Disassembly Analysis of an Economical EBL Multi-Cell Nickel-Metal Hydride Charger
In a recent teardown published over at EDN, Brian Dipert took a closer look at an 8-bay NiMH cell charger, specifically the older version of EBL's charger. The charger, considered a cheaper model, was found to have some interesting internal components.
Upon inspection, Dipert discovered that the charger comes equipped with eight included NiMH cells. However, unlike the newer version, this older model requires two cells of the same type to be installed side-by-side. This design choice might be a point of contention for those seeking extended unattended usage, as a more reputable charger brand might be preferable in such situations.
The charger's internal components are relatively sparse, with a full-bridge rectifier and a CRE6536 AC-DC power management IC being the most notable. An unmarked 16-pin IC, which contains the charger's logic, was also identified. Interestingly, the two USB ports are wired directly into the AC-to-DC section, bypassing the need for a separate USB controller.
During the teardown, the charger did not catch on fire (yet). This is a positive sign, considering the charger was struggling with NiMH cells that other chargers would happily charge. Despite these issues, the charger can still be purchased brand new for $25.
However, it's worth noting that the charger does not feature per-bay charging, which could potentially affect the efficiency and safety of charging multiple cells simultaneously. For those seeking a more reliable and feature-rich NiMH cell charger, the manufacturer of the expensive 8-cell NiMH battery charger with USB ports, likely thoroughly disassembled by Brian Dipert, is Opus.
In conclusion, while EBL's older 8-bay NiMH cell charger has its drawbacks, it remains an interesting piece of hardware to dissect and understand. For those seeking a more robust and reliable solution, other options, such as the Opus charger, might be worth considering.
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