lumenal, that is a good read. I don't want to sound like I am defending something that claims to do a bit more than it really does, but it may not be quite as bad as you and Turbo first thought. First, from both of your tests, it was able to detect a near full cell and peak it in under an hour, so it is not starting with a "dumb" two hour timer that just starts advancing the lights regardless of cell condition. If that were the case, the near full cell would start getting warm very soon, and just cook for two hours plus. From my own experience, as you seem to have always started each channel at the same time, I can stick on a cell any time while other bays are mid-charge, and it works the same, so for whatever type of cycle the bays are capable of, it is truly independent on all four channels.
Now I am only hypothesizing, but with regard to the two hour second light, I wonder if when a cell requiring substantial charging is detected the charger may be using different rates through the cycle (lower near full charge?), and this light coming on is a shift point. That might explain why it takes so long, as 400 ma straight out should get it done quicker than what I have seen. I will try to get measurements during the 2nd and 3rd light phases, as I have succeeded in getting my amp meter in between the negative contact and the battery, lifting the battery with the probe. At 375 ma through my meter at the start of charge, I have no beef with the 400 ma claim, just the total charge time claim.
The one thing I am still thrilled with on this charger is that for most of the charge, the cells stay nice and cool, and even near peak are at least no warmer (cooler, I am pretty sure) than in my Titanium TG700 or my Rayovac "smart" charger, which only does pairs.
I will try to get these mid-charge currents to help unravel the mystery, but it may be that what we have here is a "semi-smart", independent channel charger. I still have no reason to suspect having gotten less than what I payed for, and the report on those 1700 mah batteries is a bonus. Again, my big ambition was a less-fast charger that took it a bit easier on the cells, not getting so hot as in my other chargers. I had tried an Energizer 30 minute charger and just couldn't believe how hot the cells were, for the WHOLE charge cycle, so I returned that. And I can imagine what over 10 amps into a cell in the 15 minute one must do. I am just never in that much of a hurry and would like to take advantage of the longer cell life of the slower charge rate, but with some sort of intelligent shutoff and the ability to do odd numbers of cells, which this charger seems so far to be doing fine.
Hondo
