Recommend me a Lithium Ion Charger

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Squidboy

Newly Enlightened
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Sep 20, 2004
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I'm looking mainly for a 14500 charger that could possibly do 18650. However I'm not paying £40 ($65) for a Pila so what are my options.

I have searched through the forum and the WF 139 seems like it works for most people but the real forum techies say that its a vile heap of poo!

I think a sticky thread in batteries would be a good idea as folk are probably getting sick of answering these. Would need to identify the top 10 chargers and put up a pole to summarize peoples opinions

Any way suggestions please :)
 
you could get that cheap turnegy charger for $40 it will do many things, and even give you some cheap quick testing.
it will give you much more variables you could use, and more info that you will have to know to use it.
it would be more versitile , and provide more info on the state of your battery, even if it isnt a premium hobby charger it works ok, and for a while.
 
Squidboy said:
I'm looking mainly for a 14500 charger that could possibly do 18650. However I'm not paying £40 ($65) for a Pila so what are my options.

I have searched through the forum and the WF 139 seems like it works for most people but the real forum techies say that its a vile heap of poo!

I think a sticky thread in batteries would be a good idea as folk are probably getting sick of answering these. Would need to identify the top 10 chargers and put up a pole to summarize peoples opinions

Any way suggestions please :)
Click to expand...
YOHO-122.
 
I wish you guys would stop recommending the YOHO-122 unless you can provide a link to a seller that actually has it in stock. Apparently its not being sold anywhere anymore.
 
Asbestos said:
I wish you guys would stop recommending the YOHO-122 unless you can provide a link to a seller that actually has it in stock. Apparently its not being sold anywhere anymore.
Click to expand...
Considering the Yoho-122 only sold out at both known sellers in the last couple of weeks, it was a valid recommendation at the time.
 
Frankly I do not understand why anyone would risk the possible outcome of using a "dumb" charger.

Spend the extra $20 and get a Pila, or one that actually turns off at the appropriate time reliably (such as ??).

Babysitting batteries is bad enough, doing it with a possible grenade launcher just tempts fate.

I know many folks use cheap chargers (under $35) with no problems (yet) but to me, all it takes is one tragedy and a major lawsuit to make LI go away for good.

Lots of risk with LI cells and an uninformed user base (not that CPF'ers are uninformed, but many casual users surely are).
 
Hasn't really stopped people owning handguns though, has it?

Cheap WF-139 for me, in a pyrex dish, smoke alarm and fire extinguisher handy (it always was, even before I started using lions). Plus a volt meter just to double check.

I think the risk from lions is overstated and yes, I've read the horror threads.


To keep my response on topic, I see no reason not to use a WF-139 for the reasons explained above.
 
Just pick up a hobby charger and be done...yeah they are defintely more expensive, but hey you get a piece of mind knowing that it will do your batteries right...

and if you get a good one now, I doubt that you will ever own a battery that it wont be able to charge... a good one, 100.00-150.00 will allow you all kind of options for charging all kind of differnt battery chemisty's... Li-Ion, NiMh, Nicad, Pb, etc....

By the time you buy 2 different chargers.. lets say a Li-Ion and a NiMh, you could have spent 30.00 bucks more and got a single charger that will allow you to pick the charge current, cut off voltage, and will allow you to discharge and charge in cycles...

My 2 cents...
 
+1 on hobby charger. Thunder Power continues to release firmware updates for their chargers as new technologies/algorithms come out.

Only downside is finding/making decent battery holders for charging in. Try finding a cradle for protected 14500's that won't shred the heatshrink.

I'm half tempted just to buy another cheap ultrafire charger to use for the charging cradle. My trustfire charger terminates at 4.25 which is utter crap. I'd hardly tolerate 4.201.

As far as cheap and good, I'd be interested in finding one just to save the hassle of making custom cradles for everything.
 
sparkysko said:
Only downside is finding/making decent battery holders for charging in. Try finding a cradle for protected 14500's that won't shred the heatshrink.

I'm half tempted just to buy another cheap ultrafire charger to use for the charging cradle. My trustfire charger terminates at 4.25 which is utter crap. I'd hardly tolerate 4.201.

As far as cheap and good, I'd be interested in finding one just to save the hassle of making custom cradles for everything.
Click to expand...
I haven't done it yet, but both DX and KD sell a universal charger for single cells that looks to be a promising host for cell cradle conversion. Or, you could always go the magnetic charging leads route...

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14885
 
Pila my friend, Pila. It has been working GREAT for me for the last few years. Looks at it this way, is a ONE time purchase if you use 17670 an 18650 batt.
 
What would the recommendation be for a 4 channel charger? My main charging need is 3x17670 and 3x18650.

Since everyone seems to recommend Pila, do they make a 4-bay charger?

I have a very complex hobby charger (pc-controlled), and that's what I'm using now but I'd like something that's just plain easier to use.
 
mwaldron said:
What would the recommendation be for a 4 channel charger? .
Click to expand...

2 of them. seen pictures of peoples charging setups, and having multiples when needing multiples is easy enough. plus you can put (all) the wall warts on a single easy to shut off power strip or timer.

a nice tray or rack or spring holder, or magnetic things and the Balancing capability of your hobby charger.
if cell trays for the li-ion were as easy to get as for standard consumer batteries, then you just put the balancing wires and connector on.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=241266
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=240139
http://www.luminousdiy.com/Light%20Kits%20and%20Parts.htm#holders
 
VidPro said:
2 of them. seen pictures of peoples charging setups, and having multiples when needing multiples is easy enough. plus you can put (all) the wall warts on a single easy to shut off power strip or timer.

a nice tray or rack or spring holder, or magnetic things and the Balancing capability of your hobby charger.
if cell trays for the li-ion were as easy to get as for standard consumer batteries, then you just put the balancing wires and connector on.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=241266
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=240139
http://www.luminousdiy.com/Light Kits and Parts.htm#holders
Click to expand...

I ordered 8 bays worth of those this week for the purpose of building a nice hobby charger rig. Final cost is going to be $180 for 8 bay li-ion charging ability and everything else the Bantam BC8 supports.

I'd recommend this option, but it's quiet a bit more involved. The pila is the best bet for a small simple application. I'm planning to get one for travel use.
 
VidPro said:
2 of them. seen pictures of peoples charging setups, and having multiples when needing multiples is easy enough. plus you can put (all) the wall warts on a single easy to shut off power strip or timer.
Click to expand...

I figured that would be the answer, thanks.

I seem to remember Pilia's use 12VDC so I'll must wire them up to my station supply. I really need to get more rechargable lights so I can make the investment in a few chargers and a boatload of batteries.

Thanks!
 
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