DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read all the threads!).

[Gene]

What's the concensus? I've read all the threads and with all the effort to re-build the DSD, it seems for the average guy to just buy one of the new Pila chargers which costs more than 3X as much and works much better, rebuild the DSD, or live with the DSD.

Another thing is, no expert like AW or SiverFox has come onboard and responded to that thread. I find that strange. If the DSD charger IS a piece of crap, why don't more "experts" comment about it? I have one and it seems to work fine. It goes green in about 45 minutes. Am I lame? (PROBABLY!). I'm using 2X17500 cells driving a Surefire N2 LA and have already charged the 17500's several times using the DSD and my N2 still glows brightly.

The thread below is full of great answers on how to build a GOOD charger using the DSD body but if it's so bad, why do guys like me have one that seems to charge my cells up fine. If the DSD doesen't charge cells up to 100%, is that bad? Can anyone explain to me why NON-PROTECTED Li-Ions stay charged forever? 😉

Anyway, not trying to stir things up here, I think using the DSD with 230V is the culprit here. I'm still astounded that I didn't read one post of why you shouldn't ask AW about this if you bought one from him? If they're that bad and you bought one from him, he'll make it right. AW is as solid as they come.

WHERE DID YOU PURCHASE YOURS FROM? WHY HAVEN'T YOU JUST RETURNED IT FOR A REFUND? RETURN IT WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT AND BUILD YOUR OWN AND SELL IT OR BUY A PILA CHARGER IF YOU"RE NOT SATISFIED! Again, mine's working fine! 🙂

 

[LumenHound]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

I think using the DSD with 230V is the culprit here.

I think you've hit the nail right on the head.

 

[Manzerick]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

my DSD also works just fine (protected and unprotected)

 

[revolvergeek]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

I have been using a DSD for about 4 months now with protected cells and am very happy with it, but I have only used it on 110v.

 

[cd-card-biz]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

I've had my DSD run on 110V for several months now with no problems. It lives happily in my portable "charger thing".

 

[Manzerick]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

Nice case

That's a great idea!

I've had my DSD run on 110V for several months now with no problems. It lives happily in my portable "charger thing".

 

[cd-card-biz]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

Nice case

That's a great idea!

Thanks!

I got so tired of the tangle of charger wires all over the workbench. Everything fits in the case, I snap it shut and put it on a shelf until I need it. And, I can charge all kinds of cells at once. BTW, there are several more chargers in the case since the pix was taken.

It is a fairly cheap Harbor Freight case here:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36870

-Bill

 

[Long John]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

After reading of accidents during charging, that's my safe solution.
A drum of an old washing machine🙂.

During charging I close their "door", off course,hihi:

Best regards

_____
Tom

 

[Geologist]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

I've been using a DSD for over a year now on 220V with both protected and unprotected cells. I regularly charge pairs of 123s, 150A, 150S, and 168A sized cells.

The first time I went to charge a 168A cell, I inserted the cell backwards and killed the power adapter. I now use my Nokia phone charger which seems to work fine. Due to the higher mA of the Nokia charger (~700mA IIRC), I no longer charge single R123s or RCR2s due to exceeding .7C.

No problems that I am aware of!

 

[dc]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

I think the DSD charger itself is great and is just that the power adapter that comes with it is crappy. I been using it to charge all my li-ion cells for a year plus and it work great with the nokia acp-12 power adapter.

Daniel

 

[chesterqw]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

power adaptor= BOOO!!!
with nokia's= GOOD 🙂
well... it better not damn explode, i have the charger on a wood furniture(u know a table 😛)

 

[lrp]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

Mine has worked great....I only use 110v.

 

[Northern Lights]

Re: DSD Charger. Is It Junk? (I've read the thread below!).

I like it and use it for most of my Lithium needs. Mine works fine and I learned I can top off to full charge my LIR123 and 18650s by using an adapter at 5 or 3 volts at 300mA. Usually I use the DSD and when I get green I switch adapters as the 300mA is slow if the entire charge is on it. I time is not a factor I hook up the 300 and walk away. The thread below explains that the DSD is controled by current not voltage.

I plan to use jumpers right from the box to a 4xAA>D 3.6V lithium pack and see no problems. Time will tell.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=128482

The experiment:
Did some test with new, not-charged, and discharge unprotected 3.6 volt LIR123s. DSD charger finished them off at 4.14 to 4.16 volts. The Ultrafire finished them off at 4.21 to 4.24. I have one of those multi-voltage, multi-plug adapters (got it for a couple of bucks from Big Lots, an inventory liquidation chain store) and put it on the DSD set at 3.0 volts, 300MAh. That combination finished off cells of various charges at 4.21 to 4.24 volts. I like the Ultrafire since in can handle all of my CR123s but only the DSD takes my 18650s. It is also apparent when both positions are holding cells the DSD reads off the lowest charge, it takes a while for both cells to equalize, the channels are not independent. The UltraFire has independent channels and indicators for each channel.

 

[Doug]

There are problems with the DSD chargers? Mine seems to work fine, slow, but works... maybe it's slow because of the last poster's note of it not being independant channels... hmm.... so, what are the charging options out there? The only thing that bothers me about the DSD is how slow it charges....

 

[Northern Lights]

There are problems with the DSD chargers? Mine seems to work fine, slow, but works... maybe it's slow because of the last poster's note of it not being independant channels... hmm.... so, what are the charging options out there? The only thing that bothers me about the DSD is how slow it charges....

This has independent channels.
http://www.qualitychinagoods.com/ultrafirereg-intelligent-charger-plus-880mah-lir123-p-439.html

I am charging the 3.6 volt, 4 AA parallel battery packs now, they have about 2.9 Ah and I made a holder that connects to the UltraFire charger that is a dummy CR123.

Want a chuckle? I used a piece of wash machine fill hose and took apart two 40 caliber Smith And Wesson Full Metal Jacket rounds of ammunition. I pulled the rounds, emptied and deprimed the ammo, trimmed the case, the cartridge head is the negative terminal the FMJ bullet is the positive. They are stuck into the hose and wired to the D holder.

 

[LuxLuthor]

I have had three DSD's for about a year that I bought from FiveMega & AW, and have used each of them at least 100 times to charge protected (& some unprotected) various size Li-Ion's, mostly for FiveMega's MagLites.

I Never had a single problem, but just to be on the safe side, I also recently bought two of the Pila IC chargers which are obviously of very high quality. IMHO, the trashing of the DSD is overplayed.

Those pictures of the case and washing machine drum are great!

 

[Doug]

Well, I have 950's, does that matter? Does this charger charge faster than the DSD?

Ok, have a picture of your configuration listed below 🙂?

This has independent channels.
http://www.qualitychinagoods.com/ultrafirereg-intelligent-charger-plus-880mah-lir123-p-439.html

I am charging the 3.6 volt, 4 AA parallel battery packs now, they have about 2.9 Ah and I made a holder that connects to the UltraFire charger that is a dummy CR123.

Want a chuckle? I used a piece of wash machine fill hose and took apart two 40 caliber Smith And Wesson Full Metal Jacket rounds of ammunition. I pulled the rounds, emptied and deprimed the ammo, trimmed the case, the cartridge head is the negative terminal the FMJ bullet is the positive. They are stuck into the hose and wired to the D holder.

 

[Doug]

Who sells Pila chargers?

 

[LuxLuthor]

JS Burly's is where I got mine.

 

[Doug]

$43? I thought theses chargers where expensive? Ok... now, I ASSUME it would have no problem charging my 900ma protected battery station RCR123's, eh? And it's dual channel I assume......