Anyone use a real charger with there 18650 batterys?

[Vapeman12]

I have seen quite a few simple plug in wall and charge chargers, But I do not trust them, I have a charger i use to charge my RC truck battery with, it will do lions and lipos and such, just what setting should I use to charge a Panasonic 18650 3.6V 2900mAH?

If anyone uses a real hobby charger please let me know.

 

[pianman6954]

The absolute max rate you should charge a Li-Ion is 1C, this however requires a long saturation cycle and in all honesty seems a bit scary 1/4C or less is probably a better starting point as there is virtually no need for a saturation phase at this rate. 1C being the batteries rated capacity.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

I'm pretty sure my Nitecore is a "real charger."

I don't trust the plug-in-the-wall charger that came with my Vamo, either. It works (I tested it) but the horror stories are out there.

 

[Vapeman12]

I'm pretty sure my Nitecore is a "real charger."

I don't trust the plug-in-the-wall charger that came with my Vamo, either. It works (I tested it) but the horror stories are out there.

Well Does it tell you the Amps your charging at? and the MAh you put back into it? that is what I meant by a real charger, something like this.
ProgressiveRC - iCharger 206B

does the nitecore have a display if so I was unaware of it, i have read a few post where the nitecore didn't seem to be working as they should. I am new to this stuff so still learning.

 

[tsbrewers]

I always wanted to rig up my Cellpro 4s rc charger to charge these batteries, but never got around to learn how to build the adapter.

Brew

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

You going to spend $125 to charge $10 batteries?

That's like putting nitro-methane racing fuel in a 1969 1100cc VW bug???
Or like bolting a Leopold VX-R scope on a Mosin Nagant and using mulsurp ammo

Imagine all the juice you could get if you just bought a NiteCore from fasttech

 

[CommaHolly]

I would imagine he actually owns the expensive charger for something else, and is getting double duty out of it by ALSO using it to charge batteries for his mod,,,,,,,,,

at least I hope so!

 

[awsum140]

I have to agree, in principal, with Warhawk, but the techie in me is seriously looking at the 106B.

 

[Vapeman12]

I always wanted to rig up my Cellpro 4s rc charger to charge these batteries, but never got around to learn how to build the adapter.

Brew

Nice charger also but I do prefer the icharger over it, but would still work, just it balances so not sure about charging a single cell

You going to spend $125 to charge $10 batteries?

That's like putting nitro-methane racing fuel in a 1969 1100cc VW bug???
Or like bolting a Leopold VX-R scope on a Mosin Nagant and using mulsurp ammo

Imagine all the juice you could get if you just bought a NiteCore from fasttech

I would imagine he actually owns the expensive charger for something else, and is getting double duty out of it by ALSO using it to charge batteries for his mod,,,,,,,,,

at least I hope so!

Already own it, as I am into Radio control Cars and trucks and use it to charge my RC lipos for those.

 

[savagemann]

I have a couple hobby chargers like that I use for charging my homemade bike lights that use lipos. Also used it to charge my flashlight batteries over the years.
I charge most of my 18650s around .8amps.
I charge my 18500s around .6amps and my 18350s around .4amps.
I think a hobby charger like that is THE best way to charge batteries like we use in our vaping devices.
I even made a 510 adapter to charge my backup ego c twist.
Works great.
If you're unsure, lookup the manufacturer specs of your batteries for charging rates.

I wanted to add, I don't use any cheap batteries, and have charged some of my Panasonic batteries as high as 1c.
So a 2400 battery at 2.4amps.
I only did it in a pinch, and don't recommend to do it often. ...although, it fell within the max charge rate specd by Panasonic.

 

[Vapeman12]

I have a couple hobby chargers like that I use for charging my homemade bike lights that use lipos. Also used it to charge my flashlight batteries over the years.
I charge most of my 18650s around .8amps.
I charge my 18500s around .6amps and my 18350s around .4amps.
I think a hobby charger like that is THE best way to charge batteries like we use in our vaping devices.
I even made a 510 adapter to charge my backup ego c twist.
Works great.
If you're unsure, lookup the manufacturer specs of your batteries for charging rates.

I wanted to add, I don't use any cheap batteries, and have charged some of my Panasonic batteries as high as 1c.
So a 2400 battery at 2.4amps.
I only did it in a pinch, and don't recommend to do it often. ...although, it fell within the max charge rate specd by Panasonic.

Thanks so much, Charging rates still confuse me, unless i have a chart to go by, it almost seems info on Li-ion are hidden, didn't find any info online doing a Google.
Thanks again.

 

[savagemann]

No problem.
You'll be fine charging those Panasonic batts at .8amps.
Thats only 800mah.
If they were fully depleted, they would take approximately 3.5 hours to charge at .8amps.
Thats just using generic math....not accounting for how it actually works in real life.
Those lipo chargers are pretty smart.
They can give you some good data about the batteries condition.
Do a little research and you'll quickly understand what everything means and what your charger is capable of.
Most quality lion cells can be charged close to their rated mah rating.....although battery life will suffer.
Thats why I usually charge more near 1/3 through 1/2 c
If you don't understand what c rating means, I'll explain real quick.

Lets say you battery is 2400mah....and is rated at a max charge of 1c
That means if the cell is in good condition, you can safely, without fear of explosion, charge it at 2.4amps, which is 2400mah.

Now lets say your cell is rated for 1/2c max charge rate, and is a 2400mah cell, that means your max charge rate is half of its capacity, so max charge rate is 1200mah, or 1.2amps.

Lets say its rated for 2c, then your max charge rate is 4800mah, or 4.8amps.

Like I said, MOST quality lion cells can be safely, without fear of explosion, charged up to 1c.

But battery life will be much shorter.

Stay closer to 1/4, 1/3c charging rates, and not only will your batteries last longer, they will take a more accurate full charge.

If you can't find data about a batteries charging rates, I wouldn't ever go above 1/4c.

 

[Vapeman12]

Thanks again, Everything I know is about Lipo's I charge my 4000mah 2 cells for my RC trucks at like 2amps. there rated I think 35c

 

[savagemann]

No problem.
Just make sure that you don't confuse the c rating for discharge and charge.
They are usually different.

 

[Vapeman12]

Got my Vamo V3, and my Battery's, I got them charged up, each took 2 hours and some change, both put about 1730mah into them, they were about 3.80 when hooked up.
SO far I am loving this Vamo, I put it on 6 watts and it draws so much nicer then the Ego, and feels good in my hand. Its a little smaller then I was expecting but that's even better. Does the Vamo V3 not display the real voltage, I mean if it is 4.2 it only shows 4v? Not a huge deal I guess. Or maybe I just don't have it set right.

 

[Trayce]

This is the charger I have on the way, Amazon.com: XTAR VP1 2 Channels 10440/16340/14500/14650/17670/18500/18650/18700 Intelligence Charger: Camera & Photo though I got mine from MD-Lightsource.com for $51, free shipping, and 10% off using coupon code FB10... for a total of $45.90. The one from MD-Lightsource comes with the DC car adapter in addition to the AC block... the one from Amazon and many from eBay don't include the DC charger. Seems like some vendors remove it to sell separately.



Can choose charge rate between three settings, the highest 1a, and it has a built-in voltmeter to give you the current charge state of the battery via an LED readout. I ordered it b/c I don't want to have to use a VM to read the battery after each charge to make sure it's good and not shorted or faulty.

Seems like a good compromise between an expensive hobby charger and a cheap charger for those who don't already own a hobby charger for other reasons.

 

[Trayce]

Got my Vamo V3, and my Battery's, I got them charged up, each took 2 hours and some change, both put about 1730mah into them, they were about 3.80 when hooked up. [...] Does the Vamo V3 not display the real voltage, I mean if it is 4.2 it only shows 4v? Not a huge deal I guess. Or maybe I just don't have it set right.

I'm still waiting for my VAMO to get here, but the batteries that go in it are 3.7v ... what do you mean by "if it is 4.2 it only shows 4v" ? If you mean the volt setting, AFAIK you just click the up-button to take it from 4v to 4.2, but that can't be what you mean... ??

 

[SilverZero]

Got my Vamo V3, and my Battery's, I got them charged up, each took 2 hours and some change, both put about 1730mah into them, they were about 3.80 when hooked up.
SO far I am loving this Vamo, I put it on 6 watts and it draws so much nicer then the Ego, and feels good in my hand. Its a little smaller then I was expecting but that's even better. Does the Vamo V3 not display the real voltage, I mean if it is 4.2 it only shows 4v? Not a huge deal I guess. Or maybe I just don't have it set right.

Nothing should ever show as "4V", there should always be a decimal point.

You can go into the menu system and select what you want the display to show when you press the fire button. The options are:

2. Display Power (or Display Voltage if you are in variable voltage mode) - This setting displays the wattage or voltage that you have selected with the +/- buttons.
3. Display Resistance - Shows the resistance of your attached device in ohms.
4. Display Battery - Shows the remaining charge on the inserted battery.

If you have your voltage set to 4.2V and when you press the fire button it displays 4.0V then you have it set to option #3.

 

[Vapeman12]

eGo 650mAh CE4 Starter Kit

That is a pretty cool looking charger, I would have gotten one like that is i had known, If the wife ever goes to a MOD i will have to cause she can't figure out how to charge with the other chargers well and its not all that safe if you do not know what your doing

I'm still waiting for my VAMO to get here, but the batteries that go in it are 3.7v ... what do you mean by "if it is 4.2 it only shows 4v" ? If you mean the volt setting, AFAIK you just click the up-button to take it from 4v to 4.2, but that can't be what you mean... ??

Nothing should ever show as "4V", there should always be a decimal point.

You can go into the menu system and select what you want the display to show when you press the fire button. The options are:

2. Display Power (or Display Voltage if you are in variable voltage mode) - This setting displays the wattage or voltage that you have selected with the +/- buttons.
3. Display Resistance - Shows the resistance of your attached device in ohms.
4. Display Battery - Shows the remaining charge on the inserted battery.

If you have your voltage set to 4.2V and when you press the fire button it displays 4.0V then you have it set to option #3.

I thought it should be like 4.0V also but it only shows 4V..... Not sure what mode i am in, I need to watch the video about the Vamo and settings again. I got it to Watts and it shows me whatever the watt is when i press the Fire button, if I press the left button it shows the Battery Voltage.
Well Not I just did it and it showed me 3.9V I swear yesterday it only showed 4v

when I press the Right button and hold it shows the OHMS of the Tank or whatever I have on it.

Yesterday it looked like there was a small square something in the way of part of the display but today its not there. Don't know what it was where it went but glad i do not see it anymore.

I do not know how many watts is safe, for how many ohms, I got the chart but is only for Volts not watts, I am using Watts..
Is there a easy way to figure out how many volts are in whatever amps, I am mostly using 6watts, 7 is way to much for my Tanks, Highest is 2.4 the machine is reading 2.3, and the lowest is 2.0 I have to use 5watts for the 2.3

 

[Trayce]

Someone experienced will answer but what I read is to start at 5w and work your way up until you find your sweet spot for the atty device you are using. Then the Vamo locks in that preference and when you switch attys (i.e. from the current "2.0 ohm device" to "a tank with 2.4 ohms") the Vamo automatically adjusts the power to an equivalent ratio. This versus using the volts settings to manually adjust the volts for each new atty/ohms.