wrote:
> Dear Walt,
>
> Are these much different from the Maha MH-C777 charger? I use it and it s=
eems
> to work well, but the connector that they sent for the car failed after a=
few
> days.
The MH-C777 is a universal charger, and I'm not sure just how it's
charging control works. It's a fairly new model and physically larger.
The C204F is designed for either 2 or 4 AA's or AAA's and is a rapid
charger system, so it's a bit more specialist and smaller. It's got a
built in battery reconditioning cycle and is microprocessor controlled
for charging. It's a small charger unit and one of the wall wort 120v to
12vdc power plugs. The charger unit runs off 12volts and the car
connector is really just a cigarette lighter plug some wire and a
battery connector plug at the other end that plugs into the charger.
They are nice and small, so carting around several is no problem. I've
got six of them around here, as I finally bought extras so as not to
have to move things around. I've not had any problem with them. Here's a
link with more info:
http://www.4gdo.com/maha-mh-c204f.htm
> Do you charge from the car with the engine off? I am told that the charge=
r
> does not use much energy and this is OK?
Yep, it's not a big draw. I don't do it for days and days, however. So
don't really know the limits. I have left several chargers going while I
sleep. Though I do usually manage to do my charging during the day. In
the case of the maha chargers, their intelligent control means that they
ramp down their current to pretty low levels once the batteries are
charged. Each Maha charger will draw a max of a half amp and that will
taper off to 24 ma in about 3 hours depending on the capacity of the
batteries being charged. Your MH-C777 seems like it might draw as much
as .8 amps, again dropping as the batteries charge. It's trickle current
is 40 ma.
When I went out west last fall I left the GPS on most of the time as
well as the cell phone plugged into the car. On top of the battery
chargers as needed. Quite a rat's nest of wire, but no problems. I've
got 5 cig lighter plugins in the front of the pickup, and I don't smoke.
Naturally I don't stint when I buy a new battery. I always go top end.
If your battery is on it's last legs or your car is real hard starting,
don't risk leaving anything running.
Walt
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