There are several factors to consider when choosing the best charger for your vape batteries. Not least of which is the size batteries you use. A charger that can accurately, safely, and promptly charge various sized batteries is what vapers are looking for. But many 18650 chargers don’t take 20700 and 21700 batteries, which are larger and of a higher capacity than 18650. Since those 20-sized batteries are appearing more and more in vapes now, older chargers likely won’t fit those cells. Now you can find that charger that will fit your batteries here in the best battery chargers of 2018.
Nitecore Q4
The Nitecore Q4 is a charger that’s easy to use, versatile, and it’s got a fast 2A charging for up to two slots, and 1A charging for three or more. The charge status is a simple LED that turns green when batteries are at 4.2 volts. It accepts the most popular size batteries, including 18650, 20700, 21700, and 26650.
Nitecore i8
The Nitecore i8 is an amazing charger! Charging up to 8 batteries, the i8 also comes with dual-USB output ports for charging of other small electronics. The i8 can handle 18650, 20700, 21700, and 26650 sizes. A rare vertical charger, the i8 can charge two batteries at 1.5A, four at 1A, and 0.5A with eight batts.
Efest Luc V6
Efest Luc V6 can be used as a power bank, and it has a digital LCD screen displaying charge and voltage for its 6-bay battery status. Accepts 18650 and 26650, flattop 20700 but not 21700. Adjustable charge amps allow 2A charging for two bays or 0.68A for three or more. Best as an 18650 charger, but it can do more.
Efest Luc V2
The Efest Luc V2 is a popular choice for two-bay chargers. It features an easy to read digital LCD display that monitors the charge level with voltage readout. This charger takes the popular sizes, including 18650, 20700, 21700, and 26650. It features 1A charging for one cell and 0.5A charging for two batteries.
Efest Lush Q4
The Efest Lush Q4 is a four-bay charger capable of charging 18650, 20700, and 26650. It’s got smooth springs in the battery slots, and it has three automatic charge speeds. For one cell it’s a fast 2A, two cells charges at 1A, and three or four batteries charge at 0.5A. A quality charger for most vapers’ needs.
Efest Lush Q2
The Efest Lush Q2 is a sleek dual-bay charger that has an intuitive and simple interface, with an automatic charge current of 2A for one battery or 1A for two. If charging two batteries, the 2A charge auto-selects the last battery when the first is complete. It takes 18650, 26650, most 20700, but 21700 won’t fit.
Nitecore UM10
The Nitecore UM10 is a handy single-bay charger, good for travel or for those light vapers that only need a single-18650 charger. The LCD screen clearly displays status and charge percentage. It can serve as a data transfer medium for your smart devices, and it has a built-in cord compartment to make travel tidier.
Key features in a good battery charger
There are lots of features offered today in battery chargers. Power bank usage, the ability to use a charger as a data transfer, and Bluetooth capabilities are just a few of the modern extras you can find. *The most important features for a vape battery charger are more basic, but critical for safe charging.
- Reverse polarity: the charger won’t charge if inserted incorrectly
- Over-charge protection: reduces stress on batteries
- Li-ion capability: the typical type of battery used in vaping
Note: all the charges listed on this page have these features. They are the most important features a charger can have for safe and effective battery charging for your vape device.
How to charge your batteries
Charging a battery is simple. There are things that are considered safe and unsafe practices though. The dos and don’ts of charging a vape battery are:
- Do: Insert battery negative side first
- Do: Remove batteries when finished charging
- Do: Use charge cables and cords that came with charger
- Do: Charge your batteries before first use
- Do: Make sure the charger is compatible with your battery chemistry
- Do not: Force large cells into charger if they don’t comfortably fit
- Do not: Leave batteries in charger after charging to avoid overcharging
- Do not: Modify your charger in any way
- Do not: Use chargers for wrong battery chemistry
- Do not: Charge batteries with damaged wrappers due to fire hazard
- Do not: Charge replaceable cells via on-board USB ports in vape device
Most modern chargers come equipped with safety features. That said, using safe battery charger practices is required of the user. Electronic features can sometimes fail, so proper and safe usage from the user is the last line of defense against any potential hazards.
