Noobie question re. r18650's

[adubbz]

Just trying to figure some stuff out before I get my new light and batteries.

The charger I have has 2 slots for 18650's. Meaning you can charge two batteries at once.

Are there chargers that will ONLY do 2 at once? Can I do only 1 at a time? I guess you can't know without knowing what charger.

Here is my next question. IF....IF, my charger will NOT do 1 at a time. ie, You have to have 2 batteries in it for it to work.

Is it safe for me to... 1. Charge 2 cells up to full. 2. Leave one charged cell IN and put the DIScharged one in with it, so it will charge?

Is that safe???

Thanks, and sorry if this is confusing.

Alex.

 

[RBWNY]

You're not required to charge 2 cells at once. Each bay charges separately. What charger are you using? They also make chargers that only have 1 bay. Part 2 --- It's NOT recommended to keep a fully charged cell in a charger. They should be removed from the bay (asap) after charging is complete. Questions answered now ???

 

[Norm]

Each bay charges separately.

Some cheap chargers charge cells in parallel.

Norm

 

[RBWNY]

Some cheap chargers charge cells in parallel.

Norm

Thanks for clarifying, Norm. Perhaps the poster will tell us which charger he's referring to.

 

[Thr3Evo]

Some cheap chargers charge cells in parallel.

Norm

Wouldn't that still mean that the bays are independent? And only the time in which full charge is acquired is actually affected?

 

[herosemblem]

Rbny, regarding your recommendation that a rechargeable battery be removed from the charger once the charge is complete...
Is this just a rule of thumb (I.e. something that applies to most situations and circumstances) or are there exceptions?
I was basically wondering if that statement applies to my intellicharger i4v2, which i believe is a "smart" charger that knows when fill charge is reached, and it shuts down each individual bay to a negligible level at that point...

 

[Norm]

No, this style of charger only has one channel, the cells are in parallel, charging time would be doubled.

Norm

 

[Thr3Evo]

And by independent I meant able to charge either one or two at once, as per the OP question.

Thanks for saying it properly Norm.

 

[RBWNY]

Rbny, regarding your recommendation that a rechargeable battery be removed from the charger once the charge is complete...
Is this just a rule of thumb (I.e. something that applies to most situations and circumstances) or are there exceptions?
I was basically wondering if that statement applies to my intellicharger i4v2, which i believe is a "smart" charger that knows when fill charge is reached, and it shuts down each individual bay to a negligible level at that point...

Although I'm not completely familiar with your specific charger, it's my understanding that most chargers will enter a 'trickle mode' once the green light comes on. It's been the thoughts of many on this board that administering a continuous (albeit-low) pulse of current, can be detremental to Li-ion cells. If your i4v2 handles NiMH's as well, that's a slightly different scenario.