NiMH /LiON multi charger?

[blinkjr]

Hi all! Coming to the experts once again.:popcorn:
Is there a charger that will properly charge AA/AAA LSD cells (Eneloops) as well as 18650 LiON cells? I have the Eneloops already and I plan on getting some 18650s for a flashlight. Do I need two different chargers (Maha for the LSDs / Pila for the 18650s)? I haven't seen anything posted here that would do the job for both.

Thanks again! lovecpf

 

[rmteo]

Most of the so called "hobby" chargers will correctly charge NiMh/NiCd/LiIon/LiPo/LiFe/Pb cells and packs.

 

[marschw]

I like this one. It's dirt cheap and handles many sizes and shapes of cells (including the two you mentioned).

 

[Marduke]

I like this one. It's dirt cheap and handles many sizes and shapes of cells (including the two you mentioned).

Unless it's been updated again, that Is also a crap charger. I would NOT recmmend it.

 

[TranceAddict]

don't buy it unless you like to play with fire

 

[45/70]

Unless it's been updated again, that Is also a crap charger. I would NOT recmmend it.

Could you guys point me to somewhere that the HG-103W9V (the aforementioned charger from DX) has had a problem?

I may have missed something, but I've never heard anything bad about it, other than for AA or larger cells, it's pretty slow. Mine seems to work well. :)

Thanks,

Dave

 

[KiwiMark]

Most of the so called "hobby" chargers will correctly charge NiMh/NiCd/LiIon/LiPo/LiFe/Pb cells and packs.

I have one of these:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7028 and one of these:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7523

They are excellent and will charge pretty much any battery you are likely to have. They do require a 12V DC power source though - I use an old computer PSU which works great.

 

[brted]

Unless it's been updated again, that Is also a crap charger. I would NOT recmmend it.

What makes it crap? It works. My li-ion batteries come off at around 4.12 volts and when I charged a AA NiMH and then put it on my Maha C9000 it only added another 50 mah to it. The batteries never get hot. It works. Have you ever used it? There was a thread that said there was a very slight trickle charge, but it is a couple of mA if I recall and it's easy to get around that by not leaving the batteries in the charger all the time. At that price, you can take a risk and if you get one that charges too high, then trash it and you're out $6. Or you could buy a hobby charger for $100.

The disadvantage of it for the OP is that it doesn't have a high charge rate and it would take all night to charge a single 18650. And it is DX so it will take 3 weeks for it to show up.

 

[blinkjr]

Thanks for the additional info everyone.

I have no problem if an 18650 takes all night to charge. However, I do want to be able to sleep without worrying about the safety of the charger. :shrug:

As to the two hobby chargers, do you need some type of battery carrier to which you connect the leads to charge the batteries? I have a 12V DC power supply, so that would be taken care of if I were to go this route.

I am still leaning toward buying the Maha for the Eneloops and the Pila for the 18650s. Don't necessarily want the clutter and additional expense of two chargers, but from what I have read elsewhere here on CPF and in this thread, it sounds to be the safest. Both for the life of the batteries and eliminating any dangers of :poof:.

 

[45/70]

I have no problem if an 18650 takes all night to charge. However, I do want to be able to sleep without worrying about the safety of the charger. :shrug:

Regardless of what charger you get, it's not recommended to ever leave a Li-Ion battery in a charger unattended. People do it with high quality chargers like the Pila, but it's taking a risk that you just really shouldn't take. There, for instance, is the possibility of a bad or damaged cell going :poof: even with a good charger. Don't do it! :caution:

I am still leaning toward buying the Maha for the Eneloops and the Pila for the 18650s.

I should have said in my first post, I think your plan is a very good one. These are two of the best, and safest chargers available. I was just curious why the DX charger was viewed as unsafe. I have never heard that before about that specific charger. It's cheap and, as I said, seems to work quite well for what it is, a cheap charger with a halfway decent algorithm, but not what you are looking for, nor would I recommend it in your case. :)

Dave

 

[KiwiMark]

As to the two hobby chargers, do you need some type of battery carrier to which you connect the leads to charge the batteries?

A battery carrier once kicked my dog . . . er no, that wasn't it . . . oh yeah, a battery carrier once sliced the heat shrink near the positive terminal of one of my IMR 26500 cells, so I have gone a bit anti them. I use magnets now. The simple way is to connect a small magnet to each end of the cell and then touch the alligator clips to the magnets - this works quite well. The fancy way is to get magnets with wires soldered to them and solder those wires to a connector that attaches to the charger.

Check this:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=241266

I have bought some magnet leads from LuxLuthor because I lack the skill to solder the magnets without ruining them (too much heat = no magnetism any more).

 

[45/70]

The problem with hobby chargers, is NiMH (and NiCd) cells. Hobby chargers are really designed for charging packs. Charging NiMH's in series without a balancing program, doesn't allow you to detect an under performing cell. The only way to keep track of individual NiMH cells with a hobby charger, is to charge them one at a time. This puts chargers like the Maha C-9000 way ahead, unless your main goal is just charging, not analyzing the cells. For this, they work quite well.

Dave

 

[blinkjr]

The problem with hobby chargers, is NiMH (and NiCd) cells. Hobby chargers are really designed for charging packs. Charging NiMH's in series without a balancing program, doesn't allow you to detect an under performing cell. The only way to keep track of individual NiMH cells with a hobby charger, is to charge them one at a time. This puts chargers like the Maha C-9000 way ahead, unless your main goal is just charging, not analyzing the cells. For this, they work quite well.

Dave

Thanks - just the type of info I was looking for and knew I would get here at CPF. Now, I just need to scrounge up the cash for two chargers and a couple 18650s...and it's Chritmas time. Well, maybe Santa will bring me a few surprises!

Thanks 45/70 Dave and everyone else who took time to help educate me.

 

[light1up]

I have one of these:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7028 and one of these:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7523

They are excellent and will charge pretty much any battery you are likely to have. They do require a 12V DC power source though - I use an old computer PSU which works great.

WHoa, Does it all huh...for the $ I think Will at least try it. Thanks..Any idea on how to get rig up a way to charge several 123 cells at once, no pack here, but I like that. Is there something simple I could buy?

 

[KiwiMark]

WHoa, Does it all huh...for the $ I think Will at least try it. Thanks..Any idea on how to get rig up a way to charge several 123 cells at once, no pack here, but I like that. Is there something simple I could buy?

Just connect them together with magnets and they'll work well. I have done that to charge 6 x D-cells at once.

 

[rmteo]

WHoa, Does it all huh...for the $ I think Will at least try it. Thanks..Any idea on how to get rig up a way to charge several 123 cells at once, no pack here, but I like that. Is there something simple I could buy?

Here's how I charge 8x 123 at a time: