Is this charger any good?
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From Baditudes Blog (he's our resident battery/safety expert):
Battery Chargers. Get the best charger that you can reasonably afford. Statistically most battery incidents occur while charging. Pila, Xtar, and Nitecore Intellicharger are the most recommended brands.
Battery Chargers. Get the best charger that you can reasonably afford. Statistically most battery incidents occur while charging. Pila, Xtar, and Nitecore Intellicharger are the most recommended brands.
No
No he's not.
Mooch is.
Baditude may be a brilliant retired nurse or doctor, but as far as batteries, he's just collected info.
Mostly great and useful, but he's no pro in a field where even pros get some things (quite a bit of things at times) confused or downright wrong.
His info is, for the most part, a very valuable and useful tool that should be used and shared often, but misrepresentation in this case can and will be dangerous and/or extremely stifling to future knowledge and truth.
That said, we're all greatful to have him and his blogs around.
And for the record, those who know better don't recommend nitecore and Efest luc chargers are now in higher regard than Pila chargers.
Tapatyped
This is quite true. I have no formal training in electrical engineering or battery science. My background is in medicine, specifically surgery. I took an specific interest in vaping batteries when I had one explode about three years ago in a mechanical mod. I did a LOT of research into battery chemistry and battery do's & don'ts, and created a frequently updated blog to share that information with my fellow vapers. When I advise other vapers about batteries, I often will provide a link or two to show where I got that information. That way, they know I'm not just providing a popular opinion or anectdotal heresay.
When I first wrote my blog Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or protected ICR?, the so-called "experts" were still recommending ICR batteries for mods. Today, ICR batteries are considered to be obsolete for mod use. I like to think that I played a part in the change of opinion of unprotected IMR batteries over protected ICR batteries.
Phil Busardo links to my blogs in his Battery Information section on his Taste Your Juice website. Our forum administrator, Rolygate, himself a battery expert, also links to my blog as additional reference material. Even Mooch links to my blogs on his blog. My blogs are read worldwide.
Mooch is a "battery expert". He has had formal training and actually works in the industry in some way. We have traded ideas often, and I helped encourage him to start his battery bench testing and battery blogs. He is a tremendous resource for ECF and the entire vaping community worldwide.
May I ask who are these "those who know better"? Anything to substantiate this statement? Links or reviews to substantiate your claim will be appreciated.
Xtar is probably the leader in this category. They have continually upgraded their models over the years.
Pila for years was the leader in battery chargers, but has not made any improvements or upgrades of their one charger over the course of time. Still a very good charger despite its spartin features. I had one last nearly 2 years with heavy use until one of the bays stopped working. I purchased a 6 bay Xtar to replace it, but was unhappy with the spring loaded bays that model had. I purchased a Nitecore i4 to replace it.
There are some who talk bad about Nitecore chargers, but I believe they are unfounded opinions. I've read many posts of happy Nitecore owners. I've owned a couple myself (bought one for my daughter), and still use an i4 with no problems whatsoever. Nitecore also upgrades their models over time.
Efest Luc is a pretty good charger. However, I wouldn't buy one myself simply because of Efest's deceptive marketing of their batteries.
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I have 2 Nitecore i4s. I am about to replace one as two of the bays are not working correctly. But, they are almost 2 years old and have seen very heavy use. I've decided to get an Xtar VC4. I considered the Efest 6 bay, but I have decided not to support Efest.
Xtar VP2 one of the best battery charger imo, only two bay, but has 0.25, 0.5 and 1amp charging modes
As I said in my previous post, protected ICR batteries are now considered to be obsolete for mod useage.
Only use an IMR or INR chemistry battery. These are unprotected, safe chemistry, high drain batteries. I recommend LG, Samsung, or Sony batteries. These brands make the majority of the world's 18650 batteries, are the industry leaders in new technology, and you can trust the advertised specifications.
Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries Part 1
Battery Basics for Mods: The Definative Battery Guide for Vaping
Xtar doesn't make any batteries. They are buying Sony VTC4 cells and rewrapping/selling them under their own brand name.
You can't really go wrong if you buy either the Sony VTC4 2100mah, LG HG2 3000mah, or Samsung 30Q 3000mah batteries. Buy from a reputable dealer like RTD Vapor, Illumn., IMR batteries, or Orbtronics.
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The xtar batteries are actually Sony vtc4s. But, they have a button top added, and are very long. They don't fit in most of my mods.
Sony vtc4 if you need up to 30A CDR (75W with one battery, 150W with 2 batteries, 225W with 3 batteries).
LG or Samsung if 20A batteries are fine. Vtc5s are good, too, but cost more.
LG: HG2, HE2 or HE4
Samsung: 25r or 30Q
Sony vtc4 if you need up to 30A CDR (75W with one battery, 150W with 2 batteries, 225W with 3 batteries).
LG or Samsung if 20A batteries are fine. Vtc5s are good, too, but cost more.
LG: HG2, HE2 or HE4
Samsung: 25r or 30Q
I must apologize. I don't have time for a thorough and proper response that touches on everything.
I am curious, what relates Rolygate to battery expert? I'm unaware of his qualifications.
Any way...
Nitecore may make a good product as far as engineering is concerned, but not from what I gathered when reading the breakdown on the components on (dampmaskin [IIRC]).
I distinctly remember a bit of criticism on what was the most important chip on the board and there being several mutch better options in the price point.
But that's neither here nor there.
You can look for yourself and find reports of sliders sticking and jamming... which in my own observation was an issue of too much clearance in the rails allowing the leads to wobble and bind.
And there's been folks who took theres apart to find surface mount chips barely hanging off the board by the solder and at odd angles. (And photographed)
And there's the reports of failing indicator lights and bays.
And there's been reports of the nitecores not charging to the appropriate voltage. Some as low as 3.8V charge termination and some over 4.2V.
Oddly enough, I have 2 nitecores and I've experienced most of this myself.
Adding a couple pieces of stamped metal to the rails and changing the display aren't the kind of rolling changes that will remedy bad Quality Control.
Inevitable...
I can't blame either of you for not wanting to support efest.
Bad, I really do admire you and appreciate what you do.
And I know it may seem like I'm a ..... singling you out at times.
It's just I do have a background in EE and nearly a decade inundated into battery info to a degree that may never get covered on this site.
When I see things that are just flat out wrong, and I correct them, I'm hoping you will too.
The new guys deserve to be taught right so that they have and share correct information.
Tapatyped
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