How about 0.1A or 50mA?
Once you buy hobby charger you are not limited by amps.
Problem with normal chargers is that I canât use them for small batteries because of high current.
Iâm surprised 1.5a seems quite common on a 26650 or even 32650 charger. Votes seem to dictate at least 26650.
I havenât 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).
Thatâs 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 âŚshouldnt 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.