I originally bought this for my digital camera batteries since it allows you to leave batteries in the unit all the time and receive a “trickle” charge without damage to the batteries. It works great and the 2700 Mah batteries last a long time, even when taking flash pictures. Althoug the upfront cost is higher, having rechargable batteries is much cheaper than buying regular AA’s for use in a digital camera.

After I got my Xbox 360, I started using this to keep a fresh pair of AA’s charged for the wireless controller. I can generally get several hours on a full charge and you can always have another pair charging as you play.

I actually got mine from thomas-distributing, but this looks to be similar package deal. The travel kit makes it easy to make sure you have fresh batteries even when on the road.
Rating: 5 / 5

The MAHA MH-C401FS is marketed as a “100-minute battery charger”. But when you use it to charge up the 2700mAh batteries that came with this charger, you’ll most likely have to wait for around 160 minutes. So who lied?

The fact is, C401FS charges AA cells at a fixed current of 1000mA (in Fast mode). Several years ago when this charger was first introduced, the average capacity of an AA NiMH cell was much lower. Perhaps back then, it took about 1.6 hours (or 100 minutes) to fully recharge a 1600mAh cell. But today’s AA NiMH cells have much higher capacities. So to charge up a 2700mAh cell, it now takes about 2.7 hours (or 160 minutes) to finish the job.

Aside from the misleading marketing claim, the C401FS is actually a decent charger. It is a ‘Smart’ charger that charges each cell individually, and stops when each cell is full. It also allows you to select between Fast (1000mA) and Slow (300mA) charging. Unless you are in a hurry, choose the slow mode since it is better for the cells. Just remember that it takes about 9 hours to fully recharge a 2700mAh cell in slow mode.

Unfortunately, the C401FS is also way over-priced for a simple charger in today’s market. For about the same cost, you may want to consider an advanced battery charger/analyzer, such as the La Crosse BC-900 or BC700 instead.
Rating: 3 / 5

This charger is perfect. If you are in a hurry, use the 100 minute charge. If you plan ahead, use the slow charge and prolong battery longevity.

You can mix from 1 to 4 batteries in any combination of AA/AAA types and any amount of “juice” remaining in each battery. The individual charging circuits adjust the charging accordingly. When each battery is fully charged its LED (4 total) goes from red to green.

The batteries supplied are 2700ma and last longer between recharges. This charger is an ideal complement for a digital camera using AA batteries.
Rating: 5 / 5