Charger / power bank for cylindrical Li-ion 18650 batteries Xtar PB2

Professional, compact processor charger / power bank
Xtar PB2
for Li-ion batteries in 18650 size (unprotected)

Key features

• microprocessor controlled three-stage charging process TC/CC/CV
• automatically selected charging current 2x 1A / 1X 2A
• two independent charging channels + built-in balancer
• powered by any micro USB charger or from a computer USB port (min. 0.5A)
• compact size - easy to carry
• magnetic cover for the charging compartment
• reactivation function for deeply discharged cells
• protections: short circuit, thermal, reverse polarity

Hidden in a small casing is a fully professional microprocessor charger with power bank function and a three-stage charging process TC/CC/CV. It charges Li-ion cells 3.6 / 3.7V of any capacity in 18650 size (unprotected). The intelligent built-in balancer controls the charging and discharging process. Thanks to it, the lifespan of the cells is significantly extended. The charger always starts by charging the more discharged cell. Once a similar level of charge is reached, it starts charging both batteries simultaneously. The same happens during discharging. The charger starts discharging from the more charged cell, and when the charge levels are equalized, it begins to discharge both batteries simultaneously (power bank function).

What is the TC/CC/CV charging method? It is a three-stage charging process for Li-ion cells that ensures the cell remains in good condition by charging with the appropriate current at each stage and completing the charging process at the right moment.
The individual stages of the TC/CC/CV process are:

• TC Phase: cells discharged below 2.9V are 'woken up' with a lower current.
• CC Phase: after reaching 2.9V, the cell is charged with a constant current of 1A (for two cells) or 2A (for one cell).
• CV Phase: when the cell is almost charged, the charger switches to charging with a decreasing current until the voltage of 4.2V is reached on the cell. After reaching 4.2V, the charging process is complete - the battery is fully charged.

Batteries with a voltage of 4.1V or higher are treated by the charger as charged. To charge such a battery to full, it should be placed in the charger before turning it on. Charged batteries left in the charger will undergo a natural self-discharge process. Charging will resume when the voltage on the battery drops below 4.1V.

The Xtar PB2 charger has a reactivation function for deeply discharged cells and cells with a voltage of 0V. Many chargers on the market are unable to charge such batteries. Here, the Xtar PB2 charger comes to the rescue, which in many cases allows for the 'rescue' of such cells. Just insert the deeply discharged battery into the PB2 charger, just like with normal charging - the charger will detect the discharged cell and attempt to reactivate it. Note! Cells discharged below a certain level may suffer irreversible damage, and their reactivation may be impossible. It is advisable to avoid overly deep discharging of Li-ion batteries - this can lead to a significant reduction in their durability and capacity or render them completely inoperative.

Chargers from other manufacturers can significantly raise the temperature of the charged cells during charging. Excessive heating of the cells can cause them to wear out faster. In designing the PB2 charger, Xtar has gone a step further than the competition, solving this problem in a simple way: external power supply was used. As a result, the temperature of the battery charged in the PB2 will rise by a maximum of 15 degrees.

Included with the Xtar PB2 charger is a micro USB cable. The power adapter is not included in the set. Any charger with a micro USB cable, e.g., from a phone, or a USB socket or a computer with a free USB port is sufficient to power the charger. The recommended minimum power of the charger is 1A (1000mA). It is possible to use a charger with lower power, but in that case, the charging time will be extended.