Hey Mike just curious what 4 bay charger do you recommend?? I've been using the nitecord d4 for over 2 years and even though it's the old version my 21700s fit but I know this thing wont last forever so I'm wondering what's the best upgrade?
There was a post on ecf from XTAR-Justin with a blurb on this device. Supposedly it can do a single battery 3 A charge if you are running a QC3.0 USB power adapter. They also state the VCS4s can detect the internal resistance of the battery and will drop down the charge current as the internal resistance goes up during a normal charging cycle. In theory this should manage the power dissipated (heat) in the battery during charging to a 'nominal' level, but call me a control freak as I like to have the option to control the charge current manually. Thanks for the review Mike – crazy they expect you to do a review without all the information about the device – not sure what XTAR is thinking there.
I had an XTAR VP4 that was very reliable for about 4 years but it died several weeks ago. I am shopping for a good charger that does the job. Preferably, under $30. Suggestions?
Thanks for this video! No finger cutouts to help get the batteries out and no charging current settings are real cons IMO. Most “intelligent” chargers are just not smart enough yet to handle all the different batteries we use properly or without frustrations. They should though, it’s just testing enough batteries to understand their operating characteristics and writing the firmware to use that info. If an unexpected situation pops up then default to a reasonable charge rate or ask the user which rate they want.
Nice to see more charger reviews, thanks Mike! Fyi: lot of sites that sell this, sell them with the option of the wall plug which people should get, because It will NOT charge at 1-3 amps if you don't have a USB quick/fast/lightning/usb3 wall adaptor like the one Mike was using! Also all chargers should have delrin or ultem Levers that stick up like 1/2 inch so you can grab & slide battery down!!! Making it 1000x easier to get your batt out!!!!
Thanks for the battery charger info I have the xtar vc4 charger and I like charging my 18650 at half a amp and my 21700 or my 20700 at 1 amp I learned from the master you my friend thanks again ????
Even though you don't review chargers I still liked hearing your opinion on this from a safety and a normal user standpoint. I've got one that I really like and when it breaks down I'll be getting another just like it. It's the E-SYB BT charger. It has a few features that many people wouldn't care for but since I live out in the country and have a lot of vape batteries, I can use the charger to recharge other devices if they run down and we're without power.
I bought my VC4 from LIION. I paid $5 extra to get the 2amp adaptor included. Channel 4 quit charging, until I unplugged it for a minute. Now it works fine
I'm not a fan of quite a few of the newer li-ion chargers just because of no current selection. Most of them can be limited by what kind of wall block you use, like say you use a non QC 5V 2.4amp block, the charger will still work and charge just fine, but it'll limit it's current due to no QC port. Most people won't know this and they should not have to. Best charger I have found thus far with current selection is the basen bo2 and bo4, simple chargers with current selection and consistently charge my cells to 4.21v, yeah buddy!
There are battery reviews that say you're better off buying the xtar-vc4 if you charge different battery sizes.The only thing that's better about this changer is the display shows all 4 batteries at the same time. I love my xtar-Dragon vp4 plus ☝️
Really wish they would have sent you a manual. Xtar's have great built-in safety features and they can detect and adapt to what's best suited for that particular battery depending on it's type, capacity, the best suited rate of charge, etc. It even has a way to safely revamp a battery that's been over-discharged with .25A charging. They really are great. It's a shame the company couldn't properly communicate the functionality of their product to you.
I generally like my XTAR chargers, one of a few that actually fully charge the batteries. Indeed, USB-based XTAR chargers apparently do not come with the USB powersupply/brick. Which I believe to be no issue, I rather provide my own true-amps USB powersupply then a possible underrated USB powersupply from the manufacturer. Talking of which, dear @Mike Vapes, correct me if I'm wrong but the Samsung USB charger you are using is rated for maximum 2 amps output? I fully agree not being able to change the charge-rate amps is not a good thing and charging with 3 amps an 18650 is not really desirable. But when you did put in 4x 18650 @ time-slot 04:31, you can clearly see the charger is either crashing, restarting or your Samsung USB poweradapter has a hard timer supplying the requested current? Anyhoe, XTAR has to do some work on this charger, not being able to influence the amps and with 3 amps "automatically" being selected, it is going to be a np-thank-you for me. It does show some good potential, provided XTAR can address these concerns. BTW, my XTA's have been able to resurrect some neglected 18650's for me, where other good chargers, including NiteCore said sorry, no-good.
thank you Mike! with many good chargers and recommenced charge rates specs out there shame on them! 3 amp charge rate on a high capacity 18650 could overheat it and cause a fire. even before you showed the charge rates not being able to pull an 18mm battery out with a fingernail is a fail.
Xtar chargers are excellent, i have 2. BTW charging an 18650 at 1 amp is 100% safe, and not bad for the battery in any way. Even 2 amps on this charger is safe, will only effect the overall life of the battery. This is the main reason we buy external chargers, safety. Really shouldn't imply charging at 2 amps isn't safe. Xtar chargers are top tier.
Part's of this video where recorded before they emailed me a manual.
Great review Mike how do they figure they will get a favorable review when they don’t send you what you need crazy company’s
Nice review Mike…no, not for me.
Hey Mike just curious what 4 bay charger do you recommend?? I've been using the nitecord d4 for over 2 years and even though it's the old version my 21700s fit but I know this thing wont last forever so I'm wondering what's the best upgrade?
Great Review, Mike 😀
There was a post on ecf from XTAR-Justin with a blurb on this device. Supposedly it can do a single battery 3 A charge if you are running a QC3.0 USB power adapter. They also state the VCS4s can detect the internal resistance of the battery and will drop down the charge current as the internal resistance goes up during a normal charging cycle. In theory this should manage the power dissipated (heat) in the battery during charging to a 'nominal' level, but call me a control freak as I like to have the option to control the charge current manually. Thanks for the review Mike – crazy they expect you to do a review without all the information about the device – not sure what XTAR is thinking there.
Learned something. Thanks Mike.
I had an XTAR VP4 that was very reliable for about 4 years but it died several weeks ago. I am shopping for a good charger that does the job. Preferably, under $30. Suggestions?
Shout out
Thanks for this video! No finger cutouts to help get the batteries out and no charging current settings are real cons IMO. Most “intelligent” chargers are just not smart enough yet to handle all the different batteries we use properly or without frustrations. They should though, it’s just testing enough batteries to understand their operating characteristics and writing the firmware to use that info. If an unexpected situation pops up then default to a reasonable charge rate or ask the user which rate they want.
Nice to see more charger reviews, thanks Mike! Fyi: lot of sites that sell this, sell them with the option of the wall plug which people should get, because It will NOT charge at 1-3 amps if you don't have a USB quick/fast/lightning/usb3 wall adaptor like the one Mike was using! Also all chargers should have delrin or ultem Levers that stick up like 1/2 inch so you can grab & slide battery down!!! Making it 1000x easier to get your batt out!!!!
Thanks for the battery charger info I have the xtar vc4 charger and I like charging my 18650 at half a amp and my 21700 or my 20700 at 1 amp I learned from the master you my friend thanks again ????
Even though you don't review chargers I still liked hearing your opinion on this from a safety and a normal user standpoint. I've got one that I really like and when it breaks down I'll be getting another just like it. It's the E-SYB BT charger. It has a few features that many people wouldn't care for but since I live out in the country and have a lot of vape batteries, I can use the charger to recharge other devices if they run down and we're without power.
Didn't you review a simple but powerful regulated ? Without all the bells and whistles ??
I bought my VC4 from LIION. I paid $5 extra to get the 2amp adaptor included. Channel 4 quit charging, until I unplugged it for a minute. Now it works fine
Mike please, design recurve rdta
I'm not a fan of quite a few of the newer li-ion chargers just because of no current selection. Most of them can be limited by what kind of wall block you use, like say you use a non QC 5V 2.4amp block, the charger will still work and charge just fine, but it'll limit it's current due to no QC port. Most people won't know this and they should not have to. Best charger I have found thus far with current selection is the basen bo2 and bo4, simple chargers with current selection and consistently charge my cells to 4.21v, yeah buddy!
I charge all of my batteries at .5 amps. Low and slow charging is the best way to charge any battery.
I like my Nitecore D4 charger no problems with it. Great video Mike
There are battery reviews that say you're better off buying the xtar-vc4 if you charge different battery sizes.The only thing that's better about this changer is the display shows all 4 batteries at the same time. I love my xtar-Dragon vp4 plus ☝️
Really wish they would have sent you a manual. Xtar's have great built-in safety features and they can detect and adapt to what's best suited for that particular battery depending on it's type, capacity, the best suited rate of charge, etc. It even has a way to safely revamp a battery that's been over-discharged with .25A charging. They really are great. It's a shame the company couldn't properly communicate the functionality of their product to you.
I generally like my XTAR chargers, one of a few that actually fully charge the batteries.
Indeed, USB-based XTAR chargers apparently do not come with the USB powersupply/brick.
Which I believe to be no issue, I rather provide my own true-amps USB powersupply then a possible underrated USB powersupply from the manufacturer.
Talking of which, dear @Mike Vapes, correct me if I'm wrong but the Samsung USB charger you are using is rated for maximum 2 amps output?
I fully agree not being able to change the charge-rate amps is not a good thing and charging with 3 amps an 18650 is not really desirable.
But when you did put in 4x 18650 @ time-slot 04:31, you can clearly see the charger is either crashing, restarting or your Samsung USB poweradapter has a hard timer supplying the requested current?
Anyhoe, XTAR has to do some work on this charger, not being able to influence the amps and with 3 amps "automatically" being selected, it is going to be a np-thank-you for me.
It does show some good potential, provided XTAR can address these concerns.
BTW, my XTA's have been able to resurrect some neglected 18650's for me, where other good chargers, including NiteCore said sorry, no-good.
thank you Mike! with many good chargers and recommenced charge rates specs out there shame on them! 3 amp charge rate on a high capacity 18650 could overheat it and cause a fire. even before you showed the charge rates not being able to pull an 18mm battery out with a fingernail is a fail.
Xtar chargers are excellent, i have 2. BTW charging an 18650 at 1 amp is 100% safe, and not bad for the battery in any way. Even 2 amps on this charger is safe, will only effect the overall life of the battery. This is the main reason we buy external chargers, safety. Really shouldn't imply charging at 2 amps isn't safe. Xtar chargers are top tier.
Xtar Vp4s is Better.