18650 batt charger replacement help!

[EricGQ]

the charger that came with my chrome vtube kit is not working and the only place local (i'm in erie, pa) i could find a replacement 18650 charger for in-store pick-up is at radio shack. they have an Enercell® Universal Li-ion, Ni-Cd and Ni-MH Charger Model: 53206 that looks like the only compatible one they carry in-store BUT it's $39.99!!! i'll have to decide by 9:00pm because that's when they close.

i really don't want to risk the vtube batts dying and having to go back to the ego while waiting for mail-order but forty bucks seems rather high (yeah, radio shack, i know, lol). does anyone know anything about this particular charger, per chance? like is it a good reputable charger and worth at least CLOSE to $40? maybe apollo will give me a $40.00 credit to compensate me for my trouble rather than sending me a new crap charger...

 

[Ty89m]

No experience with the radio shack charger, but for that price, might be better off grabbing a Pila I have one and love it, also have a Trustfire 001 as a backup for situations like yours. I realize you need something fast, so do what you've gotta do. But I would spend the money on something reputable.

 

[chedderslam]

No experience with the radio shack charger, but for that price, might be better off grabbing a Pila I have one and love it, also have a Trustfire 001 as a backup for situations like yours. I realize you need something fast, so do what you've gotta do. But I would spend the money on something reputable.

I am also looking for a battery charger, and keep hearing about the Pila being the best. I can't find where to buy it from. Any reputable dealers you recommend?

*edit: online dealers. Hoping someone with free shipping.

 

[Ty89m]

I picked mine up from Altsmoke, first time buyers get a 10% discount for liking them on Facebook, also, there are 5% off coupons that you can use as many times as you like. Just search for Altsmoke coupons on google and you'll find em' Great customer service as well, and I feel like I paid a fair price for a good charger.

What I like best about the Pila is the safety features, and how quickly it charges my batts

 

[yzer]

You will probably have to pay a local brick and mortar store more for a universal 3.7V Li-ion charger. The best buys are online.

Some suggestions. All of these will work for your 18650s.

E-Power Charger

XTAR WP6II Charger - 6 Bay Charger for 14650 / 17670 / 18650 etc

TrustFire TR-001 Li-Ion battery charger

 

[Cloud Wizard]

I've had great luck with: Fast 18650 li-ion battery charger -dual channel-1A per channel

Good prices on real Panasonic batts too.

Edit: P.S. every time I've ordered from Orbtronics it's been 4 days order to door.

 

[sailorman]

SuperTmanufacturing has the Xtar charges and the Pila chargers for reasonable prices and the shipping isn't out of line.

They're also pretty reasonable for batteries, but nobody beats Orbtronic if they have what you're looking for.

I know it's too late for the O.P., but that charger isn't bad, really. Universal chargers always cost more and if you have other kinds of batteries and can use the other functions, $40 isn't ridiculous or anything. I paid WAY, WAY more for a universal charger on line, but it was a Maha, so there ya go...

BTW, some flashlight geeks did a head-to-head between a Pila and Xtar charger on CPF. The Pila wasn't any better than the Xtar in any significant way. IMO, the rule of diminishing returns definitely kicks in hard with a Pila.