Which battery charger?

jcr71

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Aug 28, 2013
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Please recommend me​ a good battery charger.
Mainly for 18650 batteries, i charge 4 of this type once or twice a day. They get used for vaping. Also the occasional NiMH batteries from torches, remotes etc. Have been using an intellicharger i4 for about 3 years and now it's starting to play up. The 3rd lane has stopped working altogether and it doesn't always recognise when a battery has been inserted.
Many thanks
Jason.
 

Repsol600rr

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But vp2s don't do nimh. I would get an xtar vc4. Does 4 18650s or nimhs at 500 ma which is better than what your i4 did. It can do 2 at 1 amp. There is a thread on it by hkj. Read that. Make sure you have/get a good walwart and it should serve you well. If you want more speed and features then something like the liitokala lii-500 or the opus bt-c3100 v2.2 are other good options. I'd look up those as well. I have the 3100 and the vc4. Both have been serving me well. Plenty of info in the batteries sub forum.
 
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Timothybil

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I'd recommend a pair of XTAR VP2's.

The VP2 doesn't do NiMH. I use mine for my 10440 and 14500 cells since I can set the charging rate at 0.25A, which is better for the smaller cells than the 0.5A my VC4 offers as a minimum. As much as I like both of my chargers, I would recommend that you get one of the chargers often mentioned here that does capacity measurement as well as the usual charging. There are times when I wished I had that capability. From comments others have made, I don't believe one of those chargers would be much more, if any, the the Xtar VC4 I mentioned. [Shock! Gasp! Me recommending something other than Nitecore! The world as we know it is no more! :ironic: ]

PS: Sorry Repsol600rr. I hadn't read your reply yet when I wrote this. But doesn't hurt to have a second opinion agree with you.
 
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roadkill1109

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From best to ok (1 to 5)

1. SkyRC MC3000
2. Xtar VP4 Plus Dragon
3. Opus BT-3100
4. Liito Kala Li-500
5. Nitecore SC2 (soon coming out SC4)
 

ven

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Opus bt c3100 v2.2 gets my vote for value and flexibility. Nimh support, 1a x4 bays, up to 2a on 1+4 bays for quicker charges. Lowest is 0.2a for small cells..........
 

jcr71

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Than you for all the replies. I shall look at all the chargers mentioned.
 

tatasal

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Opus bt c3100 v2.2 gets my vote for value and flexibility. Nimh support, 1a x4 bays, up to 2a on 1+4 bays for quicker charges. Lowest is 0.2a for small cells..........

+1
 

TinderBox (UK)

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The Opus C3100 is also sold as the Opus 3400, also it might not be branded as Opus, mine is an Floureon BT-C3100, there are at least 3 re-brands, depending on where you live in the world for availability and price.

I just search for C3100 or C3400 charger to cover all brand names.

John.
 

markr6

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Opus bt c3100 v2.2 gets my vote for value and flexibility. Nimh support, 1a x4 bays, up to 2a on 1+4 bays for quicker charges. Lowest is 0.2a for small cells..........


+ eleventybillion. It's all I use anymore...for everything.
 

Mr Baz

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If you don't need to more advanced features the D4 and VC4 re pretty solid I did a comparison here: To date they are the most consistent I have tested the new i4 is OK for lithium not ideal for Ni-MH new i2 the same both seem to under charge. My vote is the D4/VC4 or possibly the VC2 plus Master
 

Capolini

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^^^^^

iirc neither of the above can charge ALL 4 slots @ 1A. For me that is a must. MOST of my batteries are 18650 and I have several 3 X 18650/4 X 18650 lights.

My Fenix ARE-C2 is one of the few chargers that comes OFF the charger @ 4.20V. Also the fastest!

My Opus/Efest and KP models come off @ 4.16 at best,,then of course they settle several hundredths of a volt!

1.Fenix ARE-C2
2.OPUS BT-C3100
3.K'Power L2
4.Efest LUC V4

We all have different criteria and preferences! ;)
 

vadimax

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From utilitarian point of view Xtar SV2 needs its larger brother -- SV4. SV2 is excellent in my point of view: .25A for small cells, 2A for large ones. Xtar "proprietary" low termination current... What might be best? :)
 

Tachead

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Another one that can NOT display all 4 slots at once! :poke: At least 2 is better than 1!

It is only a quick button click to swap between displayed banks and it has a nice large easy to read display. Personally, I like it better then other chargers I have used that do display all 4 banks at once.
 
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