"Superbrain" 959- I've heard good and bad... Your thoughts?

[SD]

If I keep it cool and manually set the delta, will it work OK for charging
2400-3000 mAH packs at 4.5 amps? Is there a charger with similar features
at a reasonable price that's a little better?

[Corwin]

> If I keep it cool and manually set the delta, will it work OK for charging
> 2400-3000 mAH packs at 4.5 amps? Is there a charger with similar features
> at a reasonable price that's a little better?

at a price similar to the Superbrain i'd recommend the Pirahna Peak
Digital.. it doesn't charge quite as fast from AC, but overall its a better
charger if you must stay in that price range.

neL

[JerryO]

"SD" <SD@SD.net> wrote
> Is there a charger with similar features
> at a reasonable price that's a little better?

I'll second the duratrax pirana digital.

I bought both the MRC 959 ($46.99) and the pirana digital ($49.99) two
weeks ago from tower.

I have yet to get the MRC to charge a battery.

I have yet to have the Pirana digital fail.

The MRC suffers in many areas:
1) doesn't show milliamp-hours of charge (but does show charge
time).
2) claims to charge glow plug battery, but doesn't include it in
instructions.
3) It gives a warning to charge only 1-8 cell battery.
but in features it says only 3-8 cell batteries
4) display shows only one item and reverts to battery voltage in 10
seconds.
5) peak delta is in millivolts per pack (Maybe?)
6) plug 'n play only for sub-C and larger.
7) to adjust, you must wrap all the way around (and again if you
slip)
8) It doesn't tell you when the current is varied by the brain.
9) It always goes thru the battery test, even with parameters
preset.
10) Response to buttons is slow and eratic
11) trickle charge is fixed at .1 amp & 50 minutes.
12) Charge current setting jumps in .5 amp increments.
13) It saves only time (in minutes) after peak.
14) delta peak display is not what is used when in plug and play.
15) high current from AC generates excessive heat and should have a
fan added.
16) since the delta peak is by the pack, it must be changed for the
size of pack if set manualy.
17) If run off DC, it doesn't have enough voltage to generate a high
charge.
18) and also says NOT to run off the battery of a running full size
car.

All in all, the MRC 959 manual is terrible and very skimpy. Really
the charger functions are really skimpy.

The Pirana digital is much better. But:

1) the trickle isn't timed. It can be set to 0, .1, .2 amps.
2) it is harder to set.
ie. it has ten battery memories each with bat type, capacity,
charge current, and delta peak per cell. It scrolls thru these prior
to starting charge to let you verify you have the memory you want.
3) It also has a user set up with the trickle charge and choice of 5
melodies.
4) delta peak is set as millivolts per cell.
5) charge current is set from .1 to 5 amps in .1 amp increments. 3.0
amp max on AC input.
6) automatic mode if settings are not manually set. Or it is set by
advanceing current to greater than 5.0 amps.
7) it has up & down buttons for making settings.
8) default display shows current (actual not setting), capacity
(mah), and battery voltage during charge. A SECOND screen shows time
and input voltage.
9) AC power generates warmth.
10) Claims 1-8 cell charge ability.
11) BUT it can only get to within 1/2 volt of the input voltage. On
AC this is over 15 volts at low charge currents. It drops closer to 13
volts as the charge current goes up to 3.0 amps.
12) charge current is dropped to zero (maybe once a minute), and is
often less than set, depending on battery condition and cell count.
13) only one trickle charge current for all ten memories.
14) manual is 4 pages plus a 5th page for a flow chart of the
programing.
15) a little disconcerting to learn to respond to the flashing
parameter to select the desired memory.

As you can see this is a much richer content. The real news here is
that it works ( well, until the output voltage gets with 1/2 volt of
the input voltage). I particularly like the mah, current battery
voltage and the battery peak voltage that is saved after the batter
peaks. These provide confirmation that the charge went as expected.

Note that neither can charge 8 cell batteries when run off a 12 VDC
source, except at rather low currents. It appears that the currents
are reduced in both chargers, thou the MRC 959 doesn't warn you and
the pirana digital gives you the current up front in the main display.

JerryO


The pirana digital is also bigger and heavier than the MRC 959.

[SD]

Thanks for the detailed info. :)

"JerryO" <alyceo@rconnect.com> wrote in message
news:e16258c.0302110111.629d777f@posting.google.co m...
> "SD" <SD@SD.net> wrote
> > Is there a charger with similar features
> > at a reasonable price that's a little better?
>
> I'll second the duratrax pirana digital.
>
> I bought both the MRC 959 ($46.99) and the pirana digital ($49.99) two
> weeks ago from tower.
>
> I have yet to get the MRC to charge a battery.
>
> I have yet to have the Pirana digital fail.
>
> The MRC suffers in many areas:
> 1) doesn't show milliamp-hours of charge (but does show charge
> time).
> 2) claims to charge glow plug battery, but doesn't include it in
> instructions.
> 3) It gives a warning to charge only 1-8 cell battery.
> but in features it says only 3-8 cell batteries
> 4) display shows only one item and reverts to battery voltage in 10
> seconds.
> 5) peak delta is in millivolts per pack (Maybe?)
> 6) plug 'n play only for sub-C and larger.
> 7) to adjust, you must wrap all the way around (and again if you
> slip)
> 8) It doesn't tell you when the current is varied by the brain.
> 9) It always goes thru the battery test, even with parameters
> preset.
> 10) Response to buttons is slow and eratic
> 11) trickle charge is fixed at .1 amp & 50 minutes.
> 12) Charge current setting jumps in .5 amp increments.
> 13) It saves only time (in minutes) after peak.
> 14) delta peak display is not what is used when in plug and play.
> 15) high current from AC generates excessive heat and should have a
> fan added.
> 16) since the delta peak is by the pack, it must be changed for the
> size of pack if set manualy.
> 17) If run off DC, it doesn't have enough voltage to generate a high
> charge.
> 18) and also says NOT to run off the battery of a running full size
> car.
>
> All in all, the MRC 959 manual is terrible and very skimpy. Really
> the charger functions are really skimpy.
>
> The Pirana digital is much better. But:
>
> 1) the trickle isn't timed. It can be set to 0, .1, .2 amps.
> 2) it is harder to set.
> ie. it has ten battery memories each with bat type, capacity,
> charge current, and delta peak per cell. It scrolls thru these prior
> to starting charge to let you verify you have the memory you want.
> 3) It also has a user set up with the trickle charge and choice of 5
> melodies.
> 4) delta peak is set as millivolts per cell.
> 5) charge current is set from .1 to 5 amps in .1 amp increments. 3.0
> amp max on AC input.
> 6) automatic mode if settings are not manually set. Or it is set by
> advanceing current to greater than 5.0 amps.
> 7) it has up & down buttons for making settings.
> 8) default display shows current (actual not setting), capacity
> (mah), and battery voltage during charge. A SECOND screen shows time
> and input voltage.
> 9) AC power generates warmth.
> 10) Claims 1-8 cell charge ability.
> 11) BUT it can only get to within 1/2 volt of the input voltage. On
> AC this is over 15 volts at low charge currents. It drops closer to 13
> volts as the charge current goes up to 3.0 amps.
> 12) charge current is dropped to zero (maybe once a minute), and is
> often less than set, depending on battery condition and cell count.
> 13) only one trickle charge current for all ten memories.
> 14) manual is 4 pages plus a 5th page for a flow chart of the
> programing.
> 15) a little disconcerting to learn to respond to the flashing
> parameter to select the desired memory.
>
> As you can see this is a much richer content. The real news here is
> that it works ( well, until the output voltage gets with 1/2 volt of
> the input voltage). I particularly like the mah, current battery
> voltage and the battery peak voltage that is saved after the batter
> peaks. These provide confirmation that the charge went as expected.
>
> Note that neither can charge 8 cell batteries when run off a 12 VDC
> source, except at rather low currents. It appears that the currents
> are reduced in both chargers, thou the MRC 959 doesn't warn you and
> the pirana digital gives you the current up front in the main display.
>
> JerryO
>
>
> The pirana digital is also bigger and heavier than the MRC 959.

[Chris]

Uh oh... I just ordered an MRC ;)
Doh!

alyceo@rconnect.com (JerryO) wrote in message news:<e16258c.0302110111.629d777f@posting.google.com>...
> "SD" <SD@SD.net> wrote
> > Is there a charger with similar features
> > at a reasonable price that's a little better?
>
> I'll second the duratrax pirana digital.
>
> I bought both the MRC 959 ($46.99) and the pirana digital ($49.99) two
> weeks ago from tower.
>
> I have yet to get the MRC to charge a battery.
>
> I have yet to have the Pirana digital fail.
>
> The MRC suffers in many areas:
> 1) doesn't show milliamp-hours of charge (but does show charge
> time).
> 2) claims to charge glow plug battery, but doesn't include it in
> instructions.
> 3) It gives a warning to charge only 1-8 cell battery.
> but in features it says only 3-8 cell batteries
> 4) display shows only one item and reverts to battery voltage in 10
> seconds.
> 5) peak delta is in millivolts per pack (Maybe?)
> 6) plug 'n play only for sub-C and larger.
> 7) to adjust, you must wrap all the way around (and again if you
> slip)
> 8) It doesn't tell you when the current is varied by the brain.
> 9) It always goes thru the battery test, even with parameters
> preset.
> 10) Response to buttons is slow and eratic
> 11) trickle charge is fixed at .1 amp & 50 minutes.
> 12) Charge current setting jumps in .5 amp increments.
> 13) It saves only time (in minutes) after peak.
> 14) delta peak display is not what is used when in plug and play.
> 15) high current from AC generates excessive heat and should have a
> fan added.
> 16) since the delta peak is by the pack, it must be changed for the
> size of pack if set manualy.
> 17) If run off DC, it doesn't have enough voltage to generate a high
> charge.
> 18) and also says NOT to run off the battery of a running full size
> car.
>
> All in all, the MRC 959 manual is terrible and very skimpy. Really
> the charger functions are really skimpy.
>
> The Pirana digital is much better. But:
>
> 1) the trickle isn't timed. It can be set to 0, .1, .2 amps.
> 2) it is harder to set.
> ie. it has ten battery memories each with bat type, capacity,
> charge current, and delta peak per cell. It scrolls thru these prior
> to starting charge to let you verify you have the memory you want.
> 3) It also has a user set up with the trickle charge and choice of 5
> melodies.
> 4) delta peak is set as millivolts per cell.
> 5) charge current is set from .1 to 5 amps in .1 amp increments. 3.0
> amp max on AC input.
> 6) automatic mode if settings are not manually set. Or it is set by
> advanceing current to greater than 5.0 amps.
> 7) it has up & down buttons for making settings.
> 8) default display shows current (actual not setting), capacity
> (mah), and battery voltage during charge. A SECOND screen shows time
> and input voltage.
> 9) AC power generates warmth.
> 10) Claims 1-8 cell charge ability.
> 11) BUT it can only get to within 1/2 volt of the input voltage. On
> AC this is over 15 volts at low charge currents. It drops closer to 13
> volts as the charge current goes up to 3.0 amps.
> 12) charge current is dropped to zero (maybe once a minute), and is
> often less than set, depending on battery condition and cell count.
> 13) only one trickle charge current for all ten memories.
> 14) manual is 4 pages plus a 5th page for a flow chart of the
> programing.
> 15) a little disconcerting to learn to respond to the flashing
> parameter to select the desired memory.
>
> As you can see this is a much richer content. The real news here is
> that it works ( well, until the output voltage gets with 1/2 volt of
> the input voltage). I particularly like the mah, current battery
> voltage and the battery peak voltage that is saved after the batter
> peaks. These provide confirmation that the charge went as expected.
>
> Note that neither can charge 8 cell batteries when run off a 12 VDC
> source, except at rather low currents. It appears that the currents
> are reduced in both chargers, thou the MRC 959 doesn't warn you and
> the pirana digital gives you the current up front in the main display.
>
> JerryO
>
>
> The pirana digital is also bigger and heavier than the MRC 959.

[MikeF]

I just got one too for xmas.
i cant seem to figure out charging my 1100 nimh pack for my micro.
I set it at 1a, .5mv. Itll charge for maybe 1/2 hour and say its full -
6.8volts. Could it be right? Runtime doesnt seem terribly good though.


"Chris" <google@modeflip.com> wrote in message
news:8bbc39ca.0302110932.33304231@posting.google.c om...
> Uh oh... I just ordered an MRC ;)
> Doh!
>
> alyceo@rconnect.com (JerryO) wrote in message
news:<e16258c.0302110111.629d777f@posting.google.com>...
> > "SD" <SD@SD.net> wrote
> > > Is there a charger with similar features
> > > at a reasonable price that's a little better?
> >
> > I'll second the duratrax pirana digital.
> >
> > I bought both the MRC 959 ($46.99) and the pirana digital ($49.99) two
> > weeks ago from tower.
> >
> > I have yet to get the MRC to charge a battery.
> >
> > I have yet to have the Pirana digital fail.
> >
> > The MRC suffers in many areas:
> > 1) doesn't show milliamp-hours of charge (but does show charge
> > time).
> > 2) claims to charge glow plug battery, but doesn't include it in
> > instructions.
> > 3) It gives a warning to charge only 1-8 cell battery.
> > but in features it says only 3-8 cell batteries
> > 4) display shows only one item and reverts to battery voltage in 10
> > seconds.
> > 5) peak delta is in millivolts per pack (Maybe?)
> > 6) plug 'n play only for sub-C and larger.
> > 7) to adjust, you must wrap all the way around (and again if you
> > slip)
> > 8) It doesn't tell you when the current is varied by the brain.
> > 9) It always goes thru the battery test, even with parameters
> > preset.
> > 10) Response to buttons is slow and eratic
> > 11) trickle charge is fixed at .1 amp & 50 minutes.
> > 12) Charge current setting jumps in .5 amp increments.
> > 13) It saves only time (in minutes) after peak.
> > 14) delta peak display is not what is used when in plug and play.
> > 15) high current from AC generates excessive heat and should have a
> > fan added.
> > 16) since the delta peak is by the pack, it must be changed for the
> > size of pack if set manualy.
> > 17) If run off DC, it doesn't have enough voltage to generate a high
> > charge.
> > 18) and also says NOT to run off the battery of a running full size
> > car.
> >
> > All in all, the MRC 959 manual is terrible and very skimpy. Really
> > the charger functions are really skimpy.
> >
> > The Pirana digital is much better. But:
> >
> > 1) the trickle isn't timed. It can be set to 0, .1, .2 amps.
> > 2) it is harder to set.
> > ie. it has ten battery memories each with bat type, capacity,
> > charge current, and delta peak per cell. It scrolls thru these prior
> > to starting charge to let you verify you have the memory you want.
> > 3) It also has a user set up with the trickle charge and choice of 5
> > melodies.
> > 4) delta peak is set as millivolts per cell.
> > 5) charge current is set from .1 to 5 amps in .1 amp increments. 3.0
> > amp max on AC input.
> > 6) automatic mode if settings are not manually set. Or it is set by
> > advanceing current to greater than 5.0 amps.
> > 7) it has up & down buttons for making settings.
> > 8) default display shows current (actual not setting), capacity
> > (mah), and battery voltage during charge. A SECOND screen shows time
> > and input voltage.
> > 9) AC power generates warmth.
> > 10) Claims 1-8 cell charge ability.
> > 11) BUT it can only get to within 1/2 volt of the input voltage. On
> > AC this is over 15 volts at low charge currents. It drops closer to 13
> > volts as the charge current goes up to 3.0 amps.
> > 12) charge current is dropped to zero (maybe once a minute), and is
> > often less than set, depending on battery condition and cell count.
> > 13) only one trickle charge current for all ten memories.
> > 14) manual is 4 pages plus a 5th page for a flow chart of the
> > programing.
> > 15) a little disconcerting to learn to respond to the flashing
> > parameter to select the desired memory.
> >
> > As you can see this is a much richer content. The real news here is
> > that it works ( well, until the output voltage gets with 1/2 volt of
> > the input voltage). I particularly like the mah, current battery
> > voltage and the battery peak voltage that is saved after the batter
> > peaks. These provide confirmation that the charge went as expected.
> >
> > Note that neither can charge 8 cell batteries when run off a 12 VDC
> > source, except at rather low currents. It appears that the currents
> > are reduced in both chargers, thou the MRC 959 doesn't warn you and
> > the pirana digital gives you the current up front in the main display.
> >
> > JerryO
> >
> >
> > The pirana digital is also bigger and heavier than the MRC 959.

[JerryO]

"SD" <SD@SD.net> wrote in message news:<74Odnfb1SONBfNWjXTWc2Q@comcast.com>...
> Thanks for the detailed info. :)
>

More:

I have been trying to condition some old and a couple of new 6 cell
packs.

Nothing but false peaks with the MRC 959.

With the piranha digital, It varies the current but doesn't false
peak. If it did, I could of (should of, would of) seen it on the main
information display.

Further, the piranha digital can be set for battery capacity such that
it is much like a timed charger. That is when the set capacity is
reached, it ends the peak charge and goes to trickle. If both were set
to .1 amp, it would just continue to charge at .1 amp. If I take a
1900 mah battery, set the capacity to 1600 mah, the charge rate to .4
amp and the trickle to .2 amp, It will provide the first 1600 mah at
..4 amps, then trickle at .2 amp until manually stopped.

And of course the trickle can be set to 0 (zero) and the chargeing can
be ended when the capacity/peak is reached. This is suggested for
leaveing a partial charge in NiMH batteries for storage.

Other than not haveing a good enough boost circuit (like none), to
handle 8 cell batteries like I think it should (even old 7 cell
batteries may be a problem), It seems quite impressive.

Now for some warm weather so I can find out how well those old
batteries power that new E-maxx.

JerryO

[JerryO]

"MikeF" <vanning@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<6picnc4oTMq56dSjXTWcrg@comcast.com>...
> I just got one too for xmas.
> i cant seem to figure out charging my 1100 nimh pack for my micro.
> I set it at 1a, .5mv. Itll charge for maybe 1/2 hour and say its full -
> 6.8volts. Could it be right? Runtime doesnt seem terribly good though.

One amp sounds good. BUT, the delta peak voltage doesn't have a period
in it (mine shows 5 to 70 mv in 5 mv steps).

The instructions for the piranha digital say the default they use is
3mv/cell for nicad and 5mv/cell for nimh. Then later, in manual
setting of delta peak voltage, they recommend useing a setting of
6mv/c for nicd and 8mv/c for nimh. However, I believe Red at
www.rcbatteryclinic.com prefers only 3 mv/c for nimh.


NOW, as far as I can tell, the MRC 959 uses the value for the pack NOT
a cell. In which case your 5 cell (my guess from a 6.8 volt partial
charge) would be 15mv (per Red), or 25 to 40mv (per the piranha
digital instructions).

If you increase the delta peak value, be sure to monitor the battery
temperature to be sure your nimh batteries don't get hot. I know
nicds do get warm, but I keep reading that nimh barely warm up (I
haven't charged any yet).

But why not let the charger select the delta peak voltage. I admit I
don't know how to get into auto mode. Perhaps, every time power is
applied. I believe the current will read 3.0amp (YOU MUST RESET IT to
a low enough value or your battery may fry) and the delta peak will
read 40 if in auto mode. Note that they say the delta peak value
displayed in auto mode isn't what is used (a secrect I guess, like
most of what they do). Back to the Piranha digital, it selects a
default delta peak voltage when the battery type is selected, AND if
the charge current is set past 5.0 amp, the current reads as 'auto'
mode. These are retained even when power is disconnected.


JerryO

[JerryO]

alyceo@rconnect.com (JerryO) wrote
> "MikeF" <vanning@comcast.net> wrote
> > I just got one too for xmas.
> > i cant seem to figure out charging my 1100 nimh pack for my micro.
> > I set it at 1a, .5mv. Itll charge for maybe 1/2 hour and say its full -
> > 6.8volts. Could it be right? Runtime doesnt seem terribly good though.
>
> But why not let the charger select the delta peak voltage. I admit I
> don't know how to get into auto mode. Perhaps, every time power is
> applied. I believe the current will read 3.0amp
> Note that they say the delta peak value
> displayed in auto mode isn't what is used
>
> JerryO


I sent the MRC 959 back to tower.

I tried many times, but could NOT tell when it was in auto mode and
when it was in manual mode.

EXCEPT: by watching the voltage (it read 1/2 volt low, also) count up
and peak as it was chargeing. I did notice that connecting the battery
would change the display of the delta peak voltage (5 for one cell, 30
for 6 cells, 40 for 7cells). Even when it appeared to have values set
by manual entry, it would reach the peak with under a .01 volt dip
(yep, only two digits passed the decimal point on the built in volt
meter, compared to three on the piranha digital). ON TWO ocassions, I
did witness the delta peak voltage drop by .03 as I had manually set
it to. IT COULD BE SET MANUALLY !!!

So was it broken, or is it designed this badly?

I'm starting to think it was broken, but its lack of features (like
no indicator to tell if it is in auto or manual mode, & no saveing of
peak voltage after peaking) made it unaceptable in any case.


JerryO

[Douglas Bollinger]

On Sun, 16 Feb 2003 23:28:05 -0800, JerryO wrote:

<snip>
> So was it broken, or is it designed this badly?
>
> I'm starting to think it was broken, but its lack of features (like no
> indicator to tell if it is in auto or manual mode, & no saveing of peak
> voltage after peaking) made it unaceptable in any case.

Hmmm. I have a MRC 959 and love it. It's small and dependable.

I'm a nitro guy, so I don't get all anal when I use it, but even nitro guys
have tons of batteries to charge. All last year, I used it for:

Nicad transmitter batteries
Ni-MH receiver pack
Single-cell Nicad glow-starter battery.

I race every weekend and it always charges good. No false peaks, no
problems and some of my cells have quite a few years on them.

Now I do set the charge rate manually. For the transmitter batteries and
the single-cell, I set it to .5 amp. For my receiver pack, I use 1 amp.
For Nicads, I let the delta at the default, for the NiMH pack I knock it
down to .10. That's all I do.

For my simple needs, the MRC gets the job done, but I'm not a battery
racer. From the info JerryO gave in his post, the Duratrax does look
rather nice.

--
Once ... in the wilds of Afghanistan, I lost my corkscrew, and we were
forced to live on nothing but food and water for days.
-- W. C. Fields, "My Little Chickadee"

[dilbert firestorm]

with regards to the duratrax piranha ditigal, it's a pretty decent
battery charger. what settings did you did you put in for the NiMH
batteries? and what is the normal charging time for these things. I
have the 3000 Nimh battery.

JerryO wrote:

> "SD" <SD@SD.net> wrote
> > Is there a charger with similar features
> > at a reasonable price that's a little better?
>
> I'll second the duratrax pirana digital.
>
> I bought both the MRC 959 ($46.99) and the pirana digital ($49.99) two
> weeks ago from tower.
>
> I have yet to get the MRC to charge a battery.
>
> I have yet to have the Pirana digital fail.
>
> The MRC suffers in many areas:
> 1) doesn't show milliamp-hours of charge (but does show charge
> time).
> 2) claims to charge glow plug battery, but doesn't include it in
> instructions.
> 3) It gives a warning to charge only 1-8 cell battery.
> but in features it says only 3-8 cell batteries
> 4) display shows only one item and reverts to battery voltage in 10
> seconds.
> 5) peak delta is in millivolts per pack (Maybe?)
> 6) plug 'n play only for sub-C and larger.
> 7) to adjust, you must wrap all the way around (and again if you
> slip)
> 8) It doesn't tell you when the current is varied by the brain.
> 9) It always goes thru the battery test, even with parameters
> preset.
> 10) Response to buttons is slow and eratic
> 11) trickle charge is fixed at .1 amp & 50 minutes.
> 12) Charge current setting jumps in .5 amp increments.
> 13) It saves only time (in minutes) after peak.
> 14) delta peak display is not what is used when in plug and play.
> 15) high current from AC generates excessive heat and should have a
> fan added.
> 16) since the delta peak is by the pack, it must be changed for the
> size of pack if set manualy.
> 17) If run off DC, it doesn't have enough voltage to generate a high
> charge.
> 18) and also says NOT to run off the battery of a running full size
> car.
>
> All in all, the MRC 959 manual is terrible and very skimpy. Really
> the charger functions are really skimpy.
>
> The Pirana digital is much better. But:
>
> 1) the trickle isn't timed. It can be set to 0, .1, .2 amps.
> 2) it is harder to set.
> ie. it has ten battery memories each with bat type, capacity,
> charge current, and delta peak per cell. It scrolls thru these prior
> to starting charge to let you verify you have the memory you want.
> 3) It also has a user set up with the trickle charge and choice of 5
> melodies.
> 4) delta peak is set as millivolts per cell.
> 5) charge current is set from .1 to 5 amps in .1 amp increments. 3.0
> amp max on AC input.
> 6) automatic mode if settings are not manually set. Or it is set by
> advanceing current to greater than 5.0 amps.
> 7) it has up & down buttons for making settings.
> 8) default display shows current (actual not setting), capacity
> (mah), and battery voltage during charge. A SECOND screen shows time
> and input voltage.
> 9) AC power generates warmth.
> 10) Claims 1-8 cell charge ability.
> 11) BUT it can only get to within 1/2 volt of the input voltage. On
> AC this is over 15 volts at low charge currents. It drops closer to 13
> volts as the charge current goes up to 3.0 amps.
> 12) charge current is dropped to zero (maybe once a minute), and is
> often less than set, depending on battery condition and cell count.
> 13) only one trickle charge current for all ten memories.
> 14) manual is 4 pages plus a 5th page for a flow chart of the
> programing.
> 15) a little disconcerting to learn to respond to the flashing
> parameter to select the desired memory.
>
> As you can see this is a much richer content. The real news here is
> that it works ( well, until the output voltage gets with 1/2 volt of
> the input voltage). I particularly like the mah, current battery
> voltage and the battery peak voltage that is saved after the batter
> peaks. These provide confirmation that the charge went as expected.
>
> Note that neither can charge 8 cell batteries when run off a 12 VDC
> source, except at rather low currents. It appears that the currents
> are reduced in both chargers, thou the MRC 959 doesn't warn you and
> the pirana digital gives you the current up front in the main display.
>
> JerryO
>
> The pirana digital is also bigger and heavier than the MRC 959.

[JerryO]

dilbert firestorm <scanb@att.net> wrote
> with regards to the duratrax piranha ditigal, it's a pretty decent
> battery charger. what settings did you put in for the NiMH
> batteries? and what is the normal charging time for these things. I
> have the 3000 Nimh battery.
>
> JerryO wrote:
>
> > "SD" <SD@SD.net> wrote
> > > Is there a charger with similar features
> > > at a reasonable price that's a little better?
> >
> > I'll second the duratrax pirana digital.
> > But:
> >

Sorry I have only NiCD batteries, I was going to buy some NiMH, but I
can get by with the cheaper NiCDs for now.

Be sure to set the battery type to NiMH and the capacity to over 3000
(it switches to trickle charge 'IF' this limit is reached, sort of a
time limit on the charge).

I don't need to hurry, so I have been useing a 1 hour charge for most
of my NiCDs. This would be about 3 amps for the 3000NiMH. As to
setting the delta peak, the instructions say "we recommmend 8 mv/cell
for NiMH'.

Otherwise, advance the current to 'past 5.0' and you will get 'auto'
mode, which also sets the delta peak to 5mv/cell for NiMH.

Anyway, that's what I thought the instructions said. Do monitor your
battery the first time it goes thru a charge cycle to be sure you
don't overheat it.


JerryO