Power Department
Alpha Power Battery Charger
The right way to care for your rechargeables
By La Crosse Technologies (BC-900)
If you are someone who relies on their AA or AAA batteries for cameras, radios, GPS or other devices, the Alpha Power charger was designed for you. With 4 channels & 4 charging modes, the Alpha Power charger will take care of your batteries like no other charger.
Think that $30 "Quick Charger" you saw at the big box store can do the job? Think again. They call it a quick charger, because it is designed to cram as much current into your batteries as possible before timing out, ignoring things like battery overheating which can result in overcharging & gassing due to chemical instability. They also have no way of knowing if your batteries are 'full', because all they are monitoring is the rise in cell voltage, which is not accurate when charging at such high rates. They will charge until a timer tells them to stop, or the voltage rises to a certain point... that's it. Sure, you get a quick zap of power, but it is also a great way to shorten the life of your batteries and reduce their capacity.
The Alpha Power charger is different.
It allows you to set the charging rate, from a mild & optimal 200mA all the way up to an urgent 1800mA. It also monitors cell temperature & voltage, and can determine actual battery capacity. It can bring new life to older batteries, and can tell you when a cell is completely dead. It does all this simultaneously in 4 independent charging channels, that handles different batteries, sizes & capacities all at the same time.
Charging modes include...
Charge
Brings your batteries up to full at the rate you specify.
Discharge
Reduces memory effects in some rechargeables by fully discharging followed by charging in one cycle.
Refresh
Runs several discharge-charge cycles to restore maximum battery capacity. The age of the batteries will affect how much capacity can be restored, but in our tests, many older batteries that had been left to self-discharge were brought back to life.
Test
A full charge cycle is followed by a full discharge to measure actual battery capacity, then a full charging cycle. This enables you to see how your batteries are doing as they age.
What's in the box?...
As if all its great features weren't enough, the Alpha Power comes with a great collection of accessories including...
- 4 x 'AA' NiMh batteries (2000mAHr)
- 4 x 'AAA' NiMh batteries (700mAHr)
- 4 x 'C' & 'D' cell adaptor shells (lets you fit an 'AA' battery into a 'C' or 'D' cell device. For example, run your 'D' cell flashlight with 'AA' batteries. Very handy)
- Nylon travel case
Who's buying?...
The Alpha Power has been particularly popular with professional photographers & their digital equipment. GPS users also find them handy for their receivers that are notorious for draining batteries within hours. When battery power is important, it is nice to know the condition of the batteries, and that they are being cared for. The Alpha Power charger provides that.
More than just a good idea...
Rechargeable batteries are a great idea, not only for the environment, but because they actually work better in many of today's cameras & handheld electronics. The Alpha Power charger enables you to maximize your use of your rechargeables, and ensures the longest life of your batteries.
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