Nitecore is hot!!!

[Yohkos]

I bought a Nitecore charger that charges four batteries due to the good reviews. I have had this for a few months, but tonight the charger was very hot and the batteries were getting very warm. It's too late to take it back for a refund.

Someone please tell me a quality charger to buy. I would like something that lasts and is safe. I love vaping, but hate replacing products that don't last. I would think this charger would last more than a few months. I used it about once a week. I hope my batteries aren't destroyed. This is getting expensive.

thanks

 

[suspectK]

Xtar, pila, and efest are your only real options. I just got an I4, and I gave a friend my trustfire to get started with...I wish I kept the trustfire.. about a year old, and still solid..."but it has fire in the name...mehhh."

The nitecore charges too fast, and it either doesn't charge 4 batteries to fill capacity, or it drains cells when left on after charging for a few hours..

Whatever charger you get, make sure the inverter isn't built into the charger itself.. easiest way to do that is to look at the plug. If it is just a 110-120v plug without anything but the cable, the inverter is built into the charger. I would think that is the main reason your getting heat in your i4.. unless it's a faulty unit.

37, ph0n3 h0m3.

 

[Jeffk123]

My i4 gets really hot when its laying completly flat and can't get enough airflow to keep everything cool. I usually lean it on something to make sure it gets air flow. Everything stays as cool as cucumber then. Just what I found helps in my experience

 

[DPLongo22]

I had the same problem.

I have two XTAR six bays that have been running strong for two+plus years now. They require spacers (for anything smaller than 18650), but they work great and I'd recommend them highly. I use them with the spacers too, with no issues at all.

 

[Riverboat]

PILA is the best...........I have had mine for 3 1/2 years, Batteries always come off @ 4.2 volts.. Charging perfection

 

[bcastela]

Maybe I'm lucky, but I find my nitecore surprisingly cool considering it has built in power supply, maybe you got unlucky and got faulty?

 

[DPLongo22]

I have no idea.

But I wasn't keeping it around.

And those two darn $30 XTAR chargers have taken a beating, that's all I know. I keep trying to get rid of them, but they keep PULLLLING me back.... ;-)

 

[Yohkos]

My i4 gets really hot when its laying completly flat and can't get enough airflow to keep everything cool. I usually lean it on something to make sure it gets air flow. Everything stays as cool as cucumber then. Just what I found helps in my experience

I will give that a try and see if it makes a difference. thanks

 

[Yohkos]

It looks like I will invest in the xtar or pila I would rather pay a few extra dollars. If it lasts, I save in the long run. I will try the nitecore one more time. If it gets hot, I think it's best to throw it away.

 

[Rickajho]

Xtar or Pila do not get the runs of defective complaints that Nitecore chargers have here on ECF. If you need to low ball it you could get an Xtar WPII 2 for only twenty bucks that works correctly and doesn't get the charger or the batteries even warm during use.

Regarding those four or more bay chargers: They rely on bank switching the charging current between battery 1 and 3, 2 and 4 etc. when you have more than two batteries in them. All it means is you end up with longer charge times whenever you put more than two batteries in it. If you want to pull batteries off any charger quickly stick with two bay chargers.

 

[Yohkos]

My i4 gets really hot when its laying completly flat and can't get enough airflow to keep everything cool. I usually lean it on something to make sure it gets air flow. Everything stays as cool as cucumber then. Just what I found helps in my experience

Jeff, I tried this tonight and only charged two batteries at a time, and it seemed to work that way. It's good for now, but eventually will look for something else. For now, your suggestion was a good one. thanks

 

[yo han]

I bought a Nitecore charger that charges four batteries due to the good reviews. I have had this for a few months, but tonight the charger was very hot and the batteries were getting very warm. It's too late to take it back for a refund.

Define "very hot" and "very warm" please. What you say is "very hot" someone else could call "very warm".
During charging on the i4 the batteries can get to around 40 degrees C (104F) while the top of the charger can get as warm (or hot, whatever you want to call it) as 45-50 C (113-122F).

 

[Dominique Hoogduin]

Not that much current going around in these things... if it gets hot during a charge something is wrong... a big rc lipo charger will get hot charging at 6 amps or more (hence a fan on most models) but these chargers we use for mod batts do what? 1a max?

Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9195 met Tapatalk

 

[yo han]

if it gets hot during a charge something is wrong...

So you're saying lygte-info.dk is wrong even though he really knows what he's talking about?

 

[ScottChensoda]

Here are a couple of thermal images of the i4 provided by Henrik from lygte-info.dk who is arguably the online authority on things battery and chargers, in our field.

The batteries are heated by the charger, but not above the maximum allowable temperature.

Inside the charger there are some warm electronics, as long as the electronics and box are designed for this temperature, it is not a problem.


Whilst I am a firm advocate of safety, I am also mindful not to spend other folks money unless the evidence is irrevocable. To compare a well made hobby charger with what is a quite basic Li-ion charger that has stretched its electronics to incorporate a multi-cell charging system, to me is an imbalanced comparison to make.

Also, to state that something is wrong simply from another's opinion of warm or hot and without definitive temperatures, can also lead to unnecessary concern and possibly a needless and costly decision to be made by the OP.

I find it better in a case such as this to point the OP toward the best information out there and then leave them to make their own judgement.