Pila Charger and AW Batteries.

[1 what]

I recently purchased some AW 18650 batteries and a Pila charger and found that the charger wouldn't work with the batteries.
It didn't seem to recognize them and gave a "charger empty" and/or "damaged battery" indication when I tried to charge them..
Much head scratching....
I eventually sent a PM to AW and he walked me through testing the batteries and then suggested that the problem could be one of mechanical contact between the charger terminals and the battery.
Closer examination showed he was 100% right.

A simple "re-contour" of the Pila terminal solved the problem.

Hopefully this might save someone else spending half a Saturday afternoon on the PM to AW, or even worse, throwing away a perfectly good charger.
Many thanks AW - you'll have my ongoing support.

 

[WildChild]

I had the same problem with the Pila charger and a few UltraFire 18650. Just lifting a bit the positive terminal of the battery, while still making it touch the contact of ther charger, solved the problem.

 

[frosty]

I had the same problem. Also with the negative terminal. The plastic cover on the battery is what is actually in contact with the terminal. It's OK most of the time with 18650's but doesn't work at all with 17670's. A very thin magnetic spacer fixes the problem.

 

[LuxLuthor]

I like that simple indended ridge you made in the Pila contact spring though. Fast, easy, and no further steps needed. :thumbsup: Thanks!