Nitecore chargers no good?

[SmokingAStogie]

I've been looking around and thought the Nitecore D4 charger looks good but i'd like some feedback from those that have it. Its currently on sale for 21.99.
I'm buying 6 new VTC4s and would like to find a good 4 slot charger but with a digital display. I've seen some people say the charger damages battery life but yet again i'd like to find out before jumping on it.

 

[CajunCloud]

I have the I4 and from what I see they are the same unit only one has a readout screen. They both charge at the same rates and probably use the same charging routines. Where have you heard about them damaging battery life? Mine works fine and batteries get damaged to their life a tiny bit every time they get a cycle through them regardless of which charger you use. There are many ways to shorten battery life like over using the power or charging to early or leaving the battery sit without the proper amount of charge for extended times. Then you have some batteries that just aren't as good even from good brand names of the same type. Every cell is a bit different.

CC

 

[AndriaD]

My Nitecore i4 works fine, no problems whatever.

For a charger with a digital display (a godsend for batteries used with mechs), I have an Efest Luc2; I think they also make a Luc4. I got my Luc2 on ebay for $25, you can probably find good prices on the bay for the Luc4 also. I like that charger a lot, because it has a switchable 1A/500mA feature; I use the 1A for charging 18650s and 18490s; use the 500mA setting for 18350s. Also it comes with a car adapter, AND, you can put an 18650 in one of the bays and plug a microUSB into it to charge the USB-charged device. An excellent bargain with all those features.

Andria

 

[Niten13]

I have the Nitecore D2 which is the 2 bay version of the one you are looking at. Great charger, always works and has never failed me yet. My samsung 25r's have been going through a ton of charges and they are still holding like almost new.

 

[SmokingAStogie]

I have the I4 and from what I see they are the same unit only one has a readout screen. They both charge at the same rates and probably use the same charging routines. Where have you heard about them damaging battery life? Mine works fine and batteries get damaged to their life a tiny bit every time they get a cycle through them regardless of which charger you use. There are many ways to shorten battery life like over using the power or charging to early or leaving the battery sit without the proper amount of charge for extended times. Then you have some batteries that just aren't as good even from good brand names of the same type. Every cell is a bit different.

CC

Saw around on these forums, some people complaining it damaged their batteries such as lessen battery life..

 

[SmokingAStogie]

My Nitecore i4 works fine, no problems whatever.

For a charger with a digital display (a godsend for batteries used with mechs), I have an Efest Luc2; I think they also make a Luc4. I got my Luc2 on ebay for $25, you can probably find good prices on the bay for the Luc4 also. I like that charger a lot, because it has a switchable 1A/500mA feature; I use the 1A for charging 18650s and 18490s; use the 500mA setting for 18350s. Also it comes with a car adapter, AND, you can put an 18650 in one of the bays and plug a microUSB into it to charge the USB-charged device. An excellent bargain with all those features.

Andria

So the Efest Luc compared to the D4, which would you say is better? The Luc because you can change the amp charge rate?

 

[SmokingAStogie]

I have the Nitecore D2 which is the 2 bay version of the one you are looking at. Great charger, always works and has never failed me yet. My samsung 25r's have been going through a ton of charges and they are still holding like almost new.

Great to hear! I'm leaning towards the D4 as of right now. I've heard more good then bad about Nitecore.

 

[WattWick]

It's not so much 'damage' as a natural slow deterioration happening faster if you charge or discharge too rapidly. As long as a charger uses the correct algorithms for charging li-ion batteries - it depends on the charging current how much 'damage' they do to your battery. Chances are you put more stress on them by using them than by charging them.

The I4 and D4 will charge at a maximum of 750 mA if you use only two slots - or 375 mA if you charge with 3+ slots. 750 mA is no big deal for a 2000+ mAh battery. While not perfectly ideal - I charge my 18350s at 750 mA with no worry. If I lose - say 10% of total service life - I'm still looking at about $7-8 per battery for several months (10+) of vaping. For me, that's not worth nitpicking.

I use both the I4 and D4 with no issue. Had to open up the I4 once to give it a little contact love. That's all. You'll probably find more people who've had problems with their Nitecores - than say Xtars. Then again I'm guessing there are a whole lot more Nitecore than Xtar owners out there - just based on price alone.

As long as the end result is a properly charged battery time after time - not much else matters - to me.

 

[AndriaD]

So the Efest Luc compared to the D4, which would you say is better? The Luc because you can change the amp charge rate?

If that's the only difference, then yeah I'd probably think the Luc is better -- plus including the car adapter, and having the USB port so you can use a battery to charge up a micro-USB mod (like a vv3 or an MVP or iStick, etc). I haven't ever used that feature, but it's nice to know I have it, so if I need to charge up one of my vv3s while in the car, I can do it that way.

But that switchable charge rate is fantastic; my 18650s/18490s charge VERY fast using the 1A setting. I don't know about the D4, since I have the i4, but the i4 is static at 500mA. Now I really only ever use the i4 to charge my 18350s, since the bigger batteries charge so much faster at the 1A setting.

Andria

 

[Noflers]

I have the 2 bay Nitecore with the digital readout and have never had a problem with it.

 

[retic1959]

Saw around on these forums, some people complaining it damaged their batteries such as lessen battery life..

I've had the I2 for almost 2 years along with some panasonic batteries purchased at the same time , both the batteries and the charger are going strong , I've also been charging vtc4's , vtc5's , mnke 26650's for the last 6 months on it as well as AA's & AAA's for remotes and other gadgets with no issues whatsoever . I seriously question those reports , more than likely it's from over discharge .

 

[SmokingAStogie]

The Efest Luc4 looks very promising as well with a supposedly 2A charging current(ebay listing said). I always have spare batteries just in case a pair needs charging but faster is better so i'm stuck between the Efest Luc4 and Nitecore D4. The Nitecore can charge anything from a AAA battery to a 26650. I don't think a Efest can do that right? Kind of on a budget though so i don't know which way i should go :/
decisions, decisions...

 

[AndriaD]

The Efest Luc4 looks very promising as well with a supposedly 2A charging current(ebay listing said). I always have spare batteries just in case a pair needs charging but faster is better so i'm stuck between the Efest Luc4 and Nitecore D4. The Nitecore can charge anything from a AAA battery to a 26650. I don't think a Efest can do that right? Kind of on a budget though so i don't know which way i should go :/
decisions, decisions...

I just unearthed my Luc2's info card from this pile on my desk, and it says: 10440, 14500, 16340, 18350, 18490/18500, 18650, 26500, 26650; I measured one of my AAA's I have handy, and it seems to fit the "10440" spec, so it appears to be just as versatile as the nitecore.

Andria

 

[SmokingAStogie]

I just unearthed my Luc2's info card from this pile on my desk, and it says: 10440, 14500, 16340, 18350, 18490/18500, 18650, 26500, 26650; I measured one of my AAA's I have handy, and it seems to fit the "10440" spec, so it appears to be just as versatile as the nitecore.

Andria

Oh ok sounds good. The Luc4 is only 8 dollars more then the Nitecore and one thing i've learned since i've been here is NEVER go cheap on batteries/chargers.
Thanks so much everyone for all the help and feedback! Efest Luc4 it is!

 

[Monotremata]

I dig my D2, where did you find the D4 for that price? I paid $20 for my D2!!

 

[lamarrk]

I just unearthed my Luc2's info card from this pile on my desk, and it says: 10440, 14500, 16340, 18350, 18490/18500, 18650, 26500, 26650; I measured one of my AAA's I have handy, and it seems to fit the "10440" spec, so it appears to be just as versatile as the nitecore.

Andria

Andria, please don't put a AAA or a AA in the LUC charger. The AA/AAA have an output of 1.25 volts. It's not designed to charge NiMh or NiCd batteries. The cut off voltage is too high. The Nitecore chargers will recognize that you put in a AA or AAA battery and drop the cut off to the proper voltage.

 

[lamarrk]

Oh ok sounds good. The Luc4 is only 8 dollars more then the Nitecore and one thing i've learned since i've been here is NEVER go cheap on batteries/chargers.
Thanks so much everyone for all the help and feedback! Efest Luc4 it is!

The LUC charger will NOT charge AA and AAA batteries.

 

[SmokingAStogie]

The LUC charger will NOT charge AA and AAA batteries.

Well good thing i didn't buy it just yet! The nitecore and the Efest Luc4 are both on my "to buy" list. I really like a charger that can handle different types of batteries such as AAA and AAs.

 

[SmokingAStogie]

I dig my D2, where did you find the D4 for that price? I paid $20 for my D2!!

The Nitecore D4 is currently on sale from Illumination supply but its backordered--> http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/chargers/nitecore-d4-digicharger.html

 

[dhock50]

I use one and it works great for me!