I haven't been able to find this covered in the forums, but if it is please let me know the thread.
Both of my 18650 chargers allow you to charge one, or two cells, but without having separate charge indicator lights, so will charge both for the entire charging time.
With Li-ion technology, it is better for the cells to keep them topped up rather than deep cycle them which leads me to having cells with many different charge levels.
My question is, rather than charge them separately to make sure each cell is treated individually, can I put an 18650 with different levels of charge remaining in at the same time, or should I only ever charge them separately?
Inexpensive chargers seem to have a single charging circuit for the two cell holders and simply link the two positive and two negative terminals. It would then seem to me that if you start with cells with different discharge levels one of them would start to charge the other until they level out. This may or may not be dangerous, but certainly adds ageing to the initially higher charge cell as it discharges first before charging.
On another though, what about mixing capacities? If you have two batteries in parallel are they just like one battery with a higher capacity or do you risk overcharging the lower capacity cell (if not using protected cells)?
Both of my 18650 chargers allow you to charge one, or two cells, but without having separate charge indicator lights, so will charge both for the entire charging time.
With Li-ion technology, it is better for the cells to keep them topped up rather than deep cycle them which leads me to having cells with many different charge levels.
My question is, rather than charge them separately to make sure each cell is treated individually, can I put an 18650 with different levels of charge remaining in at the same time, or should I only ever charge them separately?
Inexpensive chargers seem to have a single charging circuit for the two cell holders and simply link the two positive and two negative terminals. It would then seem to me that if you start with cells with different discharge levels one of them would start to charge the other until they level out. This may or may not be dangerous, but certainly adds ageing to the initially higher charge cell as it discharges first before charging.
On another though, what about mixing capacities? If you have two batteries in parallel are they just like one battery with a higher capacity or do you risk overcharging the lower capacity cell (if not using protected cells)?
