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Maha PowerEx MH-C401FS4AA27 - Battery charger - battery - rechargeable - AA x 4 - 2700 mAh | 
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| Brand: Powerex
Category: CE
Buy New: $43.80
New (5) from $43.80
Rating:  6 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Battery Type: NiMh
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 4 x 2
Warranty: Lifetime-charger one year-powersupply
MPN: MH-C401FS4AA27
Model: MH-C401FS4AA27
UPC: 802366163593
EAN: 0802366163593
ASIN: B0002L9IE6
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Charge AA / AAA NiMH or NiCD batteries in 100 Minutes Accurately and Coolly | | • | Unique FLEX negative pulse charging algorithm allow the battery to accept a more complete charge The new FLEX negative pulse algorithm also significantly enhances battery life. | | • | Manually Switch between 100 minute fast charge and 5 hour gentle charge The MH-C401FS is the first charger on the market to offer the choice between a 100-minute rapid charge and a slower, gentler 5-hour charge | | • | Four Independent Charging Circuits | | • | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Unlike other fast chargers, the PowerEX MH-401FS allow you to recharge AA & AAA NiMH or NiCD batteries accurately and coolly, in around 100 minutes (AAA charges in around 1 hour).This charger comes with four AA 2700mAh batteries, AC adapter, car DC adapter, batteries carrying case, and user manual.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Worked for years, but then failed in a dangerous way August 13, 2008
J. Olshefsky (Rochester, NY)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I had purchased the Maha MH-C401FS in December, 2002. I liked it a lot until it failed today in August, 2008.
The 12V input was a valuable selling point, allowing me to charge batteries off a car batter while camping. The "smart charging" technology seemed to do a good job (although I'm happier now with a LaCrosse BC-900 that has informational displays). And, in point of fact, it did last over 5 years where it took the kind of predictable abuse across temperatures and with a mix of batteries and brands.
However, when it failed today, I didn't notice right away. I had come to be complacent in its reliability. It was only when I went in the upstairs hallway that I smelled that undeniably acrid smell of fried electronics. Since I had been charging my batteries in anticipation of a trip, I first checked the table with the battery chargers.
The MH-C401FS was charging 4 AAA batteries on the fast charge setting when something went wrong in the position opposite the door hinge (which was open, by the way). The battery in that slot was brand new when I installed it (a LaCrosse-branded battery, by the way), and the charger had overloaded it so badly that the outer case was cracked from heat, and the positive terminal had pushed out of the casing with enough force to bend the charger's metal contact. The charger's plastic was obviously heated to melting point -- not only where the battery was, but all the way through to the bottom. I have no doubt it could have caught fire -- for instance, if it was a hot day.
It's for this reason that I give such a negative rating. I understand that products fail after some number of years -- and 5 years is certainly an okay run -- but the fact that it failed so dangerously is what concerns me. A proper failure would be to shut down when there was too much heat, but it apparently did not do that. Rather, it continued in a dangerous mode far longer than it should have.
I have also considered that the battery itself could have failed, but the electronics inside the charger are clearly charred from some kind of malfunction. I am fortunate that the failure occurred on a clear table and not inside a camping tent -- yikes.
 This is a crummy charger. March 17, 2008
dallas7
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this charger because because of the marketing points presented on the Maha Web site and the box the charger comes in:
C401FS 100 Minute Cool Charger
"Ultra low temperature charging"
"FLEX Pulse also makes traditional 'battery conditioning & cycling' unnecessary."
"Rapid charge NiMH AA batteries in under 100 minutes, coolly and efficiently."
Once you read the instruction sheet, things are quite different. It warns that batteries may reach 131 degrees F and you should leave the cover open for "better cooling." Also, "...it is necessary to cycle (new batteries) three to five times...by using (them) completely and recharging..." I also noticed it was taking considerably longer than 100 minutes to fast charge four 2700 mAh PowerEx batteries.
I queried Maha's support and received this response:
"The 100 min charging time is based on a 2000mAh batteries (sic). The charging current for the MH-C401FS is 1000mA, thus requiring about 3 hours to recharge a 2700mAh battery. Please make sure the charger's cover lid is open during charging, to avoid battery overheating. If you are still dissatisfied with the battery temperature, I'd recommend going to the MH-C9000, which has a larger size, thus better cooling." The tech didn't bother to comment on the cycling issue, though.
From the manufacturer's hype, one is lead to believe this charger has features that set it apart from others. However, this is not the case. In the fast mode, this charger will cook batteries as good as any other fast charger. It hasn't a conditioning mode, either.
Clearly, there is a major disconnect between Maha's engineering and marketing departments. From "ultra low temperature" to 131 degrees F, from "coolly" to "overheating", from "cycling unnecessary" to "it is necessary to cycle" and from "under 100" to 180 minutes for "fast" charging in the time it took to open the box.
Unless four independent charging circuits and NiCad functionality are on your wish list, this charger is no better than bargain units at half the price. So, take the manufacturer's suggestion and buy something else.
 Just Great January 18, 2008
Leonard Lefevers
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had two other chargers for AA and AAA, I thought that both did a good job until I used this charger. I canned the other two.
LJ
works great November 24, 2007
Christopher W. Rausch (IL USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Works great, I brought back to life some of the batteries that my old charger said were dead! It did not come with the clear plastic cover in the photo, but I don't understand the need for that anyway. I use it with 5 different brands of nimh and ni-cad aa and aaa batteries without any problems. Very simple charge indicator and charges individual cells (the best way), not pairs. Primary use is for nimh AA cells in 5 different Canon powershot digital cameras. Again, this battery charger works Great!
Most Excellent Thing in the World October 10, 2007
J. Leichtman (Open Seas, Destination unknown)
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
Items arrived as described. They are batteries dude! Solid Gold plated Batteries! Once I install them into Robo-Bush 2.0 my latest replicia of George Walker, it will take the place of the 1.0 Model out in the field. The coolest part is I even fixed the verbial typos that 1.0 has had so many issues with. What a great country we live in!
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