Xtar VP1 Charging Current?

[jpcwon]

Hey Guys,

So I just received an xtar VP1 charger for my batteries. I was previously using an I4 Intellicharger, but I wanted to 'upgrade' to something a bit nicer....

I just had a quick question regarding the charging current on the VP1. I noticed that you can change the current from 0.25 to 0.50 to 1.00 Amps. I guess I am just confused as to which one to use. I just charged one of my purple Efest 18350's on it and it was set to 0.25 Amps, and it seemed to charge pretty quickly. Do I bump it up to 0.50 or 1.00 amps when charging multiple batteries? Will it affect the battery's performance if I use the incorrect setting?

I was going to buy an Efest LUC, but I sprung for the VP1 instead. I mainly use Sony VTC5's, so I figured that the VP1 would be a good charger for those...I just don't know what Amp setting to use!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[cskent]

My Xtar charger has settings for .5 and 1.0 amps. I always use the .5 setting because a slow charge is supposed to be less damaging to your batteries than a quick charge. Besides, I don't need to charge my batteries really quick since I usually have several charged ones on hand. I also tried it on the 1.0 setting and didn't notice a large difference in the amount of time it took to complete a charge.

 

[jpcwon]

Gotcha. Thanks for the info!! Yeah I'll probably leave mine on 0.5 amps for the most part. I did read the manual (something I probably should've done to begin with!! RTFM!!), and it said to use .25 for 18350's, .5 for 18490/18500, and 1.0 for 18650.......which makes sense for the most part....bigger batteries = more current...

 

[gofastman]

Leave it at .25. You probably could use .5, but slower is better, especially considering you are using 18350s. The VTC5s will easily handle 1A, but again, slower is better.
The channels are independent of each other, it has no effect on the individual batteries if you charge 1 or 2 at once

 

[jpcwon]

Leave it at .25. You probably could use .5, but slower is better, especially considering you are using 18350s. The VTC5s will easily handle 1A, but again, slower is better.
The channels are independent of each other, it has no effect on the individual batteries if you charge 1 or 2 at once

Cool, good to know....thanks for the info!

Yeah I use Purple Efest for my 18350's (10Amp max.), AW IMR 18490's (16.5Amp) and VTC5's for my 18650's (30Amp)......I run only mech mods and most of my builds are sub-ohm....I am constantly vigilant to not approach/exceed the Amp limit of my batteries....

 

[Kemosabe]

i use .25A for my 14500s and 18350s (even the purple 18350s, which can likely handle more current but i err on the side of caution because these batts can only handle 300 charge cycles and i want to preserve these batts' health as much as possible)

i use .5A max for my 18490/18500s, but usually .25A as to preserve lifetime.

i sometimes use the 1.0A setting for my 18650s but not usually. usually its .5A or even .25A as ive usually got time.
i would never use the 1.0A setting for anyhing smaller than 18650s.

 

[rurwin]

You should check the battery spec., but as a rule of thumb the maximum charge current usually* seems to be C. So you can use 1A for batteries with a capacity over 1000mAh. Having said that, I charge my 1100mAh AW IMR 18490s at 0.5A unless I am in a hurry; 1A is a little too close to C for comfort.

As cskent says, a quick charge is more stressful than a slow charge.

----
* Where "usually" is based on the two I've looked at.

 

[jpcwon]

Great info guys, thanks!! I am currently charging my 5 new AW IMR 18490's at 0.5, but I think next time I will use .25. I will be careful not to use the 1.0amp setting for anything other than 18650's.....thanks again!

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