Problems with Nitecore Intellicharge i4 Version 2 overcharging

[xeonsaga88]

Hi all, i have just bought the Nitecore Intellicharge i4 Version 2 after my hobby charger went dead, however fresh off the charger, my batteries (18650 panasonics, aw' IMR, sony IMR) all shows a voltage of 4.25-4.26 measure with my Fluke DMM. :sigh:

Has anyone encounter this problem with their nitecore v2 chargers?
Should i exchange or get a refund as i am afraid after exchanging the problem will still persist.
Please advice, thanks.

 

[The Engineer]

My Intellicharger i4 V2 works perfekt with Eagletac 16340, 18650(2400 and 3100mah) ,17650 and 14500
Never had more than 4.21V
Is your DMM working correctly?
maybe you can try an other DMM befor exchange you charger.

 

[HighlanderNorth]

My Intellicharger i4 V2 works perfekt with Eagletac 16340, 18650(2400 and 3100mah) ,17650 and 14500
Never had more than 4.21V
Is your DMM working correctly?
maybe you can try an other DMM befor exchange you charger.

How important is it to get a digital multi meter when you own and use Li-ion and NiMh batteries on a fairly regular basis? What a good, accurate, reasonably priced DMM?

 

[loquutis79]

I would say rather important. You need to be able to monitor what your batteries are doing as far as charge and discharge goes.
Really the only way to avoid venting with flames or other not so nice events.

 

[45/70]

How important is it to get a digital multi meter when you own and use Li-ion and NiMh batteries

I would say it's pretty much mandatory.

Regardless of what many light manufacturers and battery relabelers would like you to believe, individual "loose" Li-Ion cells were never intended to be used in flashlights/torches by the actual cell manufacturers. Since this is more or less a "custom" use, more vigilance is necessary when caring for and handling the cells we use in our lights. The best way to monitor what is going on with Li-Ion cells, is to check voltage frequently, during the various maintenance and uses we put them through.

Dave

 

[TweakMDS]

Sorry to bump up an old topic, but I'm planning to buy this charger soon, and was wondering about the statements that using a DMM is needed for some extra care. Do you guys ever test your battery voltage under load? I've always learned that testing batteries has to be done under load (like a few percent of the capacity).
I wonder if that could give a different result, probably a few mV lower).

More on topic, 4.25V would be only 1-2% more than the target voltage, would that be relevant? I'm tempted to write it off as sample variation and measuring deviation. Maybe after a few months some other people could chime in regarding this charger and overcharging?

 

[chrisb]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread but I can't find a new one and I'm having the exact same problem with my i4 charger. It charges my 18650s to 4.25V, when measured with a dmm, and 4.30V in the Nitecore TM26's built-in volt meter. I measured the i4's charging voltage and it oscillates between 4.22V and 4.24V :confused:

Is this something I should be seriously concerned about? And here's some additional info that adds to my confusion- after a day or two, the battery voltage shown on the TM26 oled display is still 4.30V but when I measure them with the dmm, it has dropped to 4.21V. Now I don't know which one is defective, the charger, the dmm or the TM26! :sigh:

 

[RCTPAVUK]

Based on tm26 Oled, mine I4 charges up to 4.20 v
Batteries 4*18650 Keeppower 3400mah.
Also I put them in the evening and extracted from the charger in the next morning. All 4 batteries weren't hot at all while were in the charger.
What batteries do you use?

 

[chrisb]

I use the green protected panasonic 18650s, 3400mAh. Last night, I charged a set with the TM26. The OLED says 4.20V when charging finished but my dmm says it's 4.10V I guess I'll just use my TM26 to charge, better to err on the low side...

 

[Norm]

I use the green protected panasonic 18650s, 3400mAh. Last night, I charged a set with the TM26. The OLED says 4.20V when charging finished but my dmm says it's 4.10V I guess I'll just use my TM26 to charge, better to err on the low side...

How accurate is your meter?

Norm

 

[vulturez]

All, this is quite interesting as I had no idea there was that much "monitoring" to be done on a set of batteries. Are these pretty much mandatory actions or just and O&M procedures? Is it absolutely necessary to use DMM's on a continual basis monitor charge rates on the 18650 batteries? I just purchased the Nitecore I4 V2 charger and know want to know if it is prudent to purchase a DMM. Thanks for your input in advance.

 

[thedoc007]

All, this is quite interesting as I had no idea there was that much "monitoring" to be done on a set of batteries. Are these pretty much mandatory actions or just and O&M procedures? Is it absolutely necessary to use DMM's on a continual basis monitor charge rates on the 18650 batteries? I just purchased the Nitecore I4 V2 charger and know want to know if it is prudent to purchase a DMM. Thanks for your input in advance.

I agree that having a DMM is pretty much mandatory. Any type of electronic device can be defective, and if you never test, you may not know you are creating a safety hazard until you have a battery fire/explosion. I'm not trying to be alarmist, these events are rare, but voltage is very easy to test, and a cheap DMM will do fine if that's all you ask of it. If you spend a lot of money on lights and cells, it stands to reason a few extra bucks on safety/maintenance is a good idea too. Even if you never have any major problems, charging to 4.25 volts will definitely shorten the lifespan of your batteries. They are designed for 4.2 volts MAXIMUM, and lithium ion cells are sensitive to abuse compared to NiMH. When you have that much energy stored (12.6 watt hours can do significant damage) basic precautions are a good idea.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Not saying that it's part of OP's problem, but remember back a couple of years, Nitecore/Systemax were having a problem with those chargers on US 110v/120v mains.

DMMs are mandatory. I just fiddled with a naked Sanyo 14500 and it's acting a bit flaky over the past two cycles, so I'd never have known that without a DMM handy, to monitor what's going on.

Ka-boom!

Chris

 

[Norm]

DMMs are mandatory. I just fiddled with a naked Sanyo 14500 and it's acting a bit flaky over the past two cycles, so I'd never have known that without a DMM handy, to monitor what's going on.
Chris

Agreed Chris but does the OP see a problem that doesn't exist because his meter is off, I'd be looking at meter accuracy before I blamed anything else.

Multimeter specifications: what does "counts" mean?

Google

Norm

 

[ginbot86]

I've found that my batteries, right when the charger terminates, is just over 4.24 volts. However, allowing the battery voltage to settle leaves the battery right at the 4.20 volt mark. This shouldn't be harmful to the batteries but it could reduce their longevity if stored at this voltage.

 

[Norm]

However, allowing the battery voltage to settle leaves the battery right at the 4.20 volt mark. This shouldn't be harmful to the batteries but it could reduce their longevity if stored at this voltage.

Have you read this?

Norm

 

[mcnair55]

I have not read in any flash light instruction manual or with any batteries i have bought about using multi meters,this is the hobby gone mad imo and these bogey man stories frighten new people.

I have been collecting and using lights for the last few years and not once i have used my meter.I use common sense.

 

[ginbot86]

Have you read this?

Norm

In all honesty I missed that particular thread and post. The batteries I often charge on the i4 aren't the typical single 18650s used on flashlights, they're large (6000+ mAh) batteries which means that the ~50 mA taper current is like a C/120 charge current. I've found that the voltages settled less with my larger packs, that's all.

But hey, I'm just an engineering student/hobbyist so what do I know. :whistle:

 

[ChrisGarrett]

I have not read in any flash light instruction manual or with any batteries i have bought about using multi meters,this is the hobby gone mad imo and these bogey man stories frighten new people.

I have been collecting and using lights for the last few years and not once i have used my meter.I use common sense.

I'm in the habit of checking everything with my DMM. I even stick in the mains outlets, just to see what juice Florida Power and Light's Nuke Plant is pumping through my condo.

Problem with 'common sense' is, is that it's not all that common.

I reload my own ammunition and I feel that I'm fairly cautious, but not 'safety anal' about it, however I see people actually doing dangerous stuff and getting away with it.

They lament just what you lament...'I've never done it that way and I have all of my fingers and toes, so there.'

If you're a gambler, you play the percentages and percentages are better for smooth sailing if you use a DMM and at least have an idea of what's going on. Otherwise, you're just fumbling around in the dark (pun intended.)

Chris

 

[chrisb]

How accurate is your meter?

Norm

I don't know, it doesn't say anywhere on the literature. It's a $12 dmm I got from the local hardware store. But the Tm26's is supposed to be accurate to 0.01V ... What's a good dmm for this? Without spending 100 plus bucks on a fluke?


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