La Crosse Technology BC700 Alpha Power Battery Charger

Product Description

The La Crosse Technology BC700-CBP battery charger works with all NiCd and NiMH "AA" and "AAA" rechargeable batteries and can actually increase the power capacity of some older rechargeable batteries. Choose the Discharge Mode to completely discharge the batteries energy and then recharge it to full capacity in one cycle. The Refresh Mode restores the maximum capacity of your batteries by utilizing a 20 cycle discharge and charge mode. The BC700 also offers a Test Mode that determines the true capacity of your batteries. Includes power adapter.
Product Details

    * Amazon Sales Rank: #405 in Lawn & Patio
    * Brand: La Crosse Technology
    * Model: BC700-CBP
    * Dimensions: 5.00" h x 3.00" w x 2.00" l, .85 pounds

Features

    * Battery charger for NiCad and NiMH AA and AAA rechargeable batteries
    * Features 4 modes: charge, discharge, recharge and test
    * Charges both AA & AAA rechargeable batteries simultaneously
    * 4 separate LCD displays for simultaneous readouts
    * Overheat-detection to prevent over-charging

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Power up, nurture and revitalize rechargeable AA and AAA batteries with this sophisticated but easy-to-use battery recharging system from La Crosse Technology. The unit charges all NiCad and NiMH "AA" and "AAA" rechargeable batteries simultaneously, if necessary, and features four different modes to help your batteries along. A charge mode powers up batteries the standard way, a discharge mode discharges batteries and then recharges them for optimal efficiency, a recharge mode discharges and recharges up to 20 times to bring old batteries back to life, and a test mode displays battery capacity. Seven easy-to-use function keys and automatically switches to trickle charge when charging is complete to ensure maximum battery capacity. Four separate LCD displays show progress and capacity. And, a handy overheat detection feature prevents over-charging for longer battery life.

From the Manufacturer
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.
Customer Reviews

Works better than any other charger5
I was looking for a battery charger that would help my rechargeable batteries last longer and be charged with their maximum power. I found exactly what I was seeking in the BC700 Alpha.
The BC700 Alpha Power Battery Charger is as easy to use as conventional chargers that just "recharge" a battery. Yet the recycling option on the BC700 does a much better job of extending a rechargeable battery's life as well as making sure the battery's charge is at its maximum possible size.
I use a Nikon D2H for both sports action as well as special events and weddings/receptions so I don't have any video to share but the still flash pictures I took last Saturday at a friend's wedding reception using batteries recharged on the BC700 Alpha were superb in quality. The batteries kept a full charge throughout the evenings events for the full time of 2 1/2 hours of steady picture taking. I never had one pause between pictures when I had to wait for my Nikon SB800 Speedlight flash to signal "ready" before I took the next flash picture.
I will highly recommend the BC700 Alpha to even casual users.

Excellent Charger; Nicely compact5
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.

nmh & NiCad battery recharger5
It works as advertised. I really like the job it does and am quire happy that I bought it.