We sell (and love to use) the C. Crane QuickCharger, "a smart battery charger which quickly recharges, tests, and conditions the most common sizes of nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) cells."

With the optional car cord, you can plug it into a cigarette lighter jack on your boat and recharge your batteries from a 12-volt source!

In the column "Things That Work!" of Home Power magazine, Richard Perez wrote about his testing and evaluation of the QuickCharger. He said:

"C. Crane's QuickCharger is not your average battery charger. It contains a number of technical features that make it different from other chargers on the market. Most chargers recharge two or more cells in series, which means that one or more cells are always either undercharged or overcharged. The QuickCharger charges each cell in parallel to the same level. This leads to better battery performance and longer life.

"The Quick Charger is microprocessor-controlled using a recharge algorithm that is based on change in voltage versus change in current versus change in time. This algorithm assures a full recharge every time, without overcharging the cell and reducing its life.

"The Quick Charger also is capable of using the onboard microprocessor to evaluate the condition of older cells. It can exercise NiCds and rid them of the dreaded memory effect caused by shallow cycling."

Using the QuickCharger

QuickCharger can use "a 120VAC wall cube power supply, and it can also be powered directly from 12VDC with the optional car cord." It can charge "AAA, AA, C, or D sized cells, but they must all be of the same sie for any particular charging run....The springs used [on the charging stations] are much stronger than any charger I've ever used. This assures good electrical contact."

"The microprocessor determines the state of charge of the cells and decides if they need a discharge cycle before being recharged." If not fully discharged, "the QuickCharger fully dicharges them, in parallel, at the 1.2 VDC level, not in series," guaranteeing optimum cell capacity and avoiding premature failure.

"During discharge, the QuickCharger takes the cells down to 1.0 VDC and then terminates the discharge process. The discharge override button allows the user to skip the discharge process and proceed immediately to recharging.

"During recharging, the QuickCharger uses four distinct sequences --- soft-start charging, fast charging, top-off charging, and finally trickle charging. Each of these stages has a particular purpose.

"Soft-start charging controls the amount of current flowing into a fully discharged cell which reduces cell heating. Fast charging recharges the cell as quickly as possible until it is almost full. Top-off charging finishes the job at a reduced current rate. The cells can then be left in the charger for a trickle charge, which keeps them fully charged until you remove them from the charger.

"All these various steps in the recharging process are designed to fully recharge the cell as quickly as possible without damaging the cell from overheating.... The cells come out at room temerature. Theis means less cell wear and longer cell life.

"The LCD display tells you at a glance where in the recharge process the cells are. It even has a real voltmeter that displays cell voltage in real time. When the cells are finished, the charger's extensive LCD display signals the user."

Performance

"The QuickCharger restore[d] lost capacity [of old batteries] by exercising the cells.... Some of them are over eight years old and still functioning. We've saved hundreds of dollars over the last ten years by using rechargable cells. And they are convenient --- no trip to town required, just pop them into the charger.

"While the QuickCharger is super sophisticated in its handling fo the recharge process, it is still very simple to use. You just plug it in, insert the cells, and the charger does the rest. Forget to take them out when they are done? No problem --- the QuickCharger will not overcharge them, but instead keeps them at peak charge.

"When run on the AC power supply (wall cube), the unit is a phantom load. We hae ours on a plug strip. Power consumption depends on how many and what size cells are being charged. Maximum power consumption is 14 watts while charging four fully discharged D cells."

Evaluation

"C. Crane's QuickCharger is the best battery recharger I've ever used. It's simple to use, effective, and protects cells from the damage inflicted by most commercial chargers. At only US$39.95, it's worth much more than it costs. Considering the hundreds of dollars that most folks have invested in rechargable cells, this is a small price to pay for keeping them in peak condition, ensuring their long lifetimes."

Aboard s/v HOTWIRE, we have used the QuickCharger for over five years and completely agree with everything that Richard Perez says. In Home Power magazine, their Things That Work! column's criteria are as follows:

1. The product must meet its manufacturer's specifications.
2. The product must be durable and last in actual service.
3. The product must offer good value for the money spent on it.

C. Crane's QuickCharger does all of this. We endorse it and will be happy to supply you with one.