Comparison XTAR VC8 vs Nitecore Intellicharger i8

The battery sizes that the charger is compatible with. In this case, the adapters supplied in the kit (see below) are not taken into account in this paragraph, we are talking only about the memory as such.

The standard dimensions describes the shape, dimensions, connector design and operating voltage of the battery; thus, it is one of the most important parameters for determining compatibility with a particular charger.

The most popular sizes for which modern “chargers” are made can be divided into 1.5-volt (marked in Latin letters AA, AAA, C, D) and 3.7-volt (have digital markings 14500, 17500, 18650, 22650, 26650, etc. .P.). More about them:

— AAAA. The smallest version of the "finger" dimensions: batteries of the same cylindrical shape as the well-known AA and AAA, but with a size of only about 8 mm and a length of about 43 mm. Similar in application to AAA, but very poorly distributed.

— AAA. Size, colloquially known as "mini finger" or "little finger batteries": cylindrical batteries with a size of 10.5 mm and a length of 44.5 mm. They are mainly used in miniature devices for which there are not enough “tablet” bat...teries, and larger elements are too bulky.

— AA. Classic "finger" batteries with a size of 14 mm and a length of 50 mm, one of the most popular modern standard sizes (if not the most popular). They are used in a wide variety of types and price categories of devices, including even external battery packs for SLR cameras.

- C. Batteries in the form of a characteristic "barrel". They are similar in height to finger-type AAs, but almost twice as thick - 50 mm and 26 mm, respectively - due to which they have a higher capacity.

- D. The largest dimensions of consumer grade 1.5V batteries, 34mm in size and 61mm in length. It is mainly used in high-power flashlights and devices with high energy consumption.

3.7-V batteries are indicated by a five-digit number. In it, the first two digits indicate the size (in millimeters), the remaining three indicate the length (in tenths of a millimeter). For example, the popular dimensions 18650 corresponds to a battery with a size of 18 mm and a length of 65.0 mm. It is worth noting here that there are 3.7-volt cells that are the same dimensions as the 1.5-volt ones described above (for example, the 14500 dimensions is similar to AA finger-type), but both types are not interchangeable due to the difference in voltage.

A separate category is 9-volt R22 batteries, also known as PP3: these are rectangular elements in which a pair of contacts is located on one of the ends.

The method of indicating work, in other words, the type of notifications provided for in the design of the charger.

— LED. LED indicators can give messages by turning on and off, blinking at a certain frequency, and changing colours. They are cheaper than displays (see below) and are more visible from a distance, but less informative and more limited in their capabilities.

— Display. Chargers tend to use simple LCD displays. However, even such screens are much more informative and visual than LED indicators. A wide variety of information can be displayed on the display, and in a form that is convenient for perception: the user does not need to remember what this or that light means, he immediately sees a specific message, for example, “Charging is over”. However and this convenience is much more expensive.

The highest current that the device can provide when charging the battery (or the nominal value of the charging current, if it is not adjustable).

Charging current is one of the most important parameters for any charger: it determines the speed of the process and compatibility with certain batteries. In general, the higher the current, the faster the process, the less time it takes to charge. At the same time, some batteries may have recommendations for the optimal current strength and restrictions on its maximum values. Therefore, mindlessly chasing a powerful charger is not worth it: at first it's ok to clarify how justified such power will be.

Note that in multi-channel devices (see "Independent channels"), the maximum current strength can be achieved when only part of the channels are operating. The indicators provided when all channels are operating simultaneously are indicated separately for such models (see "Charge current (all channels)").

The number of separate charge current settings (see above) provided in the design of the charger. For example, a device with 4 settings may provide options for 200, 400, 800 and 1000 mAh. In general, the larger this number, the more accurately you can choose the charging current for a particular situation.

Ability to operate the device in drip charge mode.

Drip charging is called charging a battery at low currents — on the order of several tens of milliamps — used to compensate for self-discharge ("volatilization" of accumulated energy over time). This function is relevant mainly for Ni-Cd and Ni-Mh batteries, which have quite significant self-discharge rates: it allows you to constantly keep them fully charged. This is especially useful in cases where the battery may be needed at any time (but it is not known exactly when).

A procedure that allows you to quickly determine the capacity of the installed battery. Actually, the main advantage of capacitance measurement is speed. On the other hand, the results are not particularly accurate, and usually they only show the nominal, not the actual capacity - to determine the latter, it is better to use the function of checking the remaining capacity.

Pre-discharge is useful for batteries that are prone to memory effect - they need to be charged only after the charge is completely depleted. In accordance with the name, a charger with this function is capable, if necessary, of discharging the installed battery “to zero” before starting charging. At the same time, some models are able to automatically detect the presence of residual energy and turn on a preliminary discharge, in others it must be turned on manually.

The capacity recovery function will be useful for batteries with memory effect - this time tech whose capacity has already declined. In this mode, the charger discharges and charges the battery several times in a special way, which eliminates the memory effect and restores the battery, if not to the original, then at least to a capacity close to this value.

A procedure to determine the actual capacity of the installed battery. When measuring capacity, the charger charges and discharges the battery (in some models - several times, for greater accuracy), measuring the actual amount of stored and released energy. Checking the remaining capacity takes much longer than the “capacity measurement” item described above, but it is much more accurate and can be used not only to determine the characteristics of the battery, but also to diagnose its condition and degree of wear.