I would like suggestions for a good budget charger for 18650 as well as rcr123 please.

Batteries and Chargers Chargers
1

Hello, I am sure that this gets asked all the time, but since new technology is coming out constantly and I know so little of the subject, I thought I might ask you fine people to suggest a Budget battery charger for me.

I have been using RCR123 batteries for a year and a half or so to power some lights that I have and I have a trustfire charger that works great for charging pairs of RCR123s. However, recently I have bought an Olight M20s and got a couple of 18650 batteries and an EXTREMELY budget charger with them.

http://www.amazon.com/UltraFire-3000mAh-Rechargeable-Battery-Charger/dp/B004LHFU62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321389116&sr=8-1

I really like the 18650 batteries, they are big, so they are easier to grip and they are easier to load into my light and offer better runtimes and no rattle and.........you get the picture.

Anyway, I ordered my first Solarforce just a few days ago, and I got a couple of the Solarforce 18650 batteries to feed it (I read good things about those batteries) so now I need a charger that will treat my batteries right and keep them happy and me and my family safe.

As with everything in my life these days, budget is a serious consideration. I looked around this sub-forum and found a few likely candidates, like....

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/trustfire-multifunction-liion-battery-charger-tr003p4-110240vdc12v-p-7339

and

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/xtar-wp2-ii-liion-battery-charger-for-1044014500146501634017670185001865018700-us-plug-p-8221

both look good but can they charge RCR123 with spacers? I need to be able to charge batteries with different charge levels and capacities, so con you point me in the right direction? I'm looking to get as much as I can for my money and I have about 20USD to spend on it.

Thanks for the help in advance!

Hope you are having a great day wherever you are!

2

Hi - would go with the xstar wp2. If those rcr123a cells are 3.7V you're good. Took a real hard look at the wp2 before going with a hobby charger.

3

Yep, they're AW's 3.7 volt Icr123 750mah.

I was also looking at the

http://www.solarforce-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=BC&s=24&id=358

I figured it is cheap and has dual channels, i'll see if I can find info on it.

no real rush, but I love to shop just like any flashaholic.

4

Went with the Xtar wp2 from Manafont.

Nice to know that I have that whole "charger situation " out of the way and I don't have to worry about it anymore!

5

i bought a dsd 16340/18650 charger from dx for about 8 bucks. it does it's job. i now wish i spent the extra money and got the xstar only due to that my batteries sit really tight in the cradle as it isn't a floating spring tab like the xstar. i have to turn the charger upside down and smack the batteries out after they are done charging.

6

Well, it figures, but apparently there are a few "bad apples" floating around in the currently available Wp2 II barrel. I'm praying that I don't get a lemon.

7

Well, the postman came while I was at work today and dropped off my charger, so I just got home and popped in a couple of my generic ultrafire 18650s. So far, so good. both charging lights are on solid red on the 1 amp setting. ( I think that this is the setting that people are having trouble with on the faulty batch.)

I'll have a few beers while these batteries top off and check'em with a multimeter when they come off.

8

Fresh off the charger and my multimeter read 4.11 volts on the only cell I tested. (I blame the beer for my forgetfulness in testing the other one.... then again it was 2 am and some change when I went to bed, so I don't feel too bad.

Now I'm gonna be running some of the Solarforce 18650s and using the ultrafires as spares, since I charged this batch on 1 amp I will do the next one on the .5 amp setting and try to remember to post the results. So far, things are looking good

9

I wonder why it was only 4.11 off the charger…

10

It was the battery. I have a couple of ultrafire blue batteries and one terminates at around 4.02V and the other won’t charge at all (garbage). TF flames terminates at 4.17/4.18 V consistently.

11

Well, I played with my two 18650 lights a bit last night so I can charge up their batteries. (More testing!)

This time it's these batteries.

Charging at the .5 amp charge rate.

Lets see how things go.

First battery just came off at 4.14

Second is just done!

4.15 v

so, pretty okay on the solarforces.

Also, my multimeter may need fresh batteries, I think I'll replace them next time I head to town and run a few more tests.