I got Lenmar's BCUNI3 NiMH charger along with N Size flattop cells today. The BCUNI2/3 specs are:
Power Source: 12VDC, 100-240V AC and DC car cord plus EU & USA plugs included.
Input current: 1000mA
Output charging Current: 1000mA max. (3.6V Li-ion Battery) 1000mA max. (7.2V Li-ion Battery) 1000mA max. (Ni-CD/Ni-MH battery)
USB output: 5v/1000mA max.
Charge Termination: 130mA max. (Li-ion Battery)
Negative Delta V detection (Ni-CD/Ni-MH battery)
Timing protection: Max. 7 hours (Li-ion battery) Max. 6 hours (NiCD/Ni-MH Battery)
The unit comes with the upper battery terminals being adjustable in width and height. The door slides down and is adjustable for battery length. I charged two N Size flattop cells in about 10 minutes (they we probably shipped almost fully charged). The batteries got a little warm but not too hard to handle.
The BCUNI3 also has a USB port for charging external devices and an LCD screen to show battery chemistry, battery voltage (1.2, 2.4, 3.6, 4.8, 6.0 or 7.2V), Fault, Capacity/Charging Status, USB Active and Power. The BCUNI2 doesn't have the USB charger port or LCD display.
I'm presently trying to charge a couple of Panasonic AA Ni-MH batteries rated at 2600mAh and they seem to charge quickly with the batteries getting a little warm. I like the battery charger because it can charge battery packs for Camcorders, Digital cameras and Mobile phones (that's why the upper terminals are adjustable) as well as external devices like iPods and iTouches with USB. One downside is that it will only do two N Size cells at a time. It also says it will charge one battery at a time in the right channel but the 'Charging Status' display just blinks. I'm not sure what to make of that. Note: Later the charger display took some time to update but it will support a single cell battery in the right channel at 1.2V.
Anyway, it does charge N Size cells quickly but I have to see how they'll work in my 41C, especially driving a card reader. I also remember that a 143 printer will power a 41c through its cable if the 41 has no batteries in it. I wonder if how NiMH batteries will affect an attached printer. I'm also wondering how these flattop N Size cells will work in a 41. They are a little shorter than the alkaline primary N Size cells, which I think is good as some of the springs in the 41 battery compartment are pretty stiff.
Stuff to play with. Let me know what you think,
Gerry
Edited: 13 June 2011, 7:35 p.m.