Do your 18650's charge to exactly 4.2 volts?

[MattyVigilante]

As the title suggests really.
I check my batteries after a full charge and they all tend to come off the charger at 4.22 / 4.24.
Is this safe? (I was planning to use these batteries on a mech mod but have held off until I find out the answer to this question)
Incidentally the batteries I am using currently are LG HG2's and Samsung 25R's.

Got 4 x Sony VTC 4's in the post though, they will be my permanent batteries for my mechs when they arrive.

 

[Scy123]

Mines charges up to exatcly 4.2v. Can't say how safe 4.24 volts would be but higher voltages = less cycle life.

A Bit About Batteries

"At higher charge states cells lose capacity faster. This is a second reason why we have limited our maximum state of charge to 4.15V/cell instead of 4.2V/cell. We also offer the driver the option of charging to only 3.8V/cell (~50 percent) or 4.10V/cell (~90 percent) to further extend calendar life if the full vehicle range is not needed on the next few trips."

 

[edyle]

As the title suggests really.
I check my batteries after a full charge and they all tend to come off the charger at 4.22 / 4.24.
Is this safe? (I was planning to use these batteries on a mech mod but have held off until I find out the answer to this question)
Incidentally the batteries I am using currently are LG HG2's and Samsung 25R's.

Got 4 x Sony VTC 4's in the post though, they will be my permanent batteries for my mechs when they arrive.

If your charger only reads 1 decimal place 4.22 or 4.24 would show as 4.2

 

[MattyVigilante]

If your charger only reads 1 decimal place 4.22 or 4.24 would show as 4.2

Thats very true, my charger doesn't have a display, only a light. I check the voltages on a DMM after charging.

 

[MattyVigilante]

Mines charges up to exatcly 4.2v. Can't say how safe 4.24 volts would be but higher voltages = less cycle life.

A Bit About Batteries

"At higher charge states cells lose capacity faster. This is a second reason why we have limited our maximum state of charge to 4.15V/cell instead of 4.2V/cell. We also offer the driver the option of charging to only 3.8V/cell (~50 percent) or 4.10V/cell (~90 percent) to further extend calendar life if the full vehicle range is not needed on the next few trips."

Thanks for that, handy to know. I'll bookmark that page for future reference

 

[Scy123]

My charger reads it as 4.20v and it never goes above 4.20v

 

[MattyVigilante]

My charger reads it as 4.20v and it never goes above 4.20v

I'm going to invest in a higher quality charger I think, maybe a Nitecore D4.

 

[Dougiestyle]

My nitecore charges to 4.17, and I'm cool with that.

 

[bwh79]

We are literally talking about a few hundredths of a volt. I can't imagine it would make that much difference, either on the safety or the longevity issue. You'll draw an extra one or two tenths of an amp compared to 4.20v exactly, but if one or two tenths are enough to put you over the edge, then you were running way too close to that edge to begin with.

 

[tj99959]

Let your batteries set for a day before checking the voltage. You will normally find that they will test out at 4.1v instead of 4.2v.

 

[Scy123]

yea, mines would end up at 4.14v after a full day.

 

[MattyVigilante]

Let your batteries set for a day before checking the voltage. You will normally find that they will test out at 4.1v instead of 4.2v.

Ah ok that does make sense, I will remember that for the future

 

[beckdg]

OP... I'd suggest a more accurate charger that's a little easier on the batteries with tons of safety features.

Anything Xtar makes will do wonders in prolonging your batteries lives and removing stress from yours.

Let your batteries set for a day before checking the voltage. You will normally find that they will test out at 4.1v instead of 4.2v.

Doesn't address the issue of overcharging.

Tapatyped

 

[MattyVigilante]

We are literally talking about a few hundredths of a volt. I can't imagine it would make that much difference, either on the safety or the longevity issue. You'll draw an extra one or two tenths of an amp compared to 4.20v exactly, but if one or two tenths are enough to put you over the edge, then you were running way too close to that edge to begin with.

I always run no closer than 10 amps to limit i.e 10 amps on a 20 amp battery so I should be fine right? I didn't think it was a huge issue but I wanted to check nonetheless

 

[beckdg]

I always run no closer than 10 amps to limit i.e 10 amps on a 20 amp battery so I should be fine right? I didn't think it was a huge issue but I wanted to check nonetheless

Plenty fine.

Tapatyped

 

[MattyVigilante]

Plenty fine.

Tapatyped

Cheers!

 

[Train2]

I had one battery once that kept going and going...4.2, 4.25...4.3...yikes!
RTD was cool and swapped it, even though they thought it HAD to be the charger. But that charger worked fine with every other battery!

Also - I seem to have a couple that are aging, and now cap out at 4.1, which is interesting.
If that's consistent, might be a good simple clue to replace...
Anyone know whether that's legit - that a battery will begin to lose "capacity" due to age?

 

[Vesuvius]

I'm going to invest in a higher quality charger I think, maybe a Nitecore D4.

Just picked one up a week ago for my VTC4's. Nice charger. Mine read exactly 4.2 on it when they are done.

 

[rice721]

not sure exactly how much but both my chargers show 4.2V at full charge (they're only accurate to the 1st decimal). Xtar and Nitecore 4 bays

 

[Paul lamb]

According to my dna200 one of my batteries is 4.18 other two are cool

According to my rx there all foooooked lol

I need a better battery charger