MW 8168GS the most intelligent Chinese charger NiMH AA AAA Year 2002-2025

[Kiriakos GR]

At the year 2002, I did my dive to semi professional digital photography.
As soon I did activate my OLYMPUS C2100 (an 1000 € price range) digital camera, I did feel the need to get NiMH batteries and charger.

My lucky find in a local store, in my own home town, this was a pair of MW 8168GS.
And I did buy them both. 

http://www.minwa.com.hk/e/product/Intercept-5-Hours-Battery-Charger-w-DV-Control-&-Discharge-Function-198.html

As introduction I will copy paste, functionality details from the user manual.
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MW 8168GS automatic quick charge

This charger has been designed for the automatic charging or fast charging of 2 or 4 AA/AAA batteries. Due to the advanced charging technique, all inserted cells attain their own maximum charge level, avoiding undercharging and harmful overcharging.
The integrated protection detects battery failures and rejects the charging of defective cells.
If used according to the operating instructions, batteries may be recharged up to over 1,000 times, making this solution a low-cost and very environment friendly one as it saves you from buying and disposing of countless regular batteries.

SETUP
1. Load the batteries to be recharged into the unit. If two are being charged, use the two bays to the left.

2. Slide the switch to the desired position depending on whether 2 or 4 cells are being charged at the same time. (2.4V or 4.8V charging voltage)

3. Connect to a standard wall outlet (230VAC/50Hz). The READY LED will illuminate and the DISCHARGE/CHARGE/CHARGED indicator next to it will illuminate in red. Charging begins.

4. Press the DISCHARGE button to discharge the cells. The indicator changes to yellow.
After discharging completes, quick charging starts automatically. (Pressing the button toggles the discharging and charging function.)

5. After quick charging completes, the tri-colored LED changes from red to green and quick charging switches to trickle charging.
This will ensure that the batteries remain fully charged until they are removed, by compensating for losses through self-discharging.

6. If the indicator is green, power off the unit and remove the batteries from it.
The charging time depends on the type, capacity, current status and discharge/charge cycle of the battery. Usually, the charging time (h) = battery capacity (mAh) x 1,4 / charging current (mA).

CAUTION!
•  If the charging sequence gets interrupted (e.g. in case of power outage or the DISCHARGE button having been pressed), always proceed by discharging first.

• Always charge batteries of the same size and type together at the same time.

• Never attempt to charge regular batteries. This device has been designed for use with Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-Metal Hydride cells.

• Before commencing charging, always make sure that the batteries are intact, do not leak and their contacts are not corroded.

• Always check correct polarity when inserting the batteries into the charger.

• Do not store charged batteries in the charger.

• Due to a peculiar behavior of Ni-Cd batteries (memory effect), it is always advisable to discharge this type of batteries prior to charging. Otherwise, frequent "topping off" will reduce the performance and service life of these batteries.
Ni-MH type batteries are less prone to this phenomenon.

• It is recommended to condition Ni-Cd cells subject to every-day use once a week while Ni-MH cells once a month (conditioning consists of three complete discharge/charge cycles).

• New batteries tend to attain their maximum capacity after the completion of three charge/discharge cycles.

• The same treatment is recommended for cells that have been out of use for a long time.

• Always use the battery charger indoors, in a dry environment.

• If any irregular operation is detected (e.g., burnt odor from unit), immediately switch it off and remove the power plug.

• Make sure that no foreign objects or liquid can enter the unit through the openings.

SPECIFICATIONS
power supply (PRI): 230VAC/50Hz/6.6W (AC internal transformer). 
SEC: 2,4 V / 4,8 V DC

charging current: 500 mA / 300 mA (AA/AAA)

trickle charge:  50 mA / 30 mA (AA/AAA)

discharging current: approx. 70 mA

Maximum capacity of rechargeable batteries: 2500 mAh
IP protection:  IP20: Not protected from ingress of water.

Troubleshooting:
Check the unit's power supply!
Check the polarity (+/-) of the batteries when inserting them!
Do not charge any non-rechargeable batteries, only rechargeable ones!
The rechargeable battery may be defective.
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I did use this pair of smart chargers, for my first two years as hobbyist photographer with out feeling the need at getting something more advanced.
This need for an more advanced charger, this came at the third year,  when my quad pack of 1.2V AA NiMH cells, this started getting unbalanced.

MW 8168GS this has a single limitation, it can charge anything but in the form of a pair.
AA, AAA Size: 2 x 2,4VDC switch position / 300mA.
AA, AAA Size: 4 x 4,8VDC switch position / 500mA.

I do recommend this charger even today, because the Chinese mainland industry,  even in the year 2025, this still sell worthless low technology chargers at high price.

Mean Well brand this has show a stable delivery of acceptable in build quality power supply and charger, at the European market, but they did nothing in favor of products marketing.
Mean Well brand philosophy, this is them to build anything in house, from products, components and down to packaging for shipping.
Mean Well multi - factory this has a tremendous size today, of thousands of square meters, along of a small army as workforce.   

OEM written multilingual manual:   https://www.somogyi.sk/data/product_documents/04684_04_02.pdf

[overvolt]

You did not get them cheaply but who cares..

Indeed, this technical design it was ahead of it time.
I think that technology in use, this has Taiwanese R&D.
This explains of why the Chinese reverted back at timer controlled chargers (use of domestic technology only), and they have stuck with this outdated technology.

[Kiriakos GR]

Indeed, this technical design it was ahead of it time.
I think that technology in use, this has Taiwanese R&D.
This explains of why the Chinese reverted back at timer controlled chargers (use of domestic technology only), and they have stuck with this outdated technology.

 

[Kiriakos GR]

At ITTSB Europe, I do perform electrical measurements and constantly evaluate electrical test and measurement equipment, build quality and accuracy.

Today I was able to confirm entire pack of functions performed by this MW8168GS.
I did use a pair of bright new AAA as DUT.

MW8168GS Discharge function
Indeed, this charger it does discharge the cells with 70mA of DC current.
When 70mA of current this becomes as low as 60mA (due batteries voltage drop), then this charger stops, and starts the charging mode automatically.

MW8168GS Charging mode
This charger delivers a charging pulse once per second.
At start up that charger and batteries they are cold (room temperature), the measured current for AAA this measures 320mA (Pulse).
Charging Pulse this is created by analog manner, the charging circuit this turn on and turns off in a constant sequence.
After 20 minutes of time, and as soon electronics and batteries temperature this stabilizes, charger current this is now 290~300mA.

MW8168GS Trickle charge
Even trickle charge this is performed in once per second duration, for AAA the charger delivers 30mA in the form of a pulse per second.
In actual numbers this is 27mA ~ 30mA.

Battery voltage per cell (In pair) this is maintained at:
Cell No1 = 1.499V
Cell No2 = 1.501V
Combined is 3.0V this delivered with high precision, when product specification this mention theoretical 2.8V per channel.

Final verdict and conclusion
MW8168GS while this has electronics design of the year 2001, this is functioning according to it specification’s.
Voltage accuracy as high as +/- 0.5%
Current accuracy as high as +/- 2%

With DC current delivery at 300mA for AAA, and 500mA for AA, this is considered even today as a fast charger.
Either way, this is still excellent for what it is.
It electronics design this delivers unimagined electrical precision, and it is still usable at 2025, for anyone seeking for a charger for productive applications.

Since 2020 in China, they switched the production of chargers, to mixed use Li Ion plus Ni-MH. 
All these latest models they are Ni-MH batteries exterminators, due the unreasonably high current output for Ni-MH.

For us seeking for safe for our batteries as Normal Charge or Fast Charge (charger), we are forced today to locate products of old production.

I am very happy today, that I did prove to myself primarily, that my MW8168GS this it does belong at the excellent choices of old-tech chargers.