Best charger for AW 18650 Batteries

[paulzimm]

Hello all, I have an order in for a custom 445 kit from Jayrob (driver maxed out to +1200mAh) and the consensus seems to be that the AW 18650 Protected 2600mAh rechargeables are the best for use with this high current laser diode:
AW 18650 Protected 2600 mAh Rechargeable Lithium Battery

I plan on purchasing two of these batteries and a charger. The Lighthound website also has a 18650 charger and I was wondering if this would be the best one to use:

$17.99 - Ultrafire WF-139 Charger for 18650 3.7 volt Lithium Battery Charger:
Ultrafire WF-139 Charger for 14500 / 17500 / 18500 / 18650 / RCR123 3.7 volt Lithium Battery Charger

I found a combo kit from another website that includes two batteries and a charger but I don't think these batteries are the newer series that support the high current draw:
AW 18650 2600mAh Rechargeable Battery and Charger Combo

My question is should I just purchase the $17.99 charger or do I have to use a special charger with these type of batteries. Thanks in advance...

- Paul

 

[jedirock]

I have the WF-139 charger (ordered from LightHound too) with AW 18650 protected 2600mAh batteries. It seems to work, but I haven't had either long enough to comment on long term effects, if any. I don't think it requires a special charger, but you want a decent charger.

 

[LarryDFW]

Paulzimm;

I have tried the Ultrafire WF-139 Charger and many others.

The WF-139 overcharges lithium ion batteries (~4.3 VDC).

I would choose another charger.

I prefer "brand-name" cells that have been thru U.L. testing like Sanyo or Sony, for my 445nm builds.

Larry

 

[VietTrader]

Paulzimm;

I have tried the Ultrafire WF-139 Charger and many others.

The WF-139 overcharges lithium ion batteries (~4.3 VDC).

I would choose another charger.

I prefer "brand-name" cells that have been thru U.L. testing like Sanyo or Sony, for my 445nm builds.

Larry

My ultrafire WF-139 auto cut-off at 4.15V. I think it's a new version of WF-139.

 

[paulzimm]

You mean you have the new version of the WF-139 which stops charging at 4.15 volts instead of the older version which stops at 4.3 volts? I just want to be sure I understand what you are saying. I will do some charging tests when I have time...

 

[VietTrader]

Yeh, it stops charging at 4.15V.

After the the led indicator turn green, I check the battery, it's 4.15V. Then I leave the battery in charger 2 more hours, It's still 4.15V. (I tested both protected and unprotected batteries)

I think my WF-139 is newer version, the voltage when don't charge about 4.7-4.8V.

 

[Toaster]

So is the general consensus that the WF-139 is the best for now? Or what?

 

[udanis]

I personally do hobby rc stuff as well and I use my hobby grade charger to charge my batteries. Here is the guy I have ElectriFly | Triton EQ AC/DC Charger, Discharger, Cycler, Balancer he will do almost every battery out right now. Lipho4, Life, LI-poly, LI-ion. The user controls the charge rate. I use this to charge 70mah li-poly's, 2300mah li-fe's, 5000's mah LI-Poly's and my laser batteries perfectly. I would recommend this charger to anyone looking for a good quality charger.