dual 18650 car charger vp2 vc2 vc2plus ?! didn't think I had to ask.

[vapesmooth123]

I have this headlamp for a few years.
CREE R2 LED Headlamp Headlight flashlight head light lamp 18650 TOP | eBay

Only problem is the plastic clips to snap the battery cover closed are thin plastic "hinges" and eventually 2 of the 4 snapped, but oh well for $7 shipped, and it still stays closed. I may search for something with a better snap but that'll take 8 hours probably, if they even make it.

anyway, I have a nitecore i2 that I charge 2 18650s with when I bought this a few years ago. I charge my triple 18650 DNA200 mod via USB because it's dna and not some cheap Chinese mod that may explode with series battery charging.. all I need are two dual bay chargers, please don't recommend a 4 bay etc.
The headlamp batteries I've been using the same pair a lot for ~3 years and still going strong. I asked on a flashlight forum and was recommended what says "KeepPower 18650 2900mAh 3.6V Protection Circuit built in" . I think they said something like 'good e cig batts" had more amperage than the headlamp needed in exchange for less mah or something.

I've been using these in the headlamp (these are 3400mAh though, mine are 2900mAh):

2x Keeppower Protected 18650 3400mAh with Panasonic NCR18650B Li-ion Battery PCB | eBay


the nitecore i2 broke in like 13 months (month after warranty). One bay only charges ~%50 according to the light meter so I have to switch it to the other bay. I want nothing to do with nitecore anymore. I think Xtar might be better. The headlamp has a built in charger but I was told not to trust it and I never once used it nor the $2 "999999mAh" (yea ok) 18650s the headlamp came with, I threw them out or told the seller not to include them I think.

so anyway, I keep forgetting my headlamp in the garage when I need it in the truck so I want to get a second headlamp to keep in the truck, and two more 2 bay chargers. One for the truck (usb or 12V car cigarette adapter) and one for the garage (wall adapter).


As in the title, there are a lot of choices I didn't think I was going to make a thread but basically my outlines are:
-I don't need a powerbank.

-Which charger will give me full 1Amp quick charging for each cell, if even possible?

-I don't need to charge any other battery type besides lit-ion 18650s (i'll probably get the keep powers I linked on ebay [I trust that seller for whatever reason]).

-I have two 12v cigarette ports in my dash, one already has a dual USB adapter that supplies 1A to each USB, one port I use for my phone and the other for e cig sometimes. Can I just plug the 1A USB from that into the charger and get full quick 1Amp charge for each of the two cells? I don't mind buying a dedicated car charger for the Xtar. I already have the authentic nitecore one that I only used maybe once if it will fit the xtar.

-Can I charge two 3400mAh batteries overnight and not worry about the truck's battery dying? I'm okay with charging them while driving but just wondering.


All I would really like out of the charger is to maybe see how much time left it needs to full charge and what % it's at. Other than that, I hope it's simple and can just set it for 3.6 volt and never have to change settings on it.

 

[Big Me]

The VC2 plus will charge at 0.5A or 1A, you select which by pressing a button and it affects both bays. It shows battery charge percentage and how many minutes remaining until fully charged for each bay.

You plug the supplied cable into a USB port to power the unit. It's a USB to 5V barrel jack cable.

To charge each battery at 1A you would need a port that can supply double that amount. A 1A port would only charge each battery at a maximum of 0.5A, though IRL it would charge at a slightly lower rate. (I charge mine using a USB hub where each port can supply 2.1A but that's at home, not in a vehicle).

NB. It will charge each battery to 4.2V, not 3.6V, which is normal for an 18650 battery.

Don't use protected batteries in your DNA200 mod. For vaping you should use unprotected batteries.

 

[vapesmooth123]

THANKS

I bought the 2nd headlamp and the keeppower protected cells (the ones in my wismec realoux dna200 are LG browns unprotected).

then I'm getting either two vc2 plusses or vp1s or one of each.
Someone in the link gave a full detailed response in case anyone needs more into on this but BigMe's reply pretty much sums it up.

http://..................com/thread...-vc2-vc2plus-didnt-think-i-had-to-ask.315867/


Basically I chose either VP1 or VC2 plus for full 1Amp (VC2 non plus won't give full 1A to charge both slots), I would rather get two VC2s because they are newer and probably less bugs and last longer but the VP1s can be had for ~$9 shipped sometimes vs VC2 plsu for around $18. The VP1 also shows the actual voltage but the vc2plus doesn't. I like the 'charging %' and count down timer on the VC2 plus but it's nice to see the voltage on the VP1 I guess so I can know maybe if a cell's going bad or something without breaking out the multimeter.

 

[J3BNL]

If you haven't already purchased a new charger then the Xtar SV2 or VC4 would do 2 batteries at 1.0A.
The SV2 can charge at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0A.
The VC4 can charge 4 batteries at 0.5A or if you use the 2 inside bays only its 0.5 or if you use the outside bays only it will charge at 1.0A.