BACK TO THE BASICS:SIMPLE, EFFICIENT AND DURABLE

Batteries and Chargers Chargers
1

OK,I have sort of been on a Charger binge. More contemplation than actual purchasing. Although I have Two new ones.

I have gone back and forth with the newer chargers with this so called fancy technology and a few that I already have w/ Two or Three year old technology.I have come to the conclusion that I prefer my slightly older technology to the more recent chargers with more functions.

I had my eyes on the Opus BT-C3100 2.2,Liitokala Engineer Lii-500 and most recently the Xtar Dragon VP4. I submerged myself with as much information as my old brain could absorb! I asked questions, read reviews and measured the pros/cons.

There are several that test Internal resistance, get the capacity by charge/discharge/charge[that sounds time consuming to me!], show the actual charging current[live] and several others.

It got me thinking that for me, simplification is all I need and what works best. Below are the ONLY things I really need/want in a charger:

“THE SIMPLE SEVEN”

1.MUST GIVE A FULL CHARGE-4.20V [NOT MANY CHARGERS SEEM TO DO THAT TODAY].

2.RELIABLE

3.DURABLE

4.HAVE AT LEAST 2 CHARGE CURRENTS, PREFERABLY 3.

5.HAVE A VOLTAGE DISPLAY ALONG WITH EITHER A CHARGE PERCENTAGE AND/OR A BATTERY W/ BARS INDICATOR!

6.CAN CHARGE A 3400mah 18650 @ 3.60V IN 2.5 HOURS OR LESS!

7.ABLE TO CHARGE MULTIPLE SIZE L.ION AND Ni-MH.

I have about Ten[10] chargers if I go back to the beginning! I use Four[4] or Five[5] of them.

1.EFEST LUC V4 [1]
2.KEEEPPOWER L2-[1]
3.FENIX ARE-C2 [3]
4.FENIX ARE-C2+[1]

My Fenix ARE-C2 is the “only” One out of those Four[4] that can do “THE SIMPLE SEVEN”!

I do not need to check the Ir and true capacity. I can tell when my batteries are degrading SIMPLY by actual use and using my DMM before charge, after charge and after resting awhile! Once I notice a battery that has a resting voltage of 4.08 to 4.11V then it is time to recycle them or save them for emergencies!

The charger just needs to have the “SIMPLE SEVEN”. Charge them, put them in my Modded trail torches and repeat the process with no worries!

If not, I am the kind of guy that would obsess about ALL those tests, keep track of all the batteries and how they fared! In the mean time Poor CAPO would be deprived! He would get fat, I would get fat and that is that!

2

Besides the basics[do not over charge/over discharge ect.] This is ALL I need to know/do in caring for my batteries and knowing their status!! Some may not agree w/ my turbo freak mentality, but the batteries have fared well over the years!

This is my simpleton way of knowing my batteries[and lights ] very well!

When I get a new light I do a run time test on max. in ~ 10 minute increments. When I get near 3.60v I stop. Say the cumulative time is 40 minutes. Then I know I can use my TK75vn/K40vn ect on MAX for 40 minutes on the trail. Honestly,when I got home, I have guessed the EXACT voltage numerous times!

So, Obviously over time those run times are going to change.I know exactly how healthy and the capacity of my battery as it relates to run time by constantly staying in a routine and measuring voltage after use, out of charger and resting voltage.

That is my method! Actual use method and adjusting along the way! :+1:

3

Wow a lot of info
Simple me is very happy with the Liitokala li300 and 500
I like to teat mAh as well from time to time :wink:

4

Some of your “simple seven” are actually not that simple. For example, the ability to show charge % or bars - most charges don’t show it because this one is not easy to estimate accurately. And the ones that do display it tend to be way off.

Subscribed to see what charger you end up choosing here.

5

I already have all the chargers I need,the ones I am using are listed in the thread. The Fenix ARE-C2 has the simplest display,Voltage and three animated bars showing charge progression. That does ALL 7 things I mentioned. Nothing frustrates me more is a charger that can NOT give a FULL charge,my Keeppower can’t, my Efest can’t. several of these newer ones can’t either! Only my Fenix can!

I chose NOT to get the fancy/newer ones that do have some nice features but also some useless ones or basic ones that are missing!

6

I misunderstood. I thought you were looking for recommendations for a new charger that meets these requirements.

7

What do you think? I have a few guesses!

Battery: VTC6

Chargers: Efest LUC V4 and Fenix ARE-C2

Batteries had Identical voltages going in: 3.78v

The battery in the EFEST was charged @ 2A. The battery in the Fenix was charged @ 1A.

THE VTC6 IN THE FENIX WAS DONE 18 MINUTES EARLIER AND NOT SURPRISING CAME OUT @ 4.20V while the Efest came out @ 4.15v!

Why do you think that is?

I have Two [2] guesses!

1.The Efest is not charging at a TRUE 2A

2.The Final phase takes much longer on the Efest than the Fenix. I am almost certain this is the reason.This was not my only comparison, just the first w/ 2A VS 1A!

HKJ REVIEWED THE EFEST AND THE THUNITE MCC4 WHICH SEEMS LIKE THE SAME CHARGER AS MY ARE-C2. HE WOULD KNOW!

8

SkyRc MC 3000 tuned to my researched taste is very simple.