Seasoned vapers know that when it comes to achieving the best performance out of their setup they must take into account the charger they use.
Your vape devices battery makes the whole set up run, but if your batteries aren’t charged fully, are overcharged, or unevenly charged (for dual battery setups), these impact your mod’s performance and can be dangerous.
When choosing a charger, there are several factors you must consider.
- The first is the charging speed. Two bay chargers should be able to charge at 1.0 amps while four bay ones at 0.5 amps at least.
- The second is the accuracy. Most chargers usually top battery charges at 4.2 volts, with some playing around 4 to 4.1 volts. If you overcharge above 4.2 volts, this can shorten the life of your battery and damage it. Cheap chargers tend to overcharge batteries when left too long, so smart chargers with maximum charges up to 4.2 volts are what you need.
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is safety. Batteries tend to explode if it’s overcharged. 18650 batteries can pack a mean punch when it explodes, being high discharge cells. Next to batteries, skimping on a charger can prove dangerous.
Below we list the best 18650 battery chargers for vaping based on the above criteria.
Best Two-Bay Battery Chargers
#1 Efest - LUC V2 Charger
PRO’S
- Light and compact
- Detailed LCD screen
- Comes with car adapter
- Has USB charging port
- Super convenient travel companion
- Accepts a wide range of batteries
- Multiple protections
- Charges batteries separately
CON’S
- Requires extenders for some batteries
- Only two charge bays
The Efest LUC V2 has been around for a while now and it’s still going strong as one of the most popular chargers on the market.
This two bay charger features an LCD screen, charges batteries independently, and has several safety features including over current, short circuit, reverse polarity, and zero voltage activation protections.
Besides being cheap, this compact battery charger is ready to go with you anywhere. You can take it with you to work, plug it into your car’s lighter port while on a road trip, or take it with you on a plane. Better yet, this device also comes with a USB port so you’ll be able to charge your phone at the same time.
Additionally, as a universal charger you’ll be able to top off all sorts of batteries that range from 10440, 14500, 14650, 18500, 17670, 18650, 18700, 26500, 26650, and more. I’m personally a huge fan of this battery charger as my desk is often filled with all sorts of junk.
The LUC V2 is small enough that it easily finds space somewhere around my desk without it being in the way.
#2 Nitecore - SC2
PRO’S
- Up to 3-amp charging rates
- Can charge NiMH and NiCD batteries
- Powerbank functionalities
CON’S
- Display seems like an afterthought
We’ve talked about speed in charging, and the Nitecore SC2 does it in spades. Able to charge at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 amps, this charger is the fastest one here. Just make sure your batteries can handle the load though.
Aside from its speed, the SC2 is pretty versatile as well. Most chargers usually cater to Li-Ion batteries only, but the SC2 can also charge NiMH and NiCD batteries as well. If you use different battery types at home, this charger can be your all-in-one solution.
Additionally, the SC2 can also be used as a power bank. Especially useful when you’re traveling.
If there’s one thing that holds the SC2 from being perfect, it’s the display. Other chargers employ an alphanumeric display, however the Nitecore SC2 has a row of lights that indicate the rate of charge and battery life.
It’s not too intuitive and may take some getting used too, but given the SC2’s speed, safety, and versatility, I don’t think a lot of vapers would mind the lack of a more sophisticated display.
#3 Xtar - VC2 Plus
PRO’S
- Up to 1-amp charging rates
- Portable
- Large display
- Powerbank functionality
- Can charge NiMH and NiCD batteries
CON’S
- Power supply determines charging speed
- Charging times are overestimated
While still technically a two-bay charger, the Xtar VC2 is more a travel charger what with its size and USB power cable.
It’s not particular fast, though it charges at a decent 0.5 or 1.0 amps, but what it lacks in speedy charging, it makes up for in its versatility and portability.
The VC2 Plus can also charge NiMH and NiCD batteries and can be used as a power bank as well, which is great considering its size. The Nitecore SC2 may have similar features, but it is significantly bulkier than the Xtar VC2 Plus.
Despite the size though, the VC2 Plus has a nice, large screen that displays all the information you might need such as how much time is left before your battery is fully charged.
However, it tends to overestimate the time so you shouldn’t work your schedule around it.
In all, if you don’t need the speedy charging of the Nitecore SC2, the Xtar VC2 Plus is a worthy alternative.
Best Four-Bay Battery Chargers
#1 Efest - LUC V4
PRO’S
- Up to 2-amp charging rates
- Powerbank Functionalities
CON’S
- First batch overcharges
The LUC V4, made by one of the more popular and common battery brands around, shows that Efest can also make a great four-bay charger.
The LUC V4 is accurate and can charge batteries pretty quick with its 2-amp charging rate.
The charger itself has a nice alphanumeric display that shows you the current voltage your batteries are in.
And it displays the voltage pretty accurately.
One caveat though, be sure you get a later batch of the LUC V4 chargers since many have reported that the first batch have a tendency to overcharge batteries.
And as we touched upon earlier, overcharging is not only bad for your batteries’ health, but can also be potentially dangerous.
That said, if you can grab a later batch of the Efest LUC V4, you won’t be disappointed.
#2 Xtar - VP4
PRO’S
- Up to 1-amp charging rates
- Battery bays are marked
- Tough and simple to use
CON’S
- Screen is very small
Another offering from Xtar, the VP4 is a four-bay charger that’s tough and reliable. Though not as fast as the Efest, with a max charging output rate at 1-amp, the VP4 is more renowned for its safe and accurate charging capabilities.
Each bay runs independently with the first two charging at 0.25 or 0.5 amps, while the third and fourth slots charge at 1-amp each. The bays are also legibly marked so you’ll know where your batteries are being charged in.
There is also a small display on the charger, though still useful, it seems to have been added as an afterthought.
If you don’t care much about extra features and are just looking for a reliable, tough, accurate, safe, and pretty straightforward four-bay charger, the Xtar VP4 is tough to beat.
#3 Nitecore - Q4
PRO’S
- Four charge bays
- Can fit a variety of battery widths and lengths
- Includes multiple protections
- Very compact and lightweight
CON’S
- Charger looks cheap
This small and simple battery charger is the affordable, but safe, no frills version on the market. Not to say that there aren’t any cool features, but I’ll be the first to admit that this battery charger looks alittle, cheap.
Still, this charger wouldn’t be on here if all it had going for it was the price point. Despite being on the inexpensive side, the Nitecore Q4 doesn’t skimp on any protections. And while it may not have a fancy LED display telling you how many bars of a battery have been charged up, there’s still a small light that denotes whether it is empty or full.
I’m also a huge fan of how the spring system on this charger works to make it truly universal. Regardless of a battery’s length, as long as it can fit inside the plastic, you’ll be able to adjust the spring to match most batteries and charge them. There’s also the fact that this device is amazingly small and lightweight for what it does.
You could throw this charger in your backpack and you’d probably end up forgetting about it. It’s light enough that you could put it in your pocket and people will probably just assume it’s a wallet by the shape.
If there’s anything bad I can say about it besides how basic it looks, is that I’ve been spoiled by indicators denoting the level of charge. It’s a little annoying not to know when my batteries are going to be charged beyond a very rough estimation.
Best Eight-Bay Battery Chargers
#1 Nitecore - i8
PRO’S
- Eight charge bays
- Two USB ports
- Portable for its size
- Includes multiple protections
- Very compact and lightweight
CON’S
- No car adapter
- USB port limitation
And here is the big boy of the group, the Nitecore I8. To begin, this surprisingly compact beast has eight separate ports for you to charge your batteries in.
It also has two USB ports for any devices that require such. It also carries the standard protections and safeties used by other battery chargers I’ve talked about.
What I like about this design is that it is vertical. Instead of laying down flat and having eight consecutive rows of battery bays, the Nitecore I8 instead stands itself up and charges four batteries on either side. This makes it great for standing up on a desk without having to clear too much space.
This design choice also lets you easily stuff it into a travel bag if you ever need a device that can charge eight batteries at a time.
While personally I’m fine with a four, or even a two bay charger, I can easily see why someone would prefer to have the capability to charge eight batteries at the same time.
One negative to be said is that you can’t use the USB ports when this charger is running in full operation. Well, that and it doesn’t come with a car adapter, but that’s not what this battery charger is made for anyway.
#2 Enova - Gyrfalcon All-88
PRO’S
- Up to 1-amp charging rates
- Bays are independent from each other
- Customisable
CON’S
- UI has a learning curve
- Thin batteries need to be inserted with care
Though its name may be a mouthful, don’t let it get in the way of the fact that the All-88 is one of the best eight-bay charger around.
Though the UI can be a bit intimidating, its features are one of the most advanced in any charger.
Settings can be set for each individual charger, and if you don’t want to waste too much time inputting the same settings for all eight bays, the charger has a cop/paste function so you don’t have to. It’s that advanced, like a mini computer for batteries.
The charger can charger NiMH and NiCD batteries in addition to the usual Li-Ion vapers use, which makes it a versatile device.
Users who need to have four sets of different types batteries charged at the same time will not be disappointed here.
Though it is not the fastest charger around, with a charging rate that maxes out at 1-amp, the All-88 is still speedy enough for most user’s needs.
Be aware though, if you really need to charge eight batteries all at the same time with the same charger, you might need to reserve some space on your desk for this beast.
For heavy vapers who need to have multiple spare batteries charged at the same time, the Enova Gyrfalcom All-88 is your all-in solution.
Vape Battery Charger Buying Guide
Deciding on Your Charger
When it comes to vape setups, chargers are usually the last one to be considered. Users often focus on their mods and atomisers first, then the type of wire to be used, the kind of coil, then the e-juice, the batteries, and more often than not, think that their generic charger is good enough.
While a generic charger can get the job done, it has a tendency to overcharge and sometimes explode.
But once users realise this, and once they invest on good batteries, they also learn that any old charger won’t cut it. But once it dawns on you that a quality charger is needed, how do you decide which one to choose?
Choosing A Charger
First off, you should decide whether you need a two-bay charger, a four-bay one, or a massive eight-bay charger.
Two-bay chargers are best suited for those who don’t use multiple battery mods and want to bring just the minimum number of extra batteries around.
Four-bay chargers are best for dual-battery mods and need to charge their main and extra batteries in one go.
While eight-bay chargers are perfect for those with triple or quad-battery mods.
What about the features on the chargers? Do you really need them? Well, it depends on what you are looking for.
If all you need is something to charge your batteries with and nothing more, then a plain, straightforward charger such as the Xtar VP4 is perfect.
If you travel a lot and figure that you might need powerbank functionalities, then choose the Nitecore SC2 or Xtar VC2 Plus.
Some chargers feature screens, and whether you need it or not, it’s nice to have one so you can monitor the charging levels or voltage of your batteries.
Especially if you need to know how much charge your batteries can handle, this can be especially useful.
As you may well know, healthy batteries can hold up to 4.2 volts of power. If the screen on your charger shows that the batteries can only hold up to 3.8 volts, then it might be time to buy brand new batteries.
However, if you prefer to test your batteries using a traditional battery tester, while not as convenient, then a screen-less charger can work.
Just in case you were confused about battery types – Here’s a quick guide……
Final Thoughts
In the end, it doesn’t matter much what feature your battery has as long as it is accurate, safe, and charges at a decent rate.
Accuracy and safety includes no overcharging and to ensure that pairs of batteries are charged at the same rate (making it safer to use in dual battery mods).
This also means that there are auto cut-offs that cut the flow of electricity to batteries once they fully charge.
Trickle charging, which keeps your batteries topped up, is usually standard in quality chargers as well.
A safe charger lets you leave your batteries in the charging bays for extended periods of time without the risk of overcharging.
Generic chargers just charge your batteries continuously even if they are fully charged, which can be dangerous.
As for charging at a decent rate, personally, as long as I get fully charged batteries overnight, I’m good.
However, some slow charging chargers may take more than 12 hours to charge a single battery, which is pretty long.
You don’t want to wait for your batteries to fully charge long after you’ve woken up, eaten breakfast, dressed up, and are ready to go.
A decent charger will charge your batteries from discharged to full in around four to five hours.
If you need a faster charger, just make sure you have batteries capable of handling the increased amps.
That said, investing on a decent charger is very important especially for serious vapers who tend to charge everyday.
Just remember, speed, accuracy, and safety. That’s all you need to look out for.
