So tell me about batteries and chargers

[mrjayd]

So many different brands. I have been getting AW IMR batteries someone told me about. The 650 lasts all day but the 350's are dead in a couple hours.
And are there any chargers that stand out from the rest? Do any charge faster than the others? And charge more than 2 batteries at a time?

 

[Thompson]

Xtar, Pila & Sysmax Intellicharger are all highly regarded.

AW are still some of the best batteries. There are also Efest & Panasonic CGR18650CH cells making waves.

As far as faster charging, I believe some chargers will let you set the output amperage higher (1a I think) but this should only be used with bigger 18650 cells & not 18350.

Faxed in on the Mojo Wire

 

[mrjayd]

Thanks for the input. I actually bought the Intellicharger but I don't really care for it. It seems cheaply made and flimsy. The little negative post thingy on the spring that you have to push down for the big batteries just seems so flimsy and sticks and not easy to work with.

Xtar, Pila & Sysmax Intellicharger are all highly regarded.

AW are still some of the best batteries. There are also Efest & Panasonic CGR18650CH cells making waves.

As far as faster charging, I believe some chargers will let you set the output amperage higher (1a I think) but this should only be used with bigger 18650 cells & not 18350.

Faxed in on the Mojo Wire

 

[TroyHoot]

if its a Nitecore intellicharger. one drop of machine oil or equivalent on the sliding negative parts makes it way way smoother. I really like mine. I got the I2. should have got the I4. Im using efest 18350s right now. I have 4 in rotation. I get anywhere from 2-6 hours out of 1. depends how much im vaping. that is with a .9 ohm coil.

 

[Fury83]

I have a Pila and an xtar vp1, both work fantastically. The VP1 has three settings for charging so you can charge small whatever size you are using properly. The Pila is 0.6a so I wouldn't recommend it for 10440's.

For batteries I stick with Panasonic CGR18650CH's and AW's, never had an issue. Efests seem inconsistent, I have bought the same battery but gotten two different batteries when the sticker is pulled off. AW buys cells and rewraps them, efest seems to buy stock of batteries and toss a sticker on them. I like my batteries to at least pretend to be the same when they are the same brand/model/size

 

[yzer]

E-fest IMRs are fine for me. If I was making very high current demands on my batteries I would choose AW IMR, but I vape in the six watt range. Some chargers use a higher charging current than others and will charge a given battery faster. I can charge a 18650 from 3.5V in a little more than two hours with a 1.0 amp charger. It takes about twelve hours with a 350 mA charger. I have little doubt that I'll get less battery charge cycles with the 1 amp charger. Xtar makes a charger that will charge up to six Li-ion batteries at once: Xtar WP6 II. A lot of people like these.

 

[double_aa_ron]

I love my Nitecore Intellicharger. I got the I4. It charges anything and everything. I've used it for 18350's, 26650 (for my BAM and Bombshell Stinger) and everything in between. It even works for regular old AA rechargeable batteries. I use it every single day. It's my go to for ALL my charging needs.

 

[A17kawboy]

+1 for the Xtar WP6 II. Own it and love it.

 

[mrjayd]

are there any advantages in using the flat top batteries over the regular ones?

 

[Baditude]

are there any advantages in using the flat top batteries over the regular ones?

Which one to use depends largely on which device you will be using them in. Some PV's will only work with button top, others only with flat top, still others can use either.

Best idea would be to use the same type as came with your device, or check for recommendations by the manufacturer (and not necessarily the vendor who sold you the device, especially if it was a kit made by them).Many vendors will include a cheap, no-name brand battery with the device. These are generic batteries, and could be of questionable quality (I wouldn't use them). The chargers that they "throw in" in the kit are often the most inexpensive ones they carry.

 

[ricks]

I just ordered the Nitecore i2 V2 Intelligent Charger. I've been using the cheap chargers that come free with batteries and kits and they suck. Takes forever to charge and the one I have that takes 2 batteries has only one lite for both.