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18650 batteries are a type of rechargeable lithium ion batteries that gets its name from its dimension—18mm by 65mm. They are commonly used for vaping or e-cigarettes and flashlights, but can also be used in other devices.
If you ever find yourself using this type of batteries, then you’ll know that you’ll also need a good battery charger. Read on for a list of the best 18650 battery chargers and learn about what separates them from the others.
Top 9 Best 18650 Battery Chargers
1. NITECORE i4 Intellicharger Battery Charger
Nitecore is a leading manufacturer of light and electronic tools, with flashlights and chargers as their two main products. The Nitecore i4 Intellicharger is a top seller and for a good reason. The charger is compatible with Li-ion, Ni-MH, and Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries.
It has four battery slots with monitors and charges independently. It also has three colors LED lights to indicate the charging progress for each battery.
Another great feature of this charger is the overcharging timeout protection. It stops when the charging is complete. It has four battery slots and is compatible to 1.2V, 3.7V, 4.2V and 4.35V batteries.
The package includes a US wall power cord. It doesn’t include batteries and DC adapter.
Pros
- Automatically stops charging when the batteries are full.
- Uses a durable fire retardant and flame resistant material.
- Each battery slot monitors and charges independently
- Identify the type of battery used so it can give the appropriate voltage and current.
- Compatible with almost any kind of cylinder rechargeable batteries.
- Has a reverse polarity protection feature.
- Great value for the money.
- Compatible with a car charger so you can charge on the go.
Cons
- It can only charge one 26650 at a time because it’s quite large.
2. Nitecore i2 Intellicharge Charger
Another entry from Nitecore is the i2 Intellicharge Charger. Most of the features are the same as the i4. The main difference is that the i2 can only charge two batteries simultaneously.
Like the i4, it is compatible with Li-ion, Ni-MH, and Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries. It also has the three color light indicators, overcharging timeout protection, and fire retardant and flame resistant material.
Since there are only two battery slots, the charger is smaller and easier to carry around. Otherwise, it’s very much like the i3 Intellicharge Charger.
Pros
- Automatically stops charging when the batteries are full.
- Fire retardant and flame resistant materials for safety.
- Automatically identifies the type of battery and gives the appropriate voltage and current.
- Easy to adjust sliders.
- Reverse polarity protection.
- Compatible with a car charger so you can charge on the go.
Cons
- It does not support as many sizes as the i4, so it’s not as versatile.
3. Efest LUC V4 LCD Universal Battery Charger
Efest is a company with teams from Hong Kong, Canada, and Japan. They research on power battery solutions so they can manufacture the best possible lithium batteries and LCD chargers.
The Efest LUC V4 is a universal charger for 10440, 18350, 14500, 18500, 16650, 18650 and 26650. It offers three charging mode options (0.5A, 1A, and 2A) and can charge four batteries simultaneously
The charger protects you from overvoltage, short circuit, reverse polarity, and over discharging. When batteries are fully charged, it automatically stops. It also auto-recharges when the voltage is below 4.10V.
However, the unique feature of this charger is that it has a USB output so it can act as a power bank to charge cell phones, tablets, mp4, etc. The package comes in a gift box that includes the charger body, an adapter, manual, and warranty card.
Pros
- Also works as a power bank.
- It can protect batteries from over-discharging, short circuit, reverse polarity, and overvoltage.
Cons
- The body doesn’t feel so sturdy.
- Sliders are not as smooth as the other options.
4. EBL Smart Rapid Battery Charger
The EBL 18650 Lithium Rechargeable Batteries include 2 18650 Li-ion batteries of 3000mAh. Also, this pack comes with a universal charger. You only can use this charger for Lithium batteries and no other types.
EBL uses MU technology. It offers a constant voltage as well as current for the safety of the battery it’s charging. Also, it features the iQuick technology which can upgrade charging speed up to 500mA, so it can help to save your time.
This is a portable battery charger. It can be used to support any DC allowed occasion like using in the car. It is equipped with a smart LED that lets you know its charging progress.
5. Universal Smart Battery Charger 4 Bay for Rechargeable Batteries
This unit is known as one of the best universal rechargeable batteries out there. In terms of safety, it comes with the S4 4 Slot plugin Recharger Compliant Standard. It has Intelligent Circuits. It is made with Fire Retardant materials.
This model can be used for almost all types of Rechargeable Batteries. There are also four-pack cells digital LCD smart charger.
If you buy this charger, you will receive EASTSHINE S4 Universal 4 Slots updated 2019 Household Battery Chargers, a user manual, an AC 100V – 240V US wall adapter, lifetime maintenance, and a happy card with 1-day warm service. Also, you will get a 2-year free replacement and a 30-day free refund.
6. 18650 Battery Charger, Keenstone Smart Universal Charger
This battery charger is made to meet your fast/slow charge needs. It comes with an LCD that allows you to monitor the four slots information. You just need to press the A/B button, you can see each battery parameter as current, voltage, and time.
This unit ensures to give you safety performance. It comes with intelligent circuits protection, so your battery is kept safe during the charging process. It offers you multi charge options, including 2 charge current along with 4 independently bays.
You will get 1 Keenstone 4 slot smart battery charger, 1 car adapter, 1 AC adapter, and one user manual from this package.
7. DOTTMON LCD Smart 4 Bay Battery Charger
The Dottman LCD Battery Charger is a fairly simple quad cell Li-Ion charger. You will get the charger, an instruction sheet, and a USB cable.
The LCD display shows real time charging information such as charged volume, battery voltage, charging current, and more.
8. Snado Intelligent Universal Smart Charger
This model comes with two independently working battery slots. You can use it to charge alone or simultaneously. There are two different current options. You can use this charger for several battery types such as Li-ion, NiMH, and NiCd.
This unit is made of fire-resistant and scratch-resistant materials, so it offers safety features. It comes with a car adapter, so you can use it when on the go. Moreover, it is designed with an LCD that shows you the charging status.
Once this one detects much heat, it will stop charging to prevent overheating. As a customer, you will receive a 30-day refund.
9. EASTSHINE S2 Universal Battery Charger
This battery charger is also one of the best products out there you can get. It is famous for its efficiency at such a reasonable price. You can use this charger for Li-ion 18650 batteries as well as many others.
It is packed with a car cable that allows you to charge even when on the go. Also, it comes with an LCD to indicate your battery charging status.
Once this charger stops working, you can get a prompt replacement due to their great customer service. However, this one is not a very compact size. This charger has a 6-inch length.
Advantages of 18650 Batteries
Standard AA or AAA batteries have been around for a long time, but unfortunately, their use is very limited. On the other hand, 18650 batteries have many uses. They are long lasting, rechargeable, and cost effective.
Laptops, cameras, cellphones, flashlights and many other devices are just some of the things that use 18650. Compared to other types of battery, 18650 batteries drain at a slower rate.
Another advantage of 18650 batteries is that it’s more environmentally friendly. You won’t need to throw away batteries right after they’re out because you can recharge them.
18650 Battery Charge Use
Chargers usually have light indicators to show complete charge or still charging. It varies per manufacturer but generally, a still green light means the charging is complete, a red glow means battery low or charging.
Batteries can take hours to charge, depending on the battery manufacturer and the charger as well. Just try to follow the battery and charger manufacturer’s instructions.
Important Considerations When Buying 18650 Chargers
There is a wide selection of 18650 chargers in the market, many of which are very cheap. However, you must be careful because you might be getting cheap performance as well.
Some of the top brands for battery chargers are Sony, Nitecore, and Panasonic. You will pretty much not go wrong with these brands. However, there are still other things to consider.
18650 batteries are very powerful, so you will need a charger that can bring it back to full life efficiently. Look into the amp draw of the charger; the higher the amp draw, the faster the batteries will charge.
It should also have safety features to prevent overheating, explosions, electrical problems or anything else that is damaging.
Most chargers have an indicator for the battery level. However, what you should look out for is a charger that shuts off when the battery is fully charged.
Then the last thing to consider is the number of ports, which is up to your personal needs and preference.
Tips on Using Your Charger
It’s very easy to use chargers; just make sure the batteries are placed correctly and in the right direction. Otherwise, there’s a risk of fire and damage to the batteries and the charger itself. The battery can also potentially discharge.
Though the chargers on our list don’t have these risks, it’s something you should be aware of in case you go for other chargers.
Another important tip is never to leave your batteries charging unattended. Though many manufacturers have addressed the safety issues, it’s still always better to be safe and be mindful of your charging.
Set a timer or reminder if you must so you can unplug or switch off your charger. Discontinue the charging if you feel that it’s getting very hot. Lithium batteries are fairly safe, but it’s always best to be extra cautious.
Conclusion
Battery chargers are just as important as the rechargeable battery itself. What you choose can affect the lifespan and quality of the battery.
When buying an 18650 battery charger, look into the amp draw, safety features including fire prevention features and protection from over-charging, reverse polarity, short circuit, and over voltage.
All the chargers on this list are all great quality and offer similar safety features as well as charging features. However, my top pick would have to be Nitecore i4 intellicharger.
The four battery slots are just what I need. The charging and safety features are top-notch, but the determining factor for me had to be the brand.
Efest offers four slots and is a great quality charger, but I’m choosing Nitecore because the brand is already very reliable for this industry.
