Triton V1, WF139 or Pila IBC?

[member 6142]

Triton allows me to choose the charging current, which I'd like to set at no higher than 0.17C (http://www.powerstream.com/li.htm), WF139 overcharges with unprotected cells yet charges at 450mAh, Pila IBC is said to not overcharge.
What would it be the perfect ticket?

TIA

 

[Search]

With unprotected don't get a WF-139 unless you want to watch it the whole time.

With protected, my WF-139 stops every single time at 4.18. So I see no reason to spend the extra money for anything else.

Can't speak for anything else but the Pila, and that's only because I hear SO many good things about it.

 

[member 6142]

With unprotected don't get a WF-139 unless you want to watch it the whole time.

With protected, my WF-139 stops every single time at 4.18. So I see no reason to spend the extra money for anything else.

Can't speak for anything else but the Pila, and that's only because I hear SO many good things about it.

Thanks. One thing not clearly stated above: I already own WF-139 and Triton V1. But not Pila.

 

[Search]

Thanks. One thing not clearly stated above: I already own WF-139 and Triton V1. But not Pila.

Well, if you only lack one, you might want to just go ahead and buy the Pila (if money allows) and see what you think on a personal level.

 

[spencer]

I would use the triton if you already have it. Set up a cradle system and then you can charge as many Li cells in parallel as you want and adjust the current accordingly.

 

[member 6142]

I would use the triton if you already have it. Set up a cradle system and then you can charge as many Li cells in parallel as you want and adjust the current accordingly.

You came to quite an important point!
Could you redirect me to some place of info about how to make such a cradle system?

Thanks

 

[spencer]

You could buy some prebuilt cell holders from Digikey or maybe Mouser. I don't know if they make 18650 holders.

You could make something like this but instead of hooking it up to a balance connector just hook it up to the terminals. Here is another option.

 

[member 6142]

You could buy some prebuilt cell holders from Digikey or maybe Mouser. I don't know if they make 18650 holders.

You could make something like this but instead of hooking it up to a balance connector just hook it up to the terminals. Here is another option.

So, if I'm right I'd need (for >2 cells):
1)Triton
2)Cradle
3)equalizer

Am I right?

 

[spencer]

You don't need an equalizer (I think you mean balancer). The two options I linked to are for balancing a pack so you can charge them all in series with a lower current. The easiest way is to charge them in parallel which accomplishes the same thing except its easier.

 

[member 6142]

You don't need an equalizer (I think you mean balancer). The two options I linked to are for balancing a pack so you can charge them all in series with a lower current. The easiest way is to charge them in parallel which accomplishes the same thing except its easier.

I see. I've a rough idea: lets say I've two protected AW 18650 (I've no need to charge more than two cells at a time). I want to charge them in seires, thus I connect the - end of the first 18650 and the + end of the second with a neodymium magnet. Then I connect the + cable out of my Triton charger to the + end of the first 18650 and the - cable of Triton to the - end of the second 18650. Current set at 400mAh and voltage at 7.4v.
Would this setup work as well?

 

[spencer]

It definitely will as long as both cells are of equal amounts of discharge.

Putting the cells in parallel should (someone clarify) work if the cells are at different levels of discharge.

 

[member 6142]

It definitely will as long as both cells are of equal amounts of discharge.

Putting the cells in parallel should (someone clarify) work if the cells are at different levels of discharge.

Uuuuhm: quite not safe to go the series way.
I'll investigate further the parallel approach.
Thanks
Dan

 

[amigafan2003]

I see. I've a rough idea: lets say I've two protected AW 18650 (I've no need to charge more than two cells at a time). I want to charge them in seires, thus I connect the - end of the first 18650 and the + end of the second with a neodymium magnet. Then I connect the + cable out of my Triton charger to the + end of the first 18650 and the - cable of Triton to the - end of the second 18650. Current set at 400mAh and voltage at 7.4v.
Would this setup work as well?

Charging in series and needs a balancer.

This is charging in parallel:-

Connect both positive terminals of the batteries together then connect both negative terminals together. Now connect the positive on the charger to the positive on a battery and a negative on the charger to the negative on the battery.

So, two 4.2v 2200mah batteries in parallel is the same as one 4.2v 4400mah battery (parallel keeps the same voltage but doubles the capacity). Your charge would be something like 2200mah terminating at 4.2v for this set up.

Two 4.2v 2200mah batteries in series is the same as one 8.4v 2200mah battery (series doubles the voltage but leaves capacity the same). Charging would be something like 1100mah terminating at 8.4v for this set up.

You can use higher charge rates - 0.8c is typical for 18650 cells (so 1760mah on a 2200mah 18650)

I've included a diagram illustrating series and parallel.

 

[member 6142]

Charging in series and needs a balancer.

This is charging in parallel:-

Connect both positive terminals of the batteries together then connect both negative terminals together. Now connect the positive on the charger to the positive on a battery and a negative on the charger to the negative on the battery.

So, two 4.2v 2200mah batteries in parallel is the same as one 4.2v 4400mah battery (parallel keeps the same voltage but doubles the capacity). Your charge would be something like 2200mah terminating at 4.2v for this set up.

Two 4.2v 2200mah batteries in series is the same as one 8.4v 2200mah battery (series doubles the voltage but leaves capacity the same). Charging would be something like 1100mah terminating at 8.4v for this set up.

You can use higher charge rates - 0.8c is typical for 18650 cells (so 1760mah on a 2200mah 18650)

I've included a diagram illustrating series and parallel.

Quite clear.
So, if I got it right, when wired in parallel there is no need to worry about unbalanced charge, even if discharge status among the two cells is different?

Thanks

 

[rmteo]

Quite clear.
So, if I got it right, when wired in parallel there is no need to worry about unbalanced charge, even if discharge status among the two cells is different?

Thanks

Yes. Charging up to 8x 16340 in parallel.

 

[member 6142]

Yes. Charging up to 8x 16340 in parallel.

Quite a nice stack you've :)
Self made or bought?

 

[rmteo]

DIY using 8 of these http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=BH2/3A-3-ND glued together with epoxy. Total cost about $6. Works only with unprotected cells (protected are too long) which is all I use.

You can do the same thing for 18650's with these http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?vendor=0&keywords=BK-18650-PC2-ND

 

[member 6142]

DIY using 8 of these http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=BH2/3A-3-ND glued together with epoxy. Total cost about $6. Works only with unprotected cells (protected are too long) which is all I use.

You can do the same thing for 18650's with these http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?vendor=0&keywords=BK-18650-PC2-ND

Two quick questions:
1)Could I have a picture from the top so that I could see how did you connect the + (or -) ends among each other?
2)Lets make an example: I make a stack of six individual cradles for 16340. I'd be using 0.2A for each slot. This means 1.2A when all slots are engaged. But could I use only 4 of them, leaving two free, using 0.8A? In other words, should I have the whole array always full?

Huge thanks

 

[rmteo]

I connected the terminals using copper braid - but you can use anything. Solid copper wire works well.

Since the cells are connected in parallel, you can charge any number at a time - the array does NOT have to be full. Your charging current calculations are good.

 

[member 6142]

I connected the terminals using copper braid - but you can use anything. Solid copper wire works well.........Since the cells are connected in parallel, you can charge any number at a time - the array does NOT have to be full. Your charging current calculations are good.

Quite clear and -once more- huge thanks :thumbsup:
Order sent for cradles.