The best battery charger from Aliexpress: TOP-17 battery chargers

Lithium batteries are a galvanic pair in which lithium salts serve as the cathode. Regardless of lithium-ion, lithium-polymer dry battery or hybrid battery, the charger is suitable for everyone. Products can have the shape of a cylinder, or sealed soft packaging; the charging method for them is common, corresponding to the characteristics of the electrochemical reaction. How to charge a Li-ion battery?

How to properly charge lithium batteries

There are several charging schemes for lithium batteries. Two-stage charging developed by SONY is most often used. Devices using pulse charging and step-by-step charging, as for acid batteries, are not used.

Charging any type of lithium ion or lithium polymer battery requires strict adherence to voltage. One cell of a charged lithium battery should have no more than 4.2 V. The nominal voltage for them is considered to be 3.7 V.

Can lithium batteries be charged quickly, but not fully? Yes. They can always be recharged. Operating the battery at 40-80% capacity extends the battery's shelf life.

Two-stage lithium battery charging circuit

The principle of the CC/CV circuit is constant charging current/constant voltage. How to charge a lithium battery using this scheme?

The diagram before stage 1 of charging shows the pre-stage for restoring a deeply dead lithium battery, with a voltage at the terminals of at least 2.0 V. The first stage should restore 70-80% of the capacity. The charging current is selected at 0.2-0.5 C. You can quickly charge with a current of 0.5-1.0 C. (C is the capacity of lithium batteries, digital value). What should the charging voltage be at the first stage? Stable, 5 V. When the voltage at the battery terminals is 4.2, this is a signal to move to the second stage.

Now the charger maintains a stable voltage at the terminals, and the charging current decreases as the capacity rises. When its value decreases to 0.05-0.01 C, charging will end and the device will turn off, preventing recharging. The total capacity recovery time for a lithium battery does not exceed 3 hours.

If the lithium-ion battery is discharged below 3.0V, a “jump” will be required. This consists of charging with a low current until there is 3.1 V at the terminals. Then the usual circuit is used.

How to control charging parameters

Since lithium batteries operate in a narrow range of voltage changes at the terminals, they cannot be recharged above 4.2 V and discharged below 3 V. The charge controller is installed in the charger. But each battery or battery has its own breakers, PCB board or PCM protection modules. The batteries are equipped with protection against one or another factor. If the parameter is violated, it must turn off the jar and break the circuit.

A controller is a device that must implement control functions - switch CC/CV modes, control the amount of energy in the banks, turn off charging. At the same time, the assembly works and heats up.

Homemade charging circuits used for lithium batteries

• LM317 – circuit of a simple charger with a charge indicator. It is not powered from the USB port.
• MAX1555, MAX1551 - specially for Li batteries, installed in the power adapter from the phone to USB. There is a pre-charge function.
• The LP2951 stabilizer limits the current and generates a stable voltage of 4.08-4.26V.
• MCP73831 is one of the simplest circuits, suitable for charging ionic and polymer devices.

If the battery consists of several cells, they are not always discharged evenly. When charging, a balancer is needed to distribute the charge and ensure uniform charging of all the cells in the battery. The balancer can be separate or built into the battery connection circuit. The battery protection device is called BMS. Knowing how to charge devices and understanding the circuits, you can assemble a protective device circuit for a lithium battery with your own hands.

Best Chargers for AA Batteries

Those who prefer to own a charger that allows them to charge classic AA batteries should give preference to the following models in 2021-2022.

ROBITON MasterCharger Pro

A semi-professional charger will delight its owner with the ability to charge a wide variety of types and shapes of batteries and the presence under each slot of a large and informative LCD display, which displays complete and sufficient information about the charge current, elapsed time, voltage, accumulated capacity and internal resistance of the battery.

The model has 3 operating modes - traditional charge, discharge with testing and power supply to connected USB devices, while the device allows you to simultaneously charge batteries and power the connected device.

It is possible for the owner to independently select the amount of charging current for each battery within the range of 300-1000 mAh.

The automatic operating principle eliminates damage to the battery, since when it is fully charged, the device will turn off on its own.

It is worth noting that the time it takes to fully charge the batteries with this device ranges from 1.5 to 6 hours - and this is a very good indicator for such devices.

Characteristics:

• type - Ni-Cd, Li-Ion, Ni-Mh;
• standard size - AAA, AA, others;
• capacity - 4 slots;
• power supply - from USB, from a car cigarette lighter;
• max charge current - 1000 mA;
• functionality - display, charge-discharge function, capacity measurement, short circuit protection.

pros

• Works with almost any battery;
• independent channels.

Minuses

• only automatic charging mode;
• no voltage regulation.

Fenix ​​ARE-D2

The universal and functional model is distinguished by its compact size, which is determined by the presence of only 2 slots, allowing you to simultaneously charge no more than 2 batteries.

At the same time, the device recognizes and charges up to 9 types of batteries, has independent channels and is equipped with a Power bank function that allows you to quickly charge a smartphone, fitness bracelet or any other suitable gadget.

The model independently determines the type of battery installed in the slot and selects a suitable program for charging it, giving the owner the opportunity to select the required current strength.

Full information about the charging process is reflected on the display, the same for both slots, while the channel is switched cyclically by clicking on the button located next to the corresponding slot.

The model has a 5-lamp indication that reflects the battery charge level, and has protection against short circuit and overcharging.

A distinctive feature of the model is the ability to connect the device not only to an external drive, laptop or stationary source, but also to alternative energy sources, such as a tourist solar panel.

Characteristics:

• type - Ni-Cd, Li-Ion, Ni-Mh;
• standard size - AAA, AA, others;
• capacity - 2 slots;
• power supply - from USB, from the network, from the car cigarette lighter;
• max charge current - 2000 mA;
• functionality - display, short circuit protection.

pros

• good assembly;
• functional device.

Minuses

• large dimensions for 2 batteries;
• Inconvenient screen switch button.

SPACE KOC501

The compact and neat charger is made of durable heat-resistant plastic and does an excellent job of charging the most common types of batteries used in modern household appliances and gadgets.

The device is compact in size, easy to operate, runs on mains power, and is in an affordable price category.

The model is designed for simultaneous charging of 1-2 cylindrical batteries or Krona batteries, the duration of a full charge of which is from 7 to 15 hours, depending on the size and type of battery.

There is an LED indication of operation, reverse polarity protection and independent channels that allow you to fully charge both batteries when they are placed in the device at the same time.

Characteristics:

• type - Ni-Cd, Ni-Mh;
• standard size - AAA, AA, Crown;
• capacity - 2 slots;
• power supply - from the network;
• functionality - compact size.

pros

• good instructions;
• low price.

Minuses

• crooked clamps;
• ill-conceived light indication.

How to charge a 12 volt lithium battery

Each lithium battery is a sealed product of a cylindrical, prismatic shape, for Li-pol in soft packaging. They all have a voltage of 3.6-4.2 V and different capacities, measured in mAh. If you assemble 3 banks in series, you will get a battery with a voltage at the terminals of 10.8 - 12.6 V. The capacity for sequential charging is measured by the weakest lithium battery in the bunch.

You need to know how to properly charge a 18650 or Pol lithium battery at 12 volts. To return capacity to the device, you must use a charger with a controller. It is important to have a PCM in the assembly for each bank, protection against under- and overcharging. Another scheme for unprotected lithium-ion batteries is the installation of a PCB - a control board, preferably with balancers, for uniform charging of the cans.

On the charger, you need to set the voltage at which the battery operates, 12.6 V. The number of cans and the charging current are set on the dashboard, equal to 0.2-0.5 C.

How to charge, we suggest watching a video, a charging method for 2, 3 18650 lithium batteries connected in series. A budget charger is used.

Charging options for lithium-ion lithium polymer batteries:

• Charger purchased with the device.
• Use the USB connector from electronic equipment - a computer. Here you can get a current of 0.5 A, charging will take a long time.
• From the cigarette lighter by purchasing an adapter with a set of ports. Choose the one that matches the parameters of the 12 V battery.
• Universal “frog” charger with a dock for installing the gadget. How to charge? There is a charge indicator panel.

Experts advise using a standard charger to charge lithium batteries, others - only in force majeure circumstances. However, you need to know how to charge a lithium battery without a standard charger.

How to charge lithium screwdriver batteries

A lithium battery-powered screwdriver is almost always an upgrade. If Ni-Cd cells had the same charging requirements, now they have become opposite. First of all, you need to purchase or assemble a charger specifically for energy-intensive lithium screwdriver batteries with a form factor of 18650. The charging circuit is used in two stages CC/CV.

Charging the lithium battery of a screwdriver is optimal when 20-50% of the capacity remains - one stick on the indicator. The more often you charge, the more stable the voltage at the terminals and the longer the life of the energy source. The smoother the voltage at the terminals, the more cycles the lithium battery of the screwdriver will withstand.

If the screwdriver has 2 batteries, remove one, charge it to 50-60% and keep it in reserve. But always charge the second one after finishing work, even by 10%. The best temperature for charging is +15-25 0 C. At minus, the screwdriver battery will not charge, but it can work down to -10 0.

How to charge a lithium screwdriver battery with a charger depends on the pattern of collecting batteries from cans. In any case, the voltage on the charger should be equal to that declared for the device, and the current should be 0.5 C at the first stage. On the second, the terminal voltage is stable, and the current drops until the end of the process.

Rating of the best battery chargers

How long to charge a lithium battery

The battery charging time is determined by the process of capacity restoration. A distinction is made between full and partial charge.

Capacity is measured in ampere hours. This means that if you apply a charge numerically equal to the capacitance, then within an hour the required voltage will be created at the terminals, and the energy reserve will be 70-80%. If the capacity is measured in units of C, a current of 1C-2C should be applied when fast charging. Fast charging time is about an hour.

For a full charging cycle of batteries from several cells connected in series, 2 stages are used - CC/CV. The CC stage lasts until a voltage equal to the operating voltage appears at the terminals, in volts. Second stage: at a stable voltage, current is supplied to the jar, but with increasing capacity, it tends to zero. Charging time takes about 3 hours, regardless of capacity.

Can a lithium battery be charged using regular charging?

Two different battery systems—lithium and lead-acid—require different approaches to capacity restoration. Lead batteries are not as demanding on charging parameters as lithium ones. Yes, and the charging criteria are different.

To charge Li-ion, Li-pol in the first stage, constant current is required, in the second stage constant voltage is required. If you do not control the parameters at the first stage, overcharging is possible. But if the battery has built-in protection - BMS - it will cope. Therefore, you can even add some energy with a phone charger.

In a charger for lead batteries, the main indicator is stable voltage. For lithium chargers, a stable current is important at the first stage.

True, universal chargers have appeared that can be reconfigured for one or another charging mode.
Here is the Russian development “Pendant”. How to charge lithium batteries

The best car cigarette lighter chargers for batteries

A modern car is not a luxury, but a way to get from point A to point B with minimal loss of time and maximum convenience. Those who spend a lot of time in cars and constantly need charged batteries for various gadgets should take a closer look at the following charger models in 2021-2022.

Nitecore NEW i2

A stylish, compact and modern charger is designed to charge or restore completely dead batteries, while the model recognizes and charges almost all currently existing models and types of batteries.

The device is quite easy to use, versatile and has high quality materials and workmanship. The device is equipped with a built-in microprocessor that regulates the voltage supplied to the batteries and can simultaneously charge different types of batteries, which is achieved thanks to charging slots that are independent from each other.

The built-in LCD display allows you to monitor the charging process and displays all the necessary information about the status of the process.

It is worth noting that this model is equipped with a unique function for restoring completely dead batteries and works effectively both from a traditional electrical network and from a car cigarette lighter, which makes this device the optimal solution for long business trips and long journeys.

Characteristics:

• type - LiFePO4, Li-Ion, IMR (Li-Mn);
• standard size - universal (AAA, AA, others);
• capacity - 2 slots;
• power supply - from the car cigarette lighter, from the network;
• max charge current - 1000 mA;
• functionality - display, capacitance measurement.

pros

• charges well;
• easy to connect.

Minuses

• not European cord;
• There are no Russian instructions.

LiitoKala Lii-600

A modern multifunctional charger has one of the highest current levels on the market for similar devices.

At the same time, the model allows for flexible adjustment of charging parameters, makes it possible to measure internal resistance, has manual and automatic modes and a battery training mode, which makes it an ideal device for any owner of gadgets and equipment that require rechargeable batteries.

6 touch control buttons and a high-quality LED display with switchable backlight provide convenient selection of the necessary settings, and many functions will allow you not only to charge a sufficient number of batteries, but also to restore old batteries, measure the actual battery capacity and eliminate the “memory effect”.

The model is equipped with multi-level protection against overcharge, overheating, reverse polarity and short circuit.

Characteristics:

• type - Ni-Cd, Li-Ion, Ni-Mh;
• standard size - universal (AAA, AA, others);
• capacity - 4 slots;
• power supply - from the car cigarette lighter, from the network;
• max charge current - 3000 mA;
• functionality - display, capacity measurement, charge-discharge, capacity restoration.

pros

• informative display;
• thoughtful design.

Minuses

• price;
• does not regenerate old batteries.

ROBITON MasterCharger 850

The universal automatic charger can easily cope with simultaneous charging of up to 4 batteries of different types, while the device independently recognizes the type of battery and selects the optimal charging program that ensures the highest capacity and long service life.

The device is equipped with a unique microprocessor that constantly monitors and monitors the charging process. There is a fast charge function with subsequent auto shut-off, allowing you to spend less time fully recharging the battery.

There is an option to recognize non-functioning batteries.

It is also worth noting the presence of protection against reverse polarity, short circuit and a safety timer (up to 10 hours). The model operates both from a traditional electrical network and from a car cigarette lighter.

Characteristics:

• type - LiFePO4, Ni-Cd, Li-Ion, Ni-Mh, IMR (Li-Mn);
• standard size - universal (AAA, AA, others);
• capacity - 4 slots;
• power supply - from the car cigarette lighter, from the network;
• max charge current - 850 mA;
• functionality - fast charging function, short circuit protection.

pros

• many types of batteries;
• fast mode.

Minuses

• overpriced;
• Thick batteries do not fit into the slots.