Ok. Now I'll alter/expand the scenario: I have a power source that's stable *most* of the time, but not all. There's a solar panel that's potentially charging a bunch of different batteries. Most of the time, there's a large lead-acid battery that acts as a pool, but it's *possible* that it's not there and I have to charge directly from the panel. So most of the time I have a power source that won't benefit from an MPPT, but there are exceptions where MPPT is useful.
So now the question becomes -- can I use the BQ24650 for both scenarios, or will I have to create 2 different pathways with 2 different ICs to charge the battery pack?
From your answer I assume that the BQ24650 can be used for both scenarios, but it would behave sub-optimally when the power source is stable?
BTW, I was just reading the following thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/another-must-read-for-beginners/-- and I realize the irony, but I really needed to know the answer to question Y in order to know if my potential solution to question X was viable... Even if I can't use/understand the answer to question X, I can still make use of the answer I received to question Y.