Nitecore Intellicharger I2 vs I4

[Thommi]

... I always put my batteries in to charge when I go to sleep. That way all my batteries are fully charged every morning. Is this not a good idea?

The reason why some people recommend not to do that is the same, why many people believe one shouldn´t stack batteries.
There is a tiny risk involved with unattended charging.
Almost all chargers cut power when batteries are full, some will switch off completely others will keep measuring the battery and do a very slow recharge if the battery over time discharges itself a bit.
IFFFF you have a VERY cheap charger AND a VERY cheap battery and IFFFF the auto cut off fails and IFFFF you keep on charging a battery WAYYYYYYY past it´s maximum and IFFFF you place the charger next to something easily flammable, the battery might heat up so much, you might get a fire while you sleep.

Rumors about exploding batteries are ........ well, let me show you this:
https://plus.google.com/+CaptainBlackbird/posts/Sv6sNhQuxPS
It´s in german, so if you don´t understand it, this guy has (in a controlled environment) tried anything possible to make the battery explode, from drowning it in hot water over recharging it with 2 amps while the cell was still wet, up to discharging it at high power right after.

 

[super_X_drifter]

I have been using an i4 for about 4 months and I am very pleased with it. I charge AW IMR 18350s, 18490s and 18650's.

I have charged using all slots and it charges plenty fast for me. I have never had to charge (even with all 4 slots full) for longer than an hour tops (guessing) before they were all recharged to 4.20 volts.

It charges em MUCH faster than I drain em

I keep it on a 12x12 ceramic tile (in case of failure) on my desk and have left batteries on it unattended and overnight many many times.

I think using quality batteries is critical for charging and vaping.

 

[Baditude]

Question for a battery expert here. I was under the impression one of the advantages of the I4 was it shuts itself off when the battery is fully charged. Is it not good to leave the batteries in there after that? The reason I ask, I always put my batteries in to charge when I go to sleep. That way all my batteries are fully charged every morning. Is this not a good idea?

The majority of the higher quality chargers do have an auto-turn off feature, or at least stop charging and do a trickle charge to sustain the full charge. However, electrical circuits can fail, just as a high-quality safe-chemistry battery can fail under the right conditions.

Statistically, the majority of battery incidents occur during charging on a battery charger. It's widely recognized common safe practice to remove a fully charged battery as soon as it reaches full charge. It's not worth risking a potential fire and risking the lives of your loved ones to chance, no matter how slim that chance might be.

I use a Nitecore i4. I keep the charger on my stovetop, and charge my batteries in the evening while I am a few feet away from the charger and can keep an eye on the charging progress. I remove the batteries from the charger soon after they have fully charged. I never leave batteries on the charger and then leave the house nor charge them overnight while I'm sleeping. This has become a part of my daily routine and does not interfere with my other daily routines.

 

[muzichead]

The majority of the higher quality chargers do have an auto-turn off feature, or at least stop charging and do a trickle charge to sustain the full charge. However, electrical circuits can fail, just as a high-quality safe-chemistry battery can fail under the right conditions.

Statistically, the majority of battery incidents occur during charging on a battery charger. It's widely recognized common safe practice to remove a fully charged battery as soon as it reaches full charge. It's not worth risking a potential fire and risking the lives of your loved ones to chance, no matter how slim that chance might be.

View attachment 277987

The majority, (almost 100%), are a battery and charger with fire somewhere in the name, a no name battery from China that came with some VV kit, and the majority were protected batteries... At least from what I have heard and seen, (posts and videos),!!! I have never had problems with any of my batteries, because all I use are safer chemistry batteries... My charger is a $9 2 bay charger I purchased at SmokTech with a 14500 box mod I have. I have been leaving batteries unattended on it for a year and a half to date. When the battery is finished charging it simply shuts off...

 

[steel bender]

The majority, (almost 100%), are a battery and charger with fire somewhere in the name, a no name battery from China that came with some VV kit, and the majority were protected batteries... At least from what I have heard and seen, (posts and videos),!!! I have never had problems with any of my batteries, because all I use are safer chemistry batteries... My charger is a $9 2 bay charger I purchased at SmokTech with a 14500 box mod I have. I have been leaving batteries unattended on it for a year and a half to date. When the battery is finished charging it simply shuts off...

Until the day it doesn't shut off, because nothing lasts forever. I would hope you at least charge them near a smoke alarm. Honestly, I don't see why its any harder to charge batts while awake, at home, watching t.v., playing with the kids, eating dinner, or some other such thing, looking at the charger on my kitchen counter every now and then.....

Edit: This may be easier for me I suppose, as my living room, kitchen and dining area is really just one big open room...

 

[ClaireW]

I just got the i4 charger. have a 18650 & a 18350 to charge. should I put these in bays 1 & 3 or can they go in bays next to each other?

assuming the 18350 will charge first. should I then pull it leaving just one battery in the charger to finish charging?

any suggestions?

thank you!

 

[NicoHolic]

I have three i2s; one at work, one at home I ran for 90 days to make sure it was good then packed it up as a spare, and one I use now in its place. Just in case a lightning surge comes in on the power line, I want to have an unplugged spare. Backups for backups. edit: I also have the 12 volt power cables for them in case of a power outage.

ClaireW, the bays are independent. You can treat them as separate chargers.