Nitecore Digi 2 - Question on charging 18650 externally

[suprtrkr]

Nitecore is a good intelligent charger. It knows what to do, meters the cell, applies appropriate voltage/current through the charge cycle and shuts itself down when done. It detects the type/chemistry and complains if it's out of spec or inserted backward. If you have good cells in good condition it should be quite safe. Precautions never hurt.

The Nitecore isn't the fastest but that's also a good thing. The D series will let you slow charge and charging slowly reduces heat in the cell. Heat breaks down the chemistry and best avoided much as possible. Slow charging also increases safety margin.

It's a win-win but slow. I use 8 cell rotations for my 2 battery mod. Slow charge and allow warm sets to cool. Enough sets too take the charging time and always have a set ready to go.

Ditto, and should have said so myself. Slow chargers baby your cells, which is a good thing, and extra sets of batteries take up the slack in the charging cycle. This is the process I recommend.

 

[X-Smok-er]

Im currently charging on kitchen worktop but would like to purchase a fire ......ant board or open box so I can charge in other rooms, can anyone recommend anything of the sort?

 

[Hawise]

Im currently charging on kitchen worktop but would like to purchase a fire ......ant board or open box so I can charge in other rooms, can anyone recommend anything of the sort?

I charge on a cookie sheet.

 

[X-Smok-er]

I charge on a cookie sheet.

Forgive me, whats a cookie sheet?

 

[Ralph_K]

Forgive me, whats a cookie sheet?

A metal pan to cook cookies on

 

[Baditude]

Forgive me, whats a cookie sheet?

 

[Kiyle the Manlet]

Nitecore chargers are generally a good brand of Li-ion charger. They are notoriously slow, though.

Statistically, 80% of battery incidents occur while charging batteries, or when carrying them naked in a pocket, purse, bag unprotected. Always transport batteries in a plastic battery case. Contact with coins, keys, or other metalic objects will cause a short.

It's a good idea to have more than one charger, and to rotate a group of multiple batteries. The number one rule in vaping is to have backups. I recommend the Efest LUC V4. It's a fast charger (1.0 amp for all four bays) and inexpensive.

Guide to Choosing a Li-ion Battery Charger

Always place the charger on a flame resistant surface such as a kitchen/bathroom countertop, stovetop, and otherwise away from flamable surfaces.

It's sound advice to charge batteries while awake and within reasonable distance to act appropriately should a battery explode. Never charge while away from home. You wouldn't want what happens in the video below and not be home.

I will say that charging the batteries too fast with say, 2A, can indeed damage the cell. 500 ma is the safest choice for charging, although in most cases you aren't running a massive risk if you do use a higher-amp charge. Usually it will just decrease the battery's life span.

Also, the luc4 has a bad habit of a few things. The LED indicators break or wig out, and the contacts tend to bend.

I have had mine for a long time, and it still works. I got the nitecore OP was asking about and it's pretty good.

 

[Baditude]

the luc4 has a bad habit of a few things. The LED indicators break or wig out, and the contacts tend to bend.

I have had mine for a long time, and it still works. I got the nitecore OP was asking about and it's pretty good.

I've not heard that about the Efest LUC V4. Have you read of numberous incidents or just your personal experience?

I've had the Nitecore Intellicharger i4 for about 4 years and running. A few months ago I decided to upgrade to a faster charger with a digital display. My son has had the Efest LUC V4 for nearly 2 years and loves it.

I narrowed my choices down to the inexpensive Efest LUC V4 ($23.99), the mid-priced Xtar VP4 ($34.99), and the expensive OPUS BT-C3100 V2.2 ($48.99).

The Opus had a high degree of programability, but reviews stated that it could be complicated to use, plus the screen is not as nice as the other two. That and the higher price made it fall in desireability for me.

The Xtar had a much nicer, slanted screen than the Efest and was still in an affordable price range, so I went with it.