26650 / 18650 Charger Solution? I've searched and read! Honest! :-)

Ok, I've done due diligence and searched the forums, read the posts and reviews for chargers. I'll be using single-cell lights in 18650 and possibly 26650, depending on charging solutions mostly.

Now I'm feeling a little uncomfortable about the charger / battery options available. Doesn't look like much for the 26650 battery format. Hope you can point me in the right direction.

Possible candidates may be either the latest Sysmax Intellicharge i4 v2 Multifunctional Charger, or should I go with multiple USB single-cell holders, with multiple wall-warts and a buss strip?

Looking for:

Safe, high capacity, 26650 battery. Prefer not waiting 20 days to receive the shipment. (I found plenty of good info on 18650 batteries; it is the 26650 I'm shy of good info)

Charger for 26650 and 18650 batteries. Or 2 different chargers if it's a cleaner solution. What I would like:

- load the charger after a ride and pull them out the next morning when I get up. Prefer not having to monitor with my DMM and pull when they reach the 4.nn proper voltage. (I could probably charge/monitor them at work so I can ride that night, but that's not optimal.

- Self contained unit. Wires, magnets, etc. imply more fiddledinking that I would like. Seems to me having these batteries on flammable surfaces (wood) to charge them is unsafe. Putting them on metal surfaces that don't burn but will conduct if the wires fall off the battery is unsafe.

- Avoiding the hobby charger if possible.

I would like to buy from a single source, especially if I have to buy various components and kludge something together.

Thanks in advance everyone - you folks have been great here.

How does this package look from http://www.intl-outdoor.com/

Light: Shadow JM-07

Battery: MNKE IMR-26650 or Kingkong 26650 battery? (which is better quality / safer?)

Charger Power supply: Ioncell 4 USB adapter

http://www.intl-outdoor.com/ioncell-4-usb-2a-power-adapter-p-328.html

Battery Charger: pair of ML-102 w/cables

http://www.intl-outdoor.com/ml102-usb-charger-for-18650-26650-battery-p-243.html

ABitDark:

Have you reviewed these threads for 26650?:

26650 Batteries: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/7473

26650 Chargers: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/7455

If you are looking for a good 18650 charger, try doing a search on that term or Xtar WP2 II. It will charge both sizes, but is really better for 18650.

I don't think anyone here would recommend any solution that you can plug in and forget while you sleep. Any Li- ion you charge with any charger should be monitored until its finished. I also check voltage before/after charging on every cell.

WF-188 works for me for both

Ya, read thru them, but since both of you mentioned a specific charger I'll go back and re-search, paying attention to the XTAR and WF chargers.

Just seems like a lottery with Li-Ion chargers and battery fit. A lot of very mixed reviews. Maybe I just have to take my chances like everyone else.

26650 form has been around a while, but seems to have only been used in flashlights relatively recently. There are not a lot of options out there, at least compared to 18650 and especially when it comes to chargers. The Xtar I referred to works for charging one cell at a time with the addition of a magnet on the cell top. I have actually purchased the cheap charger you referenced from IOS, but I plan on monitoring it carefully, as I don't think it's that good.

If it helps on batteries, King Kong seems to be well regarded, but it is not a protected cell. For protected cells, there is the 4sevens 3900mAh or the Trustfire 4000mAh from CNQG (all the other Trustfire vendors are exaggerating capacity). If you go the unprotected route, I would recommend one of the safer Lithium-Manganese (IMR) or Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt Manganese cells.