Solid and fast

Is it worth a battery charger for 100 euros? That depends on how many and which batteries you have. With me about 60 batteries have since now accumulated - as it already is worthwhile for a decent care of these many batteries to invest better in what.

Current reason for buying was for me NiZn battery that I needed for a specific purpose (old professional flash), and also prove now good for this purpose. Anyway I needed a new charger for this battery; then why not the same something good for the other batteries? My old, small BC-700 does it still, but can not even NiZn 9V block load. And in some situations, I am glad now to be able, together with two devices charge up to 8 batteries simultaneously.

The first impression when you unpack: quality impression "Well," a not just super compact power adapter separately, only three buttons and a small, very light blue luminous display with cryptic abbreviations. With an intelligent battery charger for 100 euros you should actually in 2015 can already expect a slightly larger display with plain text display with selectable language. After a short employment so that the functioning and the meaning of the abbreviations is indeed already clear, all you need really - just: comfortable done differently. That the power supply is outsourced to an AC adapter, after all, has the advantage that also a car charger (cigar lighter) to connect might be - if indeed one would be settled. But as a mobile charger that is 2016 anyway a bit too bulky.

So how does the main purpose of the device: the shop? In a word: excellent! At least that is true of the great majority used mignon (AA) and Micro (AAA) NiMH cells (NiCd I no longer benütze long time, and with NiMH Eneloop almost exclusively). You put the battery, the unit analyzed independently whether it is NiZn or conventional NiMH (hitherto invariably correct), but asks a precaution after yet whether the classification is correct. You can click OK to confirm or change one of the other keys - or simply wait a few seconds, then the unit continues even without confirmation and asking for what action is desired. You can choose between CHARGE (charging), DCHarge (unloading), CYCLE (discharging + Download), TEST (loading + discharge + load) and ALIVE (while refreshing of until the capacity is no longer continues to rise). Again pressed OK or wait a few seconds, then you can still adjust the charging and discharging, and then we go. When charging current can also select AUTO, the unit adjusts the current flexibility in the current state. If one wants to deal with further identical batteries as well, you just place them in addition; as long as the device you are told otherwise, it does the same with another battery, what you have first defined. If one wants the battery for a specific change it again, just press the contact bridge in question briefly away, then the machine will ask then again after.

The loading is then incredibly fix: in simple (white) AA Eneloops eg, the device loads up to full 2 ​​amps.! Nevertheless, you have to make the batteries not worry: thanks to a sophisticated pulse-charging technology with automatic adjustment of the charging current to the respective state, the batteries are thereby barely lukewarm. For comparison: in my old BC-700, the same batteries as much charge current sometimes so warm with only a quarter of that, I started to doubt!

During charging, the 2016 all 4 main slots simultaneously displays the approximate charge level (small graphic), and whether being charged or discharged, or whether the battery "READY" is. Per keypress you can see the exact dates (charge capacity, discharge capacity, current charge / discharge) for each battery recall. Are all batteries "ready", then the device switches automatically to standby. Leaves in a still inserted batteries the voltage again after, the charger automatically switches to trickle charging.

According to the fixed charging the others, associated with loading programs are of course pretty fast: where my BC-700 had to chew on a refresh operation for two days, that goes with the 2016 night. Especially nice thing is that you need between the outlet for something else, then simply pull the plug out so long and then put it back on. The 2016 remembers thanks to an internal battery even without power, at which point it was in each case - and picks up right once again get power! With my old BC-700 I have to start the anyway three times longer lasting Refresh over again ...

Under normal NiMH Mignon and -Micros so pure sunshine. With deep discharged batteries, the picture dims a bit: the majority of still saving battery recognizes the 2016 anyway - but not all. A few that but then functioned tolerably after Refresh, I had only the landing with my old "battery-Grill" without any electronics before the 2016 they realized. A real super-charger should have a push-button, with which you can only once the landing a few minutes deeply discharged batteries, before they are analyzed.

9-volt block are clean and gently loaded by 2016, but not very fast. The charging current for this is set at 0,022 A and can not be changed. The same applies to the new nickel-zinc batteries, which are at 1.6 volts nominal voltage a possible solution where the 1.2V of conventional batteries are not enough (but be careful: have freshly charged up to 1.9 volts - for some devices turn too much!). Actually, in both cases, not having an affair: the need to load it up overnight. Only a device that otherwise most reports round cells already within two hours "ready" incident on planar. The charging bays for the 9-volt block are designed a bit inconvenient: you need to take out the nails (on the pry contact page, otherwise It could not be!). The designers should again rethink - perhaps by default a topsy-laid strip, where you can pull out the batteries. For a point deduction the still not arrived but because one anyway only rarely invites block batteries. NiCd batteries and Babysitting or mono cells than batteries I do not benütze, so can not comment on it. After all, nice that you could, if you wanted to because ... More importantly I would find what the 2016 can unfortunately NOT: Lithium round cell load (specially 18650 and 26650).

One point deduction is available for the non-functioning PC software: the studied (at least in my 64-bit Windows 7) in vain for a "COM port 5" after the associated hardware. Since you have a Methuselah of ancient COM port software by means of a quick & dirty executed knitted USB driver (yes, I have already installed!) Adapts. For me it works not at all, as I said - but even if it should work where that installation is an impertinence. Too bad: to be able for a given battery discharge curve and look at the print, would be useful for some purposes.

Conclusion: for something hefty price is 2016 after all, a good charger for the most popular round cells - quickly, gently and easily. For the fifth star it would either additionally can load Lithium round cells, or at least the PC software should be easily installed and functioning.