Xtar WP2

[thehitman]

Hello
I just got this charger and notice there is a switch on there 1A 0.5A &0 which setting do I use to charge a 18650 battery

Thanks

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using proboards

[Juice Kitchen]

Hello! I use the 1A setting on my WP2 for 18650 batts!

[bomberharris]

Jan 5, 2013 16:57:08 GMT thehitman said:

Hello
I just got this charger and notice there is a switch on there 1A 0.5A &0 which setting do I use to charge a 18650 battery

Thanks

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using proboards

I use 0.5a for a slower charge

[thehitman]

so 1A is a fast charge & 0.5 is a slower charge, is that right

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using proboards

[Toondog]

I don't know but I've been using 1amp for my 18650's pretty quick.

[Juice Kitchen]

Jan 5, 2013 17:13:32 GMT thehitman said:

so 1A is a fast charge & 0.5 is a slower charge, is that right

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using proboards

yes but only use 1A for 18650's!

[Karma]

Common opinion seems to be that batteries last longer if we charge them slowly. I charge all mine on the 0.5 setting!

If any of your batterries are under 1000mAh then only user the lower setting for those. Most 18650s wil be above this so the higher setting would be fine if you were in a hurry

[thehitman]

thanks for your help guys

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using proboards

[alvoram]

Be careful about your cheaper 18650's on 1A too, some of them are in the hundreds mah, despite what they say on the battery!

[bomberharris]

Jan 5, 2013 17:54:13 GMT alvoram said:

Be careful about your cheaper 18650's on 1A too, some of them are in the hundreds mah, despite what they say on the battery!

always charge all your batterys at 0.5 if you want them to last

[Dan Fieldhouse]

0.5 on mine

[Brambles]

1 amp is fine for a 18650, for smaller batteries like the 18350 you would use 0.5 Amp. However life of a battery is improved if you charge at a lower rate. Therefore if you have time charge on the lower rate, otherwise for speed charge at 1 amp.

[Brambles]

Jan 5, 2013 17:54:13 GMT alvoram said:

Be careful about your cheaper 18650's on 1A too, some of them are in the hundreds mah, despite what they say on the battery!

If you find you have a battery like this because it is a 'fake' or con, or if it has just aged, get rid of it. Not worth taking any risks.

[millerkev]

no switch option on the xtar 6 ...am i right in thinking the charge is 0.6a ?

[alvoram]

Is there any evidence that slower charging increases battery life? Because I've seen none, as far as I was aware, charging below the batteries rating was enough to maximise the batteries life. I've heard a few people say lower is better now, not seen any evidence though. I charge my Efest at 1A, they're still as good as new.

The only thing I can find is this from the battery university "Avoid charging a battery faster than 1C; a more moderate charge rate of 0.7C is preferred." 0.7C is 2.8A I believe...

batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

Looks like the most important thing to do in order to prolong the life of a lithium ion cell, is to keep it cool!