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==NiMH Battery Chargers== | ==NiMH Battery Chargers== | ||
When shopping for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) chargers it is important to find a charger that will do three things: 1. Charge the cells independently instead of in pairs (this is important in case one battery is bad, which happens frequently), 2. Charge at an appropriate rate --taking at least 1-2 hours (no 15-minute fast chargers!), and 3. Correctly stop charging when the battery is full (rather than charge for some number of hours | When shopping for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) chargers it is important to find a charger that will do three things: 1. Charge the cells independently instead of in pairs (this is important in case one battery is bad, which happens frequently), 2. Charge at an appropriate rate --taking at least 1-2 hours (no 15-minute fast chargers!), and 3. Correctly stop charging when the battery is full (rather than charge for some number of hours regar.dless of the charge currently in the battery). Very few chargers you see in stores will do all of these. Note that some of the lithium chargers listed later will also charge NiMH cells correctly. | ||
NiMH cells will last more cycles if they are charged at an appropriate rate. The ideal charging rate is 0.5C, where C is the capacity of the battery in mah. For example, a 2700 mah cell (C=2700) should be charged at about 1350 mA (there is some debate about whether lower rates or a rate up to 1.0C is better). Therefore chargers with a charge rate that can be selected by the user are preferred. For capacity testing, the discharge rate is usually 0.20 to 0.25C. | NiMH cells will last more cycles if they are charged at an appropriate rate. The ideal charging rate is 0.5C, where C is the capacity of the battery in mah. For example, a 2700 mah cell (C=2700) should be charged at about 1350 mA (there is some debate about whether lower rates or a rate up to 1.0C is better). Therefore chargers with a charge rate that can be selected by the user are preferred. For capacity testing, the discharge rate is usually 0.20 to 0.25C. | ||
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[[File:Digichargerd4.jpg|thumb|Nitecore Digicharger D4 is a 4-bay charger with digital readout]]Li-ion chargers aren't as commercially widespread as NiMH chargers. Precautions must be taken to avoid overheating cells and they should be monitored while charging. Some people only charge li-ion cells in their fireplace or in a steel bucket! For tips on safely using Li-ion cells refer to [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=235164 this post]. The important thing for li-ion chargers is to correctly stop charging when the battery voltage reaches 4.2 volts (for a typical 3.7 volt cell) and not to charge at a rate exceeding the capacity of the cell (e.g. "1C" for an 800 mAh battery is 800 mA). See [http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries this article] from Battery University for information about properly charging li-ion cells. A good charger will slow the charge rate as the battery gets closer to being fully charged. All of the chargers below charge NiMH as well as lithium ion cells. | [[File:Digichargerd4.jpg|thumb|Nitecore Digicharger D4 is a 4-bay charger with digital readout]]Li-ion chargers aren't as commercially widespread as NiMH chargers. Precautions must be taken to avoid overheating cells and they should be monitored while charging. Some people only charge li-ion cells in their fireplace or in a steel bucket! For tips on safely using Li-ion cells refer to [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=235164 this post]. The important thing for li-ion chargers is to correctly stop charging when the battery voltage reaches 4.2 volts (for a typical 3.7 volt cell) and not to charge at a rate exceeding the capacity of the cell (e.g. "1C" for an 800 mAh battery is 800 mA). See [http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries this article] from Battery University for information about properly charging li-ion cells. A good charger will slow the charge rate as the battery gets closer to being fully charged. All of the chargers below charge NiMH as well as lithium ion cells. | ||
* | * [http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_260891.html SkyRC MC3000] a well regarded 4-bay charger that can do just about anything including testing and charging of all kinds of batteries, including 26650 size at up to 3000mA (4 batteries at once) and discharging at up to 2000mA (1 battery). Can charge/discharge a battery for storage. Has USB and Bluetooth computer connectivity. Firmware can be updated. $89-$99 at GearBest. Review by [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/43699 HKJ] | ||
* [http://www. | * [http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_173012.html Opus BT-C3100] Popular 4-bay charger that can test capacity of cells at a selectable discharge rate of up to 1000mA down to 2.8V. Tests internal resistance of a battery to tell you how healthy it is. Charges at a user selectable rate from 200mA up to 1000mA with 4 cells or 2000mA with 2 cells. Can charge batteries to 3.7V (LiFePo), 4.2V (most lithium ion batteries), or 4.35V (some lithium ion batteries designed for this voltage). Also charges NiMH batteries. The BT-C3100 v2.2 ([http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_173012.html $34] at Gearbest) appears to be the same charger as the BT-3400 which was sold at Amazon. Review of v2.1 by [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/33910 HKJ]. | ||
* [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-i4-intellicharger-2014-edition.html Nitecore Intellicharger i4] - 4-bay 2-channel charger (Bays 1 and 3 share a channel, as do 2 and 4). Charges li-ion cells as well as NiMH without the display and options of the D4 model. Usually around $15-20. Reviews: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/9508 HKJ], [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?336936 Selfbuilt]. Similar [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-intellicharge-i2.html 2-bay model]. | * [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-d4-digicharger.html Nitecore Digicharger D4] An easy to use 4-bay charger similar to the I4 below, but with a digital readout for voltage and current (about $25-30) as well as a 2-bay [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-d2-digicharger.html D2]. Maximum charging current is 750mA, but only 375mA when charging 3 or 4 batteries (slots 1 and 4 share a channel, slots 2 and 3 are the other channel). Has an option for low current (150mA) for charging 10440 an 14500 batteries. Can also charge LiFePO cells which have a lower maximum voltage. Review by [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/35145 HKJ]. | ||
* [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-i4-intellicharger-2014-edition.html Nitecore Intellicharger i4] - 4-bay 2-channel charger (Bays 1 and 3 share a channel, as do 2 and 4). Charges li-ion cells as well as NiMH without the display and options of the D4 model. Does not have a low current option for smaller li-ion cells and is not for LiFePo cells. Usually around $15-20. Reviews: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/9508 HKJ], [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?336936 Selfbuilt]. Similar [http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/nitecore-intellicharge-i2.html 2-bay model]. | |||
* [http://www.sbflashlights.com/Batteries-Chargers/Xtar-VP4-p376.html XTAR VP4] - 4-bay charger with digital readout. About $40. Review: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/36335 HKJ]. A 2-bay version is also available. | * [http://www.sbflashlights.com/Batteries-Chargers/Xtar-VP4-p376.html XTAR VP4] - 4-bay charger with digital readout. About $40. Review: [http://budgetlightforum.com/node/36335 HKJ]. A 2-bay version is also available. | ||