AccuPower IQ338LX - Just Received

So after anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new charger, an AccuPower IQ338LX, it arrived today and of course I immediately set it to work.
After reading the User Guide (not really necessary with this one)…I went to set up the charging parameters.

Right off the bat I ran into a game stopper.

The charger has 4 slots and each slot can be programmed independently.

The problem is that slot number 2 absolutely refuses to charge at any rate other than the default 500mAh. All of the other 3 slots perform as expected and will charge at 500, 700, 1000 or 1500mAh.

So, even with a battery that charges fine at 1000mAh in slot 4 for example, when I put that same battery in slot 2 it will always revert back to the default charge rate of 500mAh. I’ve tried with just one battery, different batteries, different charge currents, moved the batteries around… but the result is always the same. I even tried a totally different brand and type of battery. Slot 2 remained uncooperative.

A final problem I am seeing with this charger is that there seems to be some kind of imbalance in the power distribution.
The battery in slot 4 is the hottest, followed by the battery in slot 3, then 2 and the battery in slot 1 remains the coolest. This is with identical batteries at an identical state of charge with nearly identical resistance values. It’s as if the current is used in priority by the cells in their order starting with the cell farthest to the right. Temps were taken with a laser thermometer 1 hour after charging began. #4 = 103, #3 = 99, #2 = 90, #1 = 86
If I physically reversed the order of the batteries in the slots, after another hour the temps changed to reflect the same as heating pattern as above.
My conclusion is that current flows in a diminishing amount across the 4 slots regardless of the current setting for the slots going from right to left.
The current is not distributed evenly.

In fact, I don’t think slot 1 is charging at all even though it says it is. I’ll have to put my VOM leads across it to measure the current.

My conclusion is that the unit has a defective 2nd slot and possibly a defective slot 1.

Based on these three problems right off the bat with a brand new unit……I’m dissappointed to say the least.
I had high hopes for it based on the fact that it would charge 4 D cells at the same time.
Maybe I just got a really bad unit? I don’t know. I’m asking the seller to replace this one so I’ll know in about 2 weeks (holidays now).

I ordered a replacement unit on Dec 23rd. Same one (Trying one more time)

Will report back then.

I was REALLY disappointed after receiving the charger above and finding it defective. After chilling out a few days I revised the post above to be a bit less…“emphatic”.

Defects happen….you just don’t want them happening to YOU.

The seller accepted the defective unit back and I’ll soon have the replacement.

Hoping for a good outcome the 2nd go round.

Keep us posted on the replacement unit.

Did you ever find out any solid contact info for AccuPower?

Chris

No never did.

I don’t think they have an office or any distribution in the US other than someone with a special deal with them or a direct importer.

I would say that if you buy their products in the USA, you have only the seller you bought it from to fall back to.
And after about 14 or 30 days max, you have essentially no warranty regardless of the 2 year warranty printed on the box.

Would love to be wrong, but it’s all I’ve found so far.

Today I got the REPLACEMENT IQ338LX and so far so good.

Right off the bat, it does not have that issue the other one had defaulting back to minimum charge current no matter what so I “think” I’m good now.
If it lasts a few years I’ll call it a good deal.

The seller (RDANA on ebay) was very quick to ship and very quick to help me with the replacement. So in that respect he is a good seller.
He even sent the replacement via Priority Mail so I couldn’t ask for better service from a seller.

He obviously has integrity as far as replacing defective items. So that’s what really matters.

I would buy from him again. It’s a shame one of the units had a defect. Even worse that I had to get the one defect….lol