The Olight UC is a compact USB-powered charger for cylindrical Lithium and NiMH batteries.
It has magnetic clips that attach directly to most battery terminals, weighs only 20g and has fairly positive reviews.
Note: Try Amazon.com (affiliate link) if out of stock on Aliexpress.
Specifications:
- Blue anodised plastic case with integrated type-A USB connector, intelligent charging circuit and red/green indicator LED
- Attached 23cm flat cable with 'Y' strain relief and 2 magnetic charging clips
- 800mA required USB input current
- 750mA max output current
- Lithium batteries charge at 4.25V @ ~0.7A
- NiMH batteries charge at 1.45V @ ~0.25A (pulse charging)
- "Delta V" cut-off when battery voltage drops
Operation
- Upon connecting a USB power source (powerbank or wall-charger) the red LED will blink
- After connecting the battery:
- Solid red LED = charging
- Solid green LED = charging complete
- Blinking red LED = the battery cannot be charged
Pros
- Magnetic clips allow many cylindrical battery types to be charged (see image in sidebar)
- Polarity and charging voltage identified automatically
- Likely is more efficient than many inbuilt charging circuits (e.g. flashlights)
- 8hr cut-off timer
- Doesn't get hot when charging
- Clips attach together for storage
- Only 20g
Cons
- Slower than many full-sized chargers
- Doesn't act as a powerbank
- No battery charge % indicator
- Indicator LED is difficult to see in daylight
- Slight power drain if the power source or battery is left connected
- Battery clips could dislodged while charging in a backpack
- Some batteries might not be captured by the magnets due to the raised circle on the clips (e.g. 10440 batteries)
- Integrated cable a potential failure point
- Cannot charge batteries with both terminals on one side or LiFePO4 (Lithium Ion Phosphate) cells
- Magnet proximity to a compass may cause issues
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