FAKE Nitecore D4 Chargers!!! Check your D4 is Genuine!

[monty]

The link FT i4 V2 has the modular plug although this may be because they buy chargers and plugs seperately. Like Q I bought mine with an EU plug (thouht it would be handy and have plenty of UK ones)

I remember reading on FT that they only sell genuine battery chargers.

ps There is a a government agency (right word??) to tackle fakes. I wonder what they do, for example there are loads of vendors selling fake AW batteries on ebay. Just the tip of the iceberg but I mention them as the fakes AWs are identifiable from the photos.

[Chrissie]

My Nitecore D4 from Vape Escape has, as expected, checked out to be genuine

BTW, I've added a "please Read" label to this thread as it is important that as many people as possible are warned.

Plus, setting up a new board for recalls is under discussion to decide the best place for it

[Q]

Hello Bernie,

Thank you for your interest in Nitecore's product, you can verify your product by referring to information on www.nitecore.com/newsDetail.aspx?id=367, the product in the pictures is an i4, but the same applies to D4.

Received a reply from Nitecore today, this is their guide enabling you to check if your cgarger is genuine (or not), my FT one seems to be OK, I've done the first test (remember to check the POSITIVE contact).

I might open mine up and do the 2nd check later.

Nitecore official counterfeit check

[Ripshod]

It could very well be we will need to do a similar guide for the D4 but would need to get hold of one first to see if there are fakes out there not using copper for the slides and positive contact points.

Nitecore don't have a fake D4 at hand to know yet if the fakers are using steel. Kinda makes the magnet test irrelevant for now. 2nd check is totally out of the window, the i4 and D4 use totally different boards.

I need a camera 

ETA: I've been corrected regarding the capacitors. I'll just say it's easy to fake shrink wrap.

[enagee]

I have a D4 and a D2 and they passed the magnet test. The plug on the D4 though is bonded but not with the red fuse carrier.
Dont really want to open it up but will if anyone thinks it is worth doing.

[ukwarrior]

Sorry to reply to such an old thread, slightly worried though.

I do have a D4 in the collection, which I now use to charge Eneloops for my AA and AAA keyring style torches. I now use an Efest LUC4 charger for my batteries, as the D4 was too slow with the amount I have, and 26650's took forever to charge.

Mine has a removable plug as it should have, I no longer have the box though so can not confirm if there is a spelling mistake or not. I have been using it for over a year, so would expect if there was an issue to know by now?

I would rather be safe though, is there any other ways of identifying a fake apart from the writing on the box, and the Moulded plug on the fakes?

[VapingBad]

Nov 25, 2016 12:16:20 GMT ukwarrior said:

Sorry to reply to such an old thread, slightly worried though.

I do have a D4 in the collection, which I now use to charge Eneloops for my AA and AAA keyring style torches. I now use an Efest LUC4 charger for my batteries, as the D4 was too slow with the amount I have, and 26650's took forever to charge.

Mine has a removable plug as it should have, I no longer have the box though so can not confirm if there is a spelling mistake or not. I have been using it for over a year, so would expect if there was an issue to know by now?

I would rather be safe though, is there any other ways of identifying a fake apart from the writing on the box, and the Moulded plug on the fakes?

They will be very slow charging 4 26650s, but so will all 4 or 6 bay chargers using all their channels, though the Nitecores are among the slowest IIRC about 370 mA per bay when using both channels. You can charge 2 at a time in about 60% of the time, but you need to pick the right 2 bays so they are on separate channels see your manual.  The LUC should be about 3 time faster than the D4 for 4 Li-Batteries, 1 A for all 4 bays or if your batteries support 2 A charging then maybe 6 times faster using just the centre two bays.

[ukwarrior]

Nov 25, 2016 12:50:18 GMT VapingBad said:

Nov 25, 2016 12:16:20 GMT ukwarrior said:

Sorry to reply to such an old thread, slightly worried though.

I do have a D4 in the collection, which I now use to charge Eneloops for my AA and AAA keyring style torches. I now use an Efest LUC4 charger for my batteries, as the D4 was too slow with the amount I have, and 26650's took forever to charge.

Mine has a removable plug as it should have, I no longer have the box though so can not confirm if there is a spelling mistake or not. I have been using it for over a year, so would expect if there was an issue to know by now?

I would rather be safe though, is there any other ways of identifying a fake apart from the writing on the box, and the Moulded plug on the fakes?

They will be very slow charging 4 26650s, but so will all 4 or 6 bay chargers using all their channels, though the Nitecores are among the slowest IIRC about 370 mA per bay when using both channels. You can charge 2 at a time in about 60% of the time, but you need to pick the right 2 bays so they are on separate channels see your manual.  The LUC should be about 3 time faster than the D4 for 4 Li-Batteries, 1 A for all 4 bays or if your batteries support 2 A charging then maybe 6 times faster using just the centre two bays.

Yes I found it to be slow using 3 or 4 bays which was why I bought/ changed to using the Efest LUC4 mostly.

With up to 2 cells, the D4 charges at 750MA, which is not bad and results in charging fairly fast. With 3 or 4 though, this drops down to 375MA, and as you say are among the slowest. This is gentle on the batteries though, so if you can wait is not the worst thing.

Even with the Efest though, which I can select either 0.5A, 1A for all 4 bays, or 2A charging for 2 bays, at 1A is still well within most cells standard charge rate, and I have found batteries to still last a good amount of time in their general lifespan at this speed.
I only actually use the 2A charging for my 26650's though, I know I can charge my 18650's at this speed but prefer to be within the recommended standard charge rate.

Is the only way to spot the fakes the box, and the plug? As the plug checks out as it should, but I no longer have the box for the D4.

[VapingBad]

Nov 25, 2016 13:26:03 GMT ukwarrior said:

Nov 25, 2016 12:50:18 GMT VapingBad said:

They will be very slow charging 4 26650s, but so will all 4 or 6 bay chargers using all their channels, though the Nitecores are among the slowest IIRC about 370 mA per bay when using both channels. You can charge 2 at a time in about 60% of the time, but you need to pick the right 2 bays so they are on separate channels see your manual.  The LUC should be about 3 time faster than the D4 for 4 Li-Batteries, 1 A for all 4 bays or if your batteries support 2 A charging then maybe 6 times faster using just the centre two bays.

Yes I found it to be slow using 3 or 4 bays which was why I bought/ changed to using the Efest LUC4 mostly.

With up to 2 cells, the D4 charges at 750MA, which is not bad and results in charging fairly fast. With 3 or 4 though, this drops down to 375MA, and as you say are among the slowest. This is gentle on the batteries though, so if you can wait is not the worst thing.

Even with the Efest though, which I can select either 0.5A, 1A for all 4 bays, or 2A charging for 2 bays, at 1A is still well within most cells standard charge rate, and I have found batteries to still last a good amount of time in their general lifespan at this speed.
I only actually use the 2A charging for my 26650's though, I know I can charge my 18650's at this speed but prefer to be within the recommended standard charge rate.

Is the only way to spot the fakes the box, and the plug? As the plug checks out as it should, but I no longer have the box for the D4.

Too gentle can also shorten the life of your cell because they spend longer changing state they can build up more lithium-plating on the anode, I charge all my VTCs and 25Rs at 2 A and they are lasting very well, some over 2 years old.  The main thing to watch is heat  build up and don't fast charge cold batteries let them get warm first.  Always check the manufacture fast charge rating, for VTC4 and 25Rs this is 4 A so I am more than comfortable charging at 2 A.

[ukwarrior]

Nov 25, 2016 14:58:05 GMT VapingBad said:

Nov 25, 2016 13:26:03 GMT ukwarrior said:

Yes I found it to be slow using 3 or 4 bays which was why I bought/ changed to using the Efest LUC4 mostly.

With up to 2 cells, the D4 charges at 750MA, which is not bad and results in charging fairly fast. With 3 or 4 though, this drops down to 375MA, and as you say are among the slowest. This is gentle on the batteries though, so if you can wait is not the worst thing.

Even with the Efest though, which I can select either 0.5A, 1A for all 4 bays, or 2A charging for 2 bays, at 1A is still well within most cells standard charge rate, and I have found batteries to still last a good amount of time in their general lifespan at this speed.
I only actually use the 2A charging for my 26650's though, I know I can charge my 18650's at this speed but prefer to be within the recommended standard charge rate.

Is the only way to spot the fakes the box, and the plug? As the plug checks out as it should, but I no longer have the box for the D4.

Too gentle can also shorten the life of your cell because they spend longer changing state they can build up more lithium-plating on the anode, I charge all my VTCs and 25Rs at 2 A and they are lasting very well, some over 2 years old.  The main thing to watch is heat  build up and don't fast charge cold batteries let them get warm first.  Always check the manufacture fast charge rating, for VTC4 and 25Rs this is 4 A so I am more than comfortable charging at 2 A.

Hi VapingBad .

I really did not know that too gentle could also have this effect, but your explanation does sound feasible! I always have heard people talk about slower being better, but I know there are lots of myths in vaping that get passed on as gospel so it is good to learn something new. 

I charge my 25R's and other batteries at 1A due to the standard charge rate on the datasheet being 1.25A. I have never actually fast charged an 18650 at 2A, but to hear you do without any negative effects, and some batteries that are as old as a few of my very first is good to hear. 

When you mention allowing them to get warm, do you mean on the charger at say a speed of 1A, then up the charge rate to 2A? This will be handy for me in times I need a fresh 18650 but don't have one spare. (you would think I would with the amount of them, but they often end up in a mod, so lots of mods are in use at once and only a few batteries are actually free). 

EDIT: Double checking the datasheets, I realise I shouldn't worry as much about charging at 2A, when the standard discharge is 0.5A! Seeing as they are often experiencing 10A, and in mechs right near their CDR of 20A, I would imagine this to be much more damaging than a few fast charges. 

[VapingBad]

Charge rates are different discharges rates, they relate to capacity by the C rate and always best to check the data sheet EG

Samsung 25R 2500 mA CDR CDR 20 A, std charge 1.25 A (0.5 C), rapid charge (1.6 C)
Panasonic NCR18650B 3400 mAh CDR 6.8 A, std charge 1.7 A (0.5 C), fast charge 3.4 A (1 C) (I can't find the data sheet now, but made a note years ago)

These 2 batteries have similar fast charge rates, but very different CDR rates. Battery University says "The advised charge rate of an Energy Cell is between 0.5C and 1C" so if you can't find the data sheet stick to these figures.

C Rate


The theory about plating when charging slowly is not universally accepted, it was a bunch of tests where they charged for different amounts of time cut the cell open and looked at it under an electron microscope and IIRC only tested one model of cell, but tested it many times.

[ukwarrior]

Nov 27, 2016 11:56:47 GMT VapingBad said:

Charge rates are different discharges rates, they relate to capacity by the C rate and always best to check the data sheet EG

Samsung 25R 2500 mA CDR CDR 20 A, std charge 1.25 A (0.5 C), rapid charge (1.6 C)
Panasonic NCR18650B 3400 mAh CDR 6.8 A, std charge 1.7 A (0.5 C), fast charge 3.4 A (1 C) (I can't find the data sheet now, but made a note years ago)

These 2 batteries have similar fast charge rates, but very different CDR rates. Battery University says "The advised charge rate of an Energy Cell is between 0.5C and 1C" so if you can't find the data sheet stick to these figures.

C Rate


The theory about plating when charging slowly is not universally accepted, it was a bunch of tests where they charged for different amounts of time cut the cell open and looked at it under an electron microscope and IIRC only tested one model of cell, but tested it many times.

Hi VapingBad . 

I realise Charge rates are different to discharge rates, and also C rating from back in my RC heli days when I used Li-Po packs. I never imagined I would be using similar packs in a smoking alternative in years to come. 
I can sometimes have an odd way of going about explaining things, I do have some damage up top after a period in hospital in 2014. I used to get confused very easily and forgetful on leaving hospital, although it isn't as bad as it once was now.

My main battery of choice is the 25R and the LG HE4, and from both of their datasheets they are identical in specification in regards to their CDR, and also their charge rates. Also other tests are identical if I remember correctly. I don't own any Panasonic batteries myself. 

So going by battery university's advised charge rate, of 0.5-1C, that would be between 1.25A (Samsungs recommended rate) and 2.5A? That is good to know, and I will use 2A charging when I need a battery charging a bit faster. 

OK, even though it is not universally accepted, it is still good to know some tests have been performed and have shown this can occur. 

Thank you for your advice .