To take the summary first: ***** function, menu / guide **, professional features and options without end, in everyday use but absolutely dummy fit. I would buy it again at any time.
The decisive factor for buying a new charger was that recently several times my dear Ansmann batteries have left (without memory effect) down me - even though I thought until then to have treated my mignons as raw eggs. When reviews-research I stumbled upon a lot of new professional knowledge - and also plenty of heresy and idiocy alleged battery professionals.
I want to be no pro, I just want out of my battery power comes when I am taking them freshly charged. I have now found out where the error was, and now I know what Funtionen need my charger.
The effect, which led in recent years to the failure of my batteries, can be (Simplified) represent as follows: A battery has so 1 to 1.4 volts. If you use it, sucks him below 1 volt, then he takes damage.
An electrical appliance should therefore precaution switch off by itself at 1.1 volts. That's what most of. And if 4 batteries come in a device, it must switch off precisely at 4.4 volts. Also do quality electrical appliances and yet go here (and not in the charger) most battery broken. Why?
Suppose that four batteries differ quite minimal. There is in each one different minimal "amount" power in it * grin *, then has to some use a battery for my sake yet 1.3 volts, 1.2 volts, and two have perhaps the weakest has 1.1 volts. It is high time that the unit shuts down. But it is still weiiiit away! All four cells have, after all together yet fabulous 4.7 volts. Is switched off in our example each only 4.4. Until then, our weakest cell has long been damaged and lose capacity. The next time you recharge you will be less filled, the next time you use them is even more so go first again to its knees ... etc ...
The guidelines, which I had on my new charger were clear: I do not want frills, no refresh or other magic and I do not care how much AH has into it loaded the charger into the cell - or has verschucht to pump into it , Important to me is above all that I know how much power each individual cell is prepared to make.
The only way I can put together four pieces, which are identical are strong or weak according to the same way on the chest, so that all four candidates have in our example, something as possible to the 1.1 volts when the unit shuts down at 4.4.
As far as I know, no charger can say how much usable power in a cell's inside, but was only pumped as much. The only logical to me published version is: charging the batteries, then perform a documented discharge, remarkable and completely reload.
And that's what makes the AV4m (or you can do so). At the very end of the fully automatic passage can be displayed by pressing a button that elicited in the cell step before electricity (AH).
Point two is that you have to leave now 100% sure that each cell was actually fully charged when charging. Imagine what happens when you bert rubbed with three fully loaded and a partially charged battery machine our example ... That's it then with the cell - and thus usually with the entire battery pack. So the way to see all of my expensive initially mentioned Ansmann from battery packs. In each set of 4 is a black sheep. It's was so!
The charger must therefore a reliable end charging determine (that can have many) and which can hardly what, it must be the Laderät continue charging even when it comes to "interference" came. For example, many chargers for a "HOT" recognition and subsequent cooling period, the more charge is not reliably. I believe that this is also a plus point in my Mössinger firmware.
The charger must always use a fully charged battery ends (or Error). I must be able to rely on 100% if the charger "feddich!" signaled.
Enough theory. What does that mean in practice?
I stuck purely to plug, plug in and finish the batteries. No button must be pressed. The process always ends with fully charged batteries (or Error - never happened to me).
Will I know what "it" is in the battery, so it is as strong or weak in the chest, I express two seconds, the Discharge / Cycle button. Then is discharged and then charged again. The Entladewert can I read and so identify black sheep or compile my matching battery packs.
That's it really. A button. Therefore one must be a professional.
Further functions are possible, but just not every day is necessary. Cyceln to prop up old batteries or completely new battery packs together, for example. My device can also send still messages in Morse Code for the blind, which I do not need to happiness. Normalising Pieperei by double and triple occupancy the microscopic keys was disastrous - but went. That I must do again now never.
The Mössinger firmware has to instructions nor a function to push deeply discharged batteries to make them once detected. Which ominous key assignment that goes, I do not know. Its just good to know that the ego could, if I disclose it need times. Other firmware features are that I in a shaft, for example can not cyceln and in another bay quite what else can do. That goes with the Ur-AV4m well, but no longer with firmware upgrade. Also do not need me. In addition, when the firmware upgrade, the temperature threshold is reduced to 50 or 52 degrees and the loading and Endladeströme are probably somewhat reduced. Oh, and a PC connection gabs during firmware upgrade with this - but only for analysis and display functions. Not about to control the device so that can.
So:
Dummy and children Suitable for everyday use.
Easy to use for the "ambitious users"
Many possibilities for geeks, hidden behind catastrophic operation and menu navigation.
Exactly what I was looking for.
Other: The unit takes some time. Especially with Mössinger firmware. Can last for three days before recycling. The display is not lit, a manual switching of the charging current (weak medium strong) is at all times, even during charging possible. The power supply cord is very shaky. Slight bending of the pins provided for a remedy.
I hope brought some light into the darkness of the Ni / MH witchcraft and to have helped in the purchasing decision.