How much is the battery charger and tester worth?

Options
softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭✭
edited July 2020 in New Battery Technologies #1
This unit cost about $50 more than their base unit. But it includes 2.2 pounds of nickel plated strip and a built in battery tester and charger with alligator clips. If you endeavor to do real work with 18650 lithium batteries you should be able to test and charge them - with alligator clips for flexibility. 

Battery chargers and testers is not something I seek to study a lot at the moment. Too many eggs to fry already.

https://www.amazon.com/Mophorn-Battery-Soldering-Portable-Batteries/dp/B07SYLH84B/ref=sr_1_24?dchild=1&keywords=spot+welder+battery&qid=1596122721&sr=8-24#customerReviews


First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
· Share on Twitter

Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,439 admin
    #2
    Options
    This guy posts (out of Denmark) on Candle Power Forums and has done a bunch of testing/reviews/articles about battery chargers and batteries (smaller batteries for "flashlights and such", not large format batteries/chargers):

    https://lygte-info.dk/
    https://lygte-info.dk/info/indexArticles%20UK.html
    https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php

    My own little bit of testing and such... I have a charger (for single round NiMH and Lithium cells) that can test batteries (capacity measurements and internal resistance)... And, for me, the big issue has been self discharge.

    And for me, the tester did not really do say anything about the battery's ability to keep a charge (for at least one year and 80% State of Charge), vs dying in weeks or less.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2020 #3
    Options
    Rechargeable lithium battery packs are unlikely to  "keep a charge (for at least one year and 80%" - in my estimation. 

    Been watching  a lot of podcasts. Have not seen anything about measuring the self discharge rate. 

    Keep them cool if possible - we all know that.

    Edited - meant packs, not singles.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Options
    Single 18650s stored cool keep their charge for years in my experience. Battery packs? Unplug from tool if it will not be used for a couple months. Which will ensure its use very soon - of course.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Options
    I had a fancy universal charger years ago, that used magnetic electrodes, since most connector surfaces were nickel plate steel, the magnets would stick right on, even the weird shaped stuff
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Options
    mike95490 said:
    I had a fancy universal charger years ago, that used magnetic electrodes, since most connector surfaces were nickel plate steel, the magnets would stick right on, even the weird shaped stuff
    Might be able to spot weld magnets on? Just bought this. 1/2 price due to big cosmetic blem. 
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DKD3LRF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,439 admin
    #7
    Options
    Li Ion, in general, have very low self discharge rate.

    NiMH batteries... They did not hold any charge past a year or two... The low self discharge NiMH batteries (such as Eneloops) do hold at least 80% of their charge after 1 year IMHO.

    The low self discharge NiMH batteries are sometimes labeled as "precharged" batteries for other brands.

    -Billl
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,003 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Options
    BB. said:
    NiMH batteries... They did not hold any charge past a year or two... The low self discharge NiMH batteries (such as Eneloops) do hold at least 80% of their charge after 1 year IMHO.

    The low self discharge NiMH batteries are sometimes labeled as "precharged" batteries for other brands.
    The reason for them being labeled as "precharged" is because they came "precharged". Usually "AA" NiMH batteries came with a tiny/unusable charge on them and had to be charged prior to use. I use to use a lot of them. I now again use a lot of them as they became the replacement battery of choice for my DeWalt pod battery tools. I just charge them up the night before I intend to use them. After a month or so any charge on them would be minimal. But I could buy 2 replacement batteries for $24 vs $100 for a pair of real DeWalt NiCD batteries.

    I guess it's been 2 years now and they are working fine, the first sett came with broken cases and they replaced the 2 batteries. I put the battery packs into old DeWalt or off brand cases and had 4 batteries, I've miss placed one but the other 3 are working well.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Options
    I plan to make a few Li Ion battery packs. A good charger and tester will be needed. Still seeking an evaluation of the above in question. 

    What started as a simple quest to rejuvenate expired tool battery packs has expanded more than anticipated. There are both exciting possibilities and daunting challenges. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter

Categories