Panasonic introduced the first “smart” charger BQ-CC65 for nickel-metal hydride Ni-MH batteries with the ability to erase the accumulated “memory effect. Smart charging allows you to prolong the life of AA and AAA batteries of any capacity.
Panasonic BQ-CC65 is the first eneloop battery charger with a big LCD screen, 5V/1A charging current and several modes for checking and “reviving” the batteries. Pressing one of the three buttons – Refresh, Display and USB Out – brings up the corresponding option.
After one to four Ni-MH batteries are inserted into the device, their primary diagnostics is performed – the screen shows the total number of charged batteries during the whole period of using the “charger”, the voltage and also indicates the damaged or dead batteries. Then charging begins, during which the user can track the elapsed time T and voltage V by pressing the Display button. Charging four eneloop pro batteries takes no more than four hours and is controlled by the Smart charge process, which stops the process before overcharging occurs. The word FULL appears on the display to indicate that the batteries are charged to their full capacity.
For more information on battery status, you need to enter Refresh mode, which also gives an estimate of discharge energy Wh and capacity mAh , which is especially relevant for batteries that are constantly in use. Full charge and discharge mode allows the batteries to assess their condition and restore their original capacity, removing the accumulated “memory effect”. The charger selects the optimum charging current automatically according to the battery capacity.
The company has unveiled two more models of battery chargers with different functions: BQ-CC63 allows you to charge up to eight batteries at a time the eight LEDs on the model operates on a charge/discharge principle , and the compact USB cord charger BQ-CC61 can be connected to any compatible adapter for subsequent charging from a wall outlet.
This sounds really interesting! I’m curious to know more about Panasonic’s smart charger. How does it work exactly to extend the battery life? Does it adjust the charging speed based on the battery’s needs or does it have any additional features? Also, is it compatible with various types of batteries or specifically designed for Panasonic devices? Overall, I’m keen to understand the impact and benefits of this smart charger.