My budget would be $50 for a great charger.
But it would be $100 if:
If you throw too many features into this project, you risk
(1) Making it too complex to use,
(2) Making it too expensive,
(3) Making it buggy with features that don’t work properly,
(4) Making it a niche product that few people will buy.
Honestly, I’d be happy with a Nitecore SC4 that had a settable charge termination voltage, and lower default charge rates. Nothing else needed.
Or a Liitokala Lii-500 with settable charge termination voltage. (The Lii-500 has a discharge capacity function already.)
Perhaps approach a company with something very similar already, and ask them to add the extra couple of features into an existing product. That should make it easier to build, and less prone to quality problems.
I was aiming for 100% increase in slots and a 50% increase in max current. 2x 4, 1.5x 12.
To be perfectly honest, I’d be as happy with the original 12 amps split across 8 slots as I would with 16, 18, or 24 total amps split across them.
A complete wishlist item, but hey - this IS brainstorming, right? :+1:
At least this is a more practical idea than adding 1 or more cheap accessory sidecars containing their own charge circuits but being controlled by the UI in the master unit. 
I also recommends ISDT they are making great hobby chargers.
+1
I’ve been using a Nitecore D2 I got on clearance for $13. It does everything I need or want in a charger, and by sheer luck, it’s calibrated 0.02V low so it stops right at 4.18V. Pretty much ideal, as far as I’m concerned.
Also a couple MC1 chargers, for travelling. They were like $3 or $5 or something; I forget. And the BLF Lantern is nice if I want to charge a set of 4 cells.
Wow, that’s a name I haven’t heard in ages.
New BLF members probably don’t know the history there, and it’s pretty much erased from the internet now, but… there’s only one answer to that question, and JamesB nailed it.
I think it needs to stay exclusive to us in this forum & chargerholics because if it’s to become available to joe public (muggles) they will slap to many safety features on it to try and stop muggles killing himself or set fire to his house ,eg don’t tolerate the charger to terminate early on the er of safety etc ,we are responsible adults & we know the risks & monitor things.
Edit ,no that’s a stupid idea because the manufacture will want to make & sell as many as they can ,& we’ll have to put up with the changes they make to it.
I predict 5k+ pages of future posts. Call me in two years when this is ready. In for two.
Ok, here are the basic features of the chargers that I want:
1. Adjustable charging current (0,1A-3,0A) in 0,1A steps.
2. Support for multiple chemistries (NiMH, lithium-ion, lithium ion HV, LiFePO4).
3. Temperature monitoring (45C max below 2A, 60C max below 3A).
4. 4 cell channels, with support for AAA sized cells all the way to the largest 21700/26650/D cells up to 78mm length.
6. Full current cutoff according to charging current (10%).
7. 12V-20V compatibility.
8. Nickel coated phosphor bronze/brass rails for highest conductivity and accurate internal resistance measurement. Or just well plated nickel plated A3 steel if everything goes wrong.
9. Internal resistance measurement.
10. Low voltage recovery
Below 2,5V, charge at 150mA.
Below 2,0V, charge at 100mA.
Below 1,0V, charge at 25mA.
11. Adjustable max voltage for lithium ion charging: 3,90V-4,20V in 0,1V steps.
12. Storage charge mode: 3,6V. Lower would be better, but it is too low otherwise for most people.
13. Individual channel selection.
17. Automatic charging current adjustment available.
Other features are nice, but not necessary.
If I can get them on this BLF charger, that would be dope.
These are the bare minimum requirements for me.
I’m in
Everything sounds so I would be in for at least 1.
Definitely interested
Thank all of you guys and gals for the support.
I’m going to use as much of my knowledge and experience in charging batteries and electronic experience to get BLF its own best, customized charger.
Way to go Blue, I admire the spirit! 
"The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."
Captain of Engineering Montgomery Scott (Scotty), USS Excelsior, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Guess I'm an outlier here.
I'm a hands-on, button-pushin' guy. The more automation, the more things can go wrong. I'd prefer a minimum of automation, only what's necessary for safe operation. Otherwise, this looks like an outstanding device that could appeal to advanced muggles outside the flashlight community.
slmjim
I will buy one when available
Thanks Blue for your generous act.
I am exited by the ambitiousness of your mission statement, BlueSwordM, as well as your intitial list of features. It’s in the true spirit of BLF. Stick to your guns!
It’s confusing to me that some BLF’ers who agonize over every detail of flashlight hardware and firmware seem content with a simple Nitecore or LitoKala charger. If that suits your needs, hey, that’s great, but why would we want a BLF charger to emulate that? It would be like a BLF 2AA Maglite.
Yeah, I hear you. The SkyRC MC3000 did not not start out as a CPF project, but it kind of turned out that way. The thread has 5200 posts, of which 200 or so are by HKJ. And a lot of development work was put in by a member who shall go nameless. And the result is the benchmark for a universal analyzing charger for cylindrical cells, with enough of a market, apparently, to keep it in production.
I am definitely 1000% IN to purchase a BLF custom designed charger!
Simply awesome idea, thank you BlueSwordM . 
Sign me up please i`ll be more than happy to purchase some.