Charging rate

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

Hi, I've been lurking on this and the other light forum for about a month trying to decide on a suitable light for my hobby and just received a shiny new BLF Q8. I got 4 Samsung 30Q for it and an Xtar VC4 charger. Im new to these powerful lights/ batteries and have a question about the charging. Is it normal for the batteries to charge at different rates? 3 are currently on 3.9v and one says it's on 4.15v but all 4 batteries are reading as 1730mah on the charger. Is that normal or do I potentially have a dud?

!http://imgur.com/gallery/KKcJHK0!

2

It’s possible that one of them came charged to 3.6V, for example, rather than the 3.3V that is expected for shipping.

3

3.9v/4.15v is the level of the battery. Fully charged is 4.2v(olts). 1730mAh is how much energy has been added to the battery. The center dial is the charge rate (how fast). Currently 0.5A (500mA).
Anyone please correct me if I’m wrong.

4

Is it the first time you are charging these cells after you bought them?

5

Thanks guys, yes, first time charging them. I think I was reading the display wrong and nvanlaars explanation makes sense. I thought that’s how much energy was in the battery, not how much had been added!
Having read the battery horror stories I’m probably being over cautious so wanted to be sure everything was ok.
on a related note, I used my Samsung phone fast charger plug which understandably got very warm during use, is there a recommended plug you use with this particular charger or are phone charger plugs what’s normally used?

6

As long as it can supply 2A, it’ll be normal for a small phone supply to get very warm at its max rated level.

7

Thanks and yes 5V, 2A output so all good.

8

Where is such a thing spelled out?

I've received multiple types of li-ion cells in a wide range of charging voltages, from slightly above 3.4V to mid 3.8V.

Cheers ^:)