Review by GHIDUL DSLR
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MH-C9000PRO Review
(Review page has been translated into English)

POWEREX MH-C9000 PRO REVIEW – CHARGING NI-MH BATTERIES IN 2020 – REINVENTING A FAMOUS CHARGER

REVIEW , NEWS / 3 NOVEMBER 2020

The Powerex MH-C9000 charger has been present in the life of photographers since 2006. Undoubtedly this is the most appreciated / high-performance and durable charger for Ni-Mh batteries in AA and AAA format. I have owned such a charger since 2010 and it works without problems. The new Powerex MH-C9000 Pro was launched a few weeks ago, this model has a new design, is more compact and comes with functions for storing charging parameters. Moreover, the illuminated screen turns off automatically, which made the old model uncomfortable to use sometimes.

Charge, Break-In, Discharge and Refresh & Analyze modes are still present on the Powerex MH-C9000 Pro. Cycles is missing, but the four present on the new version are all that AA / AAA battery users need in 2020. For those who still use AA / AAA batteries for flashes and other gadgets, a charger like the MH-C9000 Pro is very practical. He can take care of batteries through the Refresh & Analyze function. More about this charger in the following lines.

SPECIFIED KEYS:

• Charges 4 AA or AAA NiMh / NiCD batteries.
• 4 individual loading channels;
• Programmable load between 0.2A and 2A;
• Microprocessor with an accuracy of 0.001V
• Three-stage reconditioning system – loading, complete unloading and recharging.
• Charge, Break-In, Discharge and Refresh & Analyze modes;
• Illuminated screen with On / Off function;
• Memory for latest load settings;
• AC adapter 100-240V 50 / 60Hz.
• Dimensions: 108 mm x 108 mm x 50.1 mm;
• Weight: ~ 400 grams.

VISUAL INSPECTION

The key specifications can also be found on the box.

The 4 operating modes come bundled with a large screen, which turns off automatically.

The Powerex MH-C9000 Pro has four independent channels and a minimum charging time of 1 hour.

The package includes the charger along with the manual and the charger.

As written on the box, the Powerex MH-C9000 Pro can also be connected to a car adapter.

The loading brick is compact.

The screen is in front of it with a slight tilt.

The charger is extremely compact and fits easily in the hand.

Profile and charging plug.

At the bottom the Powerex MH-C9000 Pro comes with rubber feet and passive ventilation channels.

At the top are the four AA / AAA buttons and slots.

A physical comparison between Powerex MH-C9000 Pro and Powerex MH-C9000 (which I have had for 10 years).

Powerex has removed the right model from the factory, but will deliver the compact version.

USE

The Powerex MH-C9000 Pro was tested alongside the Powerex Pro 2700 mAh batteries. The charger comes with 4 operating modes: Normal Charge – Break-In (Unconditioning) – Unloading and Analysis and Refreshing. Each of these modes can operate independently on each dedicated channel. The operating interface is simplified, and with the help of the four buttons we can quickly set the charger. The advantage of the Powerex MH-C9000 Pro over the non-pro version is that the settings of the last operation are saved. Specifically, when you set the charger to Break-In to a set of batteries, at the next identical capacity settings are stored (or those charged to Charge mode).

All options available on the screen.

The screen now turns off automatically after 5 seconds, which is very useful when you charge the batteries in the hotel room or at home (it will not be as a lamp).

Powerex MH-C9000 Pro is a loader with a semi-rigid plastic exterior construction. The plastic is similar to the previous version, but not so rigid. The charger has a motherboard with four independent circuits that are passively cooled. It is a solid and compact charger, much smaller than the Powerex MH-C9000. The charger can now be more easily included in luggage or kept on the desk, the space occupied being much smaller.

Ready to use.

The Powerex MH-C9000 Pro can charge any Ni-Mh battery in AA or AAA format. In this way you can power any device that accepts 1.2V batteries to save and not generate waste from disposable batteries. I use the predominant charger to charge flash batteries and audio devices (lavaliers and wireless microphones).

OPERATING MODES POWEREX MH-C9000 PRO

Powerex MH-C9000 Pro comes with four operating modes that are also found in the previous non-Pro version. However, this new charger has eliminated the charging cycle function of Ni-Mh batteries (I personally haven’t used it much). The most used options are Charge / Discharge and Break-In, and with this model the usage will not change. Here are some detailed explanations of the operating modes:

CHARGE MODULE

Normal mode charges the 4 Powerex Pro 2700 mAh batteries in a time varying between 1 hour and ~ 14 hours depending on the set charge value. Slower charging provides longer battery life and slower and more stable discharge during use. For those who do not have a problem to wait, it is an optimal way to charge.

BREAK-IN / RECONDITIONING MODE

This Break-In offers the batteries a deep “awakening” after standing on the shelf or after prolonged wear without refreshment. This mode slowly charges / discharges the batteries over 30-40 hours for optimal performance. The reconditioning function involves an initial charge, followed by a discharge and another charge, to revive the batteries. This process can take up to 24 hours, depending on the capacity of the attached batteries. This mode is recommended to be used once in 20 complete load-unload cycles of a set. The reconditioning function can save batteries with problems just like the Break-In one.

Powerex MH-C9000 Pro looks physically more pleasant than the previous version.

CONCLUSION

Powerex MH-C9000 Pro is a descendant of a famous charger that is no longer manufactured. To convince new users who do not have a charger / analyzer, Powerex has moved the physical dimensions, made the illuminated screen turn off automatically and added a memory function of the latest charging settings. These are the major shortcomings of the previous model. The charger offers good quality of electronics and construction, the compact dimensions do not make it as rigid as the previous version, but overall it is a worthy successor to consider, for those who use a lot of AA and AAA Ni-Mh batteries.

The Powerex MH-C9000 Pro is available instead of the standard version at a price of ~ $ 65. In Romania this product will be available in the coming weeks, but until then I invite you to see other chargers from their range (see full offer) . For those of you who want a charger without the analyzer functions, I invite you to read the article about Powerex MH-C980 Turbo (see review) . The links in the article are affiliate and help support blog activity. Thank you!

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