How should crap 18650 charger function? Help...

Bought a typical red laser "pointer" from Ebay, because I didn't have one. Received it promptly, but there is something (more than usual) wrong with the junk 18650 battery or charger.

When plugged in, the single cell charger glows a steady green. When the battery is installed, the charger light begins to steadily flash red. When I replace the battery with another know "good" 18650, the charger continues to flash red, so whatever is going on seems to involve the charger rather than the batteries.

I have the charger plugged into a Kill-a-watt doo hickey, and it doesn't seem to use any current. The only functioning charger I have show that the charger cycles on for a fraction of an amp every 10 seconds or so.

Any suggestions besides the obvious, throw it away?

Sorry, but I'd recommend you throw it away before it burns the house down. Those chargers are made SOOOOO cheaply it's unreal. I don't trust them in the best of times. If they show any sign of malfunction they're getting tossed. I just bought a nice nitecore digital charger and haven't looked back.

Razako said:

Sorry, but I'd recommend you throw it away before it burns the house down. Those chargers are made SOOOOO cheaply it's unreal. I don't trust them in the best of times. If they show any sign of malfunction they're getting tossed. I just bought a nice nitecore digital charger and haven't looked back.

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I fully agree, chuck it.

Razako said:

Sorry, but I'd recommend you throw it away before it burns the house down. Those chargers are made SOOOOO cheaply it's unreal. I don't trust them in the best of times. If they show any sign of malfunction they're getting tossed. I just bought a nice nitecore digital charger and haven't looked back.

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Yeah, you don't have much convincing to do in order for me to pitch it.

I just don't use them that much, or for anything practical, I hate to invest any amount of extra money in them. I've never left one unattended, and even charge my legit cell phone on a tile counter, cause I don't really trust any battery/charger.

Thanks for input.

Hi,
yes buy a Nitecore charger i have two 4 bank they work well. they also have a two bank thats even less money. If you can buy the digital model ....

rich

The "crap" chargers are useless. Buy a decent Nitecore charger, that's what I did. The crap did not fully charge my batteries, and one battery either came "bad" or was shorted out by the charger.

You should definitely throw it away, and check this one out.
It's the one I bought a few months ago and has worked amazingly ever since.

Link

If you're wondering about the nitecore chargers, here's my review:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/nitecore-d4-digicharger-review-97100.html

I'd highly recommend it. I didn't have a decent round cell lithium charger before, but this thing is great and has paid off in actually making Li-ion batteries less annoying to use. I used to have a bunch of NiMH chargers though, and this thing beats all of them.

This is another good one. I have one and have been happy with it. It will also charge your typical AA/AAA/C/D batteries.

https://www.amazon.com/XTAR-VC4-Lithium-ion-Batteries-Authentic/dp/B010J9GE5G

abciswell said:

You should definitely throw it away, and check this one out.
It's the one I bought a few months ago and has worked amazingly ever since.

Link

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Got the same charger as a gift from a forum member.
On top of being so much safer its just a pleasure to use as the digital readout tells you every stage on each individual battery, to what volts it has reached so far, charging amps etc. You don't have to rely on a red to yellow to green light that might not even come on.

^ Yes having one with a digital display makes a huge difference. This is the one I use and is also one of the best: Efest LUC V4 Charger - Chargers - Batteries, Chargers, and PowerPax Carriers It can charge up to size 26650 but only two of those at a time, it can also fast charge your batteries with 0.5A, 1A, 2A charging, it can also be a portable USB power source when unplugged with one battery in the second slot. You can also buy your batteries from this place, they are in California.

Alan