Best Discharger / Analyzer for Protected Cell 18650 Batteries?

[Corvette6769]

I have searched this forum for over 4 hours and find very little reference to the actual equipment/software being used for the various battery Li-ion shootouts, tests, and run-times posted here.

In addition to my Ultrafire WF-138 and WF-139 chargers which seem to work well for charging my Li-ion CR123, 10440, and 18650 cells, I have several high-end chargers including a Maha MH-C777PLUS-II Universal LCD Charger - Analyzer - Conditioner.

Problem is that when the battery's internal over-charge and discharge protection activates, my Maha charger resets and I loose all data, so I have no way to judge the actual discharge capacity of protected cells.

Moreover, the Maha charger stops the discharge cycle between 3.2 and 3.4 volts, stops charging at 4.1 volts, and the discharge rate is fixed at 300mA, so I have no way to do testing at various volt ranges (2.8 to 4.2v) or current rates, like the tests I see posted here on the forum.

I have several different 18650 batteries I would like to test at various discharge rate intervals between 300mA and 3 amps so I can determine which specific battery is best suited to handle my Cree MC-E that draws 2500 mA and which are better reserved for use in my less demanding Cree XP-E flashlights.

What is the best discharger / analyzer for testing protected cell batteries?

 

[ackbar]

What you are looking for is a hobby charger.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Corvette,

The discharge graphs from my tests were done with a CBA from West Mountain Radio. While not perfect, it is an excellent value and should give you the information you are looking for.

You can use your charger(s) or advance to a hobby charger if you are interested in more features. Some hobby chargers allow for discharging at decent rates, but others are limited. You will have to do some research on them. Hyperion and Schulze make excellent chargers, so you can start there.

Tom

 

[spencer]

I'm about to pull the trigger on an iCharger. Check those out.

 

[clintb]

I'm about to pull the trigger on an iCharger. Check those out.

I have two of the 208B iCharger's. Love 'em, love 'em. Internal logging, 8s lithium, 20A (350W) charging, handles NiCd and NiMh, Pb (lead acid), adjustable everything. iCharger's are the absolute best value on the market right now.

If you're in the US, buy from progressiverc.com

 

[Corvette6769]

I have looked at the iCharger, but for my limited need and use, they are cost prohibitive.

Anyone know of a less costly alternative?

 

[clintb]

Prices range all over the place, but if you want to get into logging, it will generally cost more.

Information needed:
- Battery chemistries you intend to test.
- Discharge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
- Charge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
- Your charger budget; how much can you spend?

 

[Corvette6769]

Prices range all over the place, but if you want to get into logging, it will generally cost more.

Information needed:
- Battery chemistries you intend to test.
- Discharge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
- Charge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
- Your charger budget; how much can you spend?

- Battery chemistries you intend to test.
I intend to test LiCo02 (Lithium Cobalt Oxide) and/or LiFeP04 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistries.

- Discharge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
I would like to test at various discharge rate intervals between 300mA and 3 amps, typically one cell at a time, Li-ion CR123A, RCR123, 16340, 10440, and 18650 cells.

- Charge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
I would like to be able to set the charge rate at various intervals between 200 mA and 1000 mA, typically one cell at a time, Li-ion CR123A, RCR123, 16340, 10440, and 18650 cells.

- Your charger budget; how much can you spend?
I would like to spend less than $50.00

 

[Mike V]

CASP or CADEX.

Not cheap though.

 

[Corvette6769]

This is Yahoo's cache of http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?239774-Best-Discharger-Analyzer-for-Protected-Cell-18650-Batteries&p=3055681
as it appeared onon 2/21/2011 (starting with first mising post after 01-06-2010 05:15 AM GMT)

Re: Best Discharger / Analyzer for Protected Cell 18650 Batteries ?
Written by Corvette6769 on 11-12-2010 05:49 AM GMT

Prices range all over the place, but if you want to get into logging, it will generally cost more.
Information needed:
- Battery chemistries you intend to test.
- Discharge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
- Charge rate, in Amps, you intend to use, and how many cells, and of what type?
- Your charger budget; how much can you spend?

clintb, I supplied the information you needed 10 months ago. Any idea when you may be able to make your recommendations?


Re: Best Discharger / Analyzer for Protected Cell 18650 Batteries ?
Written by VegasF6 on 11-12-2010 06:22 AM GMT
That is going to be a very tough budget. Perhaps thats why you haven't gotten any answers.
The closest I could come is the Imax B6 and there are quite a few clones of it. The particular one I am reading the specs on is here at esky heli[/url].
That model says it offers discharge at 5W or actually 1A (which isn't really 5W is it). Before I purchased it I would look very closely into the software and the connections to PC. More than one of the cheaper chargers from other sights, people have reported no USB functionality despite there being a port.
The only other suggestion I could make would be to watch eBay and RC forums for used equipment.

 

[Rej]

You could try 'Hobby king', there hobby charger 'GT A-6 Charger/balancer/discharger' looks like it will do what you need and even comes with software & a USB cable.
Though you will still need a power supply. They have other models with built in power supplies, but no logging software in your price range.
Check out the reviews if you decide to order, because some units are not rated very well.
My 'Hobbico Elite' charger does everything I need (no software though), with a bonus (2) channel output and came with a power supply....but set me back $130 CDN!

 

[clintb]

clintb, I supplied the information you needed 10 months ago. Any idea when you may be able to make your recommendations?.

Apologies for not responding back then. Sometimes these threads slip right by unless you have notifications turned on, which I don't.

One last question. Did you want logging/computer communication capabilities?

 

[KiwiMark]

I have looked at the iCharger, but for my limited need and use, they are cost prohibitive.

Anyone know of a less costly alternative?

I would suggest getting an iCharger 106B+ - maybe dearer than what you want to spend but it is a really good charger with lots of really good features. Some of the features are NOT found in the cheaper chargers and are well worth having. On a tighter budget the chargers I would recommend do not have data logging, since you are interested in that feature I recommend spending the extra for the better charger.

The range of charging and discharging abilities of this hobby charger make it worth spending a bit for to have it.