****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is offered in the hope it will help someone with a similar problem. Some D cell lanterns have a remarkable run time on NiMH cells. Unlike lanterns that burn fuel, they run cool. The downside is that rechargeable D cells are expensive.After an extended power outage, a lantern worked so well I bought several more lanterns and extra sets of batteries. One set was Amazon Basic rechargeable D cells, and the other set was EBL cells. The EBL cells held a charge and recharged fine. The Amazon Basic cells self-discharged, showed an error on a different charger, and would not charge. The Amazon Basic rechargeable D cells appear not to be available now, but if you bought them, you might have made an expensive mistake.The Amazon Basic rechargeable cells showed an error on this charger, too. This charger has a discharge button which is advertised to sometimes rejuvenate inoperative batteries. If you push it, it will say it is discharging the batteries. It turns out there is a trick. If you wait a while, disconnect this charger and reconnect it, the batteries may start to charge. That's what happened with me, twice. If you are stuck with a hundred dollars, or so, worth of dead Amazon Basic rechargeable D cells, this under $20 charger might be worth the gamble. I don't know that the 'rejuvenated' batteries will hold a charge. As the Amazon Basic rechargeable D cells failed once for me, and are now discontinued, they have issues.If you are buying a D cell charger for the first time, this might be the better choice.The unit is perfect for my needs. Very convenient for charging multiple sizes, even the weirdly short CR2s my distance finder takes. Bought it in December and have used it consistently since then.Quick chargeThis POWXS 6019 charger unit is very slow to discharge, then recharge, if trying to charge all four (4) batteries at the same time. The fewer the number of batteries, the faster the discharge/recharge time.Bought this to replace a Mr. Batt unit with very similar functions, from which one 9v connector had broken off and which went dead after maybe a year. Selected this one because it appears not to come from the same factory as the Mr. Batt (seemingly now discontinued), has a discharge function and is priced attractively. I miss the individual voltage and current indications visible on the Mr. Batt, but the state-of-charge graphic on the POWXS is really all one needs. Whether any or all NiMH batteries benefit from complete discharging before charging is apparently debatable, but I have used it for the first run-through of experienced batteries. It takes a long time to drain partially charged batteries; one writer suggested running them down in a flashlight instead, but this unit automatically switches to charging when the draining is done and that takes less monitoring. The power is supplied with either of two UBS cables. It may be helpful to use USB stations with ratings more like 3A than 0.5A to be sure there is enough current to support the fastest charging rate, but I don't know for sure that this is important. In my case the UBS Micro connector to the port on the unit was very sticky - good and bad, since it would not become disconnected accidentally, but may be damaging the port. A little filing of the barbs on the plug fixed that, but one can use any other cable of the same type if it is a problem. So far, so good.Easy to readokFast effective charger for aaa to 9 voltJUNK!!! Do not order this product. Only second time I tried to recharge my batteries and it doesn’t work. Steer clear of this product. I cannot be more clear. Just received the charger. Second time using and it will not charge batteries. DO NOT BUY!!! Zero stars.Unit is well made and works fine. My only complaint (and the reason for 4 stars vs 5) is the discharge button is easily depressed by accident. Not all batteries require discharge before recharge (and for some batteries this can be damageable, incl. most of the ones I use). I had to make a contraption with good ol’ duct tape and a piece of plastic to prevent accidental discharge. Not pretty but it works.This charger works, but the cooling doesn't seem to be particularly good. 1 hour after I started charging, the base was so hot I had to lift the charger off the carpet and use two wooden blocks to raise the charger. I suggest the manufactory add a small fan for cooling later***edit***. A month after posting my original comment, the seller contacted me and I was offered a replacement or a refund. It was great customer service. That being said, I would have preferred a product that lasts and doesn't end up in the landfills after less than a year.I was happy with my purchase overall.Now charger goes to ''Error'' mode at all times, doesn't charge anymore, and I know it is not because my batteries are not good anymore. It doesn't even recognize the slots where there are batteries and the ones that are empty anymore. Quite disappointingYou plug the unit in empty, the red lights flash and the FULLY charged indicator (green panel) flashes. You insert the batteries, same thing happens. You push the "discharge button" nothing happens. I'm sure it charges but the indicators indicate NOTHING and it doesn't come with any instructions. It's more junk.
