Product Description

The La Crosse Technology BC700-CBP battery charger works with all NiCd and NiMH "AA" and "AAA" rechargeable batteries and can actually increase the power capacity of some older rechargeable batteries. Choose the Discharge Mode to completely discharge the batteries energy and then recharge it to full capacity in one cycle. The Refresh Mode restores the maximum capacity of your batteries by utilizing a 20 cycle discharge and charge mode. The BC700 also offers a Test Mode that determines the true capacity of your batteries. Includes power adapter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146 in Lawn & Patio
• Brand: La Crosse Technology
• Model: BC700-CBP
• Dimensions: 5.00" h x 3.00" w x 2.00" l, .85 pounds

Features

• Battery charger for NiCad and NiMH AA and AAA rechargeable batteries
• Features 4 modes: charge, discharge, recharge and test
• Charges both AA & AAA rechargeable batteries simultaneously
• 4 separate LCD displays for simultaneous readouts
• Overheat-detection to prevent over-charging

Customer Reviews

Versatile Charger - Great features & works as supposed to ... BUT ...
I am a medium to heavy user of AA & AAA rechargeable cells and also an early adopter - started with 300mah Panny NiCds many years ago - I remember the excitement when 450mah versions were released! :-) Over the years I graduated through the technologies and was using Sanyo NiMH 2500mah cells till I recently discovered Eneloops - they are simply amazing! Now back to the charger review - I have always been an advocate of chargers that have individual charging channels / circuits and can charge 1,2,3 or 4 cells individually. My earlier charger was a Panasonic BQ390-A that still works very well and is very portable. However, faster & adjustable rate charging currents, battery reconditioning, testing etc. drew me to the BC700.

I did not consider the BC900 as the 8 cells bundled with the package were of no use to me (I have enough to last many years) and the 1.8A charging current capability on the BC 900 is something that I would never use.

Amazon was great in it's order processing - as always. I received the charger on schedule. The quick user guide printed on the back of the charger package is a really nice touch. I was eager to test the unit and unpacked and set it up. And that is when I noticed that -ve tab for the AA cell in the 3rd channel was too far behind to connect with the cell. After looking at it closely, I figured that the tab was bent backwards - at least that is what it looked like - very dissapointing for a brand new unit that was packed so well! This is the only reason that I cannot give this Charger a better rating - poor manufacturing processes and very poor quality control!

Having never seen the innards of an intelligent charger, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to try and fix it myself. On dismantling the unit completely and removing the PCB - I discovered that the tab was indeed bent back and had not engaged with the plastic channels on the top of the case that hold these tabs in place when the PCB is inserted. After some delicate work with a needle nose pliers the tab was straight once again and it engaged with the channel.

I must warn others toying with the idea of opening their units - DO NOT TRY IT unless your unit is out of warranty AND you really have a need to AND you are a very capable and advanced electronics hobbyist - putting the BC700 back together is a very complex task - especially aligning the LCD panel contacts with the contacts on the main PCB - if that gets spoilt, the LCD display will be dead and so will the charger!

In my case I managed to put it all back together again and the charger works perfectly now. It is very easy and intuitive to use and does everything that it is supposed to. I prefer the 500mah charge rate and it charges 4 AA Eneloops in a little over 4 hrs.

So this is a happy ending to the story/review. As mentioned earlier, my only concern is with the Manufacturing and QC processes followed by La Crosse - it was indeed very disappointing to see such a basic (and visible) flaw in a brand new unit! It makes one wonder whether there are any other flaws that have not been noticed till now ... I guess time will tell ...

Great for the money I paid
I got my unit during a daily deal. I had been looking at this and it's big brother for the testing and refresh capabilities, I was not disappointed. If for nothing more than to refresh the battery this unit is well worth the money. It continually charges and discharges until the battery no longer gains amperage. I have "retired" a lot of batteries after getting this unit and I get less complaints from the family that the batteries don't hold up. After years of buying batteries its hard to tell which ones still maintain charge and which ones don't. BC700 to the rescue, it refreshes and lets me determine when to pitch the battery. Great product!
PS It also lets you know who is the really good rechargeable on the market. I have bought some "cheaper" rechargeable and discovered they don't measure up to the amp rating on the package, this helps me not purchase that brand again thinking I was saving money.

La Crosse BC-700 is newer 2007 model; and BC-900 is older 2005 model
Trying to decide between La Crosse model BC-700 or model BC-900? It sounds logical that the BC-900 would be the newest model than the BC-700, but that is not true. In truth, the BC-700 is the newest model, and the BC-900 is an older model. Found this out after much Internet research. (I guess the BC-700 is named "700" because it has three charging option rates of 200, 500 and 700 MAH, and its maximum charging rate is "700" MAH. In contrast the older BC-900 has five charging rates, including these three 200, 500, 700 MAH, and has two more charging rates of 1000 and 1800 MAH.)

(Also, first Amazon review of the newer BC-700 is dated August 2007, of its about 30 Amazon reviews. Whereas, the first Amazon review of older BC-900 is dated February 2005, of its about 400 Amazon reviews.)

I decided to buy the latest and newest La Crosse BC-700, instead of the older La Crosse BC-900. The BC-700 charger is working very well and stays cool and does not overheat, and my NiMH batteries stays cool while charging at the slow default 200 MAH rate.

While researching Eneloop batteries, I saw the La Crosse BC-700 and BC-900 battery chargers (and also the Maha MH-C9000 battery charger). I initially ordered the La Crosse BC-900 because BC-900 sounded logical to be newer, and the BC-700 sounded logical to be the older. But after much Internet research, I found out that the BC-700 was newer, and the BC-900 was older, and I had time to cancel the older BC-900. Also, I found out that the older BC-900 has people writing about problems with burning or near-accidents, probably caused by the high end charge rates of 1000 MAH and 1800 MAH of the older BC-900. Also, the older BC-900 problems of newer and older hardware firmware v.32, v.33 internal chips, and other problems. I believe La Crosse engineers had good and safety reasons to make the newer BC-700, and eliminating the higher 1000 MAH and 1800 MAH charge rates of the older BC-900. I have stopped using my old "fast" chargers (such as my Energizer PS4 1-hour "fast" charger), and will only charge my new Eneloop batteries using the Eneloop slow chargers, or the low charging rate of the newer La Cross BC-700.