Model

Eveready EVVC

Dorcy Ashflash KB03PA

Inki Power Expert
KN 990A

Cost

AUD$24.94 with 4 AA batteries (2000 mAh)

AUD$29.87 with 4 AA batteries (2050 mAh)

AUD$33 (no batteries)

Charger type

Mini

Mini

Mini

Battery size

4AA; or

4AAA.

2 charging banks, so you can charge 2 or 4 batteries of the same size.

4AA; or

4AAA; or

Two 9 volt batteries.

Instructions do not make it clear whether the charger has two charging banks or individual charging banks. Individual charging banks are very unlikely for the price.

2 or 4AA; or

2 AA & 2AAA.

The maximum number of AAA batteries you can charge at once is 2.

Battery type

Ni-MH and maybe Ni-Cd (instructions unclear)

Ni-MH

Ni-Cd

Ni-MH

Ni-Cd

Feature set

240 volt only

Unable to mix battery size or chemistries.

Not much else to discuss, a very no frills charger.

240 volt only

Instructions do not make it clear whether the charger has two charging banks or individual charging banks. Individual charging banks are very unlikely for the price.

You have 3 options to charge the batteries:

• 240 volt;

• USB port; and

• Car cigarette plug.

LCD screen.

4 LCD monitors, but batteries charged and monitored in Bank 1 or 2 (not individually).

You can to mix battery sizes.

Safety features

Timer protection only.

Protections include:

• Reverse polarity protection; and

• Timer protection.

User selectable charging time (3 hr or 6.5 hours) Selecting time does not change the charging rate.

Microprocessor controlled. Protections include:

• Timer protection;

• Voltage protection;

• Temperature protection;

• Negative delta voltage protection; and

• Zero delta voltage.

Ease of use

Simple and easy to use.

Simple and easy to use.

Simple and easy to use, although there are issues about seating and removing batteries discussed below.

Performance

170mA – 200 mAh (AA)

70 mAh – 90 mAh (AAA)

380 mAh (AA & AAA)

15 mAh (9 volt)

1000 mAh (AA)

500 mAh (AAA)

Conclusion

Very few features of any description, almost no safety features, construction quality not bad. Instructions need to be improved. Better value can be found elsewhere.

More features than the Everyready. Minimal safety features, construction quality good, only charger suitable for use with 9 volts batteries but still very hard to get excited over.

For the price, great features like LCD screen, microprocessor controlled, flexible charging sources including 240 volt, USB and 12 volt, extensive safety features, fastest of the chargers. But and there are plenty of buts, include flimsy construction of the unit, poor design of the negative contacts, difficult to seat the AAA batteries flat into the charging cradle, AA batteries often catch when removing from the cradle.

What might have been! So close yet so far. The Inki Power Expert has the potential to be a superb charger, but more work is needed to improve build quality and design shortcomings.

Date

Nov 2006

Nov 2006

Nov 2006