What charger for 2017?

teacher · March 13, 2017, 5:15pm

I popped mine last night in anticipation of today…….

Turby3Pots · March 13, 2017, 5:24pm

I just wanted to know if it’s safe to order the Liitokala from aliexpress or not…

teacher · March 13, 2017, 5:34pm

gauss163:

teacher:

[…] Whether it be 500, 1000, or 2000 ma charge, as has been discussed in this thread; I doubt any of us are doing much… if any damage at up to 0.7 C charge rates on quality cells.

Again, it depends on the cell, e.g. 0.7C charging will likely yield significant loss in cycle life for the Samsung cell that I quoted above given that it both exceeds that maximum recommended charge rate, and it is more than double the charge rate required to attain the quoted cycle life. High charge rates are (by far) one of the biggest factors that contribute to cell degradation, yet one of the easiest factors that you can control.

That said, if you know what you are doing you can get the best of both worlds by using multistage fast-charging algorithms, which exploit the fact that high-rate charging causes the most damage at high-SOC, so one can charge faster at lower SOC As I mentioned before, this is how many fast-charging algorithms work (Philips, Tesla, etc). Some of these ideas are beginning to appear in cell phone charging algorithms.

Yeah for the Samsung INR18650-35E 3500mAh there may be some loss of cycle life charging at 2000ma. Whether it is “significant” or not remains to be seen. Much of that might possibly depend on what one considers “significant”.

That is why one should know the battery they are dealing with & charging, if they want to achieve optimum long life for it. The spec sheets for most batteries are easy to find if one does a ‘search’. Or just go to HKJ’s Site and have a look around.

teacher · March 13, 2017, 5:36pm

It should be. I got mine from GearBest best I remember. But as far as I know AliExpress should be fine.

bella-headlight · March 13, 2017, 6:12pm

I got a Lii-500 from Aliexpress a few weeks ago for $14 (without a power supply) as a spare back up to the 2 x Lii-500”s I already have.
It works fine & is as far as I can make out genuine :+1:

atbglenn · March 13, 2017, 6:17pm

I got mine from there as well several months ago for $15 without the PS. So far it’s been great. I highly recommend it.

Turby3Pots · March 13, 2017, 6:22pm

liiike… $15 plus $15 shipping?

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/2015-Liitokala-Lii-500-NiMH-Battery-Charger-3-7V-18650-26650-1-2V-AA-AAA-5/133859_32371732440.html

atbglenn · March 13, 2017, 6:35pm

No, I got mine with free shipping at the time. Now they’re charging $15 and change for shipping. What a bummer!

bella-headlight · March 13, 2017, 6:32pm

No $14 delivered. I am in the UK mind so I don”t know if that makes any difference ?

Speed4goal · March 13, 2017, 6:37pm

Try this one $13 and $2 shipping over 1500 orders and they have q coupon now for a $1 off if you spend $5

https://m.aliexpress.com/s/item/32586550153.html#autostay

Turby3Pots · March 13, 2017, 6:49pm

ordered, thanks.
EDIT: hahah i was too dim to notice the coupon! dollar not saved.

Jinx · March 13, 2017, 6:50pm

Wow, that turned fast and at risk of stoking the fire further I have a genuine question. From the slides it appears that higher state of charge causes greater loss of life than fast charging although the data is limited and I’m perhaps interpreting wrongly, but regardless of the slides, it is generally well accepted that high SoC for long periods reduces life.

So if a slow charger (or rate) is used, and it terminates as a previous comment mentions (which I believe is correct), at far lower currents, it will achieve a higher state of charge and therefore reduce life.

So what I’m, badly, getting at… Is the slow charger going to actually reduce life more than the fast one?

Terry_White · March 13, 2017, 7:29pm

I recently just got a third Lii-500 for $14 delivered<<< Would you mind sending me a PM of where? I was checking Amazon and hey are pretty much nuts with their prices...

Thanks

bella-headlight · March 13, 2017, 7:38pm

I got mine from Aliexpress, here is a link for one delivered to the USA for $14 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/-/32586550153.html?trace=msiteDetail2pcDetail

This is without the 12v 2A power supply though (same as mine was) but if you don”t have a supply you can use then you can pick them up for around $3.

Terry_White · March 13, 2017, 8:07pm

I found it about the time I got the email about your reply... I was trying to locate one inside the U.S. This does not seem possible lol

teacher · March 13, 2017, 10:25pm

gauss163:

teacher:

[Yeah for the Samsung INR18650-35E 3500mAh there may be some loss of cycle life charging at 2000ma. Whether it is “significant” or not remains to be seen. Much of that might possibly depend on what one considers “significant”.

More than doubling the manufacturer quoted charge rate for cycle-life will likely lead to significant loss of cycle life (if not they would have quoted it at the higher rate).

teacher:

That is why one should know the battery they are dealing with & charging, if they want to achieve optimum long life for it. The spec sheets for most batteries are easy to find if one does a ‘search’. Or just go to HKJ’s Site and have a look around.

Data on cycle/calendar life is not always easy to find. It is not on HKJ’s site, and most datasheets have very limited data regarding cycling and calendar life studies. So often the best one can do in general is to acquire some qualitative understanding of the primary factors that affect degradation, and then combine that knowledge with whatever data is available to extrapolate inasmuch as possible to the target context.

Even knowing only rough qualitative information such as higher charge rates cause accelerated degradation can be useful in making decisions. For example, if you have an expensive Li-ion pack built with said Samsung cells, then you can surmise that charging it at or below Samsung’s 0.3C cycle-life charge rate will yield roughly the quoted cycle life (assuming same conditions). Some datasheets list cycle life based at various charge and discharge rates and temperatures, which yields a better chance of yielding pertinent extrapolations,

Hmmmmm, OK. :+1:

In other words, in the larger connotation; quantifiable parameters must be viewed in the context of the intrinsic statistical differences & the surrounding environment.

Taking the overall view that appropriate technology must be viewed in the context of summative evaluation.

Makes sense to me………

Lightbringer · March 13, 2017, 10:33pm

From all I’ve ever heard, absolutely not.

I routinely do mine at 400mA, as I’m rarely in any rush to charge a cell.

tatasal · March 14, 2017, 12:09am

Funny thing about this thread is no matter which is best among the contending opinions, the way I use my “more than one light and batteries” won’t matter at all with regards to my batteries’ longevity vis-a-vis to my lifetime. They are used so sparingly, even my edc light.

A mild irony I should say.

Turby3Pots · March 14, 2017, 3:14pm

Yeah i was hoping for that too, gave up and went with aliexpress hope for the best. American Express should back me up if the thing falls apart.

hatman · March 14, 2017, 3:41pm

illumn has the Nitecore New i4 Intellicharger on sale for $16.99.
Regular price — which is what I paid but with free shipping — is $26.50.
Shipping is free for orders over $50; Priority Mail for just this item is $8.

illumn says this is the current model, not a closeout.

http://www.illumn.com/nitecore-new-i4-intellicharger-li-ion-nimh-nicd-charger.html

I’d be curious how other smartchargers compare with the New i4.
Does anyone with the Lii-500 have hands on experience with the i4?

Mine works fine. I use it in place of my venerable Pila and Maha models. I honestly don’t notice much difference in charging times. Temperatures never rise above warm. I’m not looking for anything fancy, just plug and charge safely.

One nit: AA and AAA size batteries have to be placed just so in order to get their tips to connect with the charger. No biggie.