StandardBattery
Flashlight Enthusiast
The highly anticipated XTAR VP4 charger was announced a few days ago. A lot of people were asking for a 4 bay version of the fairly recent and popular VP2 charger, but in a somewhat confusing decision that's not exactly what XTAR decided to offer with the VP4. The good news is they seemed to have kept the price down on the charger and I expect this is the main reason for many of it's design decisions.
Specs from XTAR site:
Cell Compatibility:
10440/16340/14500/14650/17670/18350/18490/18500/18650/18700 and/or two 22650/25500/26650 lithium batteries
Features:
Price:
$ 39.90 (September 7th, 2014 xtardirect)
Preliminary Observations:
Surprising Omissions:
Less Surprising Omissions:
Thoughts:
The price is very reasonable, but many VP2 owners might just get a second VP2 if they really need the VP2 features, or wait/opt for a different charger.
For some users it might still be best to just buy 2 VP2 chargers, which seem to have been reduced in price ($34.90 xtardirect 2014.09.07). Prices could be temporary, we will have to wait and see. XTAR says this is the 4 bay charger everyone has been waiting for, but I'm sure they know that this is not true, even if 'everyone' is limited to just their VP1/VP2 users.
I can almost understand the omission of the Voltage Selection Switch, but I think there were better solutions. If it turns out that it's true and all 4 slots cannot charge simultaneously at 1A then I think XTAR some how lost touch with the need for such a charger; but maybe I'm wrong.
I expect this to be a popular model, but many hard core users might wait for the next XTAR or the new 'DC2' charger as the high capacity cells are now quite commonly in use.
Specs from XTAR site:
Cell Compatibility:
10440/16340/14500/14650/17670/18350/18490/18500/18650/18700 and/or two 22650/25500/26650 lithium batteries
Features:
- Compatible with IMR lithium battery
- Each channel is independent
- Three-stage charge algorithm(TC-CC-CV)
- Three charge current options (0.25 A, 0.5 A, and 1.0 A)
- Soft-start function, to avoid damage from large charge current while charging.
- Automatically cut off when the battery is charged fully
- Precision cut-off voltage at 4.2V
- Compatible with small capacity battery
- Over heat protection
- LCD displays each battery real time statues
- Use high power intelligent step-down DC - DC circuit, greatly reduce the energy loss;
- Built-in reverse-polarity and short-circuit protection circuit
- Use fireproof material for the shell
- 0V activation function can wake up the over-discharged/sleeping batteries
- 120°angle high definition VA screen to display the charging current ,voltage and power indicator, you can see the charging status from any angle of view.
- Certified by CE, RoHS
Price:
$ 39.90 (September 7th, 2014 xtardirect)
Preliminary Observations:
Surprising Omissions:
- No Charge Voltage selection switch for different cell chemistries/construction. Adds simplicity, but removes flexibility. Good for a more mainstream charger, but other design changes could have kept the flexibility and the simplicity for the general user.
- Only 2 Charge Bays can support 1A charge current according to initial product images. This seems to be a big omission to me since I think one of the main uses for a 4 bay charger would be to use it for larger capacity cells used in some of the newer lights that take 3-4 18650 cells.
Less Surprising Omissions:
- No USB Power Output. This one I'm 50/50 on, a very nice feature, but a 4 bay charger is a bit big to be using for it's USB output. Still if someone has limited number of devices this would be handy during a power failure. Again, I think this is a clear cost cutting measure.
Thoughts:
The price is very reasonable, but many VP2 owners might just get a second VP2 if they really need the VP2 features, or wait/opt for a different charger.
For some users it might still be best to just buy 2 VP2 chargers, which seem to have been reduced in price ($34.90 xtardirect 2014.09.07). Prices could be temporary, we will have to wait and see. XTAR says this is the 4 bay charger everyone has been waiting for, but I'm sure they know that this is not true, even if 'everyone' is limited to just their VP1/VP2 users.
I can almost understand the omission of the Voltage Selection Switch, but I think there were better solutions. If it turns out that it's true and all 4 slots cannot charge simultaneously at 1A then I think XTAR some how lost touch with the need for such a charger; but maybe I'm wrong.
I expect this to be a popular model, but many hard core users might wait for the next XTAR or the new 'DC2' charger as the high capacity cells are now quite commonly in use.
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