Lidl Battery Charger under a tenner is 'Ansmann Energy 8 Charger' which sells for £40ish elsewhere £9.95
I was in Lidl to see if they had rechargeable batteries left - none of the local ones I tried had any - but most had dozens of chargers left unsold three weeks after the offer - and the price has now dropped to a tenner.
I took a look at the charger - as it was very unusual in design - especially being able to charge six AA or AAAs at once (or four C or Ds) and with a different charge circuit for each. The two external places can take two AA/AAAs or a single C or D in each. Additionally it has two sockets for 9v PP3 batteries.
Lidl often sells rebranded products - and from the spec and very unusual connections for the multi battery set up - I compared it to ones on the internet - and I am 99% sure from the spec - set up - and charge rates - it seems to be the Ansman Energy 8 in a different housing. Even the contacts for the batteries are identical in the weird multi battery charge sockets. The LEDs for each circuit also performed identical functions in the sequence and display for each function that circuit was performing.
The cheapest the Ansmann Energy 8 charger is available for elsewhere is £38.99
So even with no batteries available still in Lidl - the charger on its own seems even more of a bargain now, and what;s more is they easily had them left in 3 of the 4 Lidls I visited - and easily had over a hundred in total.
UPDATE:
I contacted the manufacturer in Germany (Kompernass Ltd) who confirmed that these chargers are not Ansmann E8 chargers (not even OEM). Even though they look similar and have similar specs, they are from a completely different manufacturer and use different parts.
- alien7
All Comments (55)
Jump to unread Post a CommentAnsmann Energy 8 Charger
The Ansmann Energy 8 is a professional quality desk top battery charger capable of charging 6 x AAA or AA batteries, 4 x C or D size batteries and 2 PP3 batteries in various combinations. The Ansmann Energy 8 can be used throughout the world, as it has a switch mode power supply built in allowing it to operate from 100 - 240V AC at 50-60Hz, all you need is a suitable plug adapter to convert the fitted UK plug to one suitable for the country of use.
The Ansmann Energy 8 provides individual negative delta V (-dV) battery monitoring and charging and LED charge indicators for each battery position, including the PP3. Add to this the 3 year warranty and the Ansmann Energy 8 becomes a great choice for anyone needing a professional quality charger for PP3, D, C, AA and AAA size batteries.
Details
High-Tec charger with automatic refresh/discharge function for up to 8 cells
Desktop charger for 1-6 AAA or AA cells, 1-4 C or D cells in addition to 1- 2 PP3 (E-block)
Auto-diagnosis of the inserted cells with automatic start of a refreshing process, if required.
Damaged cells will be detected and discharged before fast charging.
-dV charging for all NiCd/NiMHcells;
Individual supervision of every cell position, including the PP3 (E-Block), faulty cell detection
Charge any combination of rechargeable NiCd/NiMH cells at the same time
Battery "Quick Test" indicates capacity when they are first inserted
Trickle charge once charging is complete
The cells can remain in the charger until they are needed
Switch mode power supply for worldwide use, all you need is a plug adapter for the country you are visiting.
3 year warranty
Link to Energy 8 Information from Ansmann
Ansmann Energy 8 Technical Specification
Input Voltage:
100-240V AC 50-60 Hz (UK & Euro Plug)
Output voltage:
6 x 1.45V 300mA for AAA size rechargeable batteries
6 x 1.45V 700mA for AA size rechargeable batteries
4 x 1.45V 1000mA for C and D size rechargeable batteries
2 x 1.45V 70mA for PP3 size rechargeable batteries
Dimensions:
198mm x 203mm x 70mm
Weight (inc. batteries):
710g
Ansmann Energy 8 Battery Charge Times
AAA NiMH 800mAh 3.2 Hours
AAA NiMH 1000mAh 4.0 Hours
AA NiMH 1300mAh 2.2 Hours
AA NiMH 1800mAh 3.1 Hours
AA NiMH 2300mAh 3.9 Hours
AA NiMH 2600mAh 4.5 Hours
AA NiMH 2700mAh 4.6 Hours
C NiMH 2200mAh 2.6 Hours
C NiMH 3500mAh 4.2 Hours
D NiMH 2200mAh 2.6 Hours
D NiMH 7000mAh 8.4 Hours
D NiMH 9000mAh 10.8 Hours
PP3 NiMH 170mAh 2.9 Hours
PP3 NiMH 250mAh 4.3 Hours
At the time I thought about getting one but the ansmann does everything I want really - but I may change my mind at a tenner:)
Certainly is:
HOT HOT HOT :thumbsup:
ibiza
Solar Flare
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1337
If this charger is a rebadged of the Ansmann, then that's a great deal on its own though. I wonder if all the functions work properly internationally.
ibiza
Solar Flare
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1337
So i can put odd numbers in to charge?
hot hot hot
Interestingly, I have an entirely different experience. The lidl batteries I bought show up on my charger as consistently having stored a decent charge (I have a BL-700 charger which displays the amount of charge the battery holds). The worst have been the 7dayshop ones, which are pretty atrocious even after repeated cycles.
Edit: measured a two-year-old 800mAh AAA at 715mAh today, the AAs tend to get 2350+ on a 2400 rated battery.
(they dont loose their charge and are even sold fully charged)
Possibly the best batteries you can buy!
Heat and Rep added :)
Whilst the external shell may look the same, it is not uncommon for knock-offs to imitate other well-performing brands. Unless someone can verify that the innards are the same or at least confirm that this Lidl charger does all the functions of it's more expensive counterpart, this could well be a cheap knock off from China.
(they dont loose their charge and are even sold fully charged)
Possibly the best batteries you can buy!
Where????
They have none in my nearest ASDA,
I am about to buy a dozen AA's, and was going to pay £15 for the Vapetex 'instant' from ebay, which i have bought before and work brilliantly.
by the way I have this LIDL charger, and it is a bit choosy, it sometimes declines to charge battery's, even new ones...I think its a bit too 'clever'.