18650 what Charger do I need?

[KenD]

thank you for all the information you have provided. so with a 2+amp wall wart can you charge batteries at a higher amp rating than with whats provided?

There's nothing provided (no wall wart) so you'll need to get a wall wart anyway. I guess you could connect it to a computer usb port but it would be terribly, insanely slow.

Btw, I edited my posts so the pictures now show.

Sent from my M7_PLUS using Tapatalk

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Is that the official name, a wall "wart"??

 

[roxynoodle]

This is the one xtar makes for it, but yes, it does not come with one at all. So you have to plug it in to something.

Xtar AC Wall Adapter 2100mA

 

[Topwater Elvis]

There are several options that come with everything you need without buying anything else.

 

[coilburner]

So the vc4 ships basically unusable?
Also since the one that's made by xtar is 2100 mA would it dmage the charger to, say, use one that's 3 amps?

 

[KenD]

Is that the official name, a wall "wart"??

I'm a Swedish-speaking Finn, I have no idea I use usb wall wart and wall adapter interchangeably until someone tells me what they're actually called

Sent from my M7_PLUS using Tapatalk

 

[Jim_ MDP]

Is that the official name, a wall "wart"??

All wall plug AC-to-DC transformers, whether for PCs, phones or hairdryers... are called "wall warts".

"Official"? No idea, but that's how it's been for 40 years.

 

[KenD]

So the vc4 ships basically unusable?
Also since the one that's made by xtar is 2100 mA would it dmage the charger to, say, use one that's 3 amps?

Unfortunately it ships pretty much unusable, yes. And it's not like they're crystal clear on that either. I guess the logic is that it's easier and cheaper to make the vc4 compatible for many different markets, but it's a stupid decision.

Amps are "pulled" by a device, not "pushed" by the adapter, so it's generally better to have an adapter/wall wart (or whatever it's called, someone help me) that can handle more amps than the device needs. The adapter gets less hot that way, and an adapter that is asked to provide more amps than it's speced for might fail. The vc4 will work with a 1 amp charger, but will then only charge with 1 amp total (one battery 1 amp, two batteries .5 amps, four batteries .25 amps). With a 2+ amp adapter it can charge two batteries at 1 amp a piece or four batteries at .5 amps a piece.

Sent from my M7_PLUS using Tapatalk

 

[KenD]

All wall plug AC-to-DC transformers, whether for PCs, phones or hairdryers... are called "wall warts".

"Official"? No idea, but that's how it's been for 40 years. [emoji14]

I suggest "that-thingy-that-you-plug-into-a-wall-socket-and-then-connect-a-usb-cord-in-it-which-you-then-connect-the-other-end-of-to-the-device-you-want-to-charge" as the official name. TTTYPIWSTCUCIIWYTCTOEOTDYWTC for short.

Any takers?

Sent from my M7_PLUS using Tapatalk

 

[Plumes.91]

Obvi the most expensive charger you can possibly afford is going to be the best charger for you... Battery safety is and should-be taken completely seriously- AS seriously as humanly possible. You would-not want to wake-up to fire-alarms going off and a wall on-fire due-to a charger malfunction, right?

However with that said, I do believe the companies that create the cheaper chargers DO keep quality control in-mind, for the simple fact that it is their responsibility to do-so, and, should one of THEIR chargers KILL a man/woman/child/pet, it would be on THEIR shoulders right? But obviously, please buy the BEST you can! It will keep you SAFE & it will charge more efficiently & with more SPEED through-out the life of your batteries!!

With this all said- I ONLY own the chinese-made unbranded battery chargers. Yes, for 7 years now, I've been using the black-unbranded battery chargers to charge the batteries for ALL of my mods. Now, with that said, I only charge when at-home & vertical. (never when out of the house, MT-house, or asleep) But yes, I only use the cheap 5 and 10 dollar unbranded battery chargers. In-fact, I own around 5 of them, haha. Many came from the mods I was buying, within the "Kit" I was purchasing. Some, I bought on my own, just to have extras. I currently keep 2 or 3 of them plugged-in, and I charge between 2 and 3 batteries at any given time. That-way, I always have a fresh batt to pop into whatever mod I am planning to use, even if it's a NEW one. My new Evic VTC mini, for example, will-NOT use button-top batteries. I had no clue of this when purchasing. So that limits the amount of batteries I can use in it (that I've got) down to like, 2 or 3... 1 of my flat-top batteries is losing it's casing, therefor, I have a hard-time using it, because I don't want anything to go wrong with it/mod. Right? ALWAYS be sure your battery is properly wrapped. ALWAYS check the voltage off the charger periodically, ESPECIALLY if you own cheaper chargers like myself, because a battery charger that SAYS the battery is fully charged (green light) with a battery that READS UNDER 4.2 volts (4.1 or 4.0 or 3.9 for example) well then, either that BATTERY, or, that CHARGER, is on the fritz.. BROKEN.. DONE.. OVER.. RECYCLING! Comprende? If a battery isn't charging to 4.2 volts and the charger is saying DONE, there's an issue!

So, in my opinion, you CAN use the cheaper chargers (like myself) but you will want to exercise more caution. For instance, I've wanted to purchase a vape-safe charging bag for the longest time!! These charging bags zip OVER/AROUND your battery charger, as it's charging a battery. Should anything go wrong, and should the battery explode/catch-fire/Leak dangerous hot fluids, your vape-safe charging bag will CATCH said toxic fluids, and it will starve said fire of any oxygen, so that the fire WILL-NOT be able to grow any further. These vape charge bags are ingenious & VERY good to have on hand & use. ESP if you plan to charge your batteries OVER NIGHT and/or with an EMPTY HOUSE! Yup, they are certainly a god-send for that!

Whatever you wind-up choosing as your first battery charger, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
& in-addition to enjoying your new vape-battery-charger, please ENJOY the vape journey!!

 

[Frenchfry1942]

I was overseas in the military for to long. We shot wall "warts"

 

[coilburner]

I think im going to go with the opus.

 

[KenD]

I think im going to go with the opus.

It is a good choice. So is the Xtar, but still. Only good suggestions here

Sent from my M7_PLUS using Tapatalk

 

[gmoney$]

The xtar vp2 comes complete and ready to use. Ac adapter and barrel connection at the charger end. No USB bs. About $40 at amazon, its vc2's big bro I guess.

 

[coilburner]

The xtar vp2 comes complete and ready to use. Ac adapter and barrel connection at the charger end. No USB bs. About $40 at amazon, its vc2's big bro I guess.

To bad Im looking for a 4 bay charger, not to mention $40 for a 2 bay is ridiculous.

 

[Mooch]

I suggest "that-thingy-that-you-plug-into-a-wall-socket-and-then-connect-a-usb-cord-in-it-which-you-then-connect-the-other-end-of-to-the-device-you-want-to-charge" as the official name. TTTYPIWSTCUCIIWYTCTOEOTDYWTC for short.

Any takers?

Sent from my M7_PLUS using Tapatalk

That's what I always called it.

 

[MorpheusPA]

I have the Xtar VC4 and love it, but I also have a ton of USB wall warts lying around. Mine is currently plugged into a 2.4A USB plug, and can easily handle charging 2 batteries at 1 amp each.

I almost always charge at 500 ma, and almost always 1 battery at a time, so I wouldn't stress even a computer connection. But because I wouldn't want to damage the computer, I'd always use an external USB plug in.

 

[KenD]

I do sometimes charge at 2 amps on the Opus, if I'm in a hurry.

Sent from my M7_PLUS using Tapatalk

 

[Topwater Elvis]

Do you understand that only one of the 4 bay chargers mentioned in this thread doesn't come ready to plug into an normal outlet.

Go to the manufactures web sites, they all clearly state what the various chargers features are and what should come with them in the box.

 

[swayback]

I'm kind of in the same boat...
When me and the wife started vaping she choose an istick 30, internal batt, she never thought she'd need more power!
Being an outdoors man, I recognized that external batts were the only way to go for me! and being a man, I went for the istick 100. I did however do a fair amount of homework on chargers, I wanted the best I could afford, we're broke! And I saw no need for more than a 2 bay, 2 batts in my mod, 2 charging, and bought use both nice 1A cords.

Of course we were young and dumb...4 months ago and quickly learned a lot, quick!
Ditched those junky ... isticks and now have 2 vtc mini, an ipvd2 and and rx200, and a couple of unregulated mods...
We didn't realize how big a part of our lives vaping was going to become! She's managing a local shop and I spend what little free time I have reading and watching YouTube about vaping!
So now my xtar vc2 is pretty popular! We're constantly battling to get a charge, we have more 18650's than I can count right now...15 atleast...
I know I said were broke but we were smoke close to 4 packs a day between us, so even with all the vape gear were constantly buying, trading for, and even being given (we give back and try to convert our friends, but you can only help those that want to help themselves!) were still saving tons of money by vaping and not smoking!

So I'm on the hunt for a new good charger!
The vc2 works great! Slow and I hate that it automatically chooses the charge rate based on how many batts are in it.
I'd love to be able to chose modes(.5,1,2A) I'd always choose .5.

So far, I've had 7 recommendations, 4 for nitecore...I hate nightcore! They're such junk! You can just feel it!
And 3 for efest!
I really hate efest luc4/luc6.
Lying ... rewrapping sons of .....es!
Everyone who's given advice is adamant that their preferred brand is the best, most have bashed on me for wasting money on an xtar...so clearly they know dick about chargers!

To be fair, it's hard to find anything bad said about the luc chargers, and the luc 4 works as a power bank, which I do desperately need, but it probably doesn't work!
The luc 6 is overkill, too big, too many bells and whistles, but damn, Bluetooth... I can check my batts without getting off my lazy ......
I've been considering the luc 4, but just don't think I can support efest... And I don't trust nitecore, ever if I can get a 4 bay for super cheap locally...
Ive not done much homework on the opus, but I've seen the price tag! And can hear the bells and whistles from here and they sound like a symphony of ....!

Do I guess by process of elimination I'm left to get an xtar vc4, and since I don't like to fast charge, I don't need the much beloved wall wart, my 1A micro usb should make it useable right out of the box, and if I do choose I can upgrade to a wall wart in time...

I guess I just needed to work that out on paper...
If anyone sees an mistakes in my logic, feel free to chime in!
I never was any good at showing my work, but could usually get the answer right... Atleast when it was multiple choice...
Cheers.