CHARGING TO 4.24v ?!?!?!

[YEOJ]

My intellicharger is bringing my 25r's to 4.24 volts according to my cheapy multimeter.... is this dangerous or bad for the batteries?

While I'm at it.... How low can I let them go before needing to recharge?

 

[Trailz]

If it's a cheap meter I'd test them with a good meter. I don't know that 4.24 is dangerous, I wouldn't want my 4.2 cells going up to 4.3. Check 'em with a different meter.

Best battery life is achieved by recharging when they drop below 3.8V. Personally, I drain em' down and charge 'em back up. Then again I use a regulated mod with safety features and a battery indicator. When they degrade I'll buy new ones. If you're using a mech or unregulated mod, I wouldn't let them drop below 3.2V.

 

[dimo]

Lithium chargers are designed to put out 4.20V. I'm not sure I'd worry about a .04V overcharge, which may not even be accurate with a (cheapy multimeter).

 

[K_Tech]

0.04 volt "overcharge" is within the specifications of most chargers and batteries, and damage generally does not occur until you start getting above 4.30 volts.

(The Sony Lion tech manual recommends 4.2 +/- 0.05 volts as max charge voltage).

And as dimo said, it's quite possible that the multimeter may be reading off a tad as well.

That being said, I would rather slightly undercharge than overcharge, but you should be fine.

(And kudos to you for checking, most people wouldn't bother!)

 

[crxess]

How about ........... for giggles ........... let your freshly charged battery equalize for a few minutes and cool, then read it and see what the max charge is.

 

[classwife]

Moved to Batteries and Chargers from APV DIscussion

 

[Ryedan]

While I'm at it.... How low can I let them go before needing to recharge?

I use mechanical mods and take out the batteries when they get to 3.6v-3.7v. If you're using regulated mods you can let them go down to the 3.2v-3.3v those mods typically shut down at. When I was vaping regulated mods I would still change them a bit earlier than that if it was convenient.

 

[YEOJ]

How about ........... for giggles ........... let your freshmoly charged battery equalize for a few minutes and cool, then read it and see what the max charge is.

I just let the battery I took off the charger sit for 20 minutes.... When I tested it, it was jumping between 4.25 and 4.26!!! What?!

 

[stevegmu]

Static electricity...

 

[YEOJ]

Static electricity...

Wiped it down to try to rid it of static? Meter was reading a steady 4.25 does a static charge make a big difference?

 

[stevegmu]

Wiped it down to try to rid it of static? Meter was reading a steady 4.25 does a static charge make a big difference?

It is electricity...

 

[YEOJ]

It is electricity...

That is true, however it doesn't address the question.

Can anybody tell me how a static charge on batteries would affect the reading and by what magnitude?

 

[stevegmu]

The real issue is that your meter probably isn't very accurate...

 

[Ryedan]

Static electricity...

Really Steve, LOL.

 

[stevegmu]

Really Steve, LOL.

You should see the static electricity I can make at work with a plastic dryer and weigh feeder wand. It arcs a good 3" when I move the weigh feeder wand near the dryer, while both are loading plastic...

I suspect the real issue is a $15 multimeter made in PRC...

 

[Ryedan]

Can anybody tell me how a static charge on batteries would affect the reading and by what magnitude?

It's not static.

It's much more likely that it was bouncing between 4.25 and 4.26 because the actual voltage was very close to 4.255v and the meter couldn't decide what to round to. Check it now and I bet it has settled down.

This doesn't help you with the question 'is the meter accurate'. You need another meter to check with and compare or a known voltage to check.

 

[edyle]

I just let the battery I took off the charger sit for 20 minutes.... When I tested it, it was jumping between 4.25 and 4.26!!! What?!

You're not used to multimeters !

 

[Ryedan]

You should see the static electricity I can make at work with a plastic dryer and weigh feeder wand. It arcs a good 3" when I move the weigh feeder wand near the dryer, while both are loading plastic...

Yes, but this is not the same, as you know

I suspect the real issue is a $15 multimeter made in PRC...

Actually my $8 meter has less precision than my Klein Tools MM1000, but it's really quite OK for metering battery voltage, fits in my pocket and is a lot lighter.

I didn't know you were into plastic molding. Good stuff and nice to see people still doing it successfully in NA these days

 

[stevegmu]

Yes, but this is not the same, as you know

I suspect the real issue is a $15 multimeter made in PRC...[/QUOTE]

Actually my $8 meter has less precision than my Klein Tools MM1000, but it's really quite OK for metering battery voltage, fits in my pocket and is a lot lighter.

I didn't know you were into plastic molding. Good stuff and nice to see people still doing it successfully in NA these days [/QUOTE]

Not molding, thermoplastic extrusion and re-enforced hydraulic hose...
I use a Fluke, but I don't want a thermocouple to blow up on me...

Oh, yeah, there's big money in quality American made tubing and hose manufacturing. The oil and gas, medical, automotive and truck industries don't trust PRC made junk, especially when it comes to deep sea blow out prevention bundles , big rig air brake lines, or air to air refueling hose...

 

[Ryedan]

Not molding, thermoplastic extrusion and re-enforced hydraulic hose...
I use a Fluke, but I don't want a thermocouple to blow up on me...

Oh, yeah, there's big money in quality American made tubing and hose manufacturing. The oil and gas, medical, automotive and truck industries don't trust PRC made junk, especially when it comes to deep sea blow out prevention bundles , big rig air brake lines, or air to air refueling hose...

Great stuff Steve! Any manufacturing we can keep in NA is good for us all.