Got the charger friday, but couldn't get a sighted person here until today.

There are only four operating controls, and two cables to plug in.

First is the power adapter.  This is a brick, with a standard coaxial
connector molded on, but a standard ac two conductor plug for the ac cord.
This is similar to those used on older radios and boom boxes.  Sort of oval
shaped.

The power jac is located on the left side at the rear of the charger.
Sliding back toward you along the left side is a switch.  This controls the
battery chemistry.  Toward the power socket is nicad / nimh, toward the
front of the mahcine is lithium ion, / lithium polimar.

Directly in front of the switch is a fixed very small cable.  This
trerminates in a magnetic temperature sensor about the size of a nickel.
This will be placed on the battery during charging.

ON the front top side of the machine is a small square lcd screen, and a
round button maybe the size of a dime.  This button controls the battery
analysis / conditioning feature.  I haven't used it yet.  Also below these
is another switch, this is a polarity switch.

Along the rear edge of the charger is a two prong receptical.  This is for
the attachment of a cord ending in aligator clips.  This is for charging
nicad/nimh batteries.

Charging experience

To charge the pack for my thf6, first you must lift the charger, reach
under, and slide the contacts into position.  There are two tabs inside a
recess under the charger for moving these contacts.  The contacts are small
pins sticking up from the top of the charger.
If the charger is powered up, you have the contacts positiond correctly,
when you place the battery on the charger it will emit a short beep.  This
indicates that the charging process has started.  If a long series of beeps
is emitted, the polarity is probably wrong.  remove the battery, change the
setting on the polarity switch, (located near the front edge of the top of
the charger, and replace the battery.
The charging voltage, chemistry, charging current, and elapsed time are
displayed on the lcd screen.
When charging is complete a series of beeps with wider spacing than the
incorrect polarity beeps is emitted.  The battery may be removed at this
time for use, or left in place, and the charger will switch to trickle
automatically.

I will report more when I get an adaptor rigged up for charging my nimh aa
and d size batteries.
I plan to make up a cord ending in a snap on 9v type clip, and buy some
battery holders with this connection.  Easier to use, and I think safer
than aligator clips.

I hope this information has been useful to someone.  So far, I recommend
this charger to other blind users.  It has a minimum of controls, decent
audio feedback, and appears to be pretty well fool proof.  The kenwood
battery was discharged such that it would not power the ht at all, and took
approximately four hours to recharge.



Gary Lee
kb9zuv





---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.443 / Virus Database: 248 - Release Date: 1/10/03