Mini review of the Liitokala Lii-500 Analyzing Charger

[Ronin42]

Things I like about this (not perfect) charger.

1. it does not have a fan to make noise or go bad!!!
2. it does have an mR function (admittedly) technically not an iR function but for me it does seem to give useful info.
3. if I prop it up (cable up in the air a bit) it does run cooler.
4. true it does not give info on multiple cells concurrently, all you have to do is push one button for the cell of intrest and all the info is there, (not a big deal in my book)
5. low cost

[Ronin42]

@twin towers

I am speculating that mR tells you a lot about authenticity of a battery

agreed the fire cells are typically 1.5 –2 x the mR of my used good laptop pulls, and about 5x more then my new good cells.

[Ronin42]

@poster

@Ronin42

My 500 draws down to 2.86 then will charge up to 4.22

try doing it in 300ma it will give you more time to catch it i tried it at 1amp and missed it a few times

I think you might be right, at higher amp settings the volts due jump up faster.

[chuckhov]

Hi all,

I ‘spoke’ with HKJ today in another thread (off topic to boot), on another forum… you know the one; the one that’s in an alternate universe?

Anyhow, this is what was said:

.

ME: “Sorry, OT but I have to ask: Do you have a review planned for the new Liitokala Lii-500 charger? - I think that I’m going to have to get one.”

HKJ: “Yes, it has been on the test bench for two weeks now, but it needs a week more before the test is finished.”

.

So there you have the latest:-)

Stay tuned!
-Chuck

[poster]

1st of all Ali E. is not for everyone but i am old pro been with then for 5 years and had ups & downs but for the most part (~80% perfect)

btw i have NO connection to this seller or any other seller on Ali E.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-New-Liitokala-lii500-LCD-Charger-for-3-7V-18650-26650-18500-Cylindrical-Lithium-Batteries-1/32363869902.html

i paid $0.20 more from another seller

as an old pro i can tell you that if you are looking for the LOWE$T price you need to look for the Lii500 and not the Lii-500 you can save $0.21 Ali E. is funny like that

enjoy poster

[chuckhov]

I was thinking about paying a little bit more and having the extra protection of eBay. - I don’t like the idea that Ali doesn’t take PayPal, and am hesitant to send my card number to them.

So I found one on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261902676303?\_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These guys don’t understand English, so no telling what is meant by the word “Seconds” in their header. - I asked them on eBay questions, but no answer from them yet. - It is the weekend, so no big deal.

In another of their ads for the 300 they claim to actually be the Factory:

“Is the charger factory, we need to email agent or wholesale customers can contact us: liitokala@126.com.”

Any thoughts on this, or where the Safest place to buy one might be, even though I might have to pay a bit more?

Thanks in advance!
-Chuck

[poster]

i can save you $0.50 www.ebay.com/itm/261989111142

[hank]

chuckhov, I asked your question over at the LK-260 review thread with a pointer to your question here:

Test/Review of Charger LiitoKala Engineer Lii-260

Charger LiitoKala Engineer Lii-260 Due to a accident I had to get another copy of the charger during the review. [image] [image] [image] Somebody pointed me to this charger on Aliexpress, it looked interesting and I ordered one. [image] It arrived in a nondescript cardboard box. [image] [image] [image] Or in a retail box. [image] The box (Either one) contained the charger, power adapter, car power adapter and a manual in Chinese (I supposed) and English (more or l…

[chuckhov]

@twin towers

someone do a group buy on this charger please

.

.

I think that would be a really good thing!

Anyone here willing to give it a shot?

Thank you,
-Chuck

[rockscreation16]

Does anyone have a pdf or link to the manual for this charger? Mine arrived without one from an eBay seller and all I can get out of it when I turn it on is the usb sign. Appears to be a bad AC adapter. Works great in my truck with the DC adapter.

Also, how does a charger maintain 1 amp per slot on 4 slots with an AC adapter that has a max output of 2A?

[HKJ]

@rockscreation16

Also, how does a charger maintain 1 amp per slot on 4 slots with an AC adapter that has a max output of 2A?

Do not look at the current, look at the power (Converters can change both voltage and current, with only a small power loss):

Input 12V * 2A -> 24W

Output 4.2V * 1A * 4 -> 16.8W

There is some spare power.

[rockscreation16]

Thanks hkj. Now to wait on the sellers response on what to do about this adapter.

[Antenne]

With the eBay-Seller poster+chuckhov linked it is possible to use “Best Offer” and get a price almost at the AE level. I’ve bought mine for $25. And there is the Car plug included. At AE it is not shown, maybe there is a cheaper version with only the mains adapter?
And reg. the missing manual: scroll down at the eBay text and you will find a complete description!

[poster]

@Antenne

With the eBay-Seller poster+chuckhov linked it is possible to use “Best Offer” and get a price almost at the AE level. I’ve bought mine for $25. And there is the Car plug included. At AE it is not shown, maybe there is a cheaper version with only the mains adapter?

$25 is a good price with the car plug (if you need it) and the plus of paypal
but i will add that after more then 5 years on Ali E. i have never had a problem with their dispute system (just as fair IMO as eBay
sadly i have had to use them at both places for the same type of crap
but so far the Lii-500 if one of the better items and the Sanyo NCR18650BF cells are real (at least the 12 i got)

i did find 1 of my my old AA Rayovac 4.0 NiMH that i (bought in 2009) 4 pack for $4 at Frys) will not stop charging in the in the Lii-500 but the cell still performs (i only charge AA at 300mAh and the Default is 500mAh) so i need to do some more checking

i still want to know if and how much the cells will discharge if left in the charger after they are done
and i do not think there is a restart charge feature if the voltage drops below say 3.9v while sitting in the charger like the XTAR VC4 (sometimes $25 at BG / and ~$28 at eBay)

[Jubeldum]

@poster

1st of all Ali E. is not for everyone but i am old pro been with then for 5 years and had ups & downs but for the most part (~80% perfect)

btw i have NO connection to this seller or any other seller on Ali E.
Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

i paid $0.20 more from another seller

as an old pro i can tell you that if you are looking for the LOWE$T price you need to look for the Lii500 and not the Lii-500 you can save $0.21 Ali E. is funny like that

enjoy poster

I ordered one tonight. The price now is only $24.

The Opus is to expensive and it seems like there is a new revision coming out all the time to fix bugs. If the Opus comes out with its next revision and its regular price drops to below $30, I’ll consider buying one.

[Woody]

Now available from Gearbest for $24.99.

[Jubeldum]

@Woody

Now available from Gearbest for $24.99.

They are a little late to the show.

[poster]

@Woody

Now available from Gearbest for $24.99.

good prices on these

[hank]

> eBay … guys don’t understand English

What couldn’t be clearer about

Seconds kill BT-C3100 The world unique Discharge

?

[Ronin42]

@poster

@Ronin42

My 500 draws down to 2.86 then will charge up to 4.22

try doing it in 300ma it will give you more time to catch it i tried it at 1amp and missed it a few times

You are right, at 300 it does go to 2.81-2.82