Displaying reviews posted
by certified DX gadget owners first, followed by all other posted reviews.
Easily breakable, unsecure
Posted by
monstrewii
on 1/18/2010
Involvement:
General (knows how to use it)
- Ownership:
1 day to 1 week
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Pros: Cheap.
Useful since you can charge CR123A and 18650 batteries (separate channels in theory).
Polarity is not easyly visible, so you can confuse +/- if you don't take extra care.
It works.
Cons: Built quality is bad imho.
CANNOT charge 3.0/3.2V 17340 / CR123A Rechargeable Lithium LiFePO4 Batteries since they will EXPLODE or damage the charger.
Other Thoughts: I tried to charge 7340 / CR123A Rechargeable Lithium LiFePO4 Batteries with fatal consecuences for the charger and the battery. But luckyly nothing exploded.
Bottomline: Could be more protected to avoid damage, although the user must proceed with care.
Ensure you use compatible batteries.
Best charger for the price
Posted by
NicolasG
on 11/21/2009
Involvement:
Expert (understands the inner workings)
- Ownership:
1 day to 1 week
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Pros: - Charges 16340, 18650 and 17670 batteries
- Small wall adapter
- Intuitive design
- Led actually works
- Doesnt trickle charge when done
- Charges one or two cells at a time.
Cons: Only possible negative is that there is a seperate ac adapter. In some cases this is good, in others its bad.
Other Thoughts: The battery clips are flexible enough to fit protected and un protected batteries, but in some cases can be a little hard to pop in and keep there.
Cant go wrong with this charger, while other chargers have exhibited fires or heating, this one has not.
Bottomline: For 6 dollars, its great.
Gets the job done
Posted by
gelman
on 11/2/2009
Involvement:
General (knows how to use it)
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1 day to 1 week
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Pros: The charger arrived in a typical DX bubble wrap lined envelope. It comes in plastic bag inside a carton box. There are 2 pieces. One is the AC adapter that plugs into a North American socket. The other piece is the battery charger that can take 2x 18650 or 2x CR123A batteries. There are markings indicating the positive and negative terminals. However they are of the same color as the whole battery compartment and are hard to see. The battery contacts are exposed even when the batteries are put in place.
When plugged in, the AC adapter has a red led indicating it is receiving electricity from the house socket. A wire that leads to a plug that goes to the battery compartment. This plug does not fit the very well. When plugged in, about 3mm of the contact area is exposed. Besides, you don’t feel any “click” with this plug. Nevertheless, the plug stays solidly in place.
Cons: When everything is connected, without the battery, the led on the battery compartment flashes rapidly from red to green indicating something is missing. If you put an old battery into the compartment at this point, the led would turn solid green. It means there is no charging. However, if you put in the battery prior to connecting the AC adapter, it would turn red and begins to charge. So this is the proper connecting sequence: Battery>AC adapter>connect AC adapter to charger.
It is somewhat difficult to take the batteries out once they sit properly inside the charger.
Other Thoughts: Voltage: without battery, my unit registers 7.2 V. With used battery, it goes from 3.8 at the beginning to around 4.2V near the end of the charging process. I charge unprotected batteries salvaged from old laptops, so my number may not be representative enough. Once I forgot my battery was charging and I left it charged overnight. In the morning I saw the green light and the voltage stays at 4.2V. With some other batteries the charger would charge even after 4.25V. I did not continue beyond this voltage.
Bottomline: Overall I think it is an inexpensive, usable charger. I wouldn’t leave it charging unattended though. I always monitor the voltage near the end of the charging process.
Great Charger and a Great Price!!
Posted by
phreeflow
on 7/11/2009
Involvement:
General (knows how to use it)
- Ownership:
more than 1 month
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Pros: Great charger..accepts both 18650 and RCR123a's without a problem.
Get some magnet spacers to charge other lithium ion batteries.
Can't get a cheaper charger elsewhere...even among DX chargers, it's one of the better ones at this price range.
Have a couple and have been happy with them.
Cons: Can't really complain at this price.
Don't like that it has a separate charger...wish it had a fold out plug and a usb connector but for the money how can I complain.
Other Thoughts: I always recommend protected cells, especially if you'll be putting these batteries in series since they'll be inherently safer.
18650's can take almost all night to charge...large capacity.
Bottomline: Get some, they don't come cheaper than this and it works just fine.