Thank you HKJ for your kind reply.
I’m sort of familiar with AC/DC converters.
From the hayday when color TV was a novelty.
I sold TV parts, but can’t remember a thing.
Someone in another forum suggested an osiloscope. (can’t even write it correctly)
What I do remember is that they were very expensive. 600+ at the time.
I’d rather go this route. Money is of concern.
Thanks again, Carlos.
Oscilloscope cannot measure mAh.
Hobby chargers is the cheap way to do it.
You can also get specialized battery analysers, like the CBA from westmountainradio.com (The CBA is one of the cheap analysers).
Then there is electronic loads, like I uses for my test: http://lygte-info.dk/info/Batteries2012Info%20UK.html Because I can control it from a computer, together with some other equipment I can automate my tests.
Hi HKJ, me again.
I truly appreciate your input.
At this point, I’m a little confused about what I need.
I want to test batteries that are 3yrs old to make sure they are in good shape.
I’m vaping now. So I don’t want to have a firecracker in my mouth.
The voltage I think is correct.
3.87V new, and 4.2V after being charged.
Holding charge too. 4.17 or 4.19V after 2 days and counting.
That’s for 18650.
18500 came at 4.12-4.17V even 4.20V and have remain that way.
The chargers charge ’em in less than a 1/2 hr. at 1A.
RCR123As hold charge too. Even if the 3.0V go up to 3.45V in a 3volt charger.
the 3.7V go normally to 4.2V.
14500s it’s hit and miss. Although they “come back”. Very few duds.
10440 is the same 14500 situation. Although I won’t be using those for vaping.
Do I need to know the mAhs or can I happily vape away?.
No worries about your input. I just want your opinion,
so, no responsibility on your part.
I won’t necessarily will do what you may or
suggest. It’s my baby.
If you’re not bore by now, and have the time, please, give me your input again.
Thank you again, Carlos.
For vaping, it depend if you are on mechanical mod (no electronic) or vv/vw mod (variable voltage or wattage).
On mechanical mod, there is no safety at all so quality and chemistry is important.
On VV/VW there is protection so it’s quite safer than mechanical.
On a VV/VW what you can do is to test how long it last.
But as you are using various battery size, I assume you are using a telescopic mechanical mod so be wise about battery you use. There is various links and too much to read but search for ICR and IMR, IMR is the safest if you want mechanical mod.
Hey Le_Zoave, good at vaping too!!!. Great!!.
I not into mechanical mods. Or building coils.
I’ve bought a few eFests and Panasonics,
but notice no difference from mine.
The Panasonics last longer, that’s all.
All my mods are regulated. For now, hehe.
I’m at the e-cig forum under the same handle.
We may cross paths there at some point too.
Thanks again for your valued advise.
I’ll be happily vaping away!!!. (From my own batteries)
Carlos.
On regulated mod, you shouldn’t have any problem.
cheaper and easier alternative to hobby charger is that soshine charger
hobby charger don’t have a craddle or holder for battery so it can be tricky to make connection.
As HKJ wrote in his test, it’s not a good Li-Ion charger but can be usefull for testing capacity.
Sounds like the batteries are worn down.
mAh is a very useful value, but it does not say everything about a battery.
You could try measuring voltage when the battery is loaded with your atomizer coil.
You can check my discharge curves for what voltage a new battery delivers at a specific load: http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Common18650comparator.php
If a battery is significantly under the values I have measured it is worn out and not safe to use for high loads (It will heat itself).
Which can also be an old ATX power supply converted to a desktop power supply
I run a 75 watt Yaesu FT-2900 Ham radio mobile rig with one at my house, the 5vdc output is where all the current is at though :(
Hi guys.
After reading HKJ’s test of the Soshine charger
that Le_Zouave suggested,
I’m more inclined to buy this than the hobby charger.
I just ordered the new 4 channel eFest and the new 4 channel HXY Henesy,
to add to a long list of chargers, but I don’t think any of those will measure mAh.
So, to buy the Soshine I go.
BTW, I have a Soshine SC-S1max that I sometimes use as a paperweight.
This single model hopefully will help me read the mAhs.
I can’t use my hands to wave,
let alone do something that requires a brain.
I truly wish this will work.
Thank you guys, for your great input!!! Carlos.
You could wait some more, then I have a review of a 4 channel analysing LiIon charger. It is not perfect but can be used.
I WILL wait some more. Your reviews are Excellent. THANK YOU!!!. Carlos.
Hmm . . . interested to hear what this one is.
Carlos - You're in the US, Illumination Supply has the SC-S7 on sale right now for $14.99 + a little shipping. I just got mine in yesterday and am using it for practically the same purpose - testing approx. capacity of cells pulled from old laptop packs. So far so good, although after two hours on my first cell I popped the battery loose (I was checking it to see if it was heating up) and the charger reset losing the mAh data! DOH! So watch out, the battery doesn't stay in as nicely as with a charger that has good spring tension. So far I like it though.
-Garry
No big surprise there, Chloe has already done a review: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/24621
My review will be a bit more technically with charge and discharge curves, IR pictures of the heat and oscilloscope traces of the pwm modulation.
That's a hell of an understatement. Your reviews are incredibly and wonderfully dense with technical information.
Ah, ok, I skipped over reading that review! Glad you tipped me off to it. Interested to hear more and see how much it goes for.
-Garry
Wait for HKJ’s review, but it might take longer than that before you get your hands on that charger, its said to be still in development stage, pre-production models are the ones being reviewed, not the retail ones.
Hi Garry,
I made the “mistake” of ordering the SC-S7 charger from Fasttech.
It will take a while. A few pennies are not worth my wait for the mailman.
Next time I want something, I’ll consult with you guys 1st.
BTW, I don’t know if this are old news, but Fasttech is selling batteries in pairs again.
I made the mistake of ordering batteries together with vaping items. BIG mistake.
I placed the order January 1st and NOW is that it’s in the US, in NY.
Orders with batteries go to Sweden before coming to the US.
And tracking is non existent until they get out of Copenhagen.
Be prepared to place a dispute with PayPal. BEFORE 45 days of the date of the payment.
Otherwise you lose your rights to the money. Money is on hold now.
And Fasttech won’t reply to tickets. After the dispute they replied in 5 minutes.
Orders from them take about 15 days if they are are over 20US.
and contain no batteries.I have received 3 orders after that one.
Hope this experience helps someone. If you order batteries don’t mix ’em other items.
And be ready to wait 2 months.
Carlos.
I doubt they passes Copenhagen. I live in Copenhagen but cannot order batteries from Fasttech.
Hi Garry,
I made the “mistake” of ordering the SC-S7 charger from Fasttech.
It will take a while. A few pennies are not worth my wait for the mailman.
Next time I want something, I’ll consult with you guys 1st.
BTW, I don’t know if this are old news, but Fasttech is selling batteries in pairs again.
I made the mistake of ordering batteries together with vaping items. BIG mistake.
I placed the order January 1st and NOW is that it’s in the US, in NY.
Orders with batteries go to Sweden before coming to the US.
And tracking is non existent until they get out of Copenhagen.
Be prepared to place a dispute with PayPal. BEFORE 45 days of the date of the payment.
Otherwise you lose your rights to the money. Money is on hold now.
And Fasttech won’t reply to tickets. After the dispute they replied in 5 minutes.
Orders from them take about 15 days if they are are over 20US.
and contain no batteries.I have received 3 orders after that one.
Hope this experience helps someone. If you order batteries don’t mix ’em with other items.
And be ready to wait 2 months.
Carlos.
Hi HKJ,
Sorry I double posted. Trying to be perfect. OCD at work.
I can assure you that they go to Copenhagen.
I’ll try to copy and paste the route for the package.
Let’s see how it goes.
Carlos.