How to choose the PERFECT battery charger?
If you decide to buy a charger, you will soon run into the question indicated in the title, as there are so many different chargers available and it is not clear which one is ideal for you. We've put together some of the most important questions that you should ask yourself to ensure that you buy the charger you REALLY need
Which battery needs the charger? Li-ion, Ni-Mh based? Or both? Because then you should pay attention to this, some chargers are designed for one, others for the other, and some can charge all types of batteries, even at the same time.
How many batteries do you want to charge? 1,2, 4, or more? You shouldn't buy a charger that holds 8 batteries if you never use more than 2.
Are we using protected or unprotected batteries? You can charge a protected battery with practically any quality charger, because in the worst case - if that crappy charger overcharges the battery and the battery catches fire - then only the battery is hurt, the apartment won't burn down, because the battery protection solves the problem, but why is this a dangerous game. And with unprotected batteries, it's especially risky if you're not well versed in the subject, so the combination of shoddy charger + unprotected battery + amateur user is a concrete life hazard.
Do we want our batteries to last hundreds of charges or does it not matter? If we want a charger that is gentle on our batteries, let's buy one that, for example, doesn't charge Li-ion batteries above 4.2 V and gradually increases the charging current.
Do we have time to sit next to the charger while it is charging, or do we want it to discharge itself when it is done? I can't stress enough, if you're not handy enough, don't buy a crappy charger, because you could set the house on fire if you're not careful. Buy a charger that will do the job for you, just put the battery in and it will do everything else for you.
Is it important to charge very quickly, or do you have time? A 0.5 A charging current will also charge the batteries sooner or later, and 2-3 A will also charge them, but the difference between the two is 5-6 hours.
Do we want to use it as a power bank and charge the phone, for example? A practical solution is to have a charger that can charge outwards, with the phone plugged into it, or other micro-usb gadget, so you can charge it whenever you want.
Do we want to monitor the charging status on an LCD display? Do we want to know how much power has been charged so far, what is the current voltage of the battery, how long has the battery been charging, at what charge rate? Or is it enough if the machine just indicates that the battery is ready or still charging? We offer both versions, so choose the one that suits you best.
Is a USB cable enough or do you need a wall charger or car charger? Different chargers are available in different packages, the easiest is the usb cable, which plugs into your computer and draws power from there. Or, if the lamp is one of those, you can get a charger that can be connected directly from a charger.
Want a professional charger that does everything the big ones do for half the price? Worried about your batteries heating up or shorting out? Need a charger that can not only charge, but also drain the battery, test it and even measure internal resistance?
What size battery will be in the charger? the CR2 battery is too small (15*27 mm) for most chargers, so a special charger is needed for such a battery, but the most common 21700 battery will not fit in all chargers, especially the protected 75 mm version, so it is worth checking before buying if the battery will fit.
If you have the answers to all the above questions, head to Sportlampa.com and you can easily choose the charger that's right for you. If not, contact us and we'll help you choose.
