Reuleaux rx charging?

[coilburner]

Just picked up a reuleaux rx200 and the people at the vape shop said you can charge it through the micro usb port, which you can, but I would like to know how safe it is to do this? I mean obviously buying a seperate battery charger would be ideal but do I really need to? Do lithium ion batteries, the kind of battery they use right?) need to be ballanced and if charging them in the mod is it capable of doing so?

 

[KenD]

Just picked up a reuleaux rx200 and the people at the vape shop said you can charge it through the micro usb port, which you can, but I would like to know how safe it is to do this? I mean obviously buying a seperate battery charger would be ideal but do I really need to? Do lithium ion batteries, the kind of battery they use right?) need to be ballanced and if charging them in the mod is it capable of doing so?

It's debateable if the rx does balanced charging or not. The latest review/test by DJlsb vapes seems to indicate that it doesn't. In any case, it's definitely worth it to get a good external charger (for example an Xtar vc4). You'll charge the batteries faster and you can pop in a second married set while the first one is charging. Also, micro usb ports can be fragile and as the possibility to do firmware upgrades is a major plus on the rx you don't wanna risk messing up the port.

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[coilburner]

It's debateable if the rx does balanced charging or not. The latest review/test by DJlsb vapes seems to indicate that it doesn't. In any case, it's definitely worth it to get a good external charger (for example an Xtar vc4). You'll charge the batteries faster and you can pop in a second married set while the first one is charging. Also, micro usb ports can be fragile and as the possibility to do firmware upgrades is a major plus on the rx you don't wanna risk messing up the port.

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Thanks for your thoughts, it makes sense. Im recharging my rx200, through the usb, right now. I will check the voltage of each battery when its done, something easily done while holding all the buttons while the mod is off, and report back. I definitely understand how fragile the micro usb can be as I had one break off an evic vt. When and if I continue to charge the rx200 I don't plan on touching it while its plugged in to avoid wear to the micro usb.

 

[coilburner]

well after chaging, I didn't charge it until it stopped charging because I have read not fully charging and discharging batteries increases their life, I get 4.07 4.12 and 4.04 volts. not sure how good or bad that is but they don't seem to be balanced to me.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

well after chaging, I didn't charge it until it stopped charging because I have read not fully charging and discharging batteries increases their life, I get 4.07 4.12 and 4.04 volts. not sure how good or bad that is but they don't seem to be balanced to me.

I would recommend as a general rule to get a good 4 bay charger and charge the batteries externally.
The RX200 may just charge each battery individually up to 4.2 volts which is what the external charger will do.
In your case you stopped the charge cycle so differences in the batteries may account for the differing voltages you are seeing. Had you let it complete they most likely would have been very close in voltage. Unless the RX200 charges the batteries in one series string and not individually which is a bad thing to do with LI batteries.
I really do not know how exactly the RX 200 charges. Safest to remove and charge.
Fully charging li batteries will not appreciably shorten their life and the mod will shut down before over discharge.
Storing fully charged LI batteries will shorten their life. If storing for any real length of time then they should be at about 3.5 volts for maximum life.
If you do have a charger that only charges up to 4.0 volts I would use that function as it will lengthen the lifetime of the battery somewhat.

 

[TheMike21]

Also you have the advantage of charging overnight if you have a charger that will stop at 4.2

 

[coilburner]

Are there any chargers that will balance the batteries? Is that even a thing or necessary?

 

[Robert Cromwell]

Are there any chargers that will balance the batteries? Is that even a thing or necessary?

As long as you charge the batteries externally balancing is not a big deal.
Balancing is a big deal in Lipo packs which combine multiple cells into the same series string. Over time series charging batteries will cause some to overcharge ans some in the string to undercharge. This is why balancing is needed in lipo packs.
As I said not a real issue with individual cells.
The cells should be the same brand/model and be reasonably close to the same number of charge/discharge cycles. IN any parallel or series application.

 

[coilburner]

You don't think the rx200 will stop charging when the first battery reaches peak voltage? I guess Ill find out cause I plugged the charger back in.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

You don't think the rx200 will stop charging when the first battery reaches peak voltage? I guess Ill find out cause I plugged the charger back in.

It might but I would hope it has an individual charge circuit for each battery. Let it finish and then read the voltages on each battery.
It is probably not a true balance charger but as long as it charges each one individually it should be ok.
In a true balance situation it will find the weakest battery and charge all to that spec.

 

[Rabbit Slayer]

Can check the voltage of the batteries by turning it off and holding both buttons and the fire button for 10ish seconds...it is a tiny display, but it works

 

[coilburner]

Can check the voltage of the batteries by turning it off and holding both buttons and the fire button for 10ish seconds...it is a tiny display, but it works

please read posts 3 and 4

 

[Robert Cromwell]

Can check the voltage of the batteries by turning it off and holding both buttons and the fire button for 10ish seconds...it is a tiny display, but it works

If it will do that it is probably charging them individually.
As I stated before they will NOT discharge evenly though.

 

[Rabbit Slayer]

please read posts 3 and 4

The whole post?!?!? Never

 

[coilburner]

If it will do that it is probably charging them individually.
As I stated before they will NOT discharge evenly though.

Why is that? Is that true for all batteries and mods?

 

[coilburner]

Does anybody know what the maximum acceptable voltage difference between batteries would be?

 

[KenD]

Does anybody know what the maximum acceptable voltage difference between batteries would be?

I think the rx200 will show an error message if there's more than a .3v difference. In any case, the mod should stop firing when even one battery reaches the cutoff voltage (not 100% sure of that one). I commonly have between .06 and .08 discrepancy (according to the mod) between the highest and lowest voltage batteries when I need to charge.

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[coilburner]

I think the rx200 will show an error message if there's more than a .3v difference. In any case, the mod should stop firing when even one battery reaches the cutoff voltage (not 100% sure of that one). I commonly have between .06 and .08 discrepancy (according to the mod) between the highest and lowest voltage batteries when I need to charge.

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do you use an external charger and Im assuming you have the rx200?

 

[KenD]

do you use an external charger and Im assuming you have the rx200?

Yes, I have an rx200 (though I only got it a week ago or so), and I use external chargers. My main ones are an Opus bt-c3100 and an Xtar vc4. When getting a charger chuck the charge rate it has when charging multiple batteries. For example the Opus can charge 3-4 batteries at 1 amp per battery (1-2 batteries at 2 amps) and the Xtar 3-4 batteries at .5 amp per battery (1-2 batteries at 1 amp). I believe something like the Nitecore i4 (also the newer ones I believe) can only charge multiple batteries at .375, so it's really slow.

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[coilburner]

One other thing occurred to me. I have a really nice, fancy charger from back in my rc car days. If I bought three individual battery sleighs and soldered wires and the correct connections on them for my charger could I use that to charge my batteries? It can charge 4 individual batteries and will charge any battery currently made.
This is the charge I have. X4 Four Port Multi-Charger | HITEC RCD USA
I just want to make sure charging the batteries this way, using three separate bays, would be the same as any charger that you mentioned.