Test/Review of Charger GyrFalcon All-88 (Enova)

Batteries and Chargers Chargers
3

It would have looked neater with the same voltage.

The difference is due to tolerances on the resistive divider for each channel.
With the current resistors it is within +/-0.05V, making it more precise would increase the price of the charger (I do not know what the price will be, but I did ask about the voltage tolerances).

4

Thanks HKJ. Its sad that they would execute such an attempt and then fall short, just to save a few pennies. Id advise people to avoid this charger unless Enova resolved the problem. I wonder if the supplied PSU is also contributing to the problem?

If not for your meticulous tests, we would never know about these types design blunders until we had already tossed our money. Thank you for all of your hard work!

5

Thanks HKJ. It looks very tempting. I wonder what the price will end up at?

6

It is not really a problem.

No.

7

Is this available yet? I could really use one of these…maybe 2

8

According to the manufacturer they will start shipping next week. I would not take that as an absolute, something can always pop-up that will delay it a bit more.

9

Say it isn't so....manufacture is always on schedule.

10

Thanks HKJ for your great work!

11

This cell is not supposed to terminate, because -dv/dt do not work at this low current, but somehow the charger do terminate (Very good).

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it was terminated with 0dv/dt.

12

FlashPilot wrote:

Its sad that they would execute such an attempt and then fall short, just to save a few pennies. Id advise people to avoid this charger unless Enova resolved the problem. I wonder if the supplied PSU is also contributing to the problem?

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If reduced the voltage tolerance from (+/-0.05) to (+/-0.01), maybe the retail price will be more than $100.

13

There are two ways to improve tolerances:

  1. Use parts with tighter tolerances
  2. Calibrate each channel (Calibration could be stored in eeprom/flash memory).

The first requires more expensive parts, the second way requires more work during final test.

14

Interesting charger, Thanks for the review.

15

Im sorry but this is unacceptable. Why would I want to live with such a voltage imbalanced in my cells and pay more for your charger? Especially when there are several inexpensive chargers that terminate with far higher precision. For instance, a typical scenario is that I can charge 50 x 18650’s while using xtar or soshine brand chargers. After resting, 47 cells will show 4.18V, 2 will show 4.17V, 1 will show 4.19. This has been a typical scenario for many years and does not deviate unless I am testing old used cells.

It sounds like your charger isnt performing as you had intended. Please take a look at HKJ’s graphs entitled “Charging 4.20V LiIon cells” and take note of the termination voltage imbalances between charging stations. Good luck, and I hope you can resolve this issue before this charger comes to market.

16

Thanks for the review HKJ. I hope they consider to make 4 slots version with 2A for each channel.

17

It looks like they will make a 4 slot version, but the current will be 1A for each channel.

I.e. you need more patience.

18

Yes, I am serious. I sell DOZENS of chargers and test each and every one before they go out the door. Do yourself a favor and read my post again, then you can learn from my experience, not your false conjecture.

19

Go troll elsewhere. I already posted my results while using chargers that cost less than $20.

20

I rated the charger based on my opinion and experience, other people may have other requirements and give it a different rating. One reason I publish my raw tests is because it allows (Technical) people to do their own evaluation.
If FlashPilot want chargers with better matching charge voltage, he is welcome to that. In a few cases it might be a good idea, but mostly it is not required.

21

Thanks for the review HKJ!

Sounds like a very flexible charger, one that could meet the ordinary needs of most users with a few (minor) issues.

And I’d feel a lot more comfortable with the results from a random pick of the regular production. I guess I just don’t trust manufacturers to “not fiddle around with” their production models. But I guess that it is a good thing … to be given the opportunity to review a product in advance, isn’t it?

P.S. I also appreciate the participation in this discussion by the manufacturer’s representative (enova18650.com).

22

Hi everyone, fighting is not necessary or even permitted here. Please drop the subject if somebody is getting hot under the collar. Thanks.