DuB-EnG: XTAR L4 Charger and Rechargeable Lithium Ion AA batteries put to the test....
Vložit
- čas přidán 26. 09. 2023
- Lets have a quick technical review of the new XTAR 1.5V Lithium batteries and charger...
www.xtar.cc/
Also available on amazon - Věda a technologie
I have tested two brands. One claims 3600 mWh produces less than 1800 mAh another claims 3500 mWh and produces over 2200 mAhs. Both needed to be cycled a couple times to give a good reading. The first had two dead batteries out of 12 after three charge cycles (at 500 mA) Good investigation about noise. I have not noticed a problem in my trail cameras but other people have. You can not judge the batteries by the claimed mWh.
Your last statement is key!! I agree 👍
I tried a set of these in a dab/FM/Internet radio hoping they would last longer than Eneloops. I live in a very strong dab signal area but the noise from the internal circuitry in these batteries interfered with the dab reception so much that I could not use them. They were ok on FM and internet though.
Yup... Absolute nightmare right!! Dam DC buck conversion!!
what is the difference between xtar BC4 charger and xtar L4 charger?
L4 uses CVSA tech to charge Ni-MH which results in faster charging and less heat build-up on cells.
BC4 can be used as a powerbank and flashlight, but does not use CVSA tech.
Also, the L4 is hollowed out for better ventilation of heat build-up on cells. The BC4 is completely covered up and does not let heat dissipate as good.
I have the L4, and it is an amazing Ni-MH charger. It charges my Ni-MH cells better than my Dragon VP4 Plus, SV2 Rocket, and FC2. Probably because of the CVSA tech.
I have another XTAR charger coming for review.... hope to get it done in a week or two.
thank you for measuring the noise as well. I bought some Hixon recently and wanted to use them in my weather station capable of receiving the DC77 time and weather data over terrestrial broadcast at 77 kHz - and it didn't work anymore with these batteries. Are there any batteries of that type without that noise? Can I shield them somehow?
Kratax are better
@@DubiousEngineering I'll try them, thank you very much! :)
4:05 It looks like the slide switch on the probe is set to X10, not X1?
Found your video while looking for someone putting these XTAR batteries through a proper discharge test. Testing inside electronic devices is neat and all, but actually testing the capacity and comparing against the claims is really the only way to rate a product like this, especially in a market rife with bogus claims. Thank you very much!
Aha! Thanks, if it is set to X10 then the scope will likely compensate as I checked the scope was set correctly. Thanks for the thanks! :-) 🙏👍
hixon vs kratax? would be interesting comparison
Never tried Hixon - keen to give them a go!
Was that camera outside in the summer heat, or direct sunlight, with those Xtar 1.5V Li-ion cells?
Li-ion cells will get damaged in extreme heat and possibly leak. Ni-MH would be more resistant to outside heat and a better choice for outdoor cameras.
Interesting... but thwarted - I have 7 of these cameras spread around my house and my mothers house all running Kratax AA Lithium batteries perfectly for over three years now. Thanks for your thoughts though!
@@DubiousEngineering Good to know that my theory was proven false. Now I can move on from the thought that Li-ion cells are not good for devices out in hot summer days.
Hello, does this charger work with USB-C PD power sources? I mean, it takes 5V all right, but what I want to make sure of is that would it work correctly and take 5v with 100W PD charges and cables (that power macbooks etc.). I want to buy the item but want to make sure before buying because I don't want to invest for a new brick and charger just for this. Thanks in advance!
Sadly…. Not PD …. Standard 5v 2A …. So charging times will remain the same.
@@DubiousEngineering Of course, I'm okay with that, as long as it works. Some items that hav USB-C ports just refuse to work with PD chargers and cables even with 5v only, that's what I wanted to ensure of. Does it work with PD chargers and cables, even only 5v?
@DubiousEngineering Catch-up: Confirmed by xtar themselves on Reddit and bought it, and it does work indeed. You plug a PD adapter and cable, it works and charges with 5v, but the voltage was not my problem, it working at all was.The USB-C Standards require the manufacturers to add 5.1k resistors if the device inners are built like usb 2.0, and some manufacturers don't do this. This results of the devices not being charged when plugged to a PD charger.
If you really need 1.5v/cell then fine but I'll stick with NiMH, not only cheaper but so much quieter.
All I can remember now is.....Finger hole.
Do love a good finger hole!!! :-) 🤩
Take it apart and give it a clean, and it will work again, I had a leak on one of mine so took it apart and cleaned it so it is now back outside working again, they cost too much to throw away.
Thanks for the tip... I'll give it a try!!!
Not good news on the camera, can we see inside, find the extent of the damage, you're handy with a soldering iron.
I recognise that plastic cup on the bench at the end!
The plastic cup deffo has some good ingredients 😀 ... Big hugs bro!