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E.SYB E4 Charger

 

 

 

From Gearbest : http://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_359772.html

$34.37 received

Use coupon: ESYBE4GB  For a further price reduction


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 App control: Check and adjust its charging status at any time 
 2.1 inches LCD screen display charging mode and battery status 
 5V 1A USB output: Can be used as power bank to charge your devices 
● Compatible with Li-ion, LiFePO4, Ni-MH and NiCd batteries
● Charges 4 batteries simultaneously, each of the 4 slots monitors and charges independently
 4 buttons to set the charging current and battery type conveniently
 CC and CV two charging modes
 Automatically stops charging when battery is fully charged
 Activation function for Li-ion batteries with protection board
 Reversed polarity / short-circuit / over-current / over-charge protection

 

 

Input: AC 100 - 240V 50 / 60Hz 1A (max)
Output voltage: 4.2V + / - 1pct, 3.6V + / - 1pct, 1.48V + / - 1pct
USB output: 5.0V + / - 5pct, 1A
Output current: Li-ion, LiFePO4: 0.25A / 0.5A / 1A / 2A; Ni-MH, NiCd: 0.25A

 

 

E.SYB Website = http://www.e-syb.com/

 

 

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What we have here is a very interesting charger , that is equipped with Bluetooth allowing the charger to be monitored and adjusted via Android devices ( Phone / tablet ) . ( More later )

I have been charging batteries as quickly as possible to get a feel for this charger . The first thing I noticed is that this charger uses voltage as the cut off ( 4.2v ) , and this means that the batteries will not be 4.2v at completion . So depending on the condition ( internal resistance ) of the battery , termination voltage ( after 30 minutes of rest ) has been from 4.11v to 4.16v ( depending on the battery ) . So it looks like the charger starts with CC and then finishes the charge cycle with CV . It also looks like the charger tries to maintain CC for as long as possible , at 0.25Amp charge rate CC looks to be maintained past 4.19v ( voltage under load = charge load ) .  Watching the charger some batteries have dropped charge rate at 4.2v whilst other batteries are maintaining 0.25Amp . 

 

 Can one come to the conclusion that this charger is trying very hard to speed up the charge time by minimizing trickle time . In the past a charger would and could trickle on for hours trying to top of a battery trying for the 4.2v . So it could be that this charger is sacrificing a little of the top ( Voltage state of the battery ) to greatly speed up the charge time .  Some people may be completely devastated that they can't get the battery to exactly 4.2v , and yet thousands may rejoice at the greatly decreased time it takes to charge a battery and not worry about a few tenths of a volt . Honestly , I was a little surprised at just how fast this charger charges 18650 . I think the default rate is 0.5Amp if you touch nothing , and just recently I have started to charge at 0.25Amp to see what the difference might be in terminated voltage .

 

 

Variable charge rate :

 

 

 

To change the charge rate , insert a battery . Start pushing the button above the battery slot before you get a read out ( I do this as mine is very fast , and if your to slow you can't adjust the charge rate , once a charge rate is selected ) , keep pushing the button when you get a read out and you will see you are cycling through the charge rates . 0.25A - 0.5A - 1A - 2A     Only slots 1 and 4 offer 2Amps as the maximum charge rate , slots 2 and 3 max out at 1Amp . Once charge has begun , you can push the button for the corresponding battery slot to see what is going on , or after completion so how long and how much current went into the battery .

 

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Termination :

 

 

As already mentioned , Voltage is used to terminate that charge cycle ( 4.2v ) . Constant Charge rate looks to be maintained for as long as possible to speed up the time it takes to charge that battery . Remember voltage under load works both ways , when you discharge a battery the voltage sags , and when you charge a battery the voltage increases . Once charging or discharging is completed the battery will come to a resting voltage . The price for a faster charger looks to be a few tenths of a volt ( the variable being the quality of the battery charged ) .

 

 

Bluetooth :

 

 

This is where it gets exciting (?)

 

Here is a link to a video about QR codes ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRq8qnlLqmA 

Now most of you folks wont need to learn anything about QR codes , because your up to date with mobile phone tech and all that ! Well I'm a bit of an old fuddy duddy and so I had to learn something ( it is interesting )

 

So to get the app , to monitor the charger VIA phone / tablet you need to take a picture of the QR code with a QR reader app ( Back of the box or instruction manual ), this will give you a link to the App for the charger . Hmmmm , perhaps this is something that should be in the instructions .

Here are some video's made by other people ...

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SftxZkDGzfk  = Youtube Video by Suki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvLNCzW6uNk = Youtube Video by Z Vaper

 

Z Vaper has gotten overcharging ( slight ) , but I have gotten nothing but undercharging ( Thats life ) .

My appologies for not testing bluetooth myself and fully , but if I can get monitoring VIA PC working I will update the review .

 

 

AA Batteries :

 

My charger charges at 0.25A ( nimh ) and offers no other options .

Termination voltage is 1.48v , and depending on the state of your AA ( nimh ) resting voltage should be north of 1.4v 

The charger takes it's time starting as it is determining just what battery you have installed , so AA's are just a little slower to start .

 

Conclusion :

 

I have put quite a few batteries through the charger at 0.5A and now 0.25A . It is simply a very fast charger when compared to most other chargers on the market . It offers functionality not dreamed of a few years ago , and quite frankly it works .

2 Slots offer up to 2A charge rate

2 Slots offer up to 1A charge rate

Amazingly keeps relatively cool ( ok winter weather is finally here , so its been very cool even inside ) Haven't detected any heat at all as yet , this would probably change if charging 4 batteries at maximum rates ..  ( At 0.5A and 0.25A ) I have 4 batteries charging right now @ 0.25A and the charger feels cold . 

Sliders are very smooth , possibly the smoothest I have ever seen

Feels like a real quality product , ( punching well above its price at time of testing )

 

I don't know what everyone else expects from a charger these days , but this charger ticks all the boxes for me . 2 amp charge capability for those larger batteries , 0.25 amp charge for those smaller batteries , true charge termination , CV termination , CC for as long as possible to decrease charge time , and minimal trickle charging . 

I still have some 10 or more 18650 to run through this charger , I am currently charging a 18650 @ 0.25A from 3.6v and I am looking forward to seeing how long it takes ..  ( Have charged 14 18650 to date )

At this time , the E.SYB E4 charger could possibly be " The Charger " to own . I have thrown a few AA ( nimh ) into the charger and I really like the result .  This is simply the best charger I have used to date , I really do like it . So far I have nothing negative to report ( Nothing ) . If you need a score out of ten , then it has to be 10 ( Yes 10 out of 10 ) ... It is really nice to see companies come out with products that make the flashlight hobby safer and more interesting . 

 

I would like to thank May from Gearbest for making this review possible .. 

 

Update : 31 May 2016

Ok , using a iPhone ...

1) You can change the charge current on the fly VIA the App ( Very nice ) , makes me wish you could do it on the charger .

2) You can monitor the charge progress ( ? )

 

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Ok , pictured is my brothers iPhone ..

Showing is the results of a completed AA nimh battery . ( A B C D ) the arows show charging options for Li-ion etc ( nimh is stuck @ 0.25A )

 

I would really like to see a Windows / PC app for this charger ( Bluetooth ) . I believe sales potential is being some what limited by not having a Windows / PC app , heck even a Linux app would be fantastic ...   I personally am not much of a phone fan boy , I don't have one super glued to the side of my face like some young people today , who would rather text than eat ..   E.SYB , please !  A Windows or Linux app for PC would be crazy great .