Accessory Review:
C. Crane QuickCharger Battery Charger
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

Searching for one of the coolest electronic gadgets anywhere on the planet? Look no further than the C. Crane QuickCharger battery charger.

When you go through batteries as quickly as I do, it’s important to keep a fresh supply of fully-charged batteries on hand at all times. Whomever at C. Crane designed this battery charger did it right. Don’t let the casing fool you – it looks like a telephone answering machine on the exterior. Inside is a sophisticated computer which charges batteries without overheating them, which can shorten the life of a battery.

While other battery chargers haven’t kept up to speed with today’s ultra-high capacity NiMH and NiCad batteries, C. Crane’s QuickCharger has moved with the times. Accommodating AA, AAA, C and D NiMH and NiCad batteries, the QuickCharger charges today’s high-capacity batteries to the max. NiCad batteries can be automatically discharged prior to charging, in order to improve capacity and life – a very cool feature which I tested and found to be ultra efficient.

As well, a trickle charge feature is employed on fully charged batteries, in order to allow them to sit in the charger until they are needed – another very cool feature. And when I say cool, I mean much appreciated and without overheating.

The QuickCharger charges from one to four batteries of the same type at a time. I put the QuickCharger to the test with four brand-new AA NiMH batteries, 2500 mAH at 1.2V. Each feature worked like a charm. There display icons are clear and easy to understand. You can even override the discharge system. And, you can analyze an individual battery, too, in order to gage its charge and suitability for recharging.

The folks at C. Crane tell me they will soon release a second generation QuickCharger. In the meantime, you can get your hands on this beauty for just $40 US.

Bob and Sue Crane founded C. Crane after settling in the San Francisco Bay Area close to 30 years ago. When weak AM radio reception became an issue, Bob found a solution in the Select-A-Tenna. The Cranes created a company to market the reliable antenna, and the rest is history. Today, C. Crane carries a number of high-quality electronic items, such as shortwave radios and solar panels, and even flashlights and garden tools. In fact, C. Crane offers more than 300 high-quality, unique items, all of which must pass exhaustive testing in a quality control lab.

To learn more about C. Crane and the QuickCharger, visit www.ccrane.com.