BEST idiot proof charger for LiFeP04 RCR123s? Runtime limits?

[bullfrog]

Hi all,

Just ordered a Pila IBC charger for my soon to be purchased AW protected 17500 button tops to run in my C2s + extender. Free lumens :rock:

Now I am looking to get a bunch of AWs LiFeP04 RCR123s for use in my L1, E1B, E2DL and E2L - but just wondering:

What is the best and safest charger for these cells? Should I just go for the charger AW sells with them?

I want to never have to worry about over charging and for it just to be totally idiot proof as I am still a novice when it comes to voltages and the like.

Also, does anybody have suggested runtime limits I should stick to for the LiFeP04s in my Surefires? Don't want to over drain...

Thanks!

 

[bullfrog]

anyone? :naughty:

 

[HarryN]

Hi - you are way too deep in to batteries and flashlights to be an idiot. From my simplistic perceptions, pretending to be an idiot and charging batteries is a bad idea.

I don't know the answer, but look here for a concentrated table on chargers. The answers are out there (I mean in there) :wave:

http://progressiverc.com/Research.html

 

[Al Combs]

Hi all,

Just ordered a Pila IBC charger for my soon to be purchased AW protected 17500 button tops to run in my C2s + extender. Free lumens :rock:

Now I am looking to get a bunch of AWs LiFeP04 RCR123s for use in my L1, E1B, E2DL and E2L - but just wondering:

What is the best and safest charger for these cells? Should I just go for the charger AW sells with them?

I want to never have to worry about over charging and for it just to be totally idiot proof as I am still a novice when it comes to voltages and the like.

Also, does anybody have suggested runtime limits I should stick to for the LiFeP04s in my Surefires? Don't want to over drain...

Thanks!

I don't own any Surefire or for that matter, any incan lights. So I can't comment on how LiFePO4's behave in them.

I have the same WF-138 RCR123A charger that AW sells. The one with the little switch on the side for 3.0 or 3.6 volts. I didn't buy it from him but it's the same thing. Seems to work OK except it doesn't cut off the charge when you see the green LED. If you look at it periodically that's OK, but you can't leave the batteries in the charger unattended.

All my Li-Ion cobalt batteries have protection circuits that cut off the charge. At which point my DMM reads 5.0 volts. The same thing the charger reads with no battery in it. I guess in the case of LiFePO4, there's no risk of a fire, just damage to the battery.

I saw this the other day. A version of the Nano Charger for 3 volt Li-Ions. It doesn't say specifically it's for LiFePO4 batteries. Perhaps you could ask them if it's for that type of chemistry. True it only charges 1 battery at a time. But they are so inexpensive you could buy several.

The Nano Charger for 3.6 volt Li-Ion's uses a Linear LTC4054 for CC/CV with cutoff. There are quite a few links in this post. The DIY Li-Ion link shows the charge graphs verifying it's a true CC/CV chip. The Brain Transplant link is the one that mentions the Linear chip is what's used in the original Nano charger. Since the 4.2 volt cutoff is embedded in the chip, the 3.0 volt Nano must be using some other chip. The only way to know for sure is to wire your current meter in series with the battery while it's charging. When the green LED comes on, what is the reading on the meter? It should be very close to 0 ma, with perhaps some residual noise.

I honestly don't know if the 3.0 volt Nano is as good as its 3.6 volt cousin. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that. There really aren't very many LiFePO4 chargers out there beside the very expensive hobby chargers. I think like me everyone was waiting because they hoped someone else had a better answer.

 

[Dr Jekell]

You know the old saying:

"Make something idiot proof & they will make a better idiot."