Lithium Ion Charger

[humzai]

I ordered a nightcore D10 earlier this week and have been researching lithium ion batteries and chargers. I know I would like to use aw 14500's with the light and also have the option of charging rcr123s and 18650s among others. I am a gear-a-holic and I see myself getting a new lights frequently enough and would like the option of using a charger I already have.I was thinking about getting into lithium ion batteries but it seems that you either have cheap crappy chargers for $17 available or have to spend alot more for a hobby charger. The price does not really bother me it is just that hobby chargers look a mess to deal with. I guess the pila ibc is the best consumer level charger available but it appears there is nothing for lithium ions similar to the nice nimh chargers. Are there any fully featured consumer level chargers or do you have to go the hobby level charger way if you want all the nice features?

 

[45/70]

I was thinking about getting into lithium ion batteries but it seems that you either have cheap crappy chargers for $17 available or have to spend alot more for a hobby charger.......I guess the pila ibc is the best consumer level charger available but it appears there is nothing for lithium ions similar to the nice nimh chargers. Are there any fully featured consumer level chargers or do you have to go the hobby level charger way if you want all the nice features?

If I understand you correctly, one of the beauties of Li-Ion cells is you don't need the nice features you refer to. To charge a Li-Ion, all it needs is a constant current at 1C or less till it reaches 4.2 Volts and then constant voltage applied, with diminishing current down to about 10mA and your done. Quite simple, really. Problem is, most of the cheap chargers do this simple task poorly or, worse yet, not at all.

There is never any need to condition or refresh a Li-Ion cell and only rare occasions where you may want to partially discharge a cell, to prepare it for storage for example, and then, you can always just use it a bit in it's intended device to accomplish this.

I'm all for the Pila IBC. I don't have one, only the cheap ones you refer to. Having had a few of them though (more than enough to have bought a Pila in the first place:duh2:), I have weeded out the bad ones and only the acceptable ones remain. I also use a bench supply. Still, I'd go with the Pila.

Dave

 

[pobox1475]

I guess the pila ibc is the best

Having recently ordered a 123 light I am looking forward to the IBC and some AW protected 14500, 18650 and RCR123 to work with. Please let us know of any good retailers to get the charger from.

 

[Dukester]

Having recently ordered a 123 light I am looking forward to the IBC and some AW protected 14500, 18650 and RCR123 to work with. Please let us know of any good retailers to get the charger from.

This where I got mine, really a good price.

http://www.flashlightz.com/product.php?p=pila_bc01-ac01&product=171829

 

[mdocod]

Get a Pila IBC and some various dummy spacers to charge LiCo and LiMn cells RCR123 size and larger....

Paint some flames on the side of it and give it a cool name like "Tornado rapid pulsifying E-deathtronic" and boom.... you have a hobby grade li-ion charger for $35+shipping :)

Enjoy

Eric

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

I use the wolf-eyes protected 14500's in my D10, they seem to work very well.