Where to get a diverse charger?!?

[keith p]

Hi All!

I'm relatively new to CPF.

A good friend lent me his P7 2X18650 powered M@g. He pointed me to this forum and now I'm HOOKED! lovecpf

I have a few projects in the works. Mag 2C w/ a P7 (Still up in the air with selecting a battery configuration). Mag 1D triple-P7 (also pending battery selection). I also ordered a CR123 for EDC and I'm sure I will own a 18650 powered light in the near future.

I'm trying to find a charger. I want something diverse as I'm sure my needs will change.

Any suggestions?

 

[worldedit]

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7028

Charges about anything of you make the right adapter. Its cheap but mine works fine for a year now.

 

[keith p]

That looks like a good option. It got great reviews. :twothumbs

I may step up from the Turnigy Accucel-6 50W to the Turnigy Accucel-8 150W.

I'd like to be able to charge LiPo packs for my future RC car.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Hi All!

I'm relatively new to CPF.

A good friend lent me his P7 2X18650 powered M@g. He pointed me to this forum and now I'm HOOKED! lovecpf

I have a few projects in the works. Mag 2C w/ a P7 (Still up in the air with selecting a battery configuration). Mag 1D triple-P7 (also pending battery selection). I also ordered a CR123 for EDC and I'm sure I will own a 18650 powered light in the near future.

I'm trying to find a charger. I want something diverse as I'm sure my needs will change.

Any suggestions?

Get the Yoho-122, it is very cheap, fast and reliable. Great for large li-ion and IMR cells.

 

[ubetit]

That looks like a good option. It got great reviews. :twothumbs

I may step up from the Turnigy Accucel-6 50W to the Turnigy Accucel-8 150W.

I'd like to be able to charge LiPo packs for my future RC car.

My Accucel-8 should be here any day now.

 

[keith p]

The Accucel looks like exactly what I was looking for!

Now, should I get the 6 or the 8? The 8 has a higher charging power/current. Does that mean faster charges? Also, the 8 has a temp sensor. Will I need it? I imagine it would be a nice feature for R/C LiPo batteries. Would it be useful when charging my flashlight batteries?
The 8 is double the price. I don't think it is justified for my application.

Final question: Who sells battery holders for charging? I imagine I'll have a very odd mix of batteries I will want to charge.

Oh the fun of discovering new hobby:twothumbs

 

[yellow]

that charger for someone starting?
:thinking:
big NO, imho

f.e. that here:

Final question: Who sells battery holders for charging?

shows the 1st upcoming problems, or not?

also it seems You are planning to stay with individual cells, so why getting a charger meant for battery packs
(for people who are in electronics for X years and know why they wanted such a device and can handle it without thinking)

get something like this one here:
http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire...3-37-volt-Lithium-Battery-Charger_p_2279.html
charges any individual Li-Ion cell, 2 at a time.



PS: ever use protected cells!!

 

[worldedit]

The accucel 6 is plenty fast for normal sized batteries. I charge 3s 2000mah packs with it at 1C, thats only 26W and the charger can handle 50. Temperature Sensor is good for NiMh or NiCd charging since this cells get hot. Lipos/liions should stay cool!
You will have to make a battery holder yourself. I can show you pictures of mine(made from http://hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9287). But if your not into soldering and building stuff you should get the charger reccomendet by yellow.

 

[keith p]

that charger for someone starting?
:thinking:
big NO, imho

f.e. that here:shows the 1st upcoming problems, or not?

also it seems You are planning to stay with individual cells, so why getting a charger meant for battery packs
(for people who are in electronics for X years and know why they wanted such a device and can handle it without thinking)

I plan on charging packs down the road. I always wanted a brushless R/C car w/ LiPo packs.

Due to my lack of experience with lithium cells, I will go for the ultrafire charger. It looks like it would be great for traveling. As I learn what my needs are, I will venture for a more advanced charger.

BTW, my buddy recommended the same charger. I hate admitting when he is right

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

that charger for someone starting?
:thinking:
big NO, imho

f.e. that here:shows the 1st upcoming problems, or not?

also it seems You are planning to stay with individual cells, so why getting a charger meant for battery packs
(for people who are in electronics for X years and know why they wanted such a device and can handle it without thinking)

get something like this one here:
http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire...3-37-volt-Lithium-Battery-Charger_p_2279.html
charges any individual Li-Ion cell, 2 at a time.



PS: ever use protected cells!!

Please, do not recommend the piece of crap WF-139, this one is much more reliable -->> http://www.e-lectronics.net/charger-liion-17500-18650-batteries-p-150.html

Read about it on the Battery & Electronics section. Avoid the Ultrafire charges. They overcharge batteries and are extremely unstable during the charging process -->> http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=161820

The Pila IBC or the YOHO-122 are the only safe chargers.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

I plan on charging packs down the road. I always wanted a brushless R/C car w/ LiPo packs.

Due to my lack of experience with lithium cells, I will go for the ultrafire charger. It looks like it would be great for traveling. As I learn what my needs are, I will venture for a more advanced charger.

BTW, my buddy recommended the same charger. I hate admitting when he is right

Unfortunately, your friend is not right...Forget about the WF-139, get the YOHO-122. We already made the mistake, so you don't have to go through the same... read it -->> http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=136277

The WF-139 hazards -->> http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=161820
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=205036
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=241215

 

[keith p]

Ok, Trustfire is OUT. To think I almost pulled the tigger on one of those. UGH.

I like what I'm reading about the Pila IBC. Before I hit the "Send Payment" button, is there any reason I shouldn't get the Turnigy Accucel we discussed earlier?
Yes, it needs a DC power supply (which I have)
Yes, it only charges one cell at a time and comes with no cell holders

But it looks SO advanced. It also allows me to charge R/C batteries & NiMH cells.

Any other negatives to having an overly complicated charger?

 

[yellow]

doh, thought that was another model
does not "AW" sell this also and it is an improved version?
:thinking:
I use that model with no problems
(and greatly appreciate the multicell advantage to charge 14500, CR123a, up to 18650)

 

[keith p]

Sorry to bump this up again. I have been considering my needs more.

Can the Pila charger charge "C", "D", and 14500 lithium batteries? I assume I would need a battery holder.


EDIT: Can a mod move this to the "Flashlight Electronics - Batteries Included" section? Sorry I put it in the wrong area. Thanks.

 

[DM51]

Moving this to the Batteries section...

 

[worldedit]

Before I hit the "Send Payment" button, is there any reason I shouldn't get the Turnigy Accucel we discussed earlier?
Yes, it needs a DC power supply (which I have)
Yes, it only charges one cell at a time and comes with no cell holders

But it looks SO advanced. It also allows me to charge R/C batteries & NiMH cells.

Any other negatives to having an overly complicated charger?

Well, with this charger you need to do some reading about the batteries you want to charge. For examble what the right charge rate is. Also you need to be careful not to charge in the wrong programm. Other than that i see no problems. I even charge 2 li-ions at once with a cable i made. Charging a D-lion with the pila charger will take much longer than with the accucel.

 

[sparkysko]

Can't beat one of the smart chargers like the Turnigy. One of them looks identical to my Thunder Power 610C, UI and everything. You get battery readout to the fourth/fifth digit (4.201v) and controlling the charge rate is nice/necessary depending on what cells you are using.

It does suck having to make battery holder. I'm going to try aligator clips onto magnets. The radioshack 1xAA holder sucks and will eat the battery heatshrink, avoid it.

You could also buy a cheap charger with the sliding battery tray and modify it to hook up to the turnigy.

 

[DM51]

It does suck having to make battery holder. I'm going to try aligator clips onto magnets.

CPFer sdnative is selling excellent charging cradles here

 

[digitor]

..is there any reason I shouldn't get the Turnigy Accucel we discussed earlier?
Yes, it needs a DC power supply (which I have)
Yes, it only charges one cell at a time and comes with no cell holders

It will charge up to 6 Lithium cells at once, with individual cell monitoring (i.e. it's a "balance charger")

But it looks SO advanced. It also allows me to charge R/C batteries & NiMH cells.

Any other negatives to having an overly complicated charger?

Apart from burning your house down if you get it wrong, no! :thumbsup:

Cheers