From the popular 402 deal going around, seen that the 500 500s and 600 models are also on sale for:
No, but you can now charge those Ladda or Eneloops you bought on a whim.
Batteries not included.
It's a terrible listing. There's no product description and photos of only one angle.
Yeah it's an awful listing.
From Russia with love.
This is actually a good deal. Hard to find these chargers so cheap. I'd have ordered one if I don't have a Lii 500
Why is is it any better than the eneloop charger that you also get batteries included with?
Charges Lithium Ion batteries too
can also charge alt low currents e.g AAA
Almost all of the eneloop charger deals that include batteries, have a "dumb" charger. Dumb chargers force the same amount of charge into all batteries, irrespective of how flat they were. The excess charge turns into heat, which permanently damages the battery, so it dies MUCH faster.
It's almost like the battery company selling the charger wants you to keep throwing out batteries and buying new ones, hint hint.
Some of the Panasonic/eneloop chargers are "smart" chargers, but those deals are uncommon.
FWIW, from what I can tell this doesn't come with the power adapter.
Edit: I could be wrong; the reviews seem to show a power adapter when choosing these versions. The descriptions suggest there are options to choose models with power adapters from different regions, with or without car DC adapters, but this listing doesn't have those. Who knows what it'll turn up with :/
The listing might have included a power adapter at the time those reviews were written, so don't assume package contents from the reviews.
Liitokala are known to sell their chargers with and without power supplies, this is one of the "without" listings. So actually it looks like the standard "on sale" price for their chargers without power supplies.
The Lii-600 was cheaper a week ago, A$28, flash deal:
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/10656961/redir
Looks like the 3rd one (3rd image) might include a power adapter while the 1st one is just a charger
This listing shows what it looks like when they include a power supply:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001498706056.html
This deal doesn't look like that.
@Russ: One of the more recent reviews show a power adapter included as part of the Lii-600 package….hoping my 500s comes with one too (will update in comments when I receive for future deals). Based on reviews, the listing looks like it's changed a bit and had more extensive options previously to include/exclude car chargers etc.
If not included, I guess there's no problem ordering a 12V/3A output for ~$6 here? I guess it'll be less of a deal, but still cheaper than usual nonetheless from what I can see.
@piejustice: I'm always torn buying mains-powered things from overseas suppliers. You never know if it was a factory reject that didn't pass some safety tests. I've certainly received some items from overseas online stores that were rejects, but they weren't electrical items.
At least if you buy from an Australian supplier, you can sue them if it burns down your house.
I'm sure lots of people use things from AliExpress with no problems, but I'd rather not find I've bought an item with 1% failure rate, and be unlucky.
Liitokala have a brand name to uphold, so I'd trust their stuff more than a no-name brand.
@piejustice: As per @Russ post above, AC powered gear from AliExpress is generally a bad idea.
There's no way of knowing if you're getting the single-insulated death version, or the correctly made version that the same factory churns out for 29% more cost
@Nom: Thought I might update everyone here - just received my package for the Lii-500s and it includes a power adapter and car cigarette lighter adapter.
@piejustice: Same story for the Lii-600. Power adapter, EU figure-8 cable, and car cigarette lighter adapter.
I ended up ordering the Lii-600 ($24.95 USD). The order shows "Product properties: lii-600 + China", so perhaps it'll come with a Chinese power cable, which is compatible with AU although no coating on the pins. It's just a figure 8 connector though, and I've got plenty of spares of those.
If it ends up coming with no power supply, or a 110v only one, then meh, not really a saving, but oh well. Still a good charger, just need to find a local 12V 5A power supply and it'll work out to much the same price anyway.
Edit: Actually, the "China" is just the source location, so yeah, might still be no power supply.
It should come with a power adapter. Otherwise, it would say Lii 600 no other, like the 1st image
@piejustice: good score.
even more bummed i missed this deal now!
if anyone bought 2 (no idea why you would, but worth asking!) - i'll take it off your hands :)
it includes a power adapter.
If only their listing had said this, there would have been a lot more sold.
How sensitive are the touch buttons? If you brush your hand over the display, does it act like the buttons were touched? Or does it require a more definite touch-pause-remove to activate them?
@Russ: As responsive as a phone screen, feels like one I'd say. Feedback beeps are instant as soon as I press the buttons. So yes, brushing my hand across the display would register the touchscreen buttons.
Not too concerned that would accidentally change the mode/current while charging, those get locked in while on charge (manual says you have 8s to change it when you first insert the battery).
@piejustice: Thanks, good to know for future recommendations.
(manual says you have 8s to change it when you first insert the battery)
Same with the lii-500. I'm pretty sure there's very little difference between the 500 and the 500S, from a functional point of view. Just one looks prettier, and costs more.
Really good price on the 500s! Would have pop on it if I didn't just order the 402 from last deal.
What's the difference between this 500s and the other 402? I'm a complete noob as I don't own any rechargeable batteries, would like to buy some but don't really know where to start!
"This makes it unsafe in 230v countries". Isn't Australia 230v?
Australia is 230V on paper only.
It used to be "240V +5%/-10%", which meant the limits were 252V and 216V.
Now it's officially "230V +10%/-5%" so the limits are 253V and 218V.
Note how the maximum and minimum barely changed? In reality, nothing actually changed, I still see about 250V at my house, even at night time. So they can't blame "solar input" for that.
The reality is that when the mains are at 250V, most things will consume more power. So the electricity company makes more profit, and there's no incentive for them to lower the voltage. So they don't. It's a sad state of affairs.
In answer to your question, the Lii-500S power supply failed a particular safety test. I know nothing about these tests, but digging around on the internet I found this page, which suggests the "4242V test" should only be done on items that are rated to 264V: https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/test-measureme…
The 402 just has four lights to show the battery status. The 500, 500S and 600 have an LCD display that will tell you how much current went into your batteries during the charging, so you'll get some indication when one of your batteries is starting to fail. The 500, 500S and 600 also have battery test modes, so you can do a thorough test when you think a battery is failing.
Difference between 500 and 500S: different colour LCD display, touch switches instead of normal pushbuttons.
Lii-600 has only come out in the last month or two, I haven't seen a thorough review yet. I do note that the power supply of the Lii-600 (when it is supplied) has a detachable figure-8 mains power cord, which will make it much easier to connect an Australian mains plug. Liitokala don't sell anything with an Australian mains plug AFAIK.
These charge Eneloop and IKEA aa and aaa batteries too right ? Would love to know the difference between these and yesterday’s 402 also. I bought one yesterday. But not too late to cancel!
These charge Eneloop and IKEA aa and aaa batteries too right ?
Yes, they charge all NiMh batteries of AA and AAA size. Will also charge some types of lithium-ion batteries too.
See my comment above for differences to the 402 charger. I have the Lii-500, there's no way I'd go back to a basic charger like the 402.
Note to everyone: these aren't as "Automatic" as the Panasonic/eneloop chargers, which supply different charge currents to AA and AAA batteries.
These chargers can't tell which size of battery has been inserted, and default to 500mA. This will give slow charging of AA batteries, which can result in unreliable "full battery" detection, and it's a little too high (in my opinion) for AAA batteries.
For best charging, I recommend pushing the "current" button a few times when you insert the battery, to set the current to 300mA for AAA batteries, and 1000mA for AA batteries. This will give a 2 to 3 hour charge, and keep the batteries healthy.
Which charger do you recommend that when you put the batteries in it automatically chooses the right output?
For a fully automatic device, I'd suggest an Aldi charger. They have a good charge current, and are a smart charger, but the display is just a bargraph. Then again, if you want something simple to use, you probably don't want a more detailed display.
I don't recall seeing this charger at Aldi for a year or so, so maybe Aldi aren't making them any more? And every time they come out, they are a little different to the year before, so there's no guarantee future ones will be as good as previous ones.
Thanks, got a lii-600. Have wanted one for a while and this is a good price.
I read some reviews and looks like it has the power supply, plus it is pictured in the gigantic page of details if you scroll down far enough. Plenty of fig8 cables around so don't mind if that comes or not.
Also thanks Russ for the tip on charge rates - i was wondering what to set them at to keep batteries healthy.
Does using coupons effect Cash Rewards?
I still have the La Crosse charger bought 8 years ago. Is this a smarter charger?
When does this sale expire?
I just received my first Lii-600, after having all of my Lii-500's fail, and killing my Lii-500s (over voltage supply).
Might get a couple of 600s.
It appears to end at 5pm tomorrow..
So reading that both your Lii-500 and 550s failed? Was the adapter (s) giving too high an output or something else?
I believe the 500 units failed because of long term heat. I was using them 24/7 for months.
The 500S failed because I had a memory fade moment and put a 60v battery across a charge port of my iCharger 4010 which blew half the FETs, voltage reg and diodes, and seemed to feed back through to the power rail and into the 500S smoking a couple of FETs, diodes and inductors in that.
I'm hoping to source the replacement components and repair both. I have yet to open up the 500 units - in the hopes of reviving a couple of those to.
Thanks OP - bought the li-500s.
Is there any reason why I shouldn't use the included adaptor + a travel power socket converter? Or should I buy a power supply locally? (Any
recommendations if so)
If you have young kids, I suggest not using a travel power socket adaptor. Most of them have huge openings that would be very easy for an inquisitive kid to poke something into, so electrocution hazard.
However, some socket adapters are safer than the cheap ones. I listed two such adapters here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/10649842/redir
Which one you choose will depend on what type of mains plug you are trying to adapt.
I don't know where to buy an inexpensive power supply locally. I believe 12V is the required voltage, but how much current is needed? If 1.5A is enough, Jaycar sell one for $25:
https://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-dc-1-5a-slim-power-supply-7dc-…
You'll have to read the specs to see if the supplied plugs are suitable. And note you'll need to get the polarity right when connecting the plug.
just finished work and had a chance to look at these models/prices …aaaaand seems the listed prices from OP's link have finished now?
Expired an hour ago.
crap :(
I'm assuming it's a battery charger? Do you get batteries with it?