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Chargers
A good 18650 battery charger keeps your spare cells ready for the next night out, and the right pack charger keeps your scope's own battery healthy. This page has both: smart chargers for loose lithium-ion cells and model-specific chargers for thermal scope battery packs.
Cell chargers
If your optic, IR light or battery kit runs on loose cells, start here.
- Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus: charges Li-ion, NiMH and 11.1V 3S packs and works as a battery analyzer, so you can see which cells are getting tired.
- XTAR VX2 Pro: a smart fast charger and conditioner.
- Nitecore SC2 Superb Charger: handles Li-ion and NiMH/NiCd cells.
- Xtar FC2: a USB charger for Li-ion and Ni-MH, handy in a truck or blind.
Pack chargers
These are built for one brand's battery. The InfiRay IBC-2 charges IBP-2 (AC38) batteries, the IBC-5 is for the RICO MK2 LRF batteries, and the RIX Battery Charger is made for RIX batteries. Match the charger to the battery model printed on your pack.
How to choose: if you run several devices on 18650, 21700 or similar cells, a multi-bay smart charger saves time and tells you more about each cell. If your scope uses a proprietary pack, buy that brand's charger so you can top off a spare while the other is in the scope. Shop the cells themselves on our batteries, external battery kits and chargers page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the voltage of a fully charged 18650 cell?
A standard lithium-ion 18650 reads about 4.2 volts when it comes off the charger and is rated 3.6 to 3.7 volts nominal. It drops toward 3.0 volts as it empties. A charger like the Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus shows you these numbers, which helps you spot a cell that no longer holds a full charge.
How do you bring a dead lithium battery back to life?
Usually you shouldn't try. A lithium cell that has been drained far below its safe voltage can be damaged inside, and forcing a charge into it is a fire risk. If a cell won't take a charge on a smart charger, recycle it and replace it. Our batteries are also not returnable once shipped, so buy the size you need.
Is it okay to charge a lithium battery with a regular charger?
Only if the charger is made for lithium-ion. A NiMH-only charger uses a different charge method and can overcharge a lithium cell. The Xtar FC2, XTAR VX2 Pro and Nitecore SC2 on this page all list Li-ion support, and they switch modes based on the cell you load.
Can an 18650 battery be 9900mAh?
No. That number shows up on knockoff cells and it is not real. Genuine 18650 cells top out around 3500 to 3600mAh, which is why the KeepPower and Sniper Hog Lights 18650s we sell are rated at 3500mAh. If a label claims far more than that, don't trust it in your optic.
Do 18650 batteries need a special charger?
They need a lithium-ion charger, which stops at 4.2 volts per cell. Most smart chargers handle 18650 along with other sizes like 21700 and 16340. A charger with separate bays, like the Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus, charges each cell on its own so one weak cell doesn't throw off the rest.
