Charge at 500ma or 1000ma?

[shabutii]

Ok so I'm using a xtar WP2 II charger with AW IMR 18650 batts, should I be charging in 500 mode or 1000 mode? Is 500 safer?

 

[suspectK]

You could use either, but I personally would use 500mA to get the longest shelf life out of my batteries. 1000mA will charge them quicker. Really, your choice. Since the charger allows you to use different rates for each port, you could try an experiment for yourself. Use both, and see which battery lasts the longest. I'm too ADD to keep track of which battery was on which port though..

 

[Rickajho]

When charging the bottom line is you never put more charging current into a battery than it's stated capacity. You still need to check your batteries, but all 18650's should be well over a 1000 mAh capacity so the higher current will be no problem. You do have to watch this though with smaller size/capacity batteries such as 14500's, 18490's etc. When it doubt it's definitely safer to use the lower charge current.

There is some speculation that using low charge current - much lower than the safety margin - may prolong the overall life span of batteries. I.e.: Charging a 2900 mAh capacity battery at the 500 mA current setting. But I haven't seen any data to back that up.

 

[Rickajho]

You could use either, but I personally would use 500mA to get the longest shelf life out of my batteries. 1000mA will charge them quicker. Really, your choice. Since the charger allows you to use different rates for each port, you could try an experiment for yourself. Use both, and see which battery lasts the longest. I'm too ADD to keep track of which battery was on which port though..

Actually, no it doesn't. Almost every 2 channel charger - from the Xtar WPII 2 to the VP1 will apply the same charge current you set it to to both channels. You can charge 2 different size/capacity batteries at the same time, but you must respect the rule that both those batteries are ok with the charge current you set the charger to use.

 

[suspectK]

Actually, no it doesn't. Almost every 2 channel charger - from the Xtar WPII 2 to the VP1 will apply the same charge current you set it to to both channels. You can charge 2 different size/capacity batteries at the same time, but you must respect the rule that both those batteries are ok with the charge current you set the charger to use.

Oh, I don't own one, just looked it up...review stated it was capable of differing charge rates on each port. whoopsy:x

 

[segani]

Oh, I don't own one, just looked it up...review stated it was capable of differing charge rates on each port. whoopsy:x

if it's like the one i have, you can set it to 1000mAh, and it will charge at 500 if it detects the battery needs it - no clue how reliable that detection is.

 

[Rickajho]

You got it a little twisted. lol

You can charge two different size/capacity batteries at the same time. BUT both those batteries will be charged at the same current. So you wouldn't want to charge a 600 mAh 14500 and a 2900 mAh 18650 battery at the same time if you had the charger set to the 1000 mA charge current. That would be a very bad thing to do to the 600 mAh battery.

You can still charge both of those at the same time, But you have to make sure the charger is in the 500 mA (less than the 600 mAh battery) current position. It will just take longer for the 2900 mAh battery to charge.

 

[wonner]

My grandfather always said you can't go wrong with slow and deep.

 

[FigNewton]

My grandfather always said you can't go wrong with slow and deep.

Ouch....Nice!

 

[wonner]

Ouch....Nice!

Batteries............come on..........we're talking about batteries.

 

[Requiem33]

As with charging most batteries a slow charge is generally better for the cells than a fast charge. Now some cells can handle repeated fast charges and some can't.