Battery chargers that don't use sleds?

[chazz80]

Hey guys. I have an efest V2 charger. I hate when it comes time to charge the batteries cause of those damn sleds. I feel like i'm one charge away from tearing my wraps ( don't get me wrong, i rewrap and have plenty of wraps) especially since one of the sleds is so tight and hard to slide down. I have tried applying some vaseline. didn't help, tried some machien oil ( like the kind you would use on an electric razor, but nothing worked. and i don't want to keep trying cause i'm worried it will eventually dirty up the batteries if it gets onto them.

Anyone have any other idea how to lubricate these things? wd-40? maybe graphite spray?

Better question though are there any reliable chargers that don't use sleds? i only use 18650 batteries. Would like a charger that you just clip the batteries in.

 

[chazz80]

..and once again i realize how much of an idiot i am and didn't realize i could click the sub-forum arrow and see there is a sub-forum for batteries and chargers..

Can a mod move this topic to the appropriate forum please? So sorry guys and gals.

 

[retired1]

Can a mod move this topic to the appropriate forum please?

Done.

 

[Baditude]

Better question though are there any reliable chargers that don't use sleds? i only use 18650 batteries. Would like a charger that you just clip the batteries in.

The Pila charger uses spacers, not sliding bars, so you won't have to struggle with stiff springs.

I realize the Pila is expensive for a 2-bay charger, and lacks many of the "bells and whistles" of the other top of the line chargers. However, it has been considered to be among the higher quality chargers on the market for years; my first charger was a Pila and I attest to its high quality. It worked flawlessly under heavy conditions for two years, when one of the bays stopped charging. I have no regrets in having one; my only reason of not purchasing another is at that point in time I had multiple batteries to charge a day and a two bay charger would not be enough for my needs.

Guide to Choosing a Li-ion Battery Charger

• Guide to help a novice in choosing a charger. Covers recommended brands, suggestions for the number of charging bays you'll need, independent bays, LED or LCD models, and "smart chargers".

 

[chazz80]

Thanks! thats exactly the kind of charger i'm looking for! I don't mind it not having all the bells and whistles of other chargers! as long as it gets the job done and doesn't tera up my wraps lol.

 

[chazz80]

I ordered the Pila charger. Should be here in a few days. In the meantime the right sled on my efest charger is getting pretty grindy. lol i went and re-wrapped too thinking me lubing it up would help, but it didn't last. i should have just waited to rewrap for when the new charger came. It's not only the wraps i'm worried about, its the bottom of the battery getting all scratched up cause of the pressure i have to aplly to push that sled down with the battery. I don't pull the spring down with a finger and let it slam on the battery, I do it like it should be done using the battery to slide it down. Anyone have any recommendations in the meantime befor emy new charger gets here? or once that sled gets grindy/stiff is it pretty much unservicable to get it sliding smooth again, apart from taking it apart?

 

[DavidOck]

In the meantime, and for general info....

Don't use oil based lubricants on (most) plastics. Over time, the oil can soften the plastic and make the problem worse. A good silicone lube is generally fine, available in spray cans at most hardware stores.

 

[chazz80]

Yea i figured that. which is why i just tried to get the oil onto the metal part of the sled/spring, then cleaned it off the plastic if it got on there. How about graphite spray? i use to use it on my guitar strings by the headstock to keep friction to a minimum.

 

[chazz80]

Oh nevermind! i actually just checked and it's silicone spray. lol does it expire though? i think it was my grandfathers. Looks like it's from about 1975. I would just want to spray it onto something first like a q-tip right? then go over the sled part with it?

 

[chazz80]

I sprayed it onto a q-tip first then went up and dwn the sleds with it. before that i cleaned the are with a dry q-tip and noticed black coming off, must've been from the oil i used to lube it the first few times. that or it was actually peices of the plastic coming off. I hope i got it on good enough using the q-tip. I didn't feel safe trying to spray it directly on ( even though i got the new charger coming, didn't want any of the spray to get into the internal circuitry, as i still will be using this charger for the next few days.

But yea, after that i pulled the sleds up and down a few times to work in the silicone. That right one is still grindy and stiff Must just be something it's getting stuck on/cheaply designed) I've read about these things happening to these sleds. Thanks for the help though buddy! who knows. Maybe it just needs to settle in more and will be smoother next time i go to use it.

 

[zoiDman]

I just Never Understood why OEM's can't make an 18650 Charger that has a Longer Sled?

The Problem Isn't the Sled. That's a Beautiful Design. It's the Length of the Sled that is the Issue. Nobody has any Problems putting 18350 or 18500 Batteries in/out of it.

Who Designs this stuff? And who Approves the Designs?

 

[DavidOck]

Far as I know, no expiration date on that silicone spray.

Sounds like it's done some good, maybe another application?

Who Designs this stuff? And who Approves the Designs?

Seems that some graphic designer is in charge of the first part, and probably Marketing does the approval. "Is it small enough for use with an itty bitty mod?"

 

[chazz80]

How do you guys like that PILA charger baditude posted? Thats the one i ordered , cause i'm so tired of these sleds lol.

 

[zoiDman]

How do you guys like that PILA charger baditude posted? Thats the one i ordered , cause i'm so tired of these sleds lol.

I haven't used one. But it Does Look Nice.

 

[DavidOck]

Don't have one, but from reading around ECF, they're usually pretty reliable. And @Baditude knows his stuff on batteries and chargers.

I've been using an Xtar for several years that does use sleds, but no issues with it, works great. (Older model, obviously, but did come with a car adapter, so great for travel.)

 

[chazz80]

LOL but watch. I got a brand new set of samsung 25R's (greens) and for some reason the wrap on them are thick compared to my LG HG2's ( i rewrapped the LG HG2's and an older set of samsung 25r's i have, and now the samsungs fit perfect) But with the original wraps on the samsungs it was a PAIN getting them into my IPV5 until i rewrapped them. Porbably have trouble getting them into that PILA charger until i rewrap them. IT's nuts though how much better quality the material seems to be when you buy your own battery wraps. I guess the companies use a cheaper material?

 

[DaveP]

My Efest LUC 4 has the strongest spring pressure of any of my chargers. I guess that's because it can do 2A charging, accepts 26650's, and needs more pressure for some reason. I guess having 4 bays gives you more room to get them in and out. I use it to charge 3 and 4 at once and while it's harder than other chargers to insert, it's not bad once you develop a feel for it.

Still, I've developed a knack for inserting the negative end onto the spring loaded contact and I use the battery to push it back far enough to then lower the positive end and ease it into the bay.

My Xtar VC4 and my Nitecore Intellicharger i4 both have slightly weaker springs to work with. Those are easy.

 

[DaveP]

I just Never Understood why OEM's can't make an 18650 Charger that has a Longer Sled?

The Problem Isn't the Sled. That's a Beautiful Design. It's the Length of the Sled that is the Issue. Nobody has any Problems putting 18350 or 18500 Batteries in/out of it.

Who Designs this stuff? And who Approves the Designs?

When you design the perfect charger think about an extending bay that slides back. You put the batteries into the bay and slide the spring loaded section up. It snaps into one of several click stop positions to provide the right fit for the battery length and the spring loaded section applies the right spring pressure as it clicks into place. You could etch the battery size designation into the plastic and apply color to make it readable. Match the lines with the right battery type and you are in business.

One size fits all chargers where the 18650 gets the most pressure may not be the best design.

 

[DavidOck]

When you design the perfect charger think about an extending bay that slides back. You put the batteries into the bay and slide the spring loaded section up. It snaps into one of several click stop positions to provide the right fit for the battery length and the spring loaded section applies the right spring pressure as it clicks into place. You could etch the battery size designation into the plastic and apply color to make it readable. Match the lines with the right battery type and you are in business.

One size fits all chargers where the 18650 gets the most pressure may not be the best design.

Get busy

 

[chazz80]

I'm literally switching back and forth on my two mods, using the least amount of wattage possible to conserve my batteries charge, glancing over at the efest charger hearing it mumble something every so often like " oh come on! , drain those batteries! The flavors no good at those low watts! let me give them a few more charges. The sleds fine.. I swear!!"