Recommend a hobby charger set up?

[hazna]

I'm pretty n00b when it comes it hobby chargers, but I hear they are they way to go if you are after something to charges a range of Li-ion. I am after something that will safely charge an 10180 battery (~90mA current) up to a 18650 battery (in a reasonable amount of time). With the 18650, I would like to charge them two at a time, so they can 9be used together in a jetbeam m1x. I am also looking at charging 14500 and 10440 li-ions too.

I currently have a maha c9000 for my NiMH batteries. A CR123 nano charger with spacer for my 10180. A trustfire tr-001 for my 18650, 14500. I'm not a fan of the trustfire charger, I don't thing it does a good job of charging my cells.

Can you recommend a reasonably prices hobby charger, along with required accessories (power supply and charging bays?). Preferably under $80 all up...

 

[hazna]

actually maybe its cheaper if i get:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105

for my 18650... some people have said this charger is not bad and actually terminates correctly.

And for 10440, 14500, rcr123; http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14885

 

[Willie]

IMO unless you have a need for hobby charger to charge RC toys, then you're better off keeping the chargers you have. I haven't found any cradles meant for 16340, 14500, etc. that will connect to chargers, except for someone on here who made 18650 cradles.

With that said, I have and recommend the Thunder AC-6 if you want hobby charger. It is available here http://www.hobbypartz.com/thac6smbachw.html and I beleive shipping is about $5. It has built-in power supply, so you wouldn't need to buy one. Just plug it into your wall outlet.

You can vary charge current down to 100mA, so that should safely charge all the cells, even the 10440.

You would need to rig up some charging leads and balance adapters if you want to charge more than one at a time. Right now I have 2 strips of copper that I sandwich a battery between, clamp it together and attach alligator clips. Not elegant, but it works until I come up with better solution.

 

[McAllan]

IMO unless you have a need for hobby charger to charge RC toys, then you're better off keeping the chargers you have. I haven't found any cradles meant for 16340, 14500, etc. that will connect to chargers, except for smoeone on here who made 18650 cradles.

16340 is same size as CR123A and 14500 is just AA size.
While it should be possible to find cradles for 14500 - I know they're available from Conrad, perhaps ELV also etc. CR123A should be possible also. If you've used a soldering iron before it should be no problem making your own. They're available for primary cells usually with soldering tags. Solder two wires to the cadle and at the other end put of two banana plugs - done. If you have a little feeling for the quality you finish properly with shrink tubing etc.

 

[Willie]

Yes I know those sizes, but OP is mentioning 10440, 18650, 10180. basicially, he wants cradles for each size, commercially bought it seems. I don't know who makes them, and they would probably not be cheap. Since he already has a few dedicated chargers, I think he should either stick with those, or gut them and use them as cradles. He would also need to create balance taps if he wants to charge 2 at a time.

Since he said he is a noob, I would recommend getting a 2 bay 18650 charger. That's what I would have done if I didn't already have a hobby charger.