Just noticed something about my chargers - huh?

[ScottinSoCal]

I have two chargers for the batteries on my ProVari. One is a TrustFire that came with my ProVari from ProVape. The other is an UltraFire that came with the ProVari I bought in the classifieds here. I've mostly used the UltraFire - I had it first, and it was already set up. Last night I found that the one from ProVape will charge a battery that's fresh off the other charger - charge it for quite a while (over an hour), in fact. So it looks like the one from ProVape charges batteries up more than the other one.

Is this just normal variation between two brands of chargers? Is one overcharging? Is one undercharging? Is there a problem either way that will shorten battery life? How do I tell which one is closest to the nominal so I can use that one?

 

[progg]

Get some readings with a digital multimeter....

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Get some readings with a digital multimeter....

Do you have a hint about what the nominal voltage should be?

 

[Eks]

If it's more than 4.2v that's bad.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Got it - thanks.

 

[progg]

Here's a link with helpful info :

Battery information from Battery University

+1 what Eks said. Edit-- batts come off both my TR 001s at 4.2V.

Bring back the old avi Scott!!!

 

[Blaze]

Do yourself a favor....throw those two chargers in the trash and buy yourself a PILA IBC. Much more consistent and safer charging, altho unfortunately with a $50 price tag, but it's well worth it

 

[horton]

I was concerned with the price tag of the TR-001 and build quality, Blaze. But have been using two for over 6 months and I make sure to check the batteries when they are done "cooking". Always dead on @ 4.2 V. I do think they could be more stout and I will sometimes have to jiggle the batteries especially on the neg. end to get good contact, but other than that, they have given me good service. Those 18650's sure are a tight fit though....lol. I would like to get the PILA, but just can't afford the price tag right now.... keep watching the classifieds, but no luck so far. Not meaning to argue with you whatsoever, just mentioning my own experiences with the TrustFire's.

 

[mrtuna]

Do yourself a favor....throw those two chargers in the trash and buy yourself a PILA IBC. Much more consistent and safer charging, altho unfortunately with a $50 price tag, but it's well worth it

That's what I am using and it works great. You can push a button to top up batteries that are not fully charged.

 

[cuseguy]

Personally I find the whole PILA IBC thing unnecessary. I voltage test every batt coming off of my TR-001 and a WF-139 on my DMM and they read 4.19V like clockwork on every battery. The TR-001 is like what $8-9 wholesale? and it does a fine job. PILA fails to disclose that their lifetime warranty is in fact not a lifetime warranty unless you only use overpriced PILA batteries. By the time you have bought a year's worth of PILA Batts vs. AW batts for say 3-4 mods, you have bought a replacement PILA IBC just in the price difference. If it helps you sleep better at night that you have a $50 charger, go for it. Just my two cents.

 

[Big Hitter]

Do yourself a favor....throw those two chargers in the trash and buy yourself a PILA IBC. Much more consistent and safer charging, altho unfortunately with a $50 price tag, but it's well worth it

+1000 .... My Pila gives me 4.21 (by my meter) every time.
A fine charger indeed.

I am certain mine will last a lifetime. And 50 bucks in the vaping scheme of things is like pennies !!
Its small ... Silent ... a nice flip top dust cover .... And the handy re-set button.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Bring back the old avi Scott!!!

This one seemed to go better with my current location - besides I always liked this graphic.

 

[progg]

This one seemed to go better with my current location - besides I always liked this graphic.

It kind of looks like you're seated next to AG.

 

[apple_stik]

Need some help please. My pila charger gets very very hot charging my 18650 batteries, what am I doing wrong?