Today I received a new version of the Miller ML-102. I ordered this right before HKJ’s review came out about the problem with the V7.1 one. There appear to be more chips than in the previous version.
On the top of the PCB there are three 8-pin chips with the following markings: MT5032A G439J2, APM4953K KM225, and ALB4TA
I hope that the problems have been sorted out with the previous version, and that this information is helpful.
Now I’m off to give it a try.
My somewhat crude testing seems to suggest that with a fully charged battery the current is about 0.4 mA (good).
Thank you for the report and great pictures.
APM4953K is just a mosfet. “Q4” marked on the pcb, Q# normally indicates that the component is a type of transistor.
MT5032A we have already seen. Step-up converter for the 5v USB out.
ALB4TA should be the charge controller. Unfortunately google is giving me nothing. Appears to be a switching li-ion charger since there is an inductor.
Oh, hey! Welcome to BLF! :bigsmile: 
Didn’t notice.
I may be reading it incorrectly, but its still having a trickle charge after fully charging????
The v7.1 was doing 20mA after fully charged.
Great! I was wondering when will be available a new nonproblematic version of this charger.
Where did you ordered it? Fasttech?
Thanks
Fastech's site does not list the v8.0 so far.
And where can it be purchased?
Charge controller is SY6952B (datasheet)
A Miller representative somewhere in chinese forums claims that all new chargers with this controller (ML-102 v8.0, ML-202 v4.0 and the new ML-105/ML106 1x26650 models) have 4.5-18V input range and 1300mA (102/202) or 1200mA (105/106) charging current.
Controller chip is quite interesting - it has native 4.2/4.35V support, and you can install the switch into ML-102 with a moderate efforts.
Certainly looks nice but Miller has proven that they don’t bother to do actual testing. We won’t know if its good until someone charts its charge profile.
Put me off ordering one anyway. Even if he 8 is good, how many people will end up with v7 thinking they are ordering the new one? I doubt they will recall all the v7, and I doubt sellers are going to bin them, so someone is going to end up with them until they run out.
Maybe fasttech can expedite a test to HKJ…I mean send him the units and maybe pay him to test them…or would that put doubts into the validity of his tests (I believe he does his test free now to prevent the whole…they pay you for good reports thing)
So the new ML-102 V8.0 can handle 12vdc…whoah…just build a plug for your car and voila…
No, only the chip itself claims to handle higher voltages. The capacitors and other components may not be rated for it or able to tolerate it. Why pay for higher rated components when it only needs to take 5v usb?
It would suck to see the ML-102 go out of production indefinitely, but at the same time I don't want to get caught in the v7.1 -> v8.0 transition maelstrom, so I got myself an Efest XSmart :party: A little bit chunkier, but it does support many other sizes without the need of a spacer.
Sorry I forgot to include the ordering info. I ordered this from FastTech on 2015-02-21. The charger took a very long time to ship as it was marked “restocking.” I think it finally shipped on 2015-03-17 or so, and arrived 2015-03-30.
Any news on this version 8?
Just need someone to chart the charge profile of this version 8. Volunteers?
Hook up two digital multimeters between the battery and charger, one set to amps, other set to voltage, point a video camera at them then leave it to charge. Though not as good, you could also do it with one multimeter. Once set to amps and a 2nd time on volts.
ML-102 v9 being advertised — anyone know more about it?
http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_232581.html
I know I won’t go near it. Unless and until HKJ tests it.