Review: ML-102 Charger

I always liked this charger a lot, particulary the ability to charge other devices with it and the travel aspect you mentioned, because it is also quite small.
Though I hesitated to buy it because no one ever reviewed it and I was really interested in the graphs you just presented us!
So… mange tak! :bigsmile:

Now to the charger:

The problem with the high charging currents for smaller capacity cells could easily been solved by using a lower current USB power supply (I got a 650mA one, I think this should be ok for 14500er) or am I missing something?

I really liked the ability that you can charge a cell with the carger and the charger can put out to other USB device at same time for the travel aspect, but than I realised that you wont save any time doing this, because the current from the USB power supply will split up to power both the charger and the second USB device.
You will end up with the same charging time as if you connect the charger first and after that the second device directly to the power supply. Correct me if I am wrong.

The ideal addition to this charger would be a small adjustable USB power adapter. Does anyone know something like this?

CNQ also has it for 8,50 but with 1000mA USB power adapter. Although it is described as ML-10*3*… or is it a different one?

That might work fine, if you can trust the supply to reduce voltage when overloaded, without blowing up.

It might take the same time, but for me the advantage is that I do not need to do anything while it is charging, i.e. I can start the charger when I go to bed and both phone and 18650 battery is filled the next morning.

I am using a SKROSS dual USB charger, it is not adjustable, but it is small and works fine (I have not tested it, only used it).

It is not the same, it uses different connectors and I do not believe it has USB power out.

The charging might be the same.

Thanks for the review HKJ, does the ML-102 work for reviving overdischarged 18650s too?

Very nice :slight_smile: Charge your battery and phone at the same time… awesome charger just got better thx :slight_smile:

It will try to charge them at a lower current (below 170mA), how wise it is can be discussed.

I’ve tried it earlier with a 0.2V 18650 and it keeps flickering with a green and red LED pattern, as though there is no battery inserted. Does yours do the same too?

No, it goes a solid red.

I did not try with a battery (I do not have one with 0.2 volt), but shorted the plus and minus connection with a ammeter.

Thanks HKJ! I really like the two of mine, although I had to file down the edge of the charger so that my King Kong rasied top INR's would fit better (the raised top causes it to pop upward. I don't have a photo of the filing, but my initial issue was documented in the other thread with photos. I power mine with the USB A/C adaptors from Manafont (clones of the Apple iPhone ones) rated 1A output.

-Garry

Garry, do you have a link to those USB power supplies?

Thanks HKJ!

Thanks for the review.
I’ve just added on to my order from intl-outdoor.
It’ll go in my travel kit.

Here ya go. $1.96 each. I bought three and wouldn't mind having more.

-Garry

P.S. I tried to give a link earlier, but I was in a hurry and couldn't find them.

Thanks, I saw those a while ago but haven't been able to find them since.

Hi HKJ,

Do you happen to know how much current the charger is pulling from the 18650 when charging a phone too?

Thank you for the review HKJ.

I've been curious about this charger ever since I saw it the first time. Found a review on "taschenlampenforum.de" or something similar and they said it was good but no where as detailed as your in depth reviews.

Thank you for using all that time and money for us guys out here. We enjoy it :-)

That depends on the phone and how much current it is drawing. In my charts for usb out there is a current line.

Don't try charging 0.2V batteries, those are dead.

This is an awesome charger, the plastic is really tough.
Reverse polarity protection works. Resets the protection after has kick in protected cells and the voltage is 0.00V
When the battery voltage is too low cannot charge other devices, the blue light will not turn on and, the light not being on is a good thing because you have a visual representation of what's actually going on.

Thanks very much! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

Does anyone know if this can charge an IPad?