The balance port was originally designed to get at the internal connections that can be used to charge or discharge.

Not all manufacturers have standardized on the header used OR the configuration for the wiring.

Most balancers discharge the highest voltage cell. This allows you to charge multiple cells in series and get very close to optimal, maximum voltage for each cell.

Computer chargers can also charge each cell individually thru the balance port. It is like having a seperate charger for each cell.

The cheaper balance port charger monitors each cell and cuts off when the first cell reaches maximum voltage.

The idea of using a balance port discharger/tester and a serial charger at the same time sounds as good as independent cell computer charging.

I currently use a 12V auto bulb connected across a digital volt meter to monitor then manually discharge the higher cells down to the lowest reading (above 3.1V) via the balance port. This is truely a poor man's way but balancing is not required for each charge/discharge cycle.