Can i use Universal Laptop charger for my 18650 battery pack?

Hello, I'm trying to put together my first electric bike and i stuck on battery pack and choosing a proper charger. The reason i would like to build a 18650 battery pack is price/volume, so my problem would be choosing the proper charger for 24V battery pack. What will fit in my budget is a Universal Adapter AC Charge for Laptop/Notebook link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Power-AC-Home-Adapter-Charger-Laptop-Notebook-/280586671751?pt=Laptop_Adapters_Chargers&hash=item415444d687 is cheap and can charge 24V battery but have no idea how much voltage actually is charging, if i put 6 piece 18650 batteries in line it would be 25.2V which is hardly believe that will charge exact in this voltage, any tip what should i do buy it or not? or what charger do you recommend? I already got few of this 18650 Li-ion batteries so would like to stay on this construction.

You'll need regulating electronics on the battery pack to charge it properly (that "charger" only does ac->dc conversion). Those electronics would control the charging algorithm for the cells as well provide some level of safety. If you're constrained on price, look into the "Magic Shine" battery pack, which comes with 4 cell and the electronics include, or a clone of it. (It might even be more economical to just get the whole let set which is only 50-60$). All you need to add is the ac->dc charger for that.

In short - no. Laprop battery packs have their own safety fetures built-in, the charger does not (usually). Your battery pack does provide safety features?

The laptop power supply is just that, a power supply.

Its not a charger, and will not appropriately output power to charge the cells, and will most likely over-charge your cells VERY DANGEROUSLY, with almost guaranteed explosion/fire etc...

What you still need is a dedicated lithium chemistry charger. Sounds like your going to need a very big power source, and reading up on lithium battery safety and proper handling would always be recommended.

Thx for the reply guys, looks like the charger it cost me more expensive than previously thought, i like to mention again the Universal Laptop charger there is Overload and short circuit protection build in i think please check this and scroll down a bit till you find that features. Also i looked after other charger and i found this one, it charging? with less Amperage but it would be fine if u say that would be good. Budgeteer it not, just the raw 18650 putting 6 in lines. agenthex as i previously mentioned got already the 18650 Li-ion batteries (40) and don't wanna drop out all, would like to build at least 24V 22AH up to 44AH. One more think is obscure for me it can be wrong if i increase the 22AH to 44AH or even more? it will be a "problem" for a battery charger? i really don't know this i had never worked such things like this.

18650 batteries contain a tremendous amount of energy for the size, and can be potentially dangerous, if mis-handled or overcharged.
Since you are new to the Li-Ion chemistry, I would recommend reading up on safe handling/charging procedures.
Balance-charging becomes very important when using multiple-cell packs, as one damaged or out-of-spec battery can bring down a whole pack.
--------Are these cells new, or recycled?
What size packs are you considering building?
Most applications using a high number of cells (e.g. automotive) use very sophisticated state-of-charge and temp sensors to maintain safety and cell life.
I would recommend that you incorporate low-voltage cutoff PCBs in your packs, as well as acquiring a good hobby charger/analyzer.
Lastly, a charging bag is a good idea, too.



You'll need to ascertain what chemistry and cell setup that "charger" is designed for, and most important, whether it has the current regulating electronics on its side or assumes the battery pack will have it.


Chicago X the batteries is brand new used once in probe how the bicycle run and was pretty good with the factory charge and now is charged fully with 18650 wall charger all 40 piece one by one it took 4 days to charge all :) i measured with multimeter and all battery is in 4.2V. In the thumb throttle are battery level mater so i think not need low-voltage cutoff PCBs, i will just shoot down when it need. Ok i think i know all what i need to build it thx for all the informative reply. Cheers!