Maha/Powerex Rechargable battery charger- DO NOT CONSIDER
Feb 28, 2018 21:12:10 #
I bought a Maha 801 AA Ni-Cad/Li-ion battery charger. It worked great...for a month.
After 4 weeks, it melted a cell and even melted the body of the charger. "No big deal," I thought. "I have the Maha 3 year warranty."
Getting through to Maha was a bear. The web site for customer service never received any of my info.
Finally, after 4 separate calls and 5 re-sends of the same information to 4 different addresses, they tell me:
"We cannot locate your purchase in our vendors database and therefore cannot honor your warranty request."
I was livid! I had invested $75 in a charger that was defective. THEY couldn't get it together to send me a valid web address to send the requested purchase invoice, PHOTO of the unit, as well as my pertinent information.
I'm really fed up with MaHa/Powerex and would NOT recommend anyone purchase their product. They may have a great charger, but the customer service and warranty are worthless!
After 4 weeks, it melted a cell and even melted the body of the charger. "No big deal," I thought. "I have the Maha 3 year warranty."
Getting through to Maha was a bear. The web site for customer service never received any of my info.
Finally, after 4 separate calls and 5 re-sends of the same information to 4 different addresses, they tell me:
"We cannot locate your purchase in our vendors database and therefore cannot honor your warranty request."
I was livid! I had invested $75 in a charger that was defective. THEY couldn't get it together to send me a valid web address to send the requested purchase invoice, PHOTO of the unit, as well as my pertinent information.
I'm really fed up with MaHa/Powerex and would NOT recommend anyone purchase their product. They may have a great charger, but the customer service and warranty are worthless!
Feb 28, 2018 22:12:14 #
grtday wrote:
I bought a Maha 801 AA Ni-Cad/Li-ion battery charg... (show quote)
Did you buy it from MaHa directly?
Mar 1, 2018 00:03:38 #
User error? I've been Googling Maha 801's and don't find anywhere that says they work with li-ion. 
Mar 1, 2018 06:54:26 #
OddJobber wrote:
User error? I've been Googling Maha 801's and don't find anywhere that says they work with li-ion.
https://www.thomasdistributing.com/assets/maha/mh-c801d-battery-charger/mh-c801d-manual.pdf
Does not list the li-ion.... note the comment that it should not be used for any other batteries.
Customer service issue aside, if the OP tried to recharge li-ions, then this was likely a failure to read the warning in the manual. These warnings are usually prominent in manuals.
Mar 1, 2018 08:17:17 #
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
OP is extremely lucky that this action did not burn down his house. Li-po and Li-on batteries require special advanced chargers (I'm a R/C hobby guy -drones-boats-planes-cars/trucks) and I use a lot of Li-on and Li-po batteries). Multi-chemistry chargers are available, but you have to have the right combination, and use it properly. Please read directions and be thankful you didn't burn your place down..... YES, THEY CAN AND WILL EXPLODE AND BURN. We have all seen the phone videos, and I've seen first hand how violently they will burn. olemikey
Mar 1, 2018 08:44:40 #
If you bought it with a credit card, cannot you still get the payment reversed??
Mar 1, 2018 09:04:00 #
grtday wrote:
I bought a Maha 801 AA Ni-Cad/Li-ion battery charg... (show quote)
If you though that’s a LiPo or Li-ion charger, and charged either battery type in it, that not only voided the warranty, but if your house had burned down, your insurance company would have given you a very hard time...
Mar 1, 2018 09:26:24 #
Mar 1, 2018 09:32:50 #
Mar 1, 2018 09:34:51 #
My experience with Maha has been very good. Have used both their chargers and batteries since 2002 and they are my favorites. Have used other brands of rechargeable batteries, also, but the Maha batteries are as good as any. I always buy from Thomas Distributing and they are great.
Bob
Bob
Mar 1, 2018 09:37:35 #
FYI... I have the 801 and the slower version. Both those, along with all my other MaHa chargers work well. None of mine are made for Li batteries. Best of luck.
Mar 1, 2018 09:40:31 #
We really need a way to moderate and delete these slanderous, lying posts and the people that make them. Maha did NOT treat the person the way they claimed UNLESS he made it known that he used the charger in a manner that violated the warranty. We have a lot of these "drive-by hit job" posts and they are nothing more than a waste of time and the spreading of false information.
Mar 1, 2018 09:49:33 #
burkphoto wrote:
If you though that’s a LiPo or Li-ion charger, and charged either battery type in it, that not only voided the warranty, but if your house had burned down, your insurance company would have given you a very hard time...
I don't understand the comment about the insurance company. I have never seen an exclusion for user error. In fact it was commonly heard in the office, yes we even insure stupidity. An intentionally set fire is another story.
The only exception "might" be on a commercial policy that states what equipment can be used on the premises and what training is required before an employee can use it.
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Mar 1, 2018 09:54:37 #
Bill_de wrote:
I don't understand the comment about the insurance company. I have never seen an exclusion for user error. In fact it was commonly heard in the office, yes we even insure stupidity.
The only exception "might" be on a commercial policy that states what equipment can be used on the premises and what training is required before an employee can use it.
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The only exception "might" be on a commercial policy that states what equipment can be used on the premises and what training is required before an employee can use it.
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In many states insurance companies can refuse to pay or reduce the amount of the payment if they can show that the insured engaged in egregiously reckless behavior that lead to the loss. It's in the same vein as refusing to cover losses that occur as the result of committing a crime.
Charging a battery in an inappropriate charger, that is known to explode when not charged in the proper charger, when warned by the manufacturer of the battery and the charger that such action cold result in an explosion and fire, would certainly qualify as egregiously reckless behavior.
Mar 1, 2018 09:59:48 #
kd7eir wrote:
In many states insurance companies can refuse to p... (show quote)
We would have considered that stupidity. I guess each jurisdiction sees things differently based on the verdicts juries return when the courts are brought in. Where I lived all the attorney would have to ask in his closing statement to the jury would be, "How many of you read the instructions?". Whatever the judge said would be out the window as jurors would think about what if it ever happened to them.
Thanks for the feedback!
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