How to Test a Charger?

[Rocketman]

stephpd,
I also use single and dual slotted chargers for my replaceable batteries. 400 to 600 ma is no problem for most cells 18500 or larger. But I would not use something like that to charge 10440 cells, or a 420mah eGo charger for a 180mah 510.

A small 150ma charger will sit at max current for about 24 hours to charge your 3100mah cell. Cooking for 24 hrs is probably not good for the little charger.

If you use an appropriate sized charger, not necessarily following the perfect CC/CV curve, it should be fine. Use a big charger on a little cell, or a little charger on a big cell it may or may not be OK. It is likely that the charger than came with your ecig is best.

Now, contrary to that, I use the eGo 420 ma charger to nose charge my 26650 LiMnNi mods (using the rubber band method ). Takes several hours, and the charger gets a little warm. Sort of like this:

 

[stephpd]

I see your point on overheating being possible for long charge times.

I do have a Ego 18650 mod and it says you can charge the battery through the nose with a Ego charger but I've yet to try it that way. Easier for me to swap out batteries and put it in the Trustfire.

I seriously doubt I'd have the patience to use the 510 charger for that. But I don't see as big a problem using the 180 mAh charger on an Ego battery.

 

[Rocketman]

Your probably right.
But the little chargers are probably straining their little guts out as it is.
Failure rate is pretty bad.
But, no need to be paranoid and afraid to try anything

 

[Baldr]

I assume the PILA is still considered the top of the line charger?

 

[evosil98]

Does anybody else hear the TR-0001 buzzing when connected to the power grid? Is this normal?

Thanks
Codrut

Mine also buzzed. Don't know if its normal and I really didn't like the fact it sounded like a transformer. So i bought a Pila and im glad I did. Just checked the pile for any odd noise and it's silent. Hope that helps

 

[stephpd]

From what I've read at CPF the Pila is a good charger. So are the Xtar, the 4Sevens and a few others.

Also I've learned that Trustfire and Ultrafire are like saying Ego. Lots of companies making these and quality can be different from one to another. Lots of good information on batteies and chargers at the Candle Power Forums;
CandlePowerForums

For much of this I'm depending on just one member who really seems to have a good handle on much of this. He also has his own site with lots of reviews on chargers and many different brands of batteries. Much of it on this page;
Batteries and chargers

 

[Codrut Popescu]

Mine also buzzed. Don't know if its normal and I really didn't like the fact it sounded like a transformer. So i bought a Pila and im glad I did. Just checked the pile for any odd noise and it's silent. Hope that helps

Thanks.

I have also researched and found out about Pila. However it seems Pila is not officially supporting charging other batteries than Pila: source 1, source 2. However it seems to work just fine.

Regarding how to check your charger I have found this to be useful.

 

[Rocketman]

Regarding how to check your charger I have found this to be useful.

That is a very good post/article to read. Those of you that haven't worked a lot with test equipment, scan through that post, then go back and read is a second time. Good stuff.

 

[stephpd]

That member (HKJ) is the same one with the link I provided for batteries and chargers.
He has links to his site in his signature.

Very well written and documented on everything he does. Makes it easy for everybody to grasp what, why and how he's doing something.

 

[VapourMonkey]

wow i just checked back on this thread, some useful info, thanks guys.