Charging USB devices with 18650 batteries

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.

Hey,

I have pretty much at least a couple of all those 18650 5v usb chargers mentioned. Atm using OP’s version as my edc and it will sometimes just stop charging my phone for no apparent reason. This one is more ‘automatic’ in a sense as it can detect when i unplug my phone and switch off. Charging via mini usb seems to work ok. Just wish their was something with more than one battery bay that is reliable. Will take a look at the hobby king suggestion

Does the ML-102 fit the blf favorite 18680 xtar? (edit: actually 68.5mm, but who's counting?) I have a few repurposed ipod chargers (cellboost irecharge IPR3) that just happen to have USB-in, USB-out, and takes 18700 with some soldering, not worth the hassle to do it again. Would have gotten the ml-102 if i'd known about it earlier.

My ML-102 takes XTAR 18700 without a problem (26650 too)

not sure about the XTAR 18680?

!!

How efficient would that setup be? Say a 10000mah 7.4v lipoly with that adaptor? How many watt hours are we talking compared to 4x18650 on one of those ebay boxes (70-80% efficiency). Video at the link you provided looks pretty convincing. cheers

I’d prefer the charger that wouldn’t need assembling (putting a battery in) whenever device needs charging. but since ML-102 has so many positive feedback I’ve ordered one and I’m waiting to receive it.

I just received a 1s4p charger with an adjustable output current today (check out #170880896962) and I’ve been charging individual cells up in it while powered from my ML-102 (don’t ask why, lol). So far so good, the 1s4p charger has been terminating early at around 4.083V.

Will do a couple discharge tests from it to see if it will do low voltage cutoff correctly, if this doesn’t die in a month’s time like another BLFer’s experience from such charger boxes, I’ll be a happy camper :slight_smile: