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5 Chargers and nothing :/

Vape Fan

_evil twin_
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D4 is dying. I only need 4 slots and fit 21700 or smaller.
In random order, here's what I've looked at.
SkyRC MC3000 - Pricey. Don't know if you're getting the "upgraded from plastic spring keepers" Still questionable on 21700.
Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus - Apparently it doesn't or may not, fully charge. Pricing close to SC4. Like the charge complete audio alarm and other features.
Nitecore SC4 - Fits 21700 and good features, but fails in some test aspects unless it's been updated since release.
MiBox C4 -12 - Has great features, and lacks a couple. Mainly it doesn't discharge any, (doesn't charge LiPo doesn't affect me).
Hohm Base - per review, 20700 has to be tilted to connect and 21700 is slightly bigger.

Any comments on those ^ or have a different suggestion on a newer to the market charger?

How important is it to us vapers to be able to discharge a lion cell, since they have no memory? Does it tell us about resistance and capacity in a better way?
I do have a some NiMH batteries and, this charger wouldn't remove/restore those memories? It does have revive feature for zero or low voltage batteries.






 

Vape Fan

_evil twin_
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For anyone interested I narrowed it to Dragon, or Hohm Base because I found a local b & m that had HB listed at $34.99. Thinking a 21700 wouldn't fit well, I took one with me because they didn't have any. There's not a lot of room left when you pull the slide back, but there's enough to clear the battery and the wrap by a couple mm or so. Easy to get it in there and no fiddling. So I got that one for half the cost of the Dragon.
Anyone interested can get it here https://www.mtbakervapor.com/#gref
Plus 15% off new customer and 2 other 10% codes. Free ship @ $50, USPS priority 2-3 day.
 

eStorm

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I've been recommending that charger in so many topics and even the vendor, didn't know it was local for you tho lol. I don't use 21700 but I love that charger for my other batteries as well as the Dr function. I have a total of 4 of them by now, purchased at around 77 bucks each over a year ago, still none of them broken as of yet. Hope its doing great for you as well down the road.
 

Vape Fan

_evil twin_
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I've been recommending that charger in so many topics and even the vendor, didn't know it was local for you tho lol. I don't use 21700 but I love that charger for my other batteries as well as the Dr function. I have a total of 4 of them by now, purchased at around 77 bucks each over a year ago, still none of them broken as of yet. Hope its doing great for you as well down the road.
They in the same city, which was funny because there are 17 cities that make up this metroplex. I'm liking it and working fine. No usb charger which I don't miss, and the screen doesn't go off unless you unplug it, no big deal. .5, 1.0 and 2.A and all the slots are independent. No resistance meter but I don't think I need to know that. When they start loosing life I'll just Dr them or replace them. Used the Dr when I first got it on some older 30Q's to see how they were holding up. Fits my 21700 cells nicely. Could have gotten Dragon at a local Kidney Puncher for 65 out the door, which was amazing since their retail shops are a lil high priced. For me, just couldn't justify the $ diff for the added bells and whistles.
 

Mattp169

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The HOhm Bas is on my wish list because of the many great reviews and the battery doctor.

but the efest v6 has been doing great for me. the contacts can get dirty. and the springs are cheap. I like it because it tells me the actual voltage of the battery not just some meter.I have 2 now. because the cat puked all over one and I thought it was done for, plus 2 slots were not working all the time. But I decided to disassemble it and clean it, and now that one works as good as new.
 

Pastorfuzz

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Member For 4 Years
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D4 is dying. I only need 4 slots and fit 21700 or smaller.
In random order, here's what I've looked at.
SkyRC MC3000 - Pricey. Don't know if you're getting the "upgraded from plastic spring keepers" Still questionable on 21700.
Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus - Apparently it doesn't or may not, fully charge. Pricing close to SC4. Like the charge complete audio alarm and other features.
Nitecore SC4 - Fits 21700 and good features, but fails in some test aspects unless it's been updated since release.
MiBox C4 -12 - Has great features, and lacks a couple. Mainly it doesn't discharge any, (doesn't charge LiPo doesn't affect me).
Hohm Base - per review, 20700 has to be tilted to connect and 21700 is slightly bigger.

Any comments on those ^ or have a different suggestion on a newer to the market charger?

How important is it to us vapers to be able to discharge a lion cell, since they have no memory? Does it tell us about resistance and capacity in a better way?
I do have a some NiMH batteries and, this charger wouldn't remove/restore those memories? It does have revive feature for zero or low voltage batteries.





I'v
D4 is dying. I only need 4 slots and fit 21700 or smaller.
In random order, here's what I've looked at.
SkyRC MC3000 - Pricey. Don't know if you're getting the "upgraded from plastic spring keepers" Still questionable on 21700.
Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus - Apparently it doesn't or may not, fully charge. Pricing close to SC4. Like the charge complete audio alarm and other features.
Nitecore SC4 - Fits 21700 and good features, but fails in some test aspects unless it's been updated since release.
MiBox C4 -12 - Has great features, and lacks a couple. Mainly it doesn't discharge any, (doesn't charge LiPo doesn't affect me).
Hohm Base - per review, 20700 has to be tilted to connect and 21700 is slightly bigger.

Any comments on those ^ or have a different suggestion on a newer to the market charger?

How important is it to us vapers to be able to discharge a lion cell, since they have no memory? Does it tell us about resistance and capacity in a better way?
I do have a some NiMH batteries and, this charger wouldn't remove/restore those memories? It does have revive feature for zero or low voltage batteries.





I have the Xtar VP4 Plus and it does charge my batts to 4.2.
Measured with volt meter after charging.
Haven't tried the Lipo function yet though.
Much better build quality than the Nitecores IMO.
Plus it runs cool when charging, unlike my Nitecores.
IMR has a deal on them for $42 if you buy 4. That's almost half price.
I went in with a friend of mine on that deal, so we have 2 each now.
 

Vape Fan

_evil twin_
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I'v

I have the Xtar VP4 Plus and it does charge my batts to 4.2.
Measured with volt meter after charging.
Haven't tried the Lipo function yet though.
Much better build quality than the Nitecores IMO.
Plus it runs cool when charging, unlike my Nitecores.
IMR has a deal on them for $42 if you buy 4. That's almost half price.
I went in with a friend of mine on that deal, so we have 2 each now.
For quite a while my D4 had a weak tab on the end of one of the sliders and would bend at the 90 making it a pita. Then it started getting warm with 4 cells. I've owned other Nitecore's, and think they're ok but better out there.
You reminded me to get a voltmeter. I was thinking one of these 7-8$ ones. since I'm not auto tech and just simple user.
 

Pastorfuzz

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Member For 4 Years
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For quite a while my D4 had a weak tab on the end of one of the sliders and would bend at the 90 making it a pita. Then it started getting warm with 4 cells. I've owned other Nitecore's, and think they're ok but better out there.
You reminded me to get a voltmeter. I was thinking one of these 7-8$ ones. since I'm not auto tech and just simple user.
I use the Voltmeter leads that come with the XTAR.
They plug into the back of the unit
 

notagoodnameleft

Member For 4 Years
I've lived through 5 years of new chargers every six months - and now I have a much greater appreciation.
I have a VP2 Plus on a desk (somewhere) and its a decent charger - but nothing in comparison to what I've settled on the last two years.

OPUS BT-C100. It IS a single bay (yep). It IS more capable and feature rich versus the entire 3000 series. I have four lined up - and they do anything and everything. I know EXACTLY where my batteries are (health wise). This charger has caused me to buy stock in shrink wrap, as unlike before - everything outlasts it's wrap now. They display mAH, Volts, time to charge, and resistance - and I've check them all with a 87V (curious minds). I'm no power geek with a multimeter - know 'just' enough to get in trouble and can afford a real meter - but DON'T take my word for it - go look at the PSYCHO-CRAZY flashlight guys and what they say. If Vaper's battery ambitions were compared to the flashlight-heads - they would be a basketball court and we would be a dime at the top of the key.

There is also another (out of his mind) guy in Denmark I think... http://lygte-info.dk. He is crazy - but a fantastic reviewer and tester. Go take a look - he does more than anyone I've ever seen.

My quick pitch - charge from .2 to 2 amps - whatever YOU want. You can plug it in to the car. It has a USB port for discharge (when you test a battery - if you need too - you can charge you cell while it cycles the battery)... You can revive lost cells - both Li-ion and NiMH... It will discharge and charge three times and record the mAH, max charge and such to determine real health of a cell. Blah, bla, bla.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.
 

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conanthewarrior

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I use an Efest LUC4 mainly for my 18650's, but also have a Nitecore D4 that I keep as it also charges my AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. It is a little slow with 4 18650's, so I use the Efest unless I need more bays at 1A, with the occasional fast charge at 2A if in a rush.

From what I have heard it isn't really important for us to discharge our 18650's to their lowest safe voltage (most of my cells are rated down to 2.5V, which is lower than any of my mods cut off). You can charge at any point in the discharge cycle, I usually just wait until I get a low battery warning, with a mech I pull at around 3.6V.

These have lasted me really well, I have had the D4 since Early 2016 and the Efest later in the year if I remember correctly. I wouldn't recommend Efest batteries, but their chargers seem to be good.
 

Vape Fan

_evil twin_
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I have a D4 that still works but one of the tabs got easy to bend making that slot pretty useless and it seems to run warm with 3-4 batts charging at the same time. So I found a pretty good deal on Hohm Base and got that one. Each slot is independent charging and fits my 21700 cells + other features.
 

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