So, I think this thread has made me more confused as to whether or not my D2 is fake than it has done to help me verify anything. There’s so much contradictory information between what’s displayed/said here compared to even just the Nitecore website, I don’t know what to trust. I’ve been using this D2 since 11/24/14, and the only issue I’ve ever noticed is that recently a AAA eneloop was pretty warm when coming off a charge cycle. None of my other batteries have given an issue, or have even gotten warm to the touch. Granted, I’m quite paranoid when it comes to charging Li-Ion batteries, and I always make sure I’m around/in the room while they are charging.
Found this thread from reading about another users suddenly-exploding charger on another forum, and have spent 2 hours trying to sort things out. So here goes my story:
I bought this charger a few years ago from a seller on Amazon for $19 from the vendor EASTSHINE while it was on sale for the holidays. Came with the AC plug and car charger.
Box Information:
Box has no verification sticker anywhere on it
The aren’t really spelling typos on the box that I can see, however on the back there are MANY spacing typos in the description, chaulking up to Engrish for now
The “(RCR123)” spacing seems to be “legit” like the genuine examples given
While my unit DID come with the car charger, the option is NOT checked off on the side of the box
Charger Cable Information:
The AC cable has the NITECORE markings on each end, however I cannot find any markings at all on the car charger
Charger Information:
Finish is rather smooth, not rough as described for the genuine unit
May have raised battery symbols in battery area, unknown, nothing to compare to/hard to compare from pictures given
Has thicker fins/vents similar to the genuine unit
Only Neg. terminal is magnetic, rails and Pos. terminal are NOT
Rectangle yellow power socket, not branded NITECORE as on newer models
PCB is blue, clean, and marked NITECORE on side without components(back)
All capacitors sleeved in black/gold NITECORE heat shrink, and one in brown/silver NITECORE heat shrink
Transformer windings wrapped in yellow, as is the core, with NITECORE sticker on cores side
Slide rails and Neg. terminal seem to have black flecks/corrosion on them where hidden by case. Upon further inspection it seems to be some type of gunk with dirt or dust sticking to it, scraped off by fingernail. Possibly just extra flux/grease from assembly
I think that’s covered everything I’ve come across so far…
Now, I really would like to say that this charger is a legit unit, as it has given me excellent service for 2+ years. But now that I’ve read these threads, posts, watched the videos, and even seen the information given from NITECORE themselves, I worry about the actual state of my Li-Ion cells. Never mind that I will have this on my mind when using this thin until I can straighten this out, or replace it. I also do not enjoy the fact that the only US LISTED VENDORS FOR NITECORE CHARGERS PER THEIR SITE ARE VAPE SHOPS. Seriously, what the eff NITECORE.