18650 batteries are used as the main power sources in many portable electronic devices. The advantage of rechargeable products is that one device can work for several years.
Unfortunately, such batteries are not without flaws. The most noticeable disadvantages of such products are the high cost and dependence on chargers, which also cost a lot of money.
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18650 battery charger for 2 to 4 batteries
Buying a charger for the 18650 battery is easy. The main thing you should pay attention to when choosing such a device is the number of battery compartments.
Typically, such devices can simultaneously charge from 2 to 4 cylindrical batteries. The most inexpensive devices can only be designed for 1 product.
The charger is powered from an electric network of 220 V, while the output contacts of the device are supplied with voltage of about 5 V with a current strength of 0.5 to 2.0 A.
All products have a durable plastic case, on one side of which are compartments for installing batteries.
One of the most inexpensive 18650 battery chargers is the Fikida charger. Such a product is equipped with 4 slots, which are located in a compact plastic case. The low cost of the product is due to lower manufacturing costs.
Unlike classic memory cards, which are powered from a 220 V electric network, Fikida allows you to efficiently restore batteries from a usb connector. Thanks to such technical features, it was also possible to minimize the dimensions and weight of the device.
Significantly increased and the operational life of the memory. The device can work from a universal usb adapter, as well as from the corresponding output of a computer or laptop.
Universal Chargers
Universal devices can charge various li ion batteries. Many devices of this class have 6-slot cases, which allows you to simultaneously install a large number of batteries.
Such devices are more expensive than conventional products, but thanks to an intelligent circuit, it is not necessary to additionally configure such devices. It is enough to install the batteries in the slots and the smart product will select the battery recovery mode on its own.
Universal devices can be purchased in stores that sell batteries and chargers for them, as well as on trading floors on the Internet. When choosing, you should pay attention to the absence of mechanical damage to the case and packaging of such products.
Preference should be given to European-made products. Despite the higher price, such products can be equipped with additional functions that can extend the battery life. For example, devices with a discharge function reduce the voltage at the battery terminals to 0.9 volts, which allows you to effectively deal with such a negative phenomenon as the memory effect.
Semi-professional charging stations
If the charger for the 18650 battery is necessary for daily use, it is recommended to purchase a semi-professional charging station in order to ensure the maximum level of quality of recovery of rechargeable power sources. Almost all models of devices of this class have intelligent control and are designed to simultaneously charge up to 8 rechargeable batteries.
One of these chargers for lithium batteries is the Polo P10. The charger of this model is designed for the simultaneous installation of 8 batteries of type 18650. The device allows you to automatically charge batteries of various brands.
After the battery is restored to 100%, the power supply will completely stop. The absence of overcharging and overheating of the batteries positively affects their operation. Despite the presence of a large number of slots and an intelligent system, the device is relatively inexpensive, and the only drawback of the Polo P10 is the lack of a display.
The Golisi S4 charger also belongs to the category of semi-professional devices, but unlike the Polo P10, this product has only 4 slots for charging batteries. In other parameters, the memory of this model is not inferior to the charger described above. The undoubted advantages of the Golisi S4 include:
- The presence of a digital display.
- The maximum charging current in the slot is 2 A (when charging 1 battery).
- Universality.
- You can charge from a 12 volt current source.
The disadvantage of such a device can be called only a relatively high cost, for example, Polo P10 will cost 3 times cheaper.
In general, a review of such products may take more than one page, but even among the listed devices you can make a decent choice.
Homemade Chargers
If you have minimal skills in handling a soldering iron and radio components, as well as the necessary components and free time, you can independently make a charger for 18650 batteries. Such a product will not be inferior to factory models in its characteristics.
The simplest circuit of a makeshift charger consists of a 6 volt transformer and a diode bridge. An LED can also be added to indicate the inclusion, which is connected to the output stage through a resistor.
For high-current products, you can use several slots connected in series, for example, to a twelve-volt transformer. The disadvantage of this product will be the impossibility of charging one battery, because in order for the output circuit to be closed, it will be necessary to simultaneously install all the elements for charging.
The best home-made device for charging batteries of type 18650 is a slot connected to the usb output of a computer or other equipment with a corresponding connector. The advantage of this method is that its implementation will require a minimum number of parts.
In the manufacture of any home-made memory for finger batteries, it is necessary to observe the polarity when connecting the conductors. Tests of such products showed that another problem is the strong recharge of batteries in case of prolonged charging.
This is due to the lack of an automatic current shutdown system. Given such operating features, you should not leave the products turned on for a long time, because the lack of protection can lead to explosion or fire of the charged elements.
