11] How do I power the BC-700/1000 from my car battery?
[A] You need a CLA (cigarette lighter adapter) with 3V output at a 2.1/5.5mm barrel jack; current rating of 3A for the BC-700, 4A for the BC-1000. For example: AccuPower AP12243 Car Adapter. An easier solution is to get the La Crosse BC500 which runs off 12V directly.
[Q12] What is the REAL advantage of having an advanced charger like the BC-700?
[A] It allows you to determine the true capacity of all your batteries, and to revive those under-performing cells. Then you can group cells with similar capacities together for best result. Plus it looks cool and is a chick-magnet... just kidding!
[Q13] Is it normal for noise to come out from my BC1000 when it is charging batteries?
[A] Yes. The BC-700/1000 uses pulsed charging current at 25% 1 Hz. So when you set the current to 700mA, internally it is putting out 2800mA for 1/4 second. That's why it emits a faint ticking sound once every second.
[Q14] Why am I not able to see a charge termination even at 500 mA charge rate on my brand new AA Eneloops? (Voltage on the battery was 1.43 V when I manually pulled out. When I insert the same battery again it promptly says full!)
[A] It is normal for eneloop cells to reach at least 1.48V just before the delta-voltage drop is detected. If you remove a cell while it is only 1.43V and re-insert it right back, the charger detects a higher than expected voltage for NiMH cell, so it treats the cell as full and will not recharge it. Otherwise it could miss the delta-V detection from this stage.
[Q15] What is "charge rate" and how does it relate to charge time?
- Charge rate C = charging current (mA) / Capacity (mAh)
- Charge time (hr) = Capacity (mAh) / Current (mA) = 1/C
Therefore 0.2C means a charge time of 5 hours, for example
[Q16] What is the best charge rate?
[A] The general recommendation from battery manufacturers is to keep the charge rate between 0.5C and 1C. Higher charge rate shortens battery lifespan. Lower charge rate may cause charger to miss termination signal. In practice, a rate between 0.25C and 0.5C is preferred if pulse-charging technique is used.
[Q17] If I recharge an 800mAh AAA battery at 200mA, is there a danger of missing charge termination signal at 0.25C?
[A] No. The BC-700/900/1000 uses pulsed current at 25% duty cycle. So when you select '200mA', the actual charging current is 800mA for 0.25 second, followed by 0mA for 0.75 second. Therefore although the DC heating effect is at 0.25C, the charge termination signal is determined at 1C. On the other hand, charging a 2000mAh AA cell at 200mA is borderline too low and should be avoided.
[Q18] I have some old batteries that developed high internal resistance. Will it help by cycling those batteries in REFRESH mode?
[A] The problem with higher internal impedance cannot be reversed. Your best hope is to charge them at the slowest rate, then use them for less demanding appliances such as wireless keyboards. But if they also suffer from rapid self-discharge problem, then you should just recycle them.
[Q19] How do I find out the firmware version of my charger?
[A] When you first connect the charger to AC adapter, the rightmost column shows the firmware number. For example, '35' means firmware v35.
[Q20] How does the AccuPower IQ-328 Battery Charger compare to the BC-700/1000?
[A] Except for some very minor differences, the IQ-328 is identical to the BC1000, down to the same bugs. But it has thermal dissipation problem and will trip over-temperature when charging 4 cells at 1000mA. See details here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1W62S0X09QMMQ/
[Q21] Is the BM200 Intelligent Charger same as the BC1000?
[A] The BM200 has a similar looking LCD panel, and seems to offer many improvements over the BC1000. But it has thermal dissipation problem and will trip over-temperature when charging 4 cells at 1000mA. Read my review on it for details: http://www.amazon.com/review/RRZI4G772IAVR/
[Q22] How does the BT-C2000 Battery Charger Tester Analyzer compare to BM200 and BC-700/1000?
[A] The BT-C2000 looks identical to BM200, but it has updated hardware and firmware to resolve the thermal problem. The latest firmware v2.1 fixed the REFRESH function and offers better user interface.
By Nuk
UPDATE: (01-21-2014) It has been more than 5 years since I wrote this review. This charger is still working great!
I have owned at least 10 chargers for the last 8 years, Maha's, Panasonic, ChargeIt, etc. This charger shows you the mAh on the LCD panel as the battery charges up. Most chargers will only shows an LED light indicator to signal when charging is done.
Compared to the specs of BC-900, the BC700 can only go up to 700mA (the max) which is slower than the BC900. But the faster the battery charges, the hotter it gets. And one of the worst enemy of rechargeable batteries is heat. Less heat means longer life for the batteries.
Pros:
- 3 adjustable charging speeds
- Will show you the actual capacity in mAh. This is good so you know which battery needs to be refreshed. You always want to use batteries with the same capacities in pair or in a group.
- 4 independent charging stations with individual LED readouts. "AA's" and "AAA's" can be charged in different combinations. Don't you hate those gadgets that only use 3 batteries like portable radios? (walkie-talkies). You end up with 1 un-used battery if you bought a 4-pack. How will you charge it if your charger only charges in pairs?
- Reasonable price for an excellent charger
- Small and light. Better portability
- Multi-volt up to 240v. Very useful if you travel a lot.
I have owned at least 10 chargers for the last 8 years, Maha's, Panasonic, ChargeIt, etc. This charger shows you the mAh on the LCD panel as the battery charges up. Most chargers will only shows an LED light indicator to signal when charging is done.
Compared to the specs of BC-900, the BC700 can only go up to 700mA (the max) which is slower than the BC900. But the faster the battery charges, the hotter it gets. And one of the worst enemy of rechargeable batteries is heat. Less heat means longer life for the batteries.
Pros:
- 3 adjustable charging speeds
- Will show you the actual capacity in mAh. This is good so you know which battery needs to be refreshed. You always want to use batteries with the same capacities in pair or in a group.
- 4 independent charging stations with individual LED readouts. "AA's" and "AAA's" can be charged in different combinations. Don't you hate those gadgets that only use 3 batteries like portable radios? (walkie-talkies). You end up with 1 un-used battery if you bought a 4-pack. How will you charge it if your charger only charges in pairs?
- Reasonable price for an excellent charger
- Small and light. Better portability
- Multi-volt up to 240v. Very useful if you travel a lot.
By Herbert R. Whitacre
I am an engineer, and this charger does EVERYTHING I want it to do. Smart charger with individual circuits is the ONLY way to go. And the LaCrosse has all the smart charger features you need, at a lower price than the hyped brand.
We have 4 cordless microphones at my church which take 2 AA's each. Consuming 8 AA's every week, we were spending over $200 a year on batteries. After bad memories of the old NiCd's, I decided to give rechargeables another try after learning about Eneloop and new NiMH hybrid or "low self-discharge" (or "LSD") technology. I chose this LaCrosse charger because of great reviews, solid features, and reasonable price. Three months later, I am extremely pleased and would recommend it to others.
I have been recharging and tracking our 8 AA's every week for 3 months, and now I can share my experience. First of all, the charger and 8 AA batteries have already paid for themselves. Second, I have needed all 4 of the charging modes that the LaCrosse offers.
Here is what you need to know:
1) CHARGE CURRENT: Fast charging is not good for batteries. Slower is better. Fast charging generates heat, which degrades the battery, reduces its life and in extreme cases can ruin it. The LaCrosse has 3 charging currents: 200, 500, and 700 mA. If you just put batteries in and do nothing else, it will charge at 200. This is a "slow" charge, taking 8-12 hours to charge 2000 mAh batteries. The 500 is a moderate speed, taking about 3-5 hours, batteries may be a little warm at the end. The 700 is the "fast" speed for LaCrosse, but it can charge your AA's in about 2 hours which is handy when you really need it. Batteries are pretty warm at the end, but not hot. Keep in mind, 700 is only half of the 1.5 mA or more that the "super fast" chargers pump out, which can't be good for battery life.
2) END DETECTION: Never buy timer-based chargers; overcharging will ruin NiMH batteries. Smart chargers like the LaCrosse are based on "negative delta-V". They detect the peak and voltage drop to know when the battery is full. Once this point is detected, the LaCrosse stops and then puts the battery on a very low "trickle" charge.
3) INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS: The LaCrosse has 4 individual charging circuits. This not only means the 4 batteries can be on different charge modes and currents, but it also means that each battery gets optimally charged. Beware of cheap chargers that charge batteries in pairs. When paired, two batteries are treated as one. But since it is nearly impossible for two batteries to be at exactly the same level of discharge and/or have the exact same capacity, one battery may be undercharged, and the other may be overcharged. Overcharging can ruin a battery, and so can over-discharge when the same pair is drained together in a device.
4) TEST MODE: To know that your new batteries actually have the capacity they advertise, or to verify older batteries, you need Test mode. This LaCrosse has test mode, which lets you know the capacity of the battery. It first charges to full, then discharges it completely (to measure the capacity), then charges it again so the battery is ready to use.
5) DISCHARGE MODE: Although NiMH's claim to have no memory effect, it is still a good idea to fully discharge them on occasion. Not only will this ensure optimal capacity, but after a full discharge cycle the LaCrosse will show you the battery's measured capacity so you know the battery is still good (or going bad).
6) REFRESH MODE: Conventional NiMH's (non-LSD) need to be charge/discharge cycled a few times to reach full capacity. This charger's Refresh mode will accomplish that with one setup. Cheap chargers don't have a discharge feature at all. Also, NiMH batteries that are over-drained may need to be refreshed. This happened after using a set of batteries in the Wii remote too long. Cheap chargers would only report the battery as full, or as bad. Once again, LaCrosse's Refresh mode saved the day. After just a couple cycles, the battery charged to full capacity again. Another run of Test mode proved the batter was back to 2000 mAh.
What are you waiting for? Buy this charger!
We have 4 cordless microphones at my church which take 2 AA's each. Consuming 8 AA's every week, we were spending over $200 a year on batteries. After bad memories of the old NiCd's, I decided to give rechargeables another try after learning about Eneloop and new NiMH hybrid or "low self-discharge" (or "LSD") technology. I chose this LaCrosse charger because of great reviews, solid features, and reasonable price. Three months later, I am extremely pleased and would recommend it to others.
I have been recharging and tracking our 8 AA's every week for 3 months, and now I can share my experience. First of all, the charger and 8 AA batteries have already paid for themselves. Second, I have needed all 4 of the charging modes that the LaCrosse offers.
Here is what you need to know:
1) CHARGE CURRENT: Fast charging is not good for batteries. Slower is better. Fast charging generates heat, which degrades the battery, reduces its life and in extreme cases can ruin it. The LaCrosse has 3 charging currents: 200, 500, and 700 mA. If you just put batteries in and do nothing else, it will charge at 200. This is a "slow" charge, taking 8-12 hours to charge 2000 mAh batteries. The 500 is a moderate speed, taking about 3-5 hours, batteries may be a little warm at the end. The 700 is the "fast" speed for LaCrosse, but it can charge your AA's in about 2 hours which is handy when you really need it. Batteries are pretty warm at the end, but not hot. Keep in mind, 700 is only half of the 1.5 mA or more that the "super fast" chargers pump out, which can't be good for battery life.
2) END DETECTION: Never buy timer-based chargers; overcharging will ruin NiMH batteries. Smart chargers like the LaCrosse are based on "negative delta-V". They detect the peak and voltage drop to know when the battery is full. Once this point is detected, the LaCrosse stops and then puts the battery on a very low "trickle" charge.
3) INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS: The LaCrosse has 4 individual charging circuits. This not only means the 4 batteries can be on different charge modes and currents, but it also means that each battery gets optimally charged. Beware of cheap chargers that charge batteries in pairs. When paired, two batteries are treated as one. But since it is nearly impossible for two batteries to be at exactly the same level of discharge and/or have the exact same capacity, one battery may be undercharged, and the other may be overcharged. Overcharging can ruin a battery, and so can over-discharge when the same pair is drained together in a device.
4) TEST MODE: To know that your new batteries actually have the capacity they advertise, or to verify older batteries, you need Test mode. This LaCrosse has test mode, which lets you know the capacity of the battery. It first charges to full, then discharges it completely (to measure the capacity), then charges it again so the battery is ready to use.
5) DISCHARGE MODE: Although NiMH's claim to have no memory effect, it is still a good idea to fully discharge them on occasion. Not only will this ensure optimal capacity, but after a full discharge cycle the LaCrosse will show you the battery's measured capacity so you know the battery is still good (or going bad).
6) REFRESH MODE: Conventional NiMH's (non-LSD) need to be charge/discharge cycled a few times to reach full capacity. This charger's Refresh mode will accomplish that with one setup. Cheap chargers don't have a discharge feature at all. Also, NiMH batteries that are over-drained may need to be refreshed. This happened after using a set of batteries in the Wii remote too long. Cheap chargers would only report the battery as full, or as bad. Once again, LaCrosse's Refresh mode saved the day. After just a couple cycles, the battery charged to full capacity again. Another run of Test mode proved the batter was back to 2000 mAh.
What are you waiting for? Buy this charger!
By Mike M.
This charger does it all, and better than anything else on the market. It provides an exceptionally controlled and monitored charge utilizing microprocesser technology; measures actual individual battery capacity; rejuvenates ni-cad batteries and identifies those beyond restoration; and, automatically adjusts to a safe trickle charge as batteries reach full capacity.
I considered the BC900 which provides a maximum 1000ma charge rate versus the BC700's 700ma. However, the customer feedback on the BC900 indicated about 10% of customers experienced serious problems, especially fire hazard type failures. It seems to be associated with the 1000ma high-charge rate feature. There were no reports of fire hazard experiences with the BC700 nor were there any feedback scores as low as the BC900. Since I have no need nor desire to charge batteries at that rate, the BC700 seemed to fit the bill.
As a further safety precaution against fire hazards, I have deliberately operated this unit virtually continuously for over a month (yes, in a safe place) between 200ma and 500ma and observed only a slight increase in operating temperature being only mildly warm to the touch. In sum, the unit has operated flawlessly. I can truly recommend it without any reservations.
I considered the BC900 which provides a maximum 1000ma charge rate versus the BC700's 700ma. However, the customer feedback on the BC900 indicated about 10% of customers experienced serious problems, especially fire hazard type failures. It seems to be associated with the 1000ma high-charge rate feature. There were no reports of fire hazard experiences with the BC700 nor were there any feedback scores as low as the BC900. Since I have no need nor desire to charge batteries at that rate, the BC700 seemed to fit the bill.
As a further safety precaution against fire hazards, I have deliberately operated this unit virtually continuously for over a month (yes, in a safe place) between 200ma and 500ma and observed only a slight increase in operating temperature being only mildly warm to the touch. In sum, the unit has operated flawlessly. I can truly recommend it without any reservations.
By A. Jackson
I don't know why a company would adopt such a confusing model number scheme, but in terms of capabilities, this is far superior to other models by LaCrosse and Maha.
The BC-700 can charge up to 2500 mAh capacity -- it does so in relatively faster steps of 200/500/700 mA currents (these are not capacities). Unless you are in a really big hurry, let the charger work at the default current of 200 mA, otherwise, you are stressing your batteries. This charger has saved several sets of 2000+ mAh batteries for me that previous had developed a low capacity problem in a Maha charger.
Compared to my old Maha, it's nice to be able to see the capacities and voltage of the batteries. Having a device like this and a couple dozen AA and AAA NiMH batteries saves me several hundred dollars per year.
Make sure you glance through the documentation so you don't misunderstand the various modes.
TIP: you must make selections on the charger within 8 seconds of inserting the batteries, AND hold the mode button for 5 seconds when changing modes.
The BC-700 can charge up to 2500 mAh capacity -- it does so in relatively faster steps of 200/500/700 mA currents (these are not capacities). Unless you are in a really big hurry, let the charger work at the default current of 200 mA, otherwise, you are stressing your batteries. This charger has saved several sets of 2000+ mAh batteries for me that previous had developed a low capacity problem in a Maha charger.
Compared to my old Maha, it's nice to be able to see the capacities and voltage of the batteries. Having a device like this and a couple dozen AA and AAA NiMH batteries saves me several hundred dollars per year.
Make sure you glance through the documentation so you don't misunderstand the various modes.
TIP: you must make selections on the charger within 8 seconds of inserting the batteries, AND hold the mode button for 5 seconds when changing modes.
By A. KEITH
I was looking for a good charger with individual battery controls when charging multiple batteries. I needed it to be compact and lightweight for travel.
I read several different reviews of several chargers (this one and others) and concluded that this one looked promising. So I purchased it and hoped for the best.
I was not disappointed. I have now charged almost 40 NiMH hybrid batteries and it does great. I can tell that it keeps the temnperatures down significantly below that of the cheaper chargers that typically come with the batteries and that have more simplistic time-duration controls.
The displays for each battery are also surprisingly informative and I have grown to really appreciate and depend upon that level of insight and control over each battery.
The controls are simple. However, it took me a few cycles to get the button-pressing-sequence down. But it is now pretty much a wrote sequence and, once learned, makes the use totally trivial.
My only real complaint is that the power supply "brick" that it requires ("brick" is probably unfair, it's not that big) does not have any provision for stowing the plug prongs. THat is one of my pet pieves when manufacturers insist on using that type of "brick". It makes it most unrully and irratating to pack for travel (which I do a lot). Stowable power prongs should be the norm, not these unstowable typwes.
That said, this is in all other aspects a wonderful product and I would most heartily recommend it to anyone wanting a relatively small, compact, lightweight but flexible charger with lots of ability to control the charging of recharable batteries.
I read several different reviews of several chargers (this one and others) and concluded that this one looked promising. So I purchased it and hoped for the best.
I was not disappointed. I have now charged almost 40 NiMH hybrid batteries and it does great. I can tell that it keeps the temnperatures down significantly below that of the cheaper chargers that typically come with the batteries and that have more simplistic time-duration controls.
The displays for each battery are also surprisingly informative and I have grown to really appreciate and depend upon that level of insight and control over each battery.
The controls are simple. However, it took me a few cycles to get the button-pressing-sequence down. But it is now pretty much a wrote sequence and, once learned, makes the use totally trivial.
My only real complaint is that the power supply "brick" that it requires ("brick" is probably unfair, it's not that big) does not have any provision for stowing the plug prongs. THat is one of my pet pieves when manufacturers insist on using that type of "brick". It makes it most unrully and irratating to pack for travel (which I do a lot). Stowable power prongs should be the norm, not these unstowable typwes.
That said, this is in all other aspects a wonderful product and I would most heartily recommend it to anyone wanting a relatively small, compact, lightweight but flexible charger with lots of ability to control the charging of recharable batteries.
By thomas
This thing is great, just like the last one I had. I just got it and started using it (BC-700), and I'm sure it will be ok for at least the 5 years and six months that the BC-9009 model I ordered in November of 2009 was. I probably should not have left it plugged in all the time, but that thing lasted until May of 2015.
It saved a lot of money on batteries by charging them in a way that helped them keep their maximum capacity for much, much longer. I never used the "quick charge" feature because I wanted to extend battery life as long as possible, so when the BC-9009 stopped giving a proper display, I went right back to looking for a La Crosse smart charger.
I found that the BC-9009 was discontinued, and the 2 models available were the BC-700 and the BC-1000. The only apparent difference is that the BC-700 doesn't have the fastest charging mode that the BC-1000 has. I tend to use the "discharge" function every time with the lowest charge rate, so the BC-700 model would be a perfect replacement for the old BC-9009.
I still have the sets of batteries that came with the BC-9009 and only recently replaced them with newer rechargeable NIMH batteries because they finally started to lose capacity after several years of repeated use. They are still adequate to use in low power situations like television remotes and digital thermostats.
I have saved so much money using one of these smart chargers that it was an immediate decision to shop around for another charger just like this. I know that NIMH batteries aren't supposed to have the "memory effect" issue, but I still use the discharge feature every time I charge a battery because I know that by doing so I am running a full cycle on each battery every time I recharge it. I can also get a reading on total capacity after that discharge/charge cycle is complete, and I can watch the status of each battery and see if one is starting to act up, which would bring down the total capacity of a 2 or 4 battery set in a device.
Using a smart charger is essential for me now that I have gotten so intimate with each little AA and AAA battery that I use in a regular rotation. The warranty is still one year, but I can't complain that the old BC-9009 blanked out after so many years of use. It did not damage any battery when it went, and for all I know, there was a power surge of some kind on the outlet where it stayed plugged in day after day. Everything else is kept on uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) with surge protection, but the old BC-9009 was plugged into just a surge protector by itself, which I should know better since I keep computers on conditioned power.
Now the new BC-700 will be kept on conditioned power too and probably only plugged in while in use. When the BC-9009 went, it gave a line going in a circle on the digital display, but nothing overheated or fried. The last battery left on it was in the process of charging when the old charger stopped working, and that battery was fine when put on a full discharge cycle on the new BC-700.
I look forward to many years of use on this new charger, and the buttons feel a little bit firmer than the older BC-9009 model. I opened that one up after it failed and there were no obvious short circuits or burned areas, so the circuit board didn't fry or anything, it just decided to stop working.
After so many years of use and being left on a desk plugged in all the time on just a surge protector, I am going to use this new one a little differently and see if it lasts even longer. I didn't hesitate to purchase another charger from this company though, because I got so used to using the BC-9009 that replacing it with this BC-700 is almost like not replacing it at all. I can't believe I may have gotten somewhat sentimental over a smart battery charger.
It saved a lot of money on batteries by charging them in a way that helped them keep their maximum capacity for much, much longer. I never used the "quick charge" feature because I wanted to extend battery life as long as possible, so when the BC-9009 stopped giving a proper display, I went right back to looking for a La Crosse smart charger.
I found that the BC-9009 was discontinued, and the 2 models available were the BC-700 and the BC-1000. The only apparent difference is that the BC-700 doesn't have the fastest charging mode that the BC-1000 has. I tend to use the "discharge" function every time with the lowest charge rate, so the BC-700 model would be a perfect replacement for the old BC-9009.
I still have the sets of batteries that came with the BC-9009 and only recently replaced them with newer rechargeable NIMH batteries because they finally started to lose capacity after several years of repeated use. They are still adequate to use in low power situations like television remotes and digital thermostats.
I have saved so much money using one of these smart chargers that it was an immediate decision to shop around for another charger just like this. I know that NIMH batteries aren't supposed to have the "memory effect" issue, but I still use the discharge feature every time I charge a battery because I know that by doing so I am running a full cycle on each battery every time I recharge it. I can also get a reading on total capacity after that discharge/charge cycle is complete, and I can watch the status of each battery and see if one is starting to act up, which would bring down the total capacity of a 2 or 4 battery set in a device.
Using a smart charger is essential for me now that I have gotten so intimate with each little AA and AAA battery that I use in a regular rotation. The warranty is still one year, but I can't complain that the old BC-9009 blanked out after so many years of use. It did not damage any battery when it went, and for all I know, there was a power surge of some kind on the outlet where it stayed plugged in day after day. Everything else is kept on uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) with surge protection, but the old BC-9009 was plugged into just a surge protector by itself, which I should know better since I keep computers on conditioned power.
Now the new BC-700 will be kept on conditioned power too and probably only plugged in while in use. When the BC-9009 went, it gave a line going in a circle on the digital display, but nothing overheated or fried. The last battery left on it was in the process of charging when the old charger stopped working, and that battery was fine when put on a full discharge cycle on the new BC-700.
I look forward to many years of use on this new charger, and the buttons feel a little bit firmer than the older BC-9009 model. I opened that one up after it failed and there were no obvious short circuits or burned areas, so the circuit board didn't fry or anything, it just decided to stop working.
After so many years of use and being left on a desk plugged in all the time on just a surge protector, I am going to use this new one a little differently and see if it lasts even longer. I didn't hesitate to purchase another charger from this company though, because I got so used to using the BC-9009 that replacing it with this BC-700 is almost like not replacing it at all. I can't believe I may have gotten somewhat sentimental over a smart battery charger.
By J. Ray
Before I purchased this charger, I researched the Maha C9000, the LaCrosse BC-900, and this, the LaCross BC-700.
This charger does everything that it says it will, including selection of charge rates from 200mA to 700mA, discharge mode to eliminate memory effect, test mode to measure battery capacity, and refresh mode to rejuvenate old cells (or break in new cells).
The user interface is reasonably simple for the rich features that this charger offers (compared to the Maha, which to do anything other than the default charge, requires dozens of button presses).
While the BC-900 offers higher charge rates (1000mA for 4 cells, or 1800mA for 2 cells), this charger is more than fast engough for my Eneloops (Japanese Duracells). I prefer the gentle 200mA rate most of the time (which is the recommended rate printed on my cells), and don't really need the faster rates of the Maha or the BC-900.
The Maha charger has alot of bells and whistles, most of which I would probably rarely use, particularly with the clunky user interface, and many of these features may actually be replicated on the LaCross units.
The following are the pro's and cons (IMO) of the various chargers:
BC-700 Pros:
Easy setup
Individual displays for each cell, toggle between current, voltage, time elapsed, mAH, etc
Default charge rate of 200mA (doesn't cook my batteries)
Price - $25 two months ago when I purchased it (as of today Amazon wanted $41 for it)
BC-700 Cons:
Price was just increased, now making the BC-900 a better buy (compare before you buy).
BC-900 Pro's:
Everything good about the BC-700
Faster charge rates available if you need them
Freebies thrown into the deal (batteries, travel case, and converters), and as of today, only $40 (cheaper than the BC-700, again compare prices and value before you buy).
BC-900 Cons: None that I can think of
Maha C9000 Pro's:
More and faster charge rates available than on LaCrosse chargers
More features than the LaCross units (although some of the extra features can be replicated on the LaCrosse units)
Maha C9000 Cons:
Single display, and user must wait for the unit to cycle through it's sequence for each cell to see information.
Programming is complicated, and can ONLY be done on a per cell basis, unlike the LaCross that can be done as a set, or on a per cell basis.
Default charge rate is 1000mA, IMO a bit high, potentially cooking your cells, particularly for 'AAA' cells.
This charger does everything that it says it will, including selection of charge rates from 200mA to 700mA, discharge mode to eliminate memory effect, test mode to measure battery capacity, and refresh mode to rejuvenate old cells (or break in new cells).
The user interface is reasonably simple for the rich features that this charger offers (compared to the Maha, which to do anything other than the default charge, requires dozens of button presses).
While the BC-900 offers higher charge rates (1000mA for 4 cells, or 1800mA for 2 cells), this charger is more than fast engough for my Eneloops (Japanese Duracells). I prefer the gentle 200mA rate most of the time (which is the recommended rate printed on my cells), and don't really need the faster rates of the Maha or the BC-900.
The Maha charger has alot of bells and whistles, most of which I would probably rarely use, particularly with the clunky user interface, and many of these features may actually be replicated on the LaCross units.
The following are the pro's and cons (IMO) of the various chargers:
BC-700 Pros:
Easy setup
Individual displays for each cell, toggle between current, voltage, time elapsed, mAH, etc
Default charge rate of 200mA (doesn't cook my batteries)
Price - $25 two months ago when I purchased it (as of today Amazon wanted $41 for it)
BC-700 Cons:
Price was just increased, now making the BC-900 a better buy (compare before you buy).
BC-900 Pro's:
Everything good about the BC-700
Faster charge rates available if you need them
Freebies thrown into the deal (batteries, travel case, and converters), and as of today, only $40 (cheaper than the BC-700, again compare prices and value before you buy).
BC-900 Cons: None that I can think of
Maha C9000 Pro's:
More and faster charge rates available than on LaCrosse chargers
More features than the LaCross units (although some of the extra features can be replicated on the LaCrosse units)
Maha C9000 Cons:
Single display, and user must wait for the unit to cycle through it's sequence for each cell to see information.
Programming is complicated, and can ONLY be done on a per cell basis, unlike the LaCross that can be done as a set, or on a per cell basis.
Default charge rate is 1000mA, IMO a bit high, potentially cooking your cells, particularly for 'AAA' cells.
By Timothy Danielson
So many times I would grab a set of batteries to put in my camera, flash... and because 1 of the 4 batteries was not up to snuff, I was dead in the water. With this charger you know which battery may cause you problems and you can recondition it. I will never buy a charger that doesn't give feed back again. This charger is also very compact so good things do come in small packages.
By Carl W. Herbert
This is an excellent charger. Prior to buying the BC-700, I'd only used the cheap, compact chargers that are sold together with sets of AA cells. I recently bought several sets of high-capacity NiMh AAs but they gave minimal performance, so I researched the problem and ordered a La Crosse charger.
I checked it over when it arrived and found it to be well made, and of generally good quality. I'd read a few reviews that indicate some people found theirs to be defective -- mine is just fine. Some reviewers noted that the buttons are finicky, but it's simply necessary to hold them briefly. This is normal for many devices governed by micro-controllers.
The greatest benefit to using this charger is that it drives each cell independently. Cheap chargers drive the cells by pairs or by sets of four, and when using them charging may cease before all cells are charged to capacity. That reduces apparent capacity and performance. But the BC-700 charges and displays information for each cell independently. It makes it simple to ensure that each cell charges fully before use and it also makes it possible for users to match cells for best performance. Also, the charger provides a 'refresh' program that is used to pre-condition and/or recondition cells. I refreshed each of my sets and now get excellent performance with all my NiMh AAs. Be advised that the refresh cycle requires several days for high-capacity cells (rated 2650 mAh, etc.)
I checked it over when it arrived and found it to be well made, and of generally good quality. I'd read a few reviews that indicate some people found theirs to be defective -- mine is just fine. Some reviewers noted that the buttons are finicky, but it's simply necessary to hold them briefly. This is normal for many devices governed by micro-controllers.
The greatest benefit to using this charger is that it drives each cell independently. Cheap chargers drive the cells by pairs or by sets of four, and when using them charging may cease before all cells are charged to capacity. That reduces apparent capacity and performance. But the BC-700 charges and displays information for each cell independently. It makes it simple to ensure that each cell charges fully before use and it also makes it possible for users to match cells for best performance. Also, the charger provides a 'refresh' program that is used to pre-condition and/or recondition cells. I refreshed each of my sets and now get excellent performance with all my NiMh AAs. Be advised that the refresh cycle requires several days for high-capacity cells (rated 2650 mAh, etc.)
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