How to charge 18650 batteries?

A lithium-ion battery requires a specific dedicated charger to safely recharge the battery. Many of these dedicated chargers are designed to automatically detect the battery type and chemistry and apply a safe charging current to the cell. Most lithium ion batteries operate within a range of 2.5V to 4.2V where 2.5V is fully depleted and 4.2V is fully charged.

Unlike standard AA and AAA alkaline batteries which have a voltage of 1.5V, 18650 li-ion batteries have a nominal voltage of ~3.7V and as such require a different protocol for safe charging. Another very important feature of a dedicated li-ion charger is to end the charge cycle when the battery reaches 4.2V as over-charging an 18650 battery can cause internal damage and eventually cause the battery to fail.

Do You Need A Special Charger For Lithium Batteries?

In short – Yes. Using a normal battery charger designed for Lead Acid on a lithium battery may result in damage or even destruction of the battery. This is because lithium batteries require specifically designed charging profiles tailored to their chemistry. Therefore, the safest and best way to charge a lithium battery is by using a charger explicitly designed for Lithium batteries.

Best LiFePO4 Battery Charger

When it comes to recharging LiFePO4 batteries, you deserve the best battery chargers out there.

KSPOWER's chargers are designed with safety in mind, featuring overcharge protection and short-circuit prevention to keep your battery in tip-top shape for the longest time.

Furthermore, our LiFePO4 battery chargers are lightweight and ideal for use on RVs, camping trips, and other lightweight applications.

Lithium battery chargers offer many advantages, including:

●   Premium efficiency, with a high tracking efficiency of up to 99% and peak conversion efficiency of 98%.

●  Compatibility with different battery types including Lithium-ion, AGM, GEL, and Flooded.

●  Smart Temperature Monitoring and Voltage Adjustment

●  Noiseless and Efficient Cooling Systems.

●  Built-in Lithium battery activation functionality

That’s why we recommend our 12V 20A Renogy AC to DC LFP Portable Battery Charger that features the latest, best, and safest technology for charging lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.

For 24V lithium batteries, you can go for the compatible 24V 10A AC to DC Portable Battery Charger.

Note

We recommend you use the 24V battery charger only on 24V lithium batteries. Some 12V lithium batteries cannot be connected in series to output 24V.

So if you're looking for an easy-to-use, top-quality charger that checks all of the right boxes, KSPOWER's AC to DC Portable Battery Chargers should be your go-to option.