Nitecore Intelligent Charger - 4 bay or 2 bay?

[dhansak]

Hi again all

Just about to push the buy button on a coolfire from myepack and will also buy a nitecore charger as a spare. It makes more sense  pennywise to buy the 4 bay rather than the 2 bay (puts the shopping cart just over £40 etc) but have had a quick google and there are tales of issues with the 4 bay version failing on a couple of channels over the space of a few months. I haven't seen any complaints over the 2bay (which I have already and has worked flawlessly since Jan).

Anyone had any probs with the 4 bay?

Cheers

[toots]

dhansak my 4 bay one is working fine

The instructions do tell you when charging only 2 batteries to not put them side by side when charging, leave one of the bays empty and slot them in for example bay 1 and bay 3 or bay 2 and bay 4. Maybe peeps haven't been doing this and that's why they've had problems.

[Dan]

Mine is fine. Used everyday since December 2013.

still have a 2 bay backup though..

[Dan]

Jun 4, 2014 13:19:24 GMT toots said:

dhansak my 4 bay one is working fine

The instructions do tell you when charging only 2 batteries to not put them side by side when charging, leave one of the bays empty and slot them in for example bay 1 and bay 3 or bay 2 and bay 4. Maybe peeps haven't been doing this and that's why they've had problems.

That doesn't make sense though..

1 and 3 share their charge output, as does 2 and 4.

if charging two batteries I always alternate between using 1 and 4 or 2 and 3.. have done since it arrived

[prr]

Used mine since about may 2013, no problems at all.

[dhansak]

Thanks toots, Dan and prr - thats really helpful - will order the 4 bay then.

Slightly confused question though - i get (i think!) the use bays 1&3 or 2&4 when charging 2 (of the same type?) of batteries; but do you only charge 2 or 4 batts at the same time? - never 3? I'm guessing I've got the wrong end of the stick here lol... yep definitely have - just reread your post Dan and see you seem to use the opposite approach to toots (unless I've now got the other wrong end of the stick ... who knew a stick could have two wrong ends )

I've been using my 2 bay willy-nilly ...e.g. one bay with a an 18560 with the other bay containing an 18350 without a second thought so didn't realise I would have to be a little more structured with the 4 bay!

[DiscoDes]

Jun 4, 2014 13:19:24 GMT toots said:

dhansak my 4 bay one is working fine

The instructions do tell you when charging only 2 batteries to not put them side by side when charging, leave one of the bays empty and slot them in for example bay 1 and bay 3 or bay 2 and bay 4. Maybe peeps haven't been doing this and that's why they've had problems.

toots

Where does it say that in the instructions ??? I've looked through and cannot see it?

[lairey]

Used ours daily for about 5 months now, no problems at all... apart from the earth pin on the plug came off - it was one of those with half plastic, half metal pins and the metal bit came away from the plastic - easy enough to change the plug though

Completely random which bays we use, but if only charging 2 batteries, we use adjacent bays, so 1&2, 2&3 or 3&4, otherwise you halve the charging speed as 1&3 and 2&4 are on the same circuit.  I don't think it matters if batteries are different sizes on the same circuit though, I could be wrong and if I am, please someone correct me!

[ronaldo]

nitecore are fantastic chargers I personally think they are the best chargers on the market I use loads of them at work and we have them running 24 hours a day with no problems we have some that haven't been switched off for years
never needed to fix 1 yet as they are very reliable my only pet hate with them is the springs but you soon get used to them

not recommended to do this in a home though read safety instructions on all electronic appliances

[toots]

Jun 4, 2014 13:22:14 GMT Dan said:

Jun 4, 2014 13:19:24 GMT toots said:

dhansak my 4 bay one is working fine

The instructions do tell you when charging only 2 batteries to not put them side by side when charging, leave one of the bays empty and slot them in for example bay 1 and bay 3 or bay 2 and bay 4. Maybe peeps haven't been doing this and that's why they've had problems.

That doesn't make sense though..

1 and 3 share their charge output, as does 2 and 4.

if charging two batteries I always alternate between using 1 and 4 or 2 and 3.. have done since it arrived

Just dug out the instructions for this and it says under the heading Precautions:

When charging a single battery in the i4, the charging current can reach as high as 750mA, which exceeds the current many Ni-MH/Ni-Cd AAA and 10440 Li-ion batteries can withstand. For this reason, under no circumstances should a single AAA or 10440 battery be charged on its own, as potential overheating, damage or even explosion may occur.

Due to the aforementioned reasons, it is recommended that a minium of two AAA or 10440 rechargeable batteries are placed into the charging slots together. When charging two batteries in the i4, be sure to always place them in either slot 1 and 3 or slot 2 and 4.

[Dan]

Jun 4, 2014 13:37:43 GMT dhansak said:

Thanks toots, Dan and prr - thats really helpful - will order the 4 bay then.

Slightly confused question though - i get (i think!) the use bays 1&3 or 2&4 when charging 2 (of the same type?) of batteries; but do you only charge 2 or 4 batts at the same time? - never 3? I'm guessing I've got the wrong end of the stick here lol... yep definitely have - just reread your post Dan and see you seem to use the opposite approach to toots (unless I've now got the other wrong end of the stick ... who knew a stick could have two wrong ends )

I've been using my 2 bay willy-nilly ...e.g. one bay with a an 18560 with the other bay containing an 18350 without a second thought so didn't realise I would have to be a little more structured with the 4 bay!

You can use it how you please.

only bought it to charge the batteries for my son's tablet as it uses 4 x aa..

[toots]

Jun 4, 2014 13:37:46 GMT DiscoDes said:

Jun 4, 2014 13:19:24 GMT toots said:

dhansak my 4 bay one is working fine

The instructions do tell you when charging only 2 batteries to not put them side by side when charging, leave one of the bays empty and slot them in for example bay 1 and bay 3 or bay 2 and bay 4. Maybe peeps haven't been doing this and that's why they've had problems.

toots

Where does it say that in the instructions ??? I've looked through and cannot see it?

DiscoDes just posted them, its under the Precautions heading in the instructions booklet.

[DiscoDes]

AHHHHH! just found it!

"Precautions:
1. When charging a single battery in the I4, the charging
current can reach as high as 750mA, which exceeds the
current many Ni-MH/Ni-Cd AAA and 10440 Li-ion batteries
can withstand. For this reason, under no circumstances
should a single AAA or 10440 battery be charged on its
own, as potential overheating, damage or even explosion
may occur.
2. Due to the aforementioned reasons, it is recommended that
a minimum of two (2) AAA or 10440 rechargeable batteries
are placed into the charging slots together. When charging
two batteries in the I4, be sure to always place them in
either slot 1 and 3 or slot 2 and 4."

HOWEVER

I think this is for when you charge small cells like AAA or 10440

ALSO

It does not mention that you cannot charge different battery chemistry types side by side, i.e. a LiIon next to a NiMh next to a NiCd anywhere, I wonder if you could do this? I only ever put one type on at a time as I have some NiMh that I use in a radio that i charge but I never mix them with my E-cig LiIon batteries.

Am I being over cautious ???

[toots]

Jun 4, 2014 13:37:43 GMT dhansak said:

Thanks toots, Dan and prr - thats really helpful - will order the 4 bay then.

Slightly confused question though - i get (i think!) the use bays 1&3 or 2&4 when charging 2 (of the same type?) of batteries; but do you only charge 2 or 4 batts at the same time? - never 3? I'm guessing I've got the wrong end of the stick here lol... yep definitely have - just reread your post Dan and see you seem to use the opposite approach to toots (unless I've now got the other wrong end of the stick ... who knew a stick could have two wrong ends )

I've been using my 2 bay willy-nilly ...e.g. one bay with a an 18560 with the other bay containing an 18350 without a second thought so didn't realise I would have to be a little more structured with the 4 bay!

Yes, you can charge different types of batteries at the same time and when I charge 3 batteries I tend to leave a gap, ie use slots 1, 2 & 4 or 1, 3 & 4. I don't use slots 2, 3 & 4 or 1, 2 & 3.

[Dan]

Jun 4, 2014 13:39:34 GMT toots said:

Jun 4, 2014 13:22:14 GMT Dan said:

That doesn't make sense though..

1 and 3 share their charge output, as does 2 and 4.

if charging two batteries I always alternate between using 1 and 4 or 2 and 3.. have done since it arrived

Just dug out the instructions for this and it says under the heading Precautions:

When charging a single battery in the i4, the charging current can reach as high as 750mA, which exceeds the current many Ni-MH/Ni-Cd AAA and 10440 Li-ion batteries can withstand. For this reason, under no circumstances should a single AAA or 10440 battery be charged on its own, as potential overheating, damage or even explosion may occur.

Due to the aforementioned reasons, it is recommended that a minium of two AAA or 10440 rechargeable batteries are placed into the charging slots together. When charging two batteries in the i4, be sure to always place them in either slot 1 and 3 or slot 2 and 4.

They're just covering their backs..

if you're worried, you should be able to find the specs of the batteries you use. Max charge rate of my efests is 11000ma which should give me 300 charge cycles.. in comparison, 750ma is nothing!!