Charging A 18650 With A Hobby Charger

[rustlerdudr987]

I am planning on buying some Xtar 18650 3100mah batteries for my new Crelant 7G5 V2. I was wondering since i already have a quality hobby charger for my RC lipos can i charge some 18650 on there? the charger is a thunder ac680 and can carge any type of cell so i would just put it on the LiIon setting then this is were i need some help to be safe. I have to set the amps i want it to charge at, i was thinking .5 of an amp but my charger can go all the way to 6 amps.

[moderator007]

Panasonic recommends a charge rate of .3C (885ma). While the panasonics can be charged at a higher rate their life expectency will probably be shortened. I would not exceed .7C charge rate. I charge all my li-ions on a hobby charger.

[rustlerdudr987]

great to know thanks and how do you tackle the harnessing or connection to the battery? i was thinking some alligator clips with magnets.

[moderator007]

Magnets such as this is what I use. You can also make balancing wires for charging multiple cells by soldering on magnets to the balancing wire leads.
Good thread on charge rate for panasonic 3100mah batteries.

[rustlerdudr987]

perfect thank you! actually one more thing im sorry im making some magnet harnesses right know is it ok to make a charging harness like this

with 22 awg wire or is that to thin for the main charging wires as im only doing one cell at a time. if not i can get some 18 awg pretty quick which should unless someone tells me different .

[Shadowww]

Depends on what current you're planning to charge them at.
I'd stick to 600mA (CV termination current of the 3100mAh cell * 10), with that current 22AWG is enough.

[moderator007]

perfect thank you! actually one more thing im sorry im making some magnet harnesses right know is it ok to make a charging harness like this with 22 awg wire or is that to thin for the main charging wires as im only doing one cell at a time. if not i can get some 18 awg pretty quick which should unless someone tells me different .

According to online wire size calculators 22 AWG should be good for 7 amps for short distances. I would fill safe at 3 amps with a foot or so of length. I have tried pushing 24 AWG stranded wire up to its rated current with a hobby charger. It did work but the wire got hot after a minute or so of use. I changed it out for some 22 AWG and it worked fine at 3 amps with 8.4v.