I have a cheap 18650 charger (yoho-122) and it won't fit any other cells. I want to start using 14500 cells so what would I have to do to make it compatible? Should I use metal spacers, or find a battery cradle and solder the wires together?
Making an 18650 charger work with 14500
- Thread starter vitekboi
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Tekno_Cowboy
Flashlight Enthusiast
You should just buy an Ultrafire WF-139 charger and use it for all your cells.
Using a charger for things it's not meant to do can be very dangerous.
Using a charger for things it's not meant to do can be very dangerous.
lolzertank
Enlightened
You'd have to charge in parallel with 2 cells per channel. The cells would have to be pretty close in charge state too. It would work, but you'd be better off getting a dedicated 14500 charger.
Tekno_Cowboy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Again, I'll say don't try to make it work. Is it worth chancing a vent-with-flame?
Am I right in I'm assuming if you're using a cheap charger, you're probably also using cheap cells, like Ultrafire?
This is one area where you shouldn't be too stingy. I've cause a few Li-ions to vent, and it's decidedly not pleasant. Please don't risk your safety by trying to re-use the 18650-only charger.
Am I right in I'm assuming if you're using a cheap charger, you're probably also using cheap cells, like Ultrafire?
This is one area where you shouldn't be too stingy. I've cause a few Li-ions to vent, and it's decidedly not pleasant. Please don't risk your safety by trying to re-use the 18650-only charger.
Mjolnir
Flashlight Enthusiast
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- Dec 19, 2008
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Apparently the YOHO charger is better than the WF-139 charger as far as its charging algorithm goes, and they are probably similar in quality. The WF-139 is by no means an upgrade to the YOHO, and is also a "cheap charger" The issue here is not quality, it is the rate at which the YOHO charges. Apparently it charges at around 1 amp, which is a charge rate of above 1C for a typical 14500 cell. The reason that the WF-139 is safer for charging these cells is not because it is a better charger, but because it only charges at about 350 milliamps, which is a much safer charging rate for a 14500.
If you have the money, I would suggest getting the PILA IBC, which has included spacers for 50 mm cells, and charges at 600 milliamps, which should be safer for 14500 cells.
If you have the money, I would suggest getting the PILA IBC, which has included spacers for 50 mm cells, and charges at 600 milliamps, which should be safer for 14500 cells.
Last edited:
lolzertank
Enlightened
I guess you can put a power resistor in parallel with the battery to shunt some of the current from the cell. Your CC stage will be kind of messed up, but it should be fine. Assuming you charge from 3V, you'll need a 7.5ohm 3W resistor. That'll give you a 600ma charge rate at 3V and a 440ma charge rate at 4.2V.
