Chargers- Max Amps/Rate?

[ShowerHead]

I have a D4 charger and was looking for a charger for a sister-in-law who just got a box mod and thinks USB charging is the bees knees (her phrase). I have a different opinion, but that's not the issue I'm asking about.

I'd like to know if chargers that offer 2A charging for 18650s are safe. Seems to be a high rate.

If safe, is it a good idea to charge 18650s at that rate?

My D4 seems to start out at a higher (but not 2A) rate, then step it down towards the end of the charge cycle.

Thanks for any info.

 

[sofarsogood]

I have a D4 charger and was looking for a charger for a sister-in-law who just got a box mod and thinks USB charging is the bees knees (her phrase). I have a different opinion, but that's not the issue I'm asking about.

I'd like to know if chargers that offer 2A charging for 18650s are safe. Seems to be a high rate.

If safe, is it a good idea to charge 18650s at that rate?

My D4 seems to start out at a higher (but not 2A) rate, then step it down towards the end of the charge cycle.

Thanks for any info.

batteries keep their endurance longer if the rate of discharge and recharge is slower rather than faster. Better and safer to own an extra battery or two and charge them slower.

 

[93gc40]

Charging 2A isn't UNsafe.... It will just shorten the usable life of your battery.

IF the USB is also used by the mod for Data updates and such. I would not want to use it as my main charging point. Of course if the battery is built into the mod you are kinda stuck doing this. BUT if the batteries can be removed for charging, then off mod charging is safer for the mod.

 

[AlB53]

I charge all mine at .5 amps, just because I have a lot of them.

 

[Mooch]

1A charging seems to be about the best compromise between battery life and convenience for good quality 18650's.

 

[ShowerHead]

Thanks all, I'll get another Digicharger D4, it does a max 750ma charge but varies it according to the charge in the battery. Why pay for what you aren't (shouldn't) use?

 

[f1vefour]

I love having a 2A charger, if not in a hurry I charge 0.5A but usually I charge at the full 2A.

Sure it shortens the life a bit, but batteries are inexpensive for the amount of service you get out of them.

Who don't like upgrading batteries, nothing like that fresh battery smell.

 

[sig-cmt]

Maximum recommended rate is typically ≤ 1C (total maH/1000) though I will waver if the technical specifications for a cell indicates otherwise. If desiring to charge at 1C, it becomes important to consider the condition of said cell(s) in an effort to determine actual C ratings. If I am not using a bay charger, I charge on an RC charger. A crude method of determining the condition of cell(s) involves discharging/charging them (with a manual discharge override of 3.0-3.2V) to verify capacity along with predefined rest periods on a granite block (heatsink) before verifying voltage (DMM) and IR (ESR meter). I shoot for 20°C ambient (easy enough in an air conditioned environment) monitored with a Kestrel 3500. Using the datasets gleaned from above, I calculate true C ratings, bin the cell(s) and determine the rates I wish to charge at (almost always in the 0.5C range unless time constraints dictate a full 1C rate).