ANSMANN Battery charger for 4x NiMH AA/AAA/C/D + 1x 9V block batteries - automatic battery charger with Perfect 7 charging technology Repair mode for rechargeable batteries

I needed a charger that accepts large C & D batteries. I wanted one with a reputable brand name; something that was manufactured to high standards, that complies with UK and/or recognised international safety standards and that was safe. I didn't want to buy an unknown name/generic device as I was worried about the possibility of fire or serious malfunction.I previously purchased one that was made by a popular battery company (E*******r), but it had an annoying timer feature that switches it off after 5hrs (irrespective of whether the batteries were fully charged or not.) This was a safety feature and I can understand why it was fitted, but its completely ridiculous to have a 5hr timer on a device that's used to charge C and D cell batteries. A 10,000maH battery, such as a D cell, will take far longer than 5hrs to charge. So with the E*******r one I had, you would have to turn the device off and on again three to four times to completely fill the battery. Impractical.This fantastic charger from Ansmann is the BEST charger I've ever owned. Here's why:1. It accommodates big batteries (C and D).2. There's plenty of space for your fingers to insert big batteries. For anyone whose owned a charger before, you'll know the common issue, that if the space for the batteries is small, it's hard to install big batteries (remember, you also have to fiddle around with a sprung contact).3. Lights on the device tell you how full your battery is before initiating the charge (<25%, 25-75% or 25%>). No guess work required.4. The device uses multiple different charge strengths and techniques at different points during the charging process. This, it is claimed, helps keep your battery healthier for longer.5. The sprung metal contacts are of a clever design, which makes retracting them, and inserting the batteries, easier.6. The instruction booklet comes in many languages, is well written and provides lots of information. My previous charger had a very basic instruction leaflet, which was confusing at points.7. The device can be powered by a standard plug-in charger (the type you'd use to charge your mobile phone). The device comes with a micro USB cable, so all you need is something to plug the USB cable into (such as a plug-in phone charger, a USB power socket, a power bank...etc).It may help you to know that the instructions reccomend the following type of phone charger/power supply:The thing you use to power the Ansmann charger should be a USB type device (such as a plug-in phone charger, a power bank or a USB wall socket) which provides 5 volts (5V).Additionally, the thing you use should provide a minimum of 1 amp (1A) and ideally 2.1 amp (2.1A) for the fastest charging experience. No more than 2.4 amps (2.4A) should supply the device.Therefore, the reccomendation from Ansmann seems to be an optimum amp rating of 2.1 - 2.4 amps. And 1 amp is the absolute minimum.If the thing you use to supply the Ansmann charger provides less than 2.1 amps (2.1A), then the device will operate slightly more slowly because instead of running all 4 charging slots at once, three of them will run and then once those three batteries are charged, the fourth slot will then begin charging. Ansmann describe this as one of the slots "pausing/being on pause" if you use a supply that has less than 2.1 amps. I'm not sure which slot pauses but that doesn't affect me because I have a phone charging device that provides the required number of amps (in fact, my phone charger supplies the maximum allowed, 2.4amps)There are many suppliers of plug in, USB phone charging sockets that supply the reccomended/optimum number of amps of between 2.1 and 2.4 amps. Mine is manufactured by a company called Anker and its a plug-in USB charger with space for 2 USB cables to be plugged in (and both sockets supply 2.4amps). Other manufacturers of such devices are, of course, available.This is the highest quality and safest battery charger I've purchased and I believe that it comes with a whole host of safety features to prevent a malfunction or dangerous situation.Well worth the money and feels built to last. 5 stars!

I bought this to replace a previous smart charger. The build quality of this is vastly superior. One feature I particularly like is that it tests the battery when you pout it in and gives a colour code of roughly the state of charge. Each battery is charged independently - useful if you have batteries that have got mixed up so that they have different states of charge. This way you can get then all to the same state of charge, unlike many other chargers e.g. any where you charge batteries in pairs.

I asked the question "Does this unit come with a power supply" before purchasing, and a few people said "Yes it does". However, to be absolutely clear, it does not. Inside the box is a USB cable and the unit itself. The instruction book (downloadable at https://www.ansmann.de/uploads/Import/docs/manuals/1001-0093_Comfort-Multi_Manual.pdf) says "Connect the charger with the included USB cable. Connect the USB cable to any suitable USB port (e.g. power supply, PC, Power bank…)." Now the key bit here is the word "suitable" as this unit can draw quite a bit of power, and many USB ports are limited. If the connected USB device does not supply enough current (Ansmann recommend min. 2.1A), the device will pause a charging slot. You can still charge your batteries without any problems, but the chargingprocess takes longer due to this pause. The max current is 2.4A, so to allow your USB some headroom so it's not working flat out which can cause devices to overheat compared with those cruising at say 75% of their max load - I suggest you ensure your USB supply is capable of delivering 3A. Charge times for a large high capacity D cell are about 15 hours (If the capacity is 10,000mah, and the charge rate is 800mah - that makes complete sense); and 3-4 hours for a good quality high capacity AA rated at about 2000mah. Disappointingly, the 9V batteries charge slowly and take 24 hours. On the plus side, the previous versions from Ansmann didn't drop into a trickle charge mode on the 9V batteries when full (they would drop into trickle mode on the 1.5V slots), but this one does - so no overcharging on the 9V slot. I am testing my 9.6V Powerex battery now and wonder if this will charge them (most rechargeable 9V batteries do not get to 9 volts - for example the Ansmann ones only do 8.4V, and this isn't enough for some applications). In summary: I really like the smart charging, it should make my batteries last longer, there isn't a fast charge option (which while it isn't great for battery longevity is useful when you need it); and there isn't a power supply, so ensure you use a high power USB PSU with at least 5 volts, and quoting a minimum of 12.5W or 2.5A output - although choosing 20W or 3A means the PSU is not working at 100%.

Well made, well thought out. Can now change a range of cells and batteries knowing they are being charged in a way that will make them last.

I highly rate the individual battery cell SMART charging feature as do not recommend using a conventional charger that doesn't have this feature. It charges each battery up to its full capacity safely. A very smart looking product, easy to use, can't fault it.

Doesn't work

Great charger. Needs to be used with a high speed cable and ideally a fast charger than can deliver the power because if your using it to charge for big empty batteries it will struggle to deliver the required input and will charge one battery at a time.

Does the trick, however there is only one slot to charge 9v batteries and doesn't come with a plug.