Dream charger also needs to be the usual 12vdc (off-grid use), fed from a wall wart. 4chs at 4v and 3a = 48w wall wart, that’s pretty big, double what I’ve seen on most budget chinese chargers.
How about 0.1A or 50mA?
Once you buy hobby charger you are not limited by amps.
Problem with normal chargers is that I can’t use them for small batteries because of high current.
I’m surprised 1.5a seems quite common on a 26650 or even 32650 charger. Votes seem to dictate at least 26650.
I haven’t read up on Li-ion charging but is it similar to some other chemistries in that a middle current can be a bad choice as termination is hard to identify for the charger and thus overcharge is very possible?
A really low that is safe long term works I guess but at levels that low you are looking at 12hr+ charging time (and who wants to sleep with the charger on!)
A relatively high charge rate that the manufactures say a cell will safely accept is best to aid termination and keep times realistic.
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Edit;
Infact DigiKey specify a 1c charge rate, so a 26650 ideally around 4A!
No, 2A for a slot is enough. With 18650 I nearly always uses 1A. With 26650 the 2A current is fine for standard charge, many of the 26650 batteries could accept 3A or 4A for a quick charger (i.e. with slight damage to the battery), but I have not seen a need for that.
Making higher charge current in a charger will also make it more expensive, especially if you need PFC correction (Required at higher power levels).
That’s how I thought about it too, plus I know the 2A ~ .5C is better for the battery but 3A is under 1C and should be able to accept that charge …shouldnt really damage a 4200mAh 26650 battery until 4.3A should it?
IMO, damage at 1c will be minimal, it would be interesting to see cycles compared between 0.5 & 1c.
Above this damage will get progressively worse, ie on the 4200mAh, 4.3 amps would be so close to 1c I doubt a difference would be noticed
Right, I figured it was somewhat standard for the chemistry and based on that? But I guess there is no telling with the Chinese cells what is inside as to chemical composition and how they really stand up unless you tried it.