new charger - what are you using

[Wheelin247]

I got an IMAX B6AC for charging my lipo batteries. I needed to charge a friends 18650’s cause his charger bit the dust so I got 3 quad 18650 trays and wired them in parallel and hooked a XT60 connector to it so I could use my lipo charger and charge 12 cells in 30 min. Before when I was using 18650’s, it would take me all evening to charge 12 cells (that’s when I was using quad mechs or DIY quad series unregulated boxes going through 8 cells during the day and if running errands after work I would go through 12 cells). If I knew then what I know now I would have got this charge a long time ago.


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[KenD]

I got an IMAX B6AC for charging my lipo batteries. I needed to charge a friends 18650’s cause his charger bit the dust so I got 3 quad 18650 trays and wired them in parallel and hooked a XT60 connector to it so I could use my lipo charger and charge 12 cells in 30 min. Before when I was using 18650’s, it would take me all evening to charge 12 cells (that’s when I was using quad mechs or DIY quad series unregulated boxes going through 8 cells during the day and if running errands after work I would go through 12 cells). If I knew then what I know now I would have got this charge a long time ago.


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That sounds like a charge current that might damage 18650s though.

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[Wheelin247]

That sounds like a charge current that might damage 18650s though.

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It won’t. I can lower the current going to the cells down to 1V and also charge it as a 1s LiPO battery. It’s as safe if not safer than the 18650 chargers where you can’t adjust how the cells are being charged (plug and play chargers).


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[KenD]

It won’t. I can lower the current going to the cells down to 1V and also charge it as a 1s LiPO battery.


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An 18650 from empty to full in 30 minutes, what's the charge amps?

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[Wheelin247]

I don’t remember what I charged that one one as it was some time ago and I only did it the one time. I’m wanting to say about 2. I set it as a balance charge like you would do on a lipo.


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[lupinehorror]

A good rule of thumb is to use only authentic batteries by LG, Samsung, Sony, or Panasonic/Sanyo, bought from a trusted vendor. With a few exceptions, all others are rewraps of subpar batteries with exaggerated ratings.

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yeah...all my other cells are samsung (except the new fogstars) bought from trusted vendors. 6 of them married in pairs.

 

[DaveP]

Efest LUC 4 is the only charger I own that can charge 4 bays at 1A. That comes in handy when you vape triple battery mods or need to charge two pairs of matched cells.

For dual and single battery mods there are lots of chargers that will charge 2 bays at 1A. My Xtar VC4 does a good job in that capacity.

My old Nitecore 4 bay charger is several years old and it always bothered me that it seems to heat up Lithium cells more than I like. It's been relegated to charging NiMH cells and it heats those up more than it should. I usually use the VC4 for nicads and NiMH and they charge quickly and stay low in temperature.

 

[lupinehorror]

my nitecore i2 does get rather hot at times with lithium cells. sitting it on its side while charging helps for me.
doesn't happen with the VC4

 

[Skreech]

Probably overkill but for my recently acquired Speeder Mod I use an ICharger 4010 Duo:-

And a home built battery box:-

I already had the charger which I use for radio control helicopter batteries. Seemed a waste to buy another one just for 18650 batteries.

 

[Letitia]

I have an EFest Luc v6. 6 bay, does it's job and doesn't get hot. Sled has never damaged my battery wraps and smooth loading.

 

[OlderNDirt]

I started with a Nitecore i4, then upgraded to an Xtar VP4. When a tiny, plastic spring anchor broke on the VP4, I got a Nitecore i8. I like the i8, but if I could turn back the clock, I would get a charger with LED information rather then "dummy lights."

 

[jan-kees]

I'm using the Opus BT C3100 for 2 years now, specs.:● LED back light displays charging / discharging / quick test / circuit more clearly in the dark
● NEW refresh mode can show you batteries' capacity, letting you know real magnitude
● NEW added quick test mode to test the battery impedance
●Four working mode available at user's choice: Charge, Discharge, Test, Quick Test and Refresh
● 4 independent charging slots charge rechargeable batteries of different types and sizes and with different capacities at the same time
● Charging current can be selected to be 200mA, 300mA, 500mA, 700mA or 1000mA ( 1500mA and 2000mA can be applied when only slot 1 or 4 is selected ). Default discharging current is 500mA
● Integrates the minus delta voltage ( -ΔV ) for NiCd or NiMh batteries charging termination, and for Li-ion batteries charging to 4.2V with pre-selected constant current. ( 3.7V Li-FeO4 and 4.35V high voltage batteries charging mode can be selected through switch on board )
● Easy-to-read LCD with back light showing battery Voltage, Charge / Discharge Current, Charging Time, Battery Capacity, etc.
● Includes overheat detection to protect rechargeable batteries and charger itself from overheating
● Designed for AA ( LR6 ) and AAA ( LR3 ）NiCd, NiMH or 3.7V Li-ion rechargeable batteries in size type of 18650, 14500, 16340, 10440, also compatible with 10340, 18650, 26650, 26500 ( printed on the package ) and 17670, 18490, 17500, 17335 ( printed on the product )
● Operating temperature: 0 - 40 deg.C
● Max charging capacity: up to 20000mAh
● Power adapter: DC 12V, 3.0A ( output ), 100 - 240V, 50 / 60Hz ( input )

 

[madstabber]

I'm using the Opus BT C3100 for 2 years now, specs.:● LED back light displays charging / discharging / quick test / circuit more clearly in the dark
● NEW refresh mode can show you batteries' capacity, letting you know real magnitude
● NEW added quick test mode to test the battery impedance
●Four working mode available at user's choice: Charge, Discharge, Test, Quick Test and Refresh
● 4 independent charging slots charge rechargeable batteries of different types and sizes and with different capacities at the same time
● Charging current can be selected to be 200mA, 300mA, 500mA, 700mA or 1000mA ( 1500mA and 2000mA can be applied when only slot 1 or 4 is selected ). Default discharging current is 500mA
● Integrates the minus delta voltage ( -ΔV ) for NiCd or NiMh batteries charging termination, and for Li-ion batteries charging to 4.2V with pre-selected constant current. ( 3.7V Li-FeO4 and 4.35V high voltage batteries charging mode can be selected through switch on board )
● Easy-to-read LCD with back light showing battery Voltage, Charge / Discharge Current, Charging Time, Battery Capacity, etc.
● Includes overheat detection to protect rechargeable batteries and charger itself from overheating
● Designed for AA ( LR6 ) and AAA ( LR3 ）NiCd, NiMH or 3.7V Li-ion rechargeable batteries in size type of 18650, 14500, 16340, 10440, also compatible with 10340, 18650, 26650, 26500 ( printed on the package ) and 17670, 18490, 17500, 17335 ( printed on the product )
● Operating temperature: 0 - 40 deg.C
● Max charging capacity: up to 20000mAh
● Power adapter: DC 12V, 3.0A ( output ), 100 - 240V, 50 / 60Hz ( input )

I second the opus charger. I’ve been using mine for a couple months now and have been happy with it. The only complaint I have is the springs are stiff which is a very minor complaint. I imagine they will loosen up with time anyway so great charger and from fasttech they are pretty inexpensive also.