1) Does your charger correctly handle a partly discharged cell? eg a 600mAh AA run down to half capacity ie 300mAh. I note a 2 hour limit on charging at 300mA.
If the two channels are independent, charging two cells at different capacity levels should be OK - perhaps even an AA with a AAA.
2) As the AAA only has a 200mAh capacity [and costs about 10c less] it is charging at 150% - possibly with being able to discharge at 500% (5C) it may be able to handle charging at 1.5C? What are your thoughts on this?
I’m no expert on chargers but this charger works like a NiMh AA AAA charger. It will cut off at 3.6v, not two hours. Don’t mix AAA and AA. Im sure it steps down a bit like a Nimh charger when using the AAA slots.
This charger does not ship with a power cord.
I just got mine this evening upon returning from work . I ordered them from IOS. I figured I’d use them in my E03 and HD-1 which tend to run pretty hot on 14500’s (especially the HD-1). Hope everything works out fine… :nerd_face:
Well, at comparable load (~2C, therefore current of ~2A) A123’s maintained >3.2V over ~80% of capacity, these cells fell under 3.1V in the very beginning.
Most LiFePO4 cells have fairly low “C” rates, comparable to what most LiCo cells can do or even less. The A123 cells are different… due to the nanoscale materials that they are made with they can put out insane amounts of current and have very low sag under load.
The much safer PO4 cells are charged at 3.6V; standard Li at 4.2V.
Primary lithium cells are usually rated at 3.0V. (Some at 3.6V? AA/AAA are rated at an initial 1.8V; whereas a rated 1.5V Alkaline might start at an open circuit 1.6V, dropping with use to 0.8V).
The original posting covers these matters in greater detail
EDIT: Sorry for my waffle. A123s ARE PO4 too. I’m a twit!
The 1100mAh 123A has a maximum continuous discharge rating of 30A (about 27C), those cells are simply on another level, that's why I think the comparison is forced.
I just finished testing Coolook LiFePO4 AA’s in a Spark SD52. On ‘Max’, one with a dummy cell lasted about 1 hr. 2 lasted 1.75 hrs (more heat). 2 Enloops lasted 2.3 hrs, less lumens, most heat.