Need help with nitecore charger

[Mailablemage]

So I picked up an imr 18650 and a nitecore 2 bay charger for my new(and first) mech mod.

I figured my 5v ac adaptor should be enough to charge it since it charged my mvp2. All it does is read the charge on the battery for a second and then flashes an error code. Do I need a better ac adaptor? Can I plug it into my laptop for now?

 

[InTheShade]

That charging port is for a car charger to be connected to it - which will make it 12v DC.

Did it not come with an AC cord?

 

[Rickajho]

What model NiteCore? Not knowing that there is no reasonable way to tell what power source it requires or uses.

 

[Mailablemage]

That charging port is for a car charger to be connected to it - which will make it 12v DC.

Did it not come with an AC cord?

It came with a micro USB cable. There is a USB port on the back of it, and a micro USB on the top of it.

 

[Mailablemage]

Did it not come with an AC cord?[/QUOTE]

What model NiteCore? Not knowing that there is no reasonable way to tell what power source it requires or uses.

I'm not sure. It has a micro USB port on top. And a full usb port on the back under a flap

 

[InTheShade]

What model NiteCore? Not knowing that there is no reasonable way to tell what power source it requires or uses.

I guess I should have asked this question first. The three nitecore chargers I have bought didn't charge via USB. All were either AC or 12v DC.

So which model is it Maila? Look around on the underside, try to find a label somewhere.

Does this one look familiar?

 

[Rickajho]

If it's a NiteCore all that information would be right on the back of the charger. I'm not aware of any NiteCore that has a micro USB port on the charger itself.

 

[Mailablemage]

I guess I should have asked this question first. The three nitecore chargers I have bought didn't charge via USB. All were either AC or 12v DC.

So which model is it Maila? Look around on the underside, try to find a label somewhere.

Does this one look familiar?

Yes that's the one. Is my wall adaptor just not strong enough?

 

[Mailablemage]

If it's a NiteCore all that information would be right on the back of the charger. I'm not aware of any NiteCore that has a micro USB port on the charger itself.

Its the one posted in the PDF above. No information on it but The logo

 

[InTheShade]

From the user manual

1. Nitecore recommends using only quality USB adapters with the UM10. Using poor
quality adaptors may result in the LCD displaying “EE” to indicate an error.

It's a little vague, but I would suggest you just need to find a new wall wort / plug. I would totally not recommend connecting it to your laptop.

 

[Mailablemage]

From the user manual



It's a little vague, but I would suggest you just need to find a new wall wort / plug. I would totally not recommend connecting it to your laptop.

Well. Its a good thing I work at a battery store. I'll pick one up at work tomorrow. I probably have 30-40 ac adaptors in my work bench. One is bound to work. Thanks.

 

[TopCatJimi]

Wait... let me get this straight..you work at a battery store and you on ECF asking how to use a battery charger? ...

I hope I never walk into that place!!

 

[Mailablemage]

Wait... let me get this straight..you work at a battery store and you on ECF asking how to use a battery charger? ...

I hope I never walk into that place!!

Well the charger doesnt really say anything on it. And this is the first time ive ever seen a charger that uses micro usb and not regular usb. I dug out an old wall adaptor from a samsung tablet. That one works. The odd thing is they are both 5v adaptors so they should both work. I took them to work today an load tested them on our equipent, they both put out the same current.

 

[Croak]

If it's a UM20 or UM10, it really wants a 1 amp charger at a minimum (the dual bay UM20 does best with a 2 amp charger). With a single battery you could get by with a 0.5 amp charger, though it'll charge slower. Charging from your PC, most likely you'll only be getting 0.5 amps.

5v doesn't mean squat, it's the amp output of the wall charger (or USB port) that you need to worry about, and that Samsung tablet charger is for sure a 2 amp, meant to charge at least a 4000mAh battery in a reasonable amount of time. Guess what? That's about the same amount of mAh you're trying to charge with two 18650 batteries.

The reason the input is micro USB is so that people can use their ubiquitous cellphone or tablet cables (there hasn't been a major non-Apple smart phone released in the last 5 years that wasn't micro USB). The idea is to then use the "pass-through" connection that comes with the UMxx to daisy chain from the UM to their other device.

 

[gph61]

I bought and returned a UM20. It was erratic.

The first time I used it it charged 2 VTC5s to 97% and then took 3.5 hours to get to 100%. This was using a good 2A wall wart in an outlet I installed beside the breaker panel in my shop to handle a plasma cutter. After that the right side worked as it should but the left side wouldn't charge beyond 74%. I tried different power sources and cables and nothing changed. The batteries charged normally in a D2 at my shop and a D4 at home.

I searched and found reports of similar issues. It's a shame because I think the overall concept is a good one for travel. I replaced it with an Xtar MC1 that's presently in the mail.

 

[PisangLaut]

I think I have 2 problems with my UM20. Sometimes they work normally but sometimes the Percentage doesn't go up unless I wiggle the batteries. Also, after 1 month of use, mine got a blank screen after I put the micro usb to the port and connect it to the wall. The led does light up the screen but nothing shows on the screen. How do I fix this? Also, I can't find the contact support on the Nitecore's Website. I don't know what should I do

 

[Ou2mame]

I read pretty bad things about that charger on the flash light forums. Those dudes know what's up. They all recommend the d2 which is what I have and it works great.

You generally don't want to fix a broken battery charger. It's like trying to fix a defective bullet. It's a risk vs reward type of thing.

 

[PisangLaut]

I read pretty bad things about that charger on the flash light forums. Those dudes know what's up. They all recommend the d2 which is what I have and it works great.

You generally don't want to fix a broken battery charger. It's like trying to fix a defective bullet. It's a risk vs reward type of thing.

Thanks man, I think I'm going to give the charger to my friend. I just need something more sturdy like Efest SODA. How about the i2/i4? I heard that those charger take a long time to charge 2x18650. Also, what about the D2 that you owned? How much time does it take to charge up 2x18650?

 

[Ou2mame]

I'm on a mobile device but I can find the support on their site in the upper right hand drop down.

Or ask for help on their Facebook page.

 

[Ou2mame]

My d2 does 500mah charging so it's going to take as long as any other 500mah charger. Rapid charged batteries don't last as long and die quicker from the excess heat generated from charging quicker. My Samsung 25rs dont even get warm charging.

At night I replace my drained battery with a fresh one and charge the drained one. I wake up and take it off the charger and use the fresh battery I already put in my mod. I have 3 batteries so I always have a spare, one charging, and one in my mod.