charging AW 18650 cells after 3 weeks...

[elugelab]

I ordered two AW 18650 cells, that were delivered some 3 weeks ago.
I couldn't charge them right away, cause I didn't have a plug adapter for the WF-139 charger.

Finally got the adapter today and started to charge one of the 18650 cells.
I read that the AW cells are delivered 50% charged, so I thought it wouldn't take too long to charge them... Ended up charging the one for about 4-5 hours, but the light on the charger didn't turn green. It just flickered red and green all that time, so I thought something was wrong and I stopped the charging.

So, was 3 weeks too long to keep those cells only 50% charged?
Should I just throw them away now?
I don't have a DMM, so I can't check their voltage...

Thanks.

 

[Mr Happy]

I have to tell you this, you need to have a DMM on hand when you own lithium ion cells like 18650's. It is not an optional accessory.

Keeping cells for three weeks between charges is not a problem though. You could keep them for months as long as they were stored in a good state of charge (about 50% is good). However, without a DMM you cannot tell what the cells are doing.

Remember loose 18650's are not consumer cells. You should not treat them as if they were NiMH rechargeables.

 

[roadie]

huh?

go get a multimeter from yr local hardware shop .... its cheap and useful

as for the wf charger ... i read that it charges slow .... let other users fill u in more.

thats why i squeeze my bank account and invest a charger with LCD screen, at least now i can 'know' how my batteries are being charged, voltage, how much juice left, how is it going to be charge at ....

got one of the cheapest in the RC charger market ... a FMA 4S , try to search for it in yr webby.

 

[NigelBond]

I belive aw 18650 cells are 2400mAh while the charger has an output on the back label of aproximatly 450 mA. Assuming this is 450 per channel and not 450 split for both channels, this would mean that theoreticly it should take aproximatly 2400/450 hours or 5.33 hours to charge your batteries. This is only an aproximation because I'm pretty sure that i read somewhere that the current output decreases during the charge cycle so I would think that your cells are just fine and still need to be charged longer. A multimeter can be purchased for only a few dollars and you really should get one.

 

[elugelab]

I know I should get a DMM. Was planning to get one sooner or later anyway.
But, I guess it's better to get one sooner than later.

The FMA 4S looks good though. Once I got more money, maybe then... But, for now the DMM will have to do.

Thanks.