Help needed for Noob in 18650 batt/charger

[dschia]

Hi everyone, I have a fenix Tk11 which comes with wf-139 and 1 18650 battery. I think my wf-139 die on me after using once. About few mths ago, the charger doesn't shows any red or green light with or without batt. Today I tried switching on the power for the charger and I saw a quick flash of green light before it went dead again. What could be wrong with it?

I know nuts about multimeter but went to buy one, is there any simple guide around to teach how to use it to test batt? I tried reading the sticky thread and plenty more but i find it still too techy for absolute noob like me . Any idiot proof guide or advice around for me to read? Hope I don't sound too dumb..

 

[how2]

Hi Dschia welcome to CPF

This may help http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=236906

 

[45/70]

Welcome to CPF, dschia! :thumbsup:

A lot of folks, after buying 4 or 5 cheap chargers like the WF-139 end up buying a Pila. In the long run it is well worth the initial investment and can actually work out to being cheaper, as well as quite a bit safer.

Dave

 

[HKJ]

A lot of folks, after buying 4 or 5 cheap chargers like the WF-139 end up buying a Pila. In the long run it is well worth the initial investment and can actually work out to being cheaper, as well as quite a bit safer.

And some people are ok with the WF-139, I have 3 in regular use. One point I really like about the WF-139 is that many different size cells can be charged in it.
As long as AW recommend the WF-139 I do not believe that there is anything wrong with using it for LiIon batteries.

 

[45/70]

And some people are ok with the WF-139

Far be it from me to challenge probably the most popular Li-Ion charger on CPF!

Personally, I don't think they're safe, and won't ever own one. Between UltraFire's less than spectacular reputation, the inconsistencies reported on CPF concerning the WF-139 , the improper charging algorithm used, and the failure rate of this particular charger (hence, the topic of the OP's thread), I just thought I would suggest an alternative.

The Pila IBC has little, or no publicity pertaining to the aforementioned problems. I don't own either charger, therefore my opinion is unbiased and based strictly on an outsider's astute observations.

Dave

 

[march.brown]

.
The Soshine SC-S2 charger gets a pretty good reports on CPF and mine seems to charge my 18650s to just below the 4.2 volts ... But there again, my Trustfire TR-001 also seems to be OK.

As long as you are checking cell voltages regularly during the charging cycle and don't let the cell stay in the charger after the "Charged" LED light comes on, most chargers will be OK ... It is essential that you do check the cell voltages regularly during the charge and don't leave the cell on charge overnight or for extended periods ... Don't let the open circuit cell voltage go over the 4.2 volts and the cell should have a few years of useful life ... Unfortunately the Li-Ion cells have a life that is age related so even if you only charge it a couple of times a year, it will still die in a few years ... I remove the cells from the charger to check the open circuit voltage and then put them back on charge again if the voltage is below 4.2 volts.

Get cells that have protection built in to give you that bit of extra security, they are not a lot more expensive but worth every penny.

The Pila charger gets good reviews, but I can't justify the price when my other chargers are (for me) giving good results.
.

 

[Max_Power]

Iif you ever stick an 18650 into the WF-139 and then leave it there a couple of weeks while you are on vacation, you might come home to a smouldering pile of rubble instead of a house. The Pila shuts off current when the endpoint is reached, while the cheap chargers do not. And the protection circuits in the batteries themselves are not reliable - this is proven in multiple brands by impartial testing here on CPF.

My Pila IBC is a $50 fire insurance policy.

 

[redsfairlane]

I think we need to know a little more, like what battery do you have? or more specificaly is it protected or not.

I ask because if the first time you used the light, and it is an unprotected cell, and you used it until you saw the light go dim, then it will most likely belong in the recycle bin now. This is what I did with one of my first unprotected cells. If this is the case then there is nothing wrong with the charger, it is not charging the battery because it is not supposed to.

If the cell is protected however, then you may need to use the multimeter to explore things further.

Hi everyone, I have a fenix Tk11 which comes with wf-139 and 1 18650 battery. I think my wf-139 die on me after using once. About few mths ago, the charger doesn't shows any red or green light with or without batt. Today I tried switching on the power for the charger and I saw a quick flash of green light before it went dead again. What could be wrong with it?

I know nuts about multimeter but went to buy one, is there any simple guide around to teach how to use it to test batt? I tried reading the sticky thread and plenty more but i find it still too techy for absolute noob like me . Any idiot proof guide or advice around for me to read? Hope I don't sound too dumb..

 

[dschia]

Thanks everyone for the welcoming! I learn about the pila ibc in cpf but unfortunately shipping is gona kill because I am located in Asia.

Hi Dschia welcome to CPF

This may help [URL]http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=236906[/URL]

Thanks so much for that! I actually came across tt thread quite some time back and has been trying to search for it the past few days with no success.

I think we need to know a little more, like what battery do you have? or more specificaly is it protected or not.

I ask because if the first time you used the light, and it is an unprotected cell, and you used it until you saw the light go dim, then it will most likely belong in the recycle bin now. This is what I did with one of my first unprotected cells. If this is the case then there is nothing wrong with the charger, it is not charging the battery because it is not supposed to.

If the cell is protected however, then you may need to use the multimeter to explore things further.

Hi, I got my fenix light, wf 139 charger and a plain blue cell (written rechargable 18650 protected battery 2700mah) from my local supplier 1 yr ago. The only info I learn from the seller is not to wait till the cell is flat before charging. I rem i read somewhere in cpf that as long as the batt has been used, I could simply re-charge it so that is what i did but all along the wf-139 couldn't charge it. Did I damage the charger because i charge it too frequently?

After some time, my fenix light go dim and since i couldn't charge it, I assumed that the batt is dying and went online to get 2 pink ultrafire brc 3000mah batt which claimed protected(I choose those because it has the same length of the blue cell :shrug. After using the new cell for like a hr, i try charging it with wf-139 with no success, so possibly charger is dead?

 

[45/70]

Hi dschia. In your original post you said

About few mths ago, the charger doesn't shows any red or green light with or without batt.

This would indicate to me, that your charger is dead.

Although it has been a year, I would contact your supplier again, and ask them what's up with your charger. It's worth a try anyway. Frequently charging your cell(s) shouldn't have any ill effect on the charger. That's what they're made for, charging cells!

Dave

 

[mfm]

Thanks everyone for the welcoming! I learn about the pila ibc in cpf but unfortunately shipping is gona kill because I am located in Asia.

This charger should have the similar features (Charges to 4.13 only, turns off after the charging is complete) as the PILA but for $10 shipped: http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=9650 Here is more information: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=256177

I don't have the above model, I'm using this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13820 without any problems. There is another model that (probably) is the same with flat plugs: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105

Both above chargers use proper CC/CV charging unlike the WF-139. It is probable that using WF-139 is shortening the life of the cells compared to other chargers that implement the CC/CV algorithm.

You really need to get a digital multimeter to be able to check the cell voltages too.

 

[PolarBearX]

glad I found this thread, just purchased my first 18650 host and was dreading the purchase of a new charger, but know I have to be safer than I am with my NiMH batteries.

question, the $10 SheKor can do 16340 too, so if rcr123a are the same size and voltage, why doesn't it mention that it can do them? I'd like to get the most versatile charger.

PBX

This charger should have the similar features (Charges to 4.13 only, turns off after the charging is complete) as the PILA but for $10 shipped: http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=9650 Here is more information: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=256177

I don't have the above model, I'm using this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13820 without any problems. There is another model that (probably) is the same with flat plugs: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105

Both above chargers use proper CC/CV charging unlike the WF-139. It is probable that using WF-139 is shortening the life of the cells compared to other chargers that implement the CC/CV algorithm.

You really need to get a digital multimeter to be able to check the cell voltages too.

 

[don.gwapo]

Get yourself one of these: http://www.lighthound.com/AW-18650-...able-Lithium-Battery--New-Version_p_3125.html

And a Pila charger and your good to go. It will cost you but it's worth it.

 

[mfm]

question, the $10 SheKor can do 16340 too, so if rcr123a are the same size and voltage, why doesn't it mention that it can do them?PBX

16340 is the same thing as RCR123A.

 

[dschia]

Thx all for the help! Is there an ideal time for re-charging 18650 cell? I was told by a shop that I should only charge the cell when my flash light go dim. Any truth?

 

[mfm]

Thx all for the help! Is there an ideal time for re-charging 18650 cell? I was told by a shop that I should only charge the cell when my flash light go dim. Any truth?

No, that's wrong, you can charge Li-ion cells as often as you like.

It's bad to wait until the flashlight go dim, if you have a protected 18650 (and the protection circuit works) it will just turn itself off when the voltage level becomes too low.

If you're using an unprotected 18650 cell you can damage the cell if you drain it too much, the result can be that you can't charge it at all or that it will explode during charging.

 

[dschia]

Thx! I am keen with the shekor charger but I can't rem is it the brand that has bad review by one of the local shop.

By the way, any opinion on this charger?http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250594139876&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Coincidently, the local shop I went to actually recommend me this charger claiming he has less prb with it compared to the other charger he is selling (looks abit like the shekor, can't rem as many look alike). Now I do feel he is doing sales talk since he is the one who told me frequent charging of 18650 cell will spoil it, really not sure so hope to hear opinion on this charger.

Think maybe I give the shekor charger a try.

 

[mfm]

Thx! I am keen with the shekor charger but I can't rem is it the brand that has bad review by one of the local shop.

By the way, any opinion on this charger?http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250594139876&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Coincidently, the local shop I went to actually recommend me this charger claiming he has less prb with it compared to the other charger he is selling (looks abit like the shekor, can't rem as many look alike). Now I do feel he is doing sales talk since he is the one who told me frequent charging of 18650 cell will spoil it, really not sure so hope to hear opinion on this charger.

Think maybe I give the shekor charger a try.

That charger is actually quite good, but I wouldn't use it for 18650 cells myself because of its low charge rate. I think someone said it took 17 hours to fully charge an 18650! (And you should supervise the charging...)

 

[kramer5150]

I have been using a Mystery hobby charger from DX and its worked great. I use a 5A Lenovo laptop P/S and its a killer budget charging setup. Its a legit CC/CV. Although I still monitor it while it charges, and try not leave it unattended. Cell voltages top at 4.2V and my cells are never higher than 4.17 hot off.