XTAR WP6 II Charger for 6X10440/14500/14650/17670/18650/18700 3.6V/3.7V Batteries(25 days available 13/06/2011~07/07/2011)

[FlashPilot]

@SirJohn

it also won't recharge a cell unless it is below 4.0 volts. this is by design and is likely meant to be a safety feature. In other words, its not a good charger for top-ups of slightly discharged cells, but otherwise it is a solid, safe charger. The only thing the mp1 is guilty of is being designed to be overly safe and being slow. The slowness is a matter of it being designed to be charged via a USB port which are not capable of putting out much current.

I believe this would be a huge disadvantage for most people. Unless Im afield, I maintain the LICO's I have in use at around 4.15V and they seldom drop below 4.0V during casual use. Most unregulated lights seem to dim considerably at around 3.85V if allowed to do so. I usually replace my batteries far before that point.

[33696933]

This is the newer version review
candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?315587-Review-of-Measurement-on-Xtar-WP6-II-charger

[HKJ]

@FlashPilot

I test with an annually calibrated Fluke DMM. Unfortunatley, I was one of the first to buy a WP6. The results from the 1st WP6 were legendary and thats why so many were sent back for a refund and most of the inventory remained unsold. My test results were confirmed by many others so I'll spare you the details. Anyone with a cheap DMM can test and produce reliable results as long as they monitor time, voltage and amperage. No, you actually do want the charger to continue charging if the battery has a resting state of 4.10V after inserted! Also, these chargers are not CC/CV. Their charging voltages and currents change throughout the charge process. As voltage increases, current decreases but not at a steady rate. If they were constant current and constant voltage, they would be just that... constant.

My new single channel xtar charger changes the light from red to green @ 4.01V then takes many hours to charge the remainder of the cycle. It also does not charge current or voltage at a constant rate.

Again, I'll wait for others to report results on the new version WP6. Hopefully the huge charging variations between channels, the inability to top off a battery greater that 4.10V, and the constant trickle charging have all been resolved. If it has, then great, I'll buy one and so will many others. If not, I'll continue charging with my current charger and buy a quality hobby charger.

Using a calibrated meter is no guarantee for getting the correct measurements or interpreting the results correct (I like this setup). The first WP6 may not follow a nicely drawn CC/CV curve, but it does never go above a CC/CV curve, this means that it will charge slower than a perfect CC/CV charger, but it is handling the cells just as gentle as a perfect CC/CV charger.

A old cell may have a resting voltage near 4.1 when fully charger, you do not want a charger to start charging on that, at least not if you hope to get a long life from you batteries.

Again with the MP1, the only price for the sloppy curves is time. The fact that it says ready before the battery is fully charged is annoying, but as long as it is at 95% capacity it is acceptable (But a two level indicator would have been perfect). But yours obvious says ready way before that and I that is not acceptable!

I have not checked how the WP6 II is on topping up cells.

A hobby charger is the best charging tool, but most only handles one cell and they are not as convenient as multi channel cradle chargers.

[CathastrophiX]

Is this the same charger as the one Manafont sells for $35.50?

It looks like there is two adapters included with this one?

[Don]

Mine left Singapore on Wednesday - hopefully it'll be here in a week so I can test it properly. Since I have some 3100mAh 18650s coming too, I will even have some new cells to test it with.

I'm a little surprised that szws are using Singapore Post - it really isn't that near China. As in 2600km apart.