Hi
Recently just bought this 18650 flash light (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/305698) and was wondering what charger should i buy, (this is my first 18650 battery and tourch) im looking for a portable charger and if possible usb powered, what are your personal opinions and suggestions for a good and cheap quality 18650 charger, Thanks
I want to spend around $20-30 on a charger thanks, also i was looking into nitecore and it seem popular
I own 2 chargers… the NiteCore i2 2015 version (good, but only charges two cells at a time) plus the XTAR VC4
I spent roughly $22 dollars on the Nitecore i2 and $44 dollars on the XTAR. I use the XTAR for both lithiums and NIMH batteries about once a week and love it.
XTAR also makes the VC2, it's a two-bay version of the VC4, half the price, and Nitecore i2 has a 2016 updated version now.
Hey Scrimshaw, looks like you know a bit about these. Can you comment on this unit XTARVC4, which looks the same at AliExpress and is a lot cheaper (about $A30)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-XTAR-VC2-VC4-Charge…?
it's the same product, just the seller is selling for much cheaper.
VC4 and VC2 have USB charging leads, you're supposed to provide your own USB power supply. A typical 2amp one made for an Android tablet works fine.
I own a D4 it charges to slow and doesn't have many features overall. Al though yes it's good being safe and all I'd still choose the lii-500 or an opus charger.
I got my D4 when it was released in 2014 they are yet to update the model still super slow at charging. The one thing the D4 does have over the lii-500 Is the ac input you can use a figure 8 cable with the D4 where as the lii-500'and opus chargers need a dc adapter. The voltage input of my D4 has dropped use to charge my cells to 4.20 volts now it stops at 4.10-4.15 volts. Not a big issues but I find I get best performance above 4.10 volts in direct drive light like the BLF A6.
The LiitoKala linked by aussieprepper (up top) doesn't run off usb, but the little one and two-cell models do. I have one of each. They are simple and well-designed and will safely charge the battery that is coming with your new torch.
Remarkable at their pricepoints in that they can also be used as little, additional (most OzBargainers probably have at least one), powerbanks.
Even more remarkable at the price given that they can also charge Lithium Iron Phosphate - LiFePO4 (safe-chemistry lithium) batteries.
(Those batteries don't hold as much charge as Lithium-ion batteries, but also won't ever explode or catch fire. If interested in exploring, buy Soshine LiFePO4 batteries - they are good and still probably the best of them, at least as far as genuine capacity goes.)
Otherwise, buy one of the XTAR chargers linked by scrimshaw. They make good gear and both mentioned will charge via USB.
If buying either of the LiitoKala chargers, spend the money saved on a protected 18650 lithium-ion battery (has little circular protection board sandwiched under the wrapping at the base of the battery). They are slightly longer and more expensive than a conventional unprotected battery, but will fit in most torches - and for charging I can confirm that they will fit in both of the little chargers mentioned.
A protected Lithium-ion gives you a margin of safety (charge/discharge) that is in-between a regular Lithium-ion and a LiFePO4 battery.
Especially important to use in multi-cell torches, if you buy one of those, in future. Don't mix-and-match batteries of any sort, in multi-cell torches.
LiitoKala chargers mentioned both on sale at GearBest -
www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_272183.html
www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_424662.html
Unless OzBargain's altomic can find a better deal on AliExpress (he's part bloodhound!), those prices are great.
^^just read this and LOL'd
those are very good prices for gearbest, better than aliexpress
I have the single cell liitokala charger in my EDC kit. I had the klarus CH1 but it over charges.
I'd recomend the LiitoKala lii-500 US$17.99 from aliexpress
I have one. great little charger. does all the batteries you need (except 9volt - though you could hook up a homemade 9v battery adapter easily enough)
this is the price with out the ac power adapter- which can be bought for a few $ more. I just used the ac adapter off an old adsl netgear modem.
It would appear that he/she has decided to buy a Nitecore. Even some of the big sellers seem to occasionally sell fakes. Hopefully not in that case.
Charging from USB also apparently not that important to them.. :)
That's a very good price on the 500.
(Bargain4Days, keep in mind that in many a device, the power supply is the thing most prone to fail. Separate plugpack is an advantage, not a disadvantage. In this case, batteries will also stay cooler as they charge.)
Hey mate How much do you want to spend? Do you want a USB based charger or a mains charger?
Depending on how long you can wait these usually go on sale every so often. This one i link has no included power cable.
This is one of my go to chargers. It appears to be the same price on Gearbest and Banggood you can probably find it cheaper on Aliexpress.
http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_591372.html
https://www.banggood.com/LiitoKala-Lii-400-1_2V3_7V-Li-ion-A…