So basically my X2 (non-extended version) is showing the wrong voltage, let me explain:
I take a 18650 battery, check the voltage on a Nitecore D2, shows 3.73 volts. Check it again on a Chinese voltmeter I got on AE for like 2 dollars - 3.70 volts, acceptable difference. But then I put it in the X2, it shows 3.71-3.73v for about a second and then changes to ~3.83v. This happens with any battery at any voltage.
In short, regardless of the exact voltage, the X2 always shows a specific number and then always changes that number with about +0.1 volts in about a second.
Do I have a defective one or it this normal, could someone please check if their X2 behaves the same way?
Also if you have the extended X2 or X4, it would be nice to know how those versions work. Thanks!
That may be normal behaviour if during that time the charger starts to charge resulting in the resting voltage jumping up slightly. This happens on the Vapcell S4 Plus.
I don’t think the voltage can jump 0.1v in like 1 second. Also when I remove the battery and put it in another charger/voltmeter immediately, always shows 0.1v less, sometimes more than 0.1v.
Also this behavior doesn’t exist in Nitecore D2 and Xtar VC4SL.
I guarantee that in that 1 second it starts charging, resulting in a higher voltage. Put the DMM leads on the battery in the charger and you’ll know what’s happening.
As I mentioned, it’s not only the 1s when I put a battery in.
It shows higher voltage when the battery is being charged. Taking the battery out of the charger and measuring it would immediately result of 0.1v difference.
This doesn’t happen with the D2 charger.
Get a dmm (digital multimeter) and you will better understand what’s going on. Measure your car or Vespa battery at rest and then start the engine and you’ll see that the voltage at the battery terminals increases by a full volt or more. That doesn’t mean the battery voltage instantly jumped by one volt. That’s just what the alternator is putting out while charging the battery.
That would entirely depend on what current the D2 and X2 are charging at. If the D2 is only charging at say 0.5A then it’ll keep it at relatively the same voltage as it charges. If the X2 is automatically doing 1-2A then what you’re seeing is normal.
Easy enough to place the DMM leads on the positive and negative terminals of the cell, then plug in the charger and monitor.
You’re taking two different readings, one being static and the other on charge. After pulling a battery off charge it will take a bit to come back down to its static reading. Putting a battery on charge many chargers will have a spike then come down. Besides a difference of only .01 volts isn’t enough that should cause any worry. Natural tolerances of quality volt meters will often be more than that.
If it helps I have a xtar vc2 that has been in use since 7/15/2016 that hasn’t missed a lick. If it dies tomorrow I would happily buy another xtar. I think you have too many voltmeters and simply over thinking things. If you want a voltmeter that tells you something has voltage keep the aliexpress one, otherwise I wouldn’t pay too much attention to it. I’ve seen way too many of them fail or be way off.
It’s not 0.01v, it’s 0.1v and I believe the difference between, say 4.1v and 4.0v, is not insignificant.
I understand the logic that everyone is trying to explain, but this is not the answer of the question. It’s just not possible that every battery behaves exactly the same way with this charger, regardless of current chosen or battery size or anything. It’s not normal to jump the voltage 0.1v after less than 1 second, then if I break the circuit for a split second and reestablish it, it shows again the low voltage and changes to the higher one.
When I take a battery off the D2 charger, and the battery shows 4.20v on the charger, it also shows 4.18-4.20v a few seconds later with the meter.
When I take a battery off the X2 charger, and the battery shows 4.20v on the charger, it only shows 4.10v (or less) a few seconds later with the meter.
What is the explanation for this?
Not all chargers top off to 4.20v even if they display that it has.
Have you done what everyone is asking, to place the DMM leads onto the terminals and monitor the voltage? This will tell us whether or not there’s an issue with the charger.
He never said he has a DMM. He said he has a chinese voltmeter. It is likely a thing with a sliding spring loaded arm where the battery must be inserted.
A question and a comment. Are these cells new or known good health? Or were you referencing the same cell showing those two behaviors on different chargers? Yes, actual voltage vs. what the display shows you are often not the same…that’s very common…but there may be other issues going on. Kinda sounds normal from here, though.
Your meter. The cheap-cheap meters really aren’t so accurate. They can be fine but often they are not as accurate as they state, but more importantly they come with horrible leads. I’ve repaired/replaced these bottom end leads on a half dozen of these now and it’s almost comical how bad they are (many are cold soldered to the probes, or only have a few conductors in contact with the probe, and the wire itself is just junk with very few conductors to begin with…and on the socket/plug end it’s not much better usually). They can be fine for most coarse work but if you expect them to be accurate to the hundredth of a volt…just no. Even tenths can be suspect on these, depending. This is why sometimes people see the tenths digit change by one from measurement to measurement…but that can also happen from poor contact with the probes on the subject, too. If your leads are like this you might consider a better pair (much nicer ones can be had for pretty cheap from lots of sellers on ali or amazon)…may be more cost effective to bump up to a different meter, though. Just throwing it out there from experience and all of these little details are significant enough to potentially matter, like in your case. You don’t need a zooty meter for this but those cheap-cheap ones are just not always repeatable/reliable to the digits they may show on the screen. Maybe yours is, though.
I haven’t visited the forum that much since the change of interface, as I find it really confusing. So apologies if anyone was waiting for a reply.
I also haven’t used the X2 during that time, as I was just tired with it nor working properly.
But today I was charging a cell in the Nitecore D2 and decided to try the X2 as well.
The cell: Samsung 35E, 3-4 years old but with less than 10 cycles on it, stored properly at 3.7-3.8v during that time and at around 25°C in a drawer.
Charged from 3.7x to 3.98 in the D2 charger. Took it out, tested on the Chinese cheap charger - 3.97v. Put in the X2, shows 3.96v for a second and then goes to show 4.20 volts! Tried removing it and putting it back again, always starts with showing 3.96-3.98v and then goes anywhere from 4.11 to 4.20 volts.
I understand your skepticism with the Chinese voltmeter, however I tried it many times against the D2 charger and it gives readings within 0.02 volts, which I find acceptable. Also I have no reason to doubt the D2 - it’s been serving me well over the last few years. Unlike my previous i2 charger, which went kaput after a couple of years or so.
I really like the functionality of the X2, but I can’t use it due to the wrong readings. Should I just buy another unit, or wait for a new model to come out? Can anyone replicate this problem?
If your cheap Chinese dmm has consistent repeatability, AND, your charger behaves that way, to all of your cells, then buying a new one is not a bad idea.