I bought this to see just how much of a charger you get for a mere £5. It turns out that it's actually quite nice inside and has good slow-charger (200mA) functionality.
It has a cut-off timer that may be as short as just 10 hours so it's probably best suited to cells under 2000mAh or for topping up larger cells. That timer section can be bypassed internally though.
If you enjoy my videos you can support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and gadgets at https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

10 thoughts on “Inside a cheapo nimh charger with schematic.”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gabriel V. says:

    Very Nice

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars B81 Mack says:

    You are an encyclopedia of electronics, Clive.
    I'm in awe of your knowledge. 👍

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Victor Liu says:

    "So let's H O I N K this out"
    -Big Clive, 2019

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Eric S says:

    I have an UltraFire 18650 with… wait for it….. 9800Mah! Tested at 72Mah.

    Honestly whenever I find a shitty NiMh that I've had since I was about 7, of which there are quite a few, and it doesn't take a charge at all, I stick it on the bench power supply, and blast it with 5V and shove an amp through it for a couple seconds, and that seems to burn off whatever oxides are present causing high impedance. I'm sure it shortens cell capacity but honestly those old ones I usually only use in stuff like television remotes. Often I'll ask friends if they have any old rechargeables they were going to recycle and I'll take them, nuke them with the 5V, then get a few more years of basic operation out of them before finally putting them out to pasture.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars WannabeTechnician says:

    i like my chargers the way i like my girlfriends: not too smart and not pretending to be smarter than they are

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars stewart caldwell says:

    No eighth vent to protect the power input section from spills etc.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Frank Smith says:

    What happens if you put a dummy battery next to a single battery to get it to charge?

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars NZHippie says:

    80f0308ad32 – DigChip have this chip made by ABOV as a LED High Brightness
    See below for the link…

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ewen Flint says:

    I love your catch-phrase "but that's OK". Is there any circumstance where you would not use it?"I've just cut my leg off – but that's OK"

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars NightshadeLenar says:

    ever heard of NI-MH D cells?

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