Charger advice required

[klorsey]

Hi all,I'm wanting to cut my need for primary batteries as close to zero as possible.I'm looking for a single box solution for my charging needs.

I'm looking for something that can charge all of these and make a great (and safe) job of it:

NiMH cells:AAA,AA,C,D,9volt (Mostly LSD types such as Imedions and Eneloops').

Lithium-ion:18650,RCR123a,9volt (and as many other cells used in torches as possible).

Someone recommended the Triton 2 to me as a charger that could charge just about anything,and it looks pretty good to me considering the hobby chargers I've come across.

What are your thoughts regarding the Triton 2,and what if anything would you suggest might be a better (Or even equal but cheaper) charger for my needs?

Regards,klorsey (and thanks for the advice donn,I had no idea I was posting in the CPF MarketPlace as the http address didn't seem to be any different from the usual CPF address).

 

[Quension]

I'll let others recommend specific chargers, but one thing to note is that hobby chargers are primarily designed to charge packs -- groups of matched cells. Because of this, they generally don't have multiple independent channels and aren't well-equipped to charge several different batteries at once. While it is possible to charge several at once, there are a bunch of caveats that make it complicated to do properly and safely.

So you'd probably be better off looking for two boxes -- one to handle the common NiMH stuff in an uncomplicated way, like a 4 or 8 bay charger for AA and AAAs, and another box to handle everything else one battery at a time.

If you can give some details on number and type of batteries you'd like to be able to charge at once, it'd help with recommendations.

 

[klorsey]

I'm looking to charge these specific batteries Quension:

"I'm looking for something that can charge all of these and make a great (and safe) job of it:

NiMH cells:AAA,AA,C,D,9volt (Mostly LSD types such as Imedions and Eneloops').

Lithium-ion:18650,RCR123a,9volt (and as many other cells used in torches as possible)."

The Lithium-ion cells I'd be charging one at a time (possibly two 18650's or RCR123a's at a time only occasionally).

With the NiMH cells such as AAA's and AA's,I would be charging either one,two or four of the same type (ie.4x AA's) at a time,but most of the time it would be one or two cells charging at a time.

 

[Christexan]

The Triton is great, and new models can probably handle everything you want that is currently on the market, but as mentioned, it's a "pack connect" design...
Having said that, if you have the patience to make "charging cradles", there are plenty of charge-balancers that work with the Triton and other RC pack chargers to allow you to charge multiple cells at once, these are designed to integrate with a built pack, but you could easily wire them into handmade cradles for cell insertion/removal as desired.
But as mentioned, that's a lot of work (and extra cost), you'd probably be better off buying some of the good (recommended in many threads here and elsewhere if you take a look around) chargers for each chemistry (a good LiIon charger, a good multi-cell NiMH charger, etc).
That way you can also charge multiple types at once, with hobby chargers like a Triton you have to pick the desired charge profile each time you charge something different, and can't charge anything else while you wait.

 

[klorsey]

Hi Christexan,thanks for your reply.The only battery types where I would likely be charging more than one cell at at time would be AAA and AA NiMH's.I know I said I might also want to charge 18650's and RCR123a's two at a time,but really I could get by just fine by doing one cell at a time with the Li-ion's.

As for charging cradles I would find the cheapest 18650,RCR123a charger I could find and rip the guts out of it leaving only the cradle,metal contacts and the wires needed to connect it to the charger using alligator clips.

As for NiMH AAA,AA,C,D and 9 volt cells you can get plastic holders with + and -- wires connected that can take anything from 1x9 volt cell to 6xAAA's,2x C's and many others.I don't exactly see the difference between say 4x AA NiMH's in a holder and the so called "Battery Packs" these chargers are designed for.

You say in your post:

"there are plenty of charge-balancers that work with the Triton and other RC pack chargers to allow you to charge multiple cells at once, these are designed to integrate with a built pack, but you could easily wire them into handmade cradles for cell insertion/removal as desired."

That's over my head.What exactly is,and why would I need a "charge-balancer"?

 

[computernut]

I use a Duratrax ICE to charge my AW17500's. I charge one at a time which is a pain but I haven't had the time to investigate an external balancer for it so I can charge multiple cells. These days there are many chargers that have built-in balancing but I got this charger for a good deal used. The ICE charges NiCd and NiMh as well. I loved my old LRP Pulsar 2 (non-lipo) but the newer Pulsar 3 doesn't have a built-in balancer. Many hobby chargers require a separate power supply but there are some like certain Triton models that have AC/DC capability.

*EDIT* I just checked and LRP is coming out with a new high-end charger with a USB hookup for your PC but it's pricey!
http://www.redrc.net/2010/06/lrp-pulsar-touch-competition-charger/

 

[klorsey]

Hi computernut,that LRP charger looks interesting.How do you know it's pricey?I went to LRP's website and found it on the back page of their news flyer,but it doesn't seem to mention price,it just says "n.n".I also Googled it with no luck.

Do you know who,if anybody has it for sale right now?

 

[klorsey]

C'mon CPF'Rs.Not many of these chargers are for sale in Oz.The AUD/USD exchange rate just passed 90 cents.Make some money for the USA.

I hope it's not my cologne,or my bad American English.

Do you guys think I should've thought of a better name for my thread?

And what's with all the windy sounds and tumbleweeds here?

Feeling neglected,klorsey.

 

[kaptain_zero]

Ok, I had a quick look at your requirements...... I'm going to go to the opposite extreme and offer this suggestion: I'd get 4 (or more) of the Universal chargers from DX. sku 14885 at a measly $5.15 each and if you enable the bulkrate it works out to $19.21 shipped (for 4). They will do everything except for LiPo as in 1.2V, 3.6V and 9.0V.

Now, these chargers are not the ultimate by any means, and I wouldn't leave Lithium rechargeables unattended, but then I wouldn't do that if I was using a hobby charger either. Many have had good results from these Universal chargers, and I have two that work quite well. The only issue is with the charge times, these chargers are sloooow, but they work. I have other chargers, but I use these two at home when I only need 1 battery charged and I take them when I go camping. They will charge any battery that I have and even if one fails, I still have the other one.

I have a splitter block for the AC socket that would let me put 6 of these units on a single wall socket that I got at a 1$ store.

Hobby chargers are nice and necessary if you are charging hobby packs of cells.... but they are expensive and require some knowledge to hook up correctly. They can charge multiple Lithium based cells at one time using a balancing system, but you're stuck with one cell at a time when charging NiMH and NiCd batteries from what I can tell by going through the manual for the Triton 2 w/Balancing feature. I suppose other hobby chargers may offer more charging channels but I suspect the cost would go up significantly. If your Hobby charger fails for whatever reason, you'll be unable to charge *any* battery until it is repaired/replaced. Those little Universal chargers cost so little in comparison that having a spare or two wouldn't be unreasonable.

So there you go.... a view from the "other side". :devil:


Regards

Christian aka

Kaptain "I gotta go back to buying flashlights......." Zero

 

[pae77]

Already gave the OP my recommendations in a PM (Shekor for Li-ion and Maha C9000 for NiMH).

 

[mdocod]

Hi Klorsey,

I don't exactly see the difference between say 4x AA NiMH's in a holder and the so called "Battery Packs" these chargers are designed for.

When charging NIMH cells in series, each cell will receive the same amount of energy delivered during the charge. In order for this to work properly and not wear out cells, each cell in the PACK must be very closely matched for both capacity and state of charge at all times. Putting together a mixed bag of AAs that are in different conditions, different brands, different states of charge, into a series make-shift pack for charging would generate unpredictable results and lots of worn out cells.

With a full and complete understanding of the way that the charger works, and the charging requirements of the cells being charged, a hobby style charger can IMO be an incredibly powerful way to charge up huge banks of li-ion cells simultaneously through the use of series and parallel configurations and balance taps.

When charging NIMH cells, the charge termination is not based on a voltage and current based method that is replicable from cell to cell, instead, it's based on looking for a voltage drop associated with end-of-charge for the cells. The only way that the drop can be detected in a pack is if most of the cells in the pack all do it at roughly the same time, which requires that they be matched well. Charging NIMH in parallel is not really an option because cells will finish charging at slightly different voltages.

I think that the suggestion made to just pick up 2 separate boxes for each requirement probably makes the most sense. The hobby charger for the Li-Ion cells with some cradles, and used occasionally to charge up a make-shift pack of cells that you know are in the same state of charge and are the same brand/capacity/age etc could work. I would supplement that with a decent multi-bay cradle style NIMH charger.

Eric

 

[klorsey]

Hi kaptain_zero,pae77 and mdocod.Thanks for all the advice.Those universal DX chargers sure would suit an extreme budget,I'm not sure if I'd be comfortable using a charger that costs two thirds less than the battery I'm charging in it.I'm glad it's working for you though.

As I've mentioned Pae77,the shekor charger seems like an excellent alternative to the relatively expensive Pila IBC charger.

Thanks for the suggestion mdocod,in general I would only charge cells of the same size,brand,age and capacity in multiples.I'd say what I'm looking for is a hobby charger that is infinitely programmable in every aspect.It would take time to learn about and understand,but I think it would have the broadest range of charging possibilities for not only now,but the future as well.It would also be the most satisfying to own I believe.