Charging USB devices with 18650 batteries

I’m looking for a charger (power bank) that can charge a phone using 18650 batteries. I got this one that takes 2x18650 from Ebay:

The first one didn’t work and I couldn’t measure any voltage on the usb-out. The seller refunded me and I ordered another one from different seller. That one didn’t work either and the seller sent another one. Unfortunatelly it doesn’t work either. Leds around the switch indicate full batteries, led flashlight works and it charges batteries from usb-in. Has anyone any experience with these chargers?

What about other options? I’d prefer chargers with interchangeable 18650 batteries so I can use the batteries in phone charger or flashlight.

Been using the ML-102 charger and it works great and never failed me. :slight_smile:

+1 I use this one every day in a harsh environment. High quality plastic, doesn’t have that cheap hollow feel to it. It can charge your USB devices and it can charge your batteries from a computer USB port. It even will charge 26650s. Simple and robust.
http://www.intl-outdoor.com/ml102-usb-charger-for-18650-26650-battery-p-243.html

I’ve got something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-Mobile-Power-5V-USB-Battery-box-18650-Charger-Power-Box-usps-to-USA-/221063680202?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item33786c10ca

It works fine and can take between 1 and 4 batteries because its in parallel. (There are others out there that do 2s2p, so you’d probably have to put at least 2 batteries in them.) I don’t charge batteries with it, as I suspect it would have a fairly crude charging algorithm.

The pain is that is screws shut, so not easy to put new batteries in. There’s also a mystery switch that you need to hit every time you load new batteries to ‘reset’ it.

If I was to buy something in this category again, I’m pretty sure it’d be the ML-102, but wanted to mention mine in case you needed lots of residual power.

I have a half dozen of these they are great for charging your cell phone in an emergency and take most 18650s. They work awesome they have a battery gauge and the flashlight works OK also. They have 2 settings one standard .4 amp charge and another 1 amp charge for I-phones and tablets. For $10bucks it’s a good deal and they ship from the US so you have them in less than a week.

http://www.goldengadgets.com/2200mah-portable-usb-cellphone-charger-with-1-watt-led-flashlight.html

I’ve got also one of those, the 2A version, there are from 1A to 3A I believe.

Do you own exactly THAT box ?
I have the one you linked and mine terminated at exactly 4.2 volt at a current around 100mA if I remember correctly.
There’s a tp4056 IC inside. Maybe I was lucky.
The small ebay tp4056 boards I have tested in a different setup usually overcharge up to 4,27 V.

Do you use the what is supposed to be the 3,5mm output ?
Mine died instantly when I tried to connect a load.

The StepUp converter was able to deliver around 1400mAh from ONE Sanyo 2600 18650 at 1A.
Thats a lot of juice considering the price tag.

I have that one, from DX, except I paid $22 for it. Oops! If you have one, do yours charge iDevices with the apple cable? The cable that came with the charger worked, but it broke, and apple cables don’t charge my iPod.

I am looking for the same thing. I want it enclosed for throwing in my carry on, but the cells should be changeable.

Multiple USB ports would be nice as well

Found this

4 IN 1 USB & SOLAR 18650 BATTERY CHARGER

On the official Ultrafire shop page looking at the UF-H6.

Looks like the unit that E1320 has with the addition of the solar panel and case.

If I had any faith that the solar panel worked, I would be out $29.00……

I contacted the shop, and they stated that the case was wired and that the unit would charge inside of the case, but I can’t see anything like that in the picture.

So the small one sucks? Crap! I just ordered one of those also.

This is a great idea. Dual purpose and functional.

I don’t have any apple devices but my girls smart phone needs one amp and it works for that. It’s also worth noting the flashlight head has a USB port and makes a great nightlight.

The flashlight is pretty nifty, and the beam would be awesome if it wasn’t puke green. I just like wide floody TIR beams. If they made P60 dropins with TIR beams cheap, I’d be all over them.

If you want to get all fancy with gadgets, and you your kinda lazy when it comes to recharging.
A 5 or 10kmah cell and all the adapters you can possibly need and gone for the weekend

Seriously, with a good pack you can easily go all weekend with an I-pad, 2 cell phones, and charge a bunch of 18650’s.

No, I was being lazy and linking the first one that looked to be about the same.

This: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-Mobile-Power-Supply-USB-Battery-Charger-18650-Box-/330587233336?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item4cf888dc38

is the seller I used, and the picture looks like it’s the same from the front panel. That said, I can’t vouch for the fact that anything would be the same as I bought mine almost a year ago.

Mine does have a tp4056 inside, but for all I know, it could be decorative. Maybe I’ll try a charge cycle and see what the termination voltage is. I don’t really have the setup to see what kind of current it’s charging with.

Edit: just charged up and it looks (to my cheap dmm) like 4.19 volts after a bit of a rest. Not bad.

The one I got from DX which looks identical only takes unprotected 18650s.

I have same battery banks.
it works well with LG 3000 unprotected cells .
Seller recommends to use below 0.75a chager.

For the issue with some boxes, not charging i think some fones need a signal from the usb cable. Maybe i’m wrong but there was something about a resistor on the usb connections in the charger signaling what charge current the fone should take.

Just had my order for a couple of them canceled and refunded, OOS.