SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS, AND A CHARGING UNIT THEREFOR

A charging unit for a portable power appliance which has a motor and an appliance energy storage member. The charging unit is electrically connectable to a mains power supply. The charging unit has an onboard energy storage member and a power output circuit comprising a first output port and a second output port, wherein the first output port is electrically connectable to a power cord and the appliance energy storage member is directly mountable to the second output port and a switch operable to adjust the power output circuit between a first operational mode in which the onboard energy storage member is coupled to the first output port and a second output port in which the onboard energy storage member is coupled to the first output port.