**NEW** XTAR SP2, 2-bay Li-ion Charger

[tobrien]

XTAR SP2 comes with a wall-wart and a 12V car-cord.

Have al look at my short review and the pics:

http://www.messerforum.net/showthre...E4higes-Ladeger%E4t-f%FCr-Lithium-Ionen-Akkus
(German language)

I rated this charger excellent.

Only drawback is the high termination current, which doesn't mater in practical use.

My opinion is, that XTAR did right, not to cover all battery sizes.
Even 0,5A continuous charging current may be a bit to high, for 16340 batteries.
Real capacity of 16340 rechargeables is ~550mA.

very nice!

 

[loutsopo]

Does this charger come with the 12 volt car charger cord like the WP2 II and WP6 II ?

I will take one of this.I think that 12 volt car charger of wp2 II will be ok with this charger.I need it to use it in car to charge 3100 mah 18650 with 2A current.I hope that XTAR made a good charger for us now.

 

[Rommul]

Does this charger make contact with flat top cells?

 

[Shadowww]

I will take one of this.I think that 12 volt car charger of wp2 II will be ok with this charger.I need it to use it in car to charge 3100 mah 18650 with 2A current.I hope that XTAR made a good charger for us now.

I wouldn't charge 3100mAh cells at 2A if I were you, Panasonic recommends max. 850mA charging current for them, so while 1A is still 'okay' (just 15% over recommended), 2A I'd say is not.

 

[monkeyboy]

I wouldn't charge 3100mAh cells at 2A if I were you, Panasonic recommends max. 850mA charging current for them, so while 1A is still 'okay' (just 15% over recommended), 2A I'd say is not.

There's some confusion here,
According to the datasheets, 2900 and 3100 have max recommended charge rate of 0.3C, yet AW states 0.7C for his cells. I've tried 2A and it seems fine but probably stick to 1A now after reading the datasheets.

EDIT:
Redilast and Orbtronic both recommend 0.3C as well so perhaps AW made a mistake?

 

[nightowl415]

Does anyone know if the SP2 comes with Type A or B plugs for connection to a standard 120V (United States) outlet? From the pictures I've seen, the included power cord doesn't seem to be compatible with US outlets.

 

[Ualnosaj]

The power cord is US friendly.


___________
Posted from my phone.

 

[zapper]

Just looked up the Panasonic site for their 18650 batteries. The 3000mAh rated batt can be charged at 4.35V and 1450mA rate where as the 2600mAh rated batt is listed for 4.2V and 1750mA rate. That appears to be between .48C and .67C charge rates. Just putting out there what I just read, no opinion either way.

 

[Shadowww]

Just looked up the Panasonic site for their 18650 batteries. The 3000mAh rated batt can be charged at 4.35V and 1450mA rate where as the 2600mAh rated batt is listed for 4.2V and 1750mA rate. That appears to be between .48C and .67C charge rates. Just putting out there what I just read, no opinion either way.

Erm.. where have you found 3000mAh battery on Panasonic's site? :S
UR18650ZTA? If yes, that's Sanyo's cell. Also, 1750mA is 0.7C, because minimal capacity rating of the 2600mAh cell is actually 2500mAh.

 

[fliptwister]

I have bought the SP2 and it is on its way. I missed that the SP2 cannot charge 16340 batteries without a spacer and that it does not come with spacers. Where can I get spacers that will work? I need to charge some AW RCR123A batteries.

I also ordered some Eagletac Protected 18650 3400 mAh batteries for my G26C2 MKII flashlight. Should I charge these at 0.5A, 1A, or 2A? Will the SP2 know automatically how to charge these?

Thanks for any help!

 

[bestsystem]

i would like to see a charger that can do a optional boost to 4.35V, optimize for new chemistry cells.:twothumbs

 

[Shadowww]

i would like to see a charger that can do a optional boost to 4.35V, optimize for new chemistry cells.:twothumbs

At the moment, only option (apart from hobby-chargers) for 4.3V and 4.35V batteries is Cottonpickers mini USB charger.
But yeah, 4.2V / 4.35V switch in a Xtar SP2-style charger (that is, dual-bay, AC powered) would be very lovely (and maybe also 3.6V for LiFePO4)

 

[fliptwister]

The SP2 charger needs another type of spacer (or connector) to charge 16340 cells as shown in the photo. Just shame the spacers came with WP6 II charger can't be used.

Can you please direct me to where you got these spacers? Thank you!

 

[bestsystem]

need a fool proof design though, e.g. dented switch to avoid accidental activation

 

[Robert_M]

Can you please direct me to where you got these spacers? Thank you!

I bought mine at Lighthound.

 

[fliptwister]

Thank you Robert!

 

[Glock27]

How hard would 2 amps be on 3100 and 3400 panasonic cells? Battery University says Li-Ion can be charged up to .7c. The 1 amp setting would be much closer to .3c.
I'd like to know if charging at the higher rate would substantially decrease the life of the cells.

Bobo

 

[Shadowww]

How hard would 2 amps be on 3100 and 3400 panasonic cells? Battery University says Li-Ion can be charged up to .7c. The 1 amp setting would be much closer to .3c.
I'd like to know if charging at the higher rate would substantially decrease the life of the cells.

Bobo

Panasonic's NNP cells - NCR18650(A / B) - have max. charging current of 0.3C (= 825mA for 2900mAh ones, 885mA for 3100mAh ones and 975mA for 3400mAh ones), but 1A isn't going to make them explode, wear out faster, or anything like that. 2A, though, most likely will, so proceed at your own risk. I'm often charging mine in excess of 5A (when I'm in hurry), but then again, I understand & accept the risks and disadvantages (such as high wear on cells).

 

[mccririck]

Is this a better option than the WP2 II?

 

[Shadowww]

Is this a better option than the WP2 II?

Depends on your needs.
If you need to charge 26650 batteries, and/or need 2A charging current, SP2 would be preferred.
If you're fine with just 1A, but would love USB output functionality, then WP2 II would suit you better.