what charger to buy for AW IMC 14500 batterys?
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There is not need for special charger, but a good quality charger is desirable.
There are many chargers that will work like the trusfire TR001, WF139, WF188 but.....
In the low price category of chargers the best charger is the Pila IBCT 4-stage Charger
There are many chargers that will work like the trusfire TR001, WF139, WF188 but.....
In the low price category of chargers the best charger is the Pila IBCT 4-stage Charger
I've heard nothing but praise for the Pila; next time I need to buy a battery charger that'll be the one. That said, I'm really liking the adaptability of my WF188.
Id recommend the xtar WP2 since each ***Fire charger Ive had always over charges my batteries and keeps charing after lights turn green.
XTAR WP2
A bit more expensive then the other brands but does not over charge and cuts off power when it is done charging..
You can find it on fleabay and such all though it needs a spacer for 16340s if you have any of those or plan to in the future..
XTAR WP2
A bit more expensive then the other brands but does not over charge and cuts off power when it is done charging..
You can find it on fleabay and such all though it needs a spacer for 16340s if you have any of those or plan to in the future..
I would suggest against the WP2 until further notice. Initial indications from some people who have purchased and tested these (in the flashlight world) suggests that this particular model, like MOST li-ion chargers you will find out there, does not properly terminate the charge.
The Pila IBC is basically the only truly proper safe consumer oriented cradle charger made. The rest are garbage. The only other way to do it right is with custom cradles (or gutted "bad" chargers as cradles) hooked up to a hobby style charger. This requires expertise to operate.
What do you mean does not properly terminate all of my batteries come off at 4.15-4.19 even after being left on over night. Unlike the TR-001 and WF-188 which Ive seen go to 4.23 after pulling them the minute the light turns green.
The voltage of the cell when removed from the charger does not tell the whole story of what took place during the charge, how it got there, and whether or not it terminated properly.
Most lithium cobalt cells are intended to have a charge termination of 4.20V +/-0.05V. (4.15-4.25V). Anywhere in there is fine, though most li-ion enthusiasts will prefer a lower termination point because it prolongs the cycle life of the cells.
One of the most overlooked but common charger problems is a lack of true absolute termination at the end of the charge. This does not necessarily mean that the charger will continue to increase the voltage or the state of charge on the cell (resulting in over-charge), however, it can mean that it will hold and float the cell at that final voltage for as long as the cell is left on the charger. In a brand new cell, there is very little risk involved with this type of "end-of-charge" routine because brand new cells will hold those voltages after a charge naturally anyways without a problem. As cells age, the aging will translate into reduced capacity, which directly effects the voltage that the cell wants to "settle" to after a charge. Holding a cell above the voltage that it wants to "settle" to on a repeated basis (like leaving cells on the charger over night routinely), can lead to the formation of metallic lithium deposits within the cell. This can lead to chemical instability which can ultimately lead to a thermal runaway condition.
In other words; seeing 4.19V on a cell when you pull it from the charger is NOT a guarantee that the charger is foolproof and safe.
Chargers with that type of "floated voltage" flaw in their design can still be utilized safely by consumer IF the consumer is educated on how to use the charger safely. Really it just boils down to being there to remove the cell as soon as the charge completes, or as soon as possible.
My concern for the ecig community is that these cells and chargers are getting VERY heavy use because this is in fact an addiction related hobby for most of us. These cells are seeing use DAILY, which means charging DAILY, which means a lot of opportunity for creep effect. A small amount of cell abuse caused by a less than ideal charger spread over the course of years of daily use will increase the risk of having a cell vent violently.
The larger version of the "WP2" called the "WP6" I have tested personally. In my testing, it does appear to fully terminate the charge correctly. However, another member of the flashlight forum that I frequent who has recently tested a WP2 indicated that it seemed to continue a trickle or float type of charge after the light "turned green." I don't have any confirmed reports of this from anywhere else, but my philosophy with li-ion chargers is to always treat them as guilty until proven innocent. I have well over a dozen different loose-cell consumer oriented chargers in a bin down next to me here. Many of them were sent to me by dealers and flashlight enthusiasts who wanted them evaluated for safety and performance. My testing reveals that the majority of loose-cell consumer oriented cradle chargers out there do not follow a proper and safe charging method for li-ion cells. I would love to be able to check off another charger as being really "safe" on the list. Unfortunately, as it stands currently, the Pila IBC appears to be the only charger that really does this nearly perfectly. The WP6 appears to be trying to make the list as I have not been able to measure or detect a red flag in my testing thus far.
Eric
WoW phenomenal explanation I must say, I do not leave my batteries in any charger. Charge cycles were pretty much the whole point to Xtar over a ***Fire for me.
As for the Pila IBC I looked at it but gave the Xtar a try and at 1/3 the cost I am satisfied with my purchase maybe in the future if for some reason i can justify paying for a charger that works just as well Ill take another look. Maybe if someone who tends to forget about this kind of stuff would be safer with it aka family members who dont understand the dangers. Even then I wouldn't trust leaving it out of sight
As for the Pila IBC I looked at it but gave the Xtar a try and at 1/3 the cost I am satisfied with my purchase maybe in the future if for some reason i can justify paying for a charger that works just as well Ill take another look. Maybe if someone who tends to forget about this kind of stuff would be safer with it aka family members who dont understand the dangers. Even then I wouldn't trust leaving it out of sight
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