Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The charger in this package (Sony Cycle Energy BCG34HRE4KN Quick with Refresh Charger and 4 Pre-Charged 2000 mAh AA Batteries) is very similar to the old SONY "BCG-34HE" which I have used for many years, but it added several important improvements.
First, the common features for both chargers:
+ Streamlined one-piece unit with fold-in AC plugs - No need for power cords or wall-adapters!
+ Low profile design (just 1.2" thick) - Easy to fit in camera bags.
+ Accepts universal AC voltage (100-240V) - Great as travel charger.
+ Smart charger that monitors and charges each cell individually - Unlike most cheaper chargers that force you to charge in pairs only.
+ Reasonably fast charging - Charging current=1050mA for 1-2 AA cells, 640mA for 1-2 AAA cells (for 3-4 cells, the current is reduced by half). That translates to about 2 hours for 1-2 AA cells, 4 hours for 3-4 AA. This is a good balance between shorter charge time and longer battery lifespan.
In addition, the new model (BCG34HRE) offers the following features:
++ Individual battery status indicators. Let's say you're charging two AA and two AAA cells together. You can tell when the AAA cells are fully charged, and start using them right away. (Previous model has just one status indicator, which changes color only when ALL cells are fully charged)
++ You can now charge 1-4 cells, in any combinations of AA/AAA cells. (Previous model can charge 1-4 AA cells, but only 1-2 AAA cells)
++ There is a 'Refresh' function. It works by fully discharging all cells, then fully recharging them again. This can be used when you suspect some of your cells are suffering from reduced capacity.
[Aside: It is not necessary to run a discharge before every recharge. Such practice is a left-over from the days of dumb chargers. With a smart charger, you can top-off your batteries anytime, without fully discharging them first.]
The included SONY Cycle Energy 'Pre-Charged' AA cells are low-self-discharge NiMH type, similar to SANYO eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid. That means all the good things you heard about eneloop and Hybrid are true for SONY Pre-Charged cells, too. They are advertised to have a capacity of '2100mAh typical, 2000mAh minimum', and a lifespan of '1000 cycles'. Note that the 1st-gen Sanyo eneloop cells are also rated for 1000 cycles, while the 2nd-gen eneloop cells claim to achieve 1500 cycles. But realistically, most users will probably never experience this perceived benefit.
I highly recommend getting this package over similar packages such as Sanyo Eneloop 4 Pack AA with Charger. The main reason is that: the SONY charger is much better than the Sanyo MQN06 4-cell charger included in eneloop packages. The MQN06 is too slow (approximately 7 hour charge time), and can only charge in pairs. As of this writing, this SONY package is the only one that combines a high-quality smart charger with proven name-brand low-self-discharge batteries. You can use this SONY charger to recharge Sanyo eneloop or any other brands of NiMH cells, too.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Cycle Energy BCG34HRE4KN Quick with Refresh Charger and 4 Pre-Charged 2000 mAh AA Batteries
Sony Quick Charger with Refresh Function's compact design with flip down plug and worldwide voltage allows for charging batteries anywhere. Can charge up to 4 AA or 4 AAA rechargeable Ni-MH batteries. Includes 4 AA Pre-charged, ready-to-use right out of the package batteries. Lasts 3x longer than Alkaline.
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