All this talk about hobby chargers has really interested me, but when I look at the online stores video reviews, etc., it looks like they are designed to charge RC battery packs and connectors.
Do you need to buy or build special connectors to charge basic 18650 and 14500 batteries. Are there any other accessories needed?
I don't mind reading through the manual once I get one, but just want to make sure I understand the total cost/effort involved.
Thanks.
If you want to balance charge multiple cells, you're going to have to get some accessories. For charging single cells I use some magnets on leads attached to the crocodile clips on the charger leads. You will have to get some sort of cell holders for balance charging - I tend to charge larger cells one at a time. You should be able to improvise most of what you will need at little or no cost.
I would look at getting some holders and extra charging leads for your hobby charger and make up hard wired charging "docks" for the battery sizes you most commonly do. This will make using your hobby charger far easier to load and setup (especially if you are charging in series using the balance leads!)
Thanks Guys, I was thinking some stuff up based on Don and Ford's remarks, and then E1320s picture said it all.
Exactly what is the amp rating of a sheet metal screw, though? 
Thanks again.
I have bumped them when welding and they will flow over 30 amps easily.
This charger http://www.dealextreme.com/p/dsd-18650-cr123a-charger-black-936 makes a pretty nice charging dock, get rid of the inner "electronics", solder some leads to the contacts and you have a nice 16340/18350/18650 dock, I have also put an AA-holder for 14500 to it, thinking about an AAA for 10440 too.
The charger is not screwed together but glued, you can gently pry it open beginning at the power input, when done soldering glue it or tape it back together.
I don't understand why you would spend $7 dollars on a charger that doesn't fit 14500s and gut it when you can use the free Ultrafire battery holder that comes with all Lion batteries from DX now and a couple scrap screws and springs. You can also buy the Ultrafire battery holder from most Chinese vendors for around a dollar and some springs and screws from the local hardware store if you don't have them and for under $2 dollars and you can charge any size battery. No tools are required to make the holder I made you can punch the holes for the sheet metal screws with a knife.
Because I am no big fan of exposed contacts and I like clean solutions.
*pulls out a picture of my setup, along with 2 18650 torches*
Allows you to use the balancing function of your hobby charger. The battery holder does up to 4 cells with full balancing, and with spacers (magnets) I can relatively easily do any cell length (not pictured)
here is a link to some hobby charger assesories
https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/1621
here is a link to balance charging and the items needed
https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/3118
You got link for the amp rating chart for the different screw sizes? LOL
Looks like this one:
can anyone tell me what this lead is for? I have a feeling I am going to be embarrassed buy some obvious use.
Here is a pic of the charger box my son made for me.
It looks like a glow plug warmer for nitro RC cars, buggies and trucks.
Well I don't feel stupid for not knowing that. The lead was included with my Imax B6 AC clone.
It is actually for charging rechargeable glow plug warmers for RC nitro engines. I would cut the end off and solder some thing more useful like magnets or battery holders. I have not seen or used one of them for about 8 years it took a while for the memory to come back.
That picture #3 -- showing charging a 14500 at 6 amps, reading 22v
Where can I look up or how do you calculate these settings?
Thats just the chargers maxium battery size 22.2v 6s (6s = cell's in series) and maxium charge current not what the little 3.7 v 14500 battery was being charge at.