Review: XTAR MP1 Charger 1x li-ion

Batteries and Chargers Chargers
1

Good day BLF.

This time i'll post a review of a nice little charger for li-ion.

The charger is made to use a USB host (also good with car adapters and AC/USB). No problem charging protected and unprotected 18650 and 18700 (XTAR own thing) tried all variations. It would probably take many other li-ion cells with a DIY adapters as charging current is "safe" for many at 500mA.

The charger charges around 4-5h on a normal usb pc port (unprotected sony 18650 2200mAh from a HP laptop battery pack). This beauty apparently does (not tested) revive almost dead protected li-ion's by charging them (when under the level of discharge protection) by applying a very small current and when above 3V starts charging normally. I've seen that behavior on a unintentionally hard discharged unprotected at 2,66V. It does follow CC/CV technique and terminates exactly at 4.2V. 5h later the cell was still at 4.2V, that looks good to me! Strangely the charger doesen't want to top cells if they are above 4V. You have to discharge it to 3,99V to top it. Presumably the charger do that by himself when the cell goes below 4V (that could take some months to test). The cells i tested doesen't go above room temp. It is a bit strange because my "oem" dx charger does warm up them a bit (higher current indeed but not that much).

All in all is a decent performar and good looking!

http://www.qualitychinagoods.com/xtar-charger-14650176701865018700-battery-p-1785.html Probably cheaper elsewhere.

I have not bought it there however. It was a one shot deal and it doesent really metter. Glad i did it.

PROS:

- Termiantes properly!

- Slow charge rate (for those who care)

- Can revive dead cells (not verified)

- Can charge long 18650 cells and 18700

- USB host powered, charging possibilities are plentifull

- Cute and small sized with sturdy well made plastic.

CONS:

- Doesen't charge the cells untill below 4V

- Charging current limited to 500mA (for those who want faster charging)

- Limited availability (currently) i bleive it's a new product.

Verdict:

It's really all i ever wanted from a 18650 charger compared to the cheap junk DX,KD... sells for similar money.

2

Does it work with AC/USB power-plugs (with higher mA output)? I would hesitate to connect it to my computer being this cheap. That would be one expensive charger, if it fries my mainboard.

3

Should work with adapter regardless, and it says so in the review. People plug a lot of cheap stuff into their computer, not sure why this warrant special attention. Maybe we're used to REALLY crappy chargers.

I'm more interested in the MP2. Could be the one to get for <20.

4

Thanks for the review Budgeteer! Frontpage'd and sticky'd.

I personally don't like USB chargers. I only use a laptop, and there's no room on my desk for extraneous, clunky things sticking out of my USB ports.

5

The difference to other USB devices is... this one could potentially not only consume energy but provide some high currents back in my usb port in case of malfunction. I wouldn't care too much if a AC/USB went .. POOF.... if it's taking down my PC ... different story. I have an AC/USB that's capable of 1000 mA where PC-USB -ports are limited to 500 mA. I hope that the charging regulation doesn't depend somehow on 500 mA max current at 5 Volts.

6

It likely uses the same kind of regulators as you find in just about any other usb device. Though in this case it might be a current regulator.

The highest current it can provide "back in" is if it shorted the power, in which case your PS handles it, some better than others.

added: There should also be additional protection (polyfuses) on the board to save the traces: http://archive.chipcenter.com/analog/c019.htm

7

Yes you can use a higher current USB based host (AC/usb@1000mA) but not get higher current for charging. I tried once with my boss 230VAC/usb adaper rated 1A. Charge time roughly the same.

Usb decvices arent that bad. 110-230VAC to USB are the ones to be afraid of. The majority are insanely badly designed and assembled.

I own a very expensice pc (being a computer technician it is kind of normal) and have no problem using those ports. Actually i have yet to see someone ruining their ussb ports by junk equipment (over 15 years of experience).

When they destroy their usb ports it is being done physically by wrongfully pushing things into usb and whacking it for good. ;)

8

It's definitely the coolest looking charger I have ever seen. Cool

9

Actually it looks better in real. Pictures dosen't do justice.

10

Looks interesting - thanks for the review. But I already own too many chargers - way too many! I think I could simultaneously charge 30 lithium cells if I went looking for chargers.

And more NiCd/NiMH than that though some of the chargers are not ones I'd be keen to use.

Must resist!!!

Can't afford to get into charger collecting. It would probably have worked out cheaper to have bought a Schulze charger, a high amp power supply and made up a pile of adapters five years ago.

11

Well, I just capitulated and got the WP2.

Does anyone know of a good way or tip for for a short adapter so I can use 123A size batteries in it? Seems the springs only go to 14500 size.

12

I would get a rather big bolt and screw some nuts to make a 2-3cm dummy battery. You can try coins too but that is even more lame than this:

http://www.afrotechmods.com/

Btw, what you paid for the wp2?

13

I got it at sbflashlights for $13. I guess I could've just got two of these mp1's instead for same? I only have 2x lith chargers...

BTW, I've seen that site before; it's ghettolicious :)

14

Quick review on the WP2:

1. It's also nice w/ good build quality like the MP1 above.

2. Fits 14500 loosely as it claims.

3. I didn't verify cc/cv, but cells do come off it at correct voltage >4.1v, <4.2v, so it doesn't trickle (however, even the cheap-ass DX 2x charger does this, or at least the one I got does, but that one will keep on charging crap cells so maybe not the safest).

4. Buy this if you need/want 2x 18650/14500. Otherwise I think the 1 bay one above should also be fine.

15

This beauty apparently does (not tested) revive almost dead protected li-ion's by charging them (when under the level of discharge protection) by applying a very small current and when above 3V starts charging normally. I've seen that behavior on a unintentionally hard discharged unprotected at 2,66V

I once stuck a 1.2v (!) cell from a Lenovo(sanyo) pack in the shekor from KD and it charged up fine. Went almost instantly to 3V+ and still hasn't burned my house down.

16

If I stretch the spring to make it longer can I charge 14500 batteries?

Is this possible?

17

Probably not a good idea - they tend to break. Make up a conducting spacer - a 12-15mm long piece of dowel with a drawing pin stuck in each end and a wire joining the pins works fine.

18

If I buy this charger

XTAR MP1

Can I used the plug?

http://www.lightake.com/detail.do/sku.UK_AC_to_USB_Power_Adapter_Charger_for_MP3_iPod_iPhone_-27679

Will I have any problems?

19

It would probably do ok. Dont you have a spare one that comes with most phones nowadays?

20

To use a USB adapter with 1000ma output. I guess they are also a bit overrated. The specs of the charger say:

Operation Temperature

0~40℃

Input Voltage/ Current

DC 5V / 500mA

Output Voltage/ Current

DC 4.2V/ 500mA