Main Builds » 60D, 60Da 1.1.1
Latest Build (2018-07-02 22:19)
On August 7, 2007, Apple released a redesigned model of the Apple Wireless Keyboard. Like the wired Apple Keyboard, the new model is thinner than its predecessors and has an aluminum enclosure.Another addition is the new functions added to the function keys, such as media controls and Dashboard control. Unlike the previous version, the Wireless Keyboard now has a layout similar to the MacBook. Universal 1.5v (2) Outlet Battery Powered Ignitor - 03320. Type: Brand: $32.83 $19.90. DCS 9 volt battery powered spark generator - 6 Output - IGEIB12 Replaces 212334. 3199-32 Fire Magic Battery Spark Generator, 2 Prong. PGS 3 Spark Ignition Module - 402322. Solaire Spark Module for Models 17B, 17M, EV17A.
Product Review for 3.6V 1/2AA Lithium Battery 1/2AA Lithium with Axial Leads Designed for security/alarm systems, GPS, electrical locks, memory backups and more Xeno 1/2 AA lithium thionyl chloride 3.6V battery with axial leads for board installation. Also, the maximum battery life is achieved when used in combination with the MagicMist refill cartridges. The MagicMist batteries have a capacity ranging from 190mAH to 350mAH resulting in about 3 to 7 smoking hours depending on the usage. Extend your battery life with our wide range of rechargeable power banks from 2200mAh to over 10,000mAh portable chargers.
Test results: 8 passed, 0 failed This build was tested, to a limited extent, in QEMU (a virtual machine modified to run Canon firmware).
Please take the results with a grain of salt - this is not the same as running on a physical camera.
Please take the results with a grain of salt - this is not the same as running on a physical camera.
Menu test passed (animation)
Free Memory test passed (animation)
Small Malloc test passed (animation)
Lua Hello World test passed (animation)
Null pointer test passed (animation)
Format/restore test passed (animation)
File Manager test passed (animation)
Silent picture test passed (animation)
Change Log 7a3b5fa: Ghost image: further cleanups and fixes
4702ca0: Ghost image: fix crash (issues #2796, #2783, #2878, #2885)
94442d9: features.tmpl edited online with Bitbucket: use id in th section heading to allow for direct linking via anchor
![Magic battery 1 2 12 Magic battery 1 2 12](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1Uq7XbUuF3KVjSZK9q6zVtXXaD.jpg)
5e40987: Merged in edmac (pull request #886)u000au000aEDMAC module: fixes for DIGIC 4, connection map
b54a0c6: Merged in adv_int (pull request #907)u000au000aAdvanced intervalometer updates
58e11ee: Merged in memory-backend (pull request #906)u000au000aMemory backend improvements
87dfe3c: Makefile: fix 'make install_qemu CONFIG_QEMU=y' for minimal targets
7c04c75: memset64/memcpy64: use versions from b831cb1; fix calls from Magic Zoom to ensure proper alignment
375fa4e: Backout b831cb1 (breaks Magic Zoom and CONFIG_MARK_UNUSED_MEMORY_AT_STARTUP, as memset64 is not the same as memset)
287c785: adv_int: ignore empty lines when loading keyframes
6239bc6: adv_int: use strstr instead of my_strstr (fixes slow load)
284656a: Include strstr in ML core
ef21d82: adv_int: refactor keyframe time formatting
5ca412b: adv_int: auto-load the saved sequence at startup
a4869c8: adv_int: renamed menu entry to 'Ramping options'
86accb6: Memory backend: drop timestamps from history; show last 1024 events
d016ccf: Memory backend: show total allocations (number and amount), including untracked ones
0e56fe7: Memory backend: allow using shoot_malloc as a last resort, even for small blocks;u000aallow small blocks (smaller than minimum_free_space / 64) to break the minimum_free_space limit (until minimum_free_space / 4)u000afine-tuned until the old set of Lua scripts were able to run on 1100D without umm_malloc
28bf259: Memory backend: a pointer to task names (rather than copying the full string) should be enough
a67b3ed: Memory backend: renamed memcheck_mallocbuf to memcheck_entries
b831cb1: Moved memset64 and memcpy64 to bench.mou000a- simplified to accept only 32-bit aligned pointersu000a- using regular memset for Magic Zoomu000a- closing issue #1995
d7866ee: Memory backend: if shoot_malloc fails, try SRM nextu000a(poor man's autodetection, since we don't know how to query the available size in advance)
ee7abdb: exmem: reworked shoot_malloc to handle large requests betteru000a- moved autodetection to dedicated functions (for both fragmented and continuous allocations)u000a- autodetect the max available size for large requests (slower, but when it fails, it fails gracefully)
bd7a1dd: exmem: removed the 'relaxed' checks introduced in 04f02a4u000a(not sure why they were needed; we'll find out if it fails)
766ffbb: exmem: speed-up shoot_mallocu000a(1s timeout probably not needed)
51f6129: exmem: do not keep track of full shoot memory allocationsu000a(allows reserving some memory in advance and allocating all the remaining RAM afterwards)
f12eba5: Memory backend: fix handling of untracked blocksu000a(possible buffer overflow before this fix)
f9f3358: Memory backend: figured out why AllocateContinuousMemoryResource may crash with many small blocksu000au000a(todo: figure out where to keep 89e3b12 or not; adapt tests if not)
e4fd29d: Memory backend: when checking available memory, allocate both Shoot ans SRM at the same timeu000a(they may overlap)
1162fce: Memory backend: fix initialization
67f582f: mem.c: option to disable heap poisoningu000a(useful when running in QEMU with -d memcheck - with this, overflowing reads will be caught as well)
26f1647: Memory backend: allow breaking minimum_free_space for small blocksu000a(it was possible to fail the allocation for very small blocks that could not be covered by shoot_malloc)
c6d6699: Memory backend: allow AllocateMemory as a last resort, even if free space is below limitu000a(it was possible to fail the allocation for very small blocks that could not be covered by shoot_malloc)
1e4985e: memory backend: reduce memcheck area (should reduce overhead a bit)
4e59a74: memory backend: ignore null pointers passed to free (Lua does that)
2ade4a5: exmem: when autodetecting available memory, print all srm/shoot memory blocks to console
fee1ee2: edmac: make sure the log files don't have unnecessary newlinesu000a(channels with complex size configuration may get printed on multiple lines; that makes the log file harder to parse)
1508a54: edmac: LOG_INTERVAL can now be changed from menu (persistent setting)
564b0c5: edmac: use numbered log file names
edcb52f: edmac: fix behavior when the extra info buffer gets full
056e56e: edmac: use half-shutter as trigger for logging EDMAC channels;u000afine-tuned messages
2eddc9f: edmac: fix crash on models other than 5D3u000a(there was a hardcoded stub)
4b161ce: edmac: fix crash when using 'Log EDMAC usage' on D4 models
bc3bd0d: Merged unified into edmac
b4a8fad: Added edmac.mo to nightly builds
2061922: edmac-memcpy: check to make sure all models have AbortEDmacu000a(to make sure it's correct: selftest.mo -> Stubs API test)
fff0aeb: edmac.mo: display connection map (experiment)
Installation Installation
- Make sure you are running Canon firmware 1.1.1.
- Once you have the correct Canon firmware:
- Format the card from the camera.
- Unzip the archive and copy ML files to the memory card.
- Run the Firmware Update process from Canon menu. This procedure will enable the BOOTDISK flag in your camera's Flash ROM, allowing it to load and execute custom code from the memory card. A copy of the original (unmodified) ROM contents will be saved to the card.Magic Lantern will run from this card; it won't replace your original firmware.
- After installation, please copy your ROM backup files (ML/LOGS/ROM*.BIN on the card) to a safe place.
Uninstallation
From camera:
- Run Firmware Update from your ML card.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, including the fine print. This procedure disables the BOOTDISK flag. You will no longer be able to run Magic Lantern, unless you reinstall it.Some settings changed by Magic Lantern might be persistent; this procedure will not reset them. To restore the camera to factory state, you may also want to clear all camera settings and custom functions from Canon menu.
From one card:
- Canon menu: Format card, remove Magic Lantern.
- This procedure does not disable the BOOTDISK flag. With this method, you will still be able to run Magic Lantern from other cards.
- Never delete the Magic Lantern files from the card! Format the card instead.
Camera doesn't boot?
- Remove battery, remove card.
- Put battery back, close card and battery covers.
- Start the camera without card.
- » Did it work? Format the card, reinstall Magic Lantern.
- » Still not working? Double-check battery and card doors, run the diagnostic tools and get in touch with us.
Troubleshooting tips
- If your camera locks up, remove the battery and reboot.
- Make sure you have a backup card without Magic Lantern on it (just in case).
- To restore ML defaults: Prefs → Config files.
- To see what settings you have changed from ML defaults: Modified (Δ) menu.
- To disable Magic Lantern temporarily: press and hold SET at startup.
Useful Links
Warning!
Magic Lantern is not approved nor endorsed by Canon in any way, and using it will probably void your warranty.
We are not responsible for any damages to your camera.
Magic Lantern is not approved nor endorsed by Canon in any way, and using it will probably void your warranty.
We are not responsible for any damages to your camera.
Copyright (C) 2009-2018 Magic Lantern Development Team
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
Magic-Flight has shipped different battery chargers with our kits, click on your model below for specific charging instructions.
- Batteries used with the Launch Box® vaporizer must be AA NiMH rechargeable with 2000 mAh capacity or greater.
- Batteries must be peeled (labels removed) in order to work with the Launch Box®.
- Magic-Flight currently ships batteries rated at a minimum of 2000 mAh.
- Magic-Flight also recommends Maha Powerex 2700 mAh batteries for frequent/heavy use.
- Magic-Flight ships our own branded 4 hour smart 'fast' charger (compact, simple and easy to use).
- The most recommended charger for high performance is the Maha MH-C9000 (expensive but full featured).
How many loads does a battery last for?
The simplest and easiest way is to figure that one battery supports (roughly) one load, and one load provides between 4 to 8 draws, depending on your usage/taste preferences. Some people are able to get more than this (2 or 3 loads) from one battery, or more draws per load (up to 12), but regardless, we recommend keeping more charged batteries on hand than you think you may need.
For example, let's say you are calculating how many batteries you need on a camping trip. A conservative estimate is to figure that one Box filling is sufficient for one person and that requires one charged battery. Therefore, if you have two people who want to use the same Box twice a day for two days, that is 8 Box loads and therefore 8 charged batteries.
For example, let's say you are calculating how many batteries you need on a camping trip. A conservative estimate is to figure that one Box filling is sufficient for one person and that requires one charged battery. Therefore, if you have two people who want to use the same Box twice a day for two days, that is 8 Box loads and therefore 8 charged batteries.
How many times do the batteries recharge?
The provided batteries, if treated well (not overheated) are expected to support 500 recharge cycles. Therefore, even a heavy user who works the Box several times a day can expect the rechargeable batteries to last quite a long time (think months, if not years). Although we do not make the batteries, we find them to be very reliable over the long term.
Are batteries included with the Launch Box®?
The Magic-Flight Launch Box is shipped with two peeled AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (2000mAh or higher) and a compact battery charger. Additional stock batteries compatible with the Launch Box® may be purchased from the Online Store. We recommend that frequent users purchase extra stock batteries.
Warning: Alkaline or any other battery chemistry does not work with the Box. You MUST use NiMH type rechargeable batteries.
Rechargeable batteries must be fully charged before use (about 4 hours of charge time with our bundled charger). A single fully charged battery can be expected to provide enough power for 5 minutes of draw-able vapor. Do NOT store batteries in the charger unless they are actively being charged. Always be sure to cap batteries when not in use.
What must I know about the Magic-Flight batteries?
Batteries used with the Launch Box® vaporizer must be AA NiMH rechargeable with 2000 mAh capacity or greater.
Batteries must be peeled (labels removed) in order to work with the Launch Box®.
Magic-Flight currently ships Maha Powerex 2600 mAh batteries.
Magic-Flight also recommends Maha Powerex 2700 mAh batteries for frequent/heavy use.
Magic-Flight ships our own branded 4 hour smart 'fast' charger (compact, simple, and easy to use).
The most recommended charger for high performance is the Maha MH-C9000 (expensive, but full featured).
What kind of batteries should I get? How do I choose between LSD (Low Self-Discharge) and standard batteries?
There are two types of NiMH batteries available: low self-discharge (LSD) and high self-discharge (HSD).
LSD batteries:
Drop 2 5 1. Have a shelf life measured in months.
Are usually marketed as 'pre-charged' or 'ready-to-use'.
Have a lower capacity range (2000-2400 mAh).
Can be damaged if charged too quickly (faster than 60 minutes is not recommended).
Best for LB use: Maha Imedion 2400 mAh.
Are usually marketed as 'pre-charged' or 'ready-to-use'.
Have a lower capacity range (2000-2400 mAh).
Can be damaged if charged too quickly (faster than 60 minutes is not recommended).
Best for LB use: Maha Imedion 2400 mAh.
HSD batteries:
Have a shelf life measured in days, or weeks at best.
Have a higher capacity range (up to 2800 mAh).
Can be used in fast chargers (15 minutes).
Best for heavy/frequent use: Maha Powerex 2700 mAh.
Have a higher capacity range (up to 2800 mAh).
Can be used in fast chargers (15 minutes).
Best for heavy/frequent use: Maha Powerex 2700 mAh.
Choosing between the batteries depends on your usage habits. HSD batteries only provide about 30% longer in-use time (say, six solid minutes of 'burn' time), which may or may not be significant. They need to be 'topped off' every three days or so, but they have the advantage that they can be put in a 15 minute charger.
LSD batteries, on the other hand, remain 'ready for use' once they are fully charged for months at a time—people do not have to remember to put them back in the charger as frequently, or to keep them there to be usable. Unfortunately, LSD batteries do not handle 15 minute chargers as well—they need a slower, more accurate charger.
If you mix the two types and also have a fast charger, be sure to mark them so that you don't put LSD batteries through a fast charge cycle. Doing this doesn't destroy them, but it reduces their lifetime much more quickly.
How should I prepare and care for my vaporizer batteries?
You need to peel the label off the battery (exposing the metal casing) to use it with the Box. The coil in the Box needs to make electrical contact with the battery. Removing the battery label makes this possible. The battery does not work in the Box otherwise.
Please be careful if you use a sharp tool to cut the label—do not dent or cut through the metallic battery casing. Most battery labels simply peel off cleanly, but some manufacturers use a glue underneath the label (Sanyo). You can clean this off using a product such as Goo Gone. WD-40 also works—just spray on and rub the glue off with a paper towel to expose the metal battery casing.
Incidentally, the paper ring on the positive end of the battery does not matter much. Magic-Flight leaves them on only for cosmetic reasons and removes them if they ever come loose or get in the way.
Also, it is very important NOT to let the batteries get too hot. It is okay for them to get warm (when charging or in use), but hot is not good—it shortens the life of the battery. ('Hot' is when you would not want to hold the battery in your hand—hotter than hot coffee). Magic-Flight strongly recommends that Box users get into the habit of pulling the battery back after each draw. This keeps the battery cooler and prevents accidental loss of the load and the charge.
It is essential that you make sure that the tips of your peeled batteries do not come into contact with any metallic items—this can result in accidentally making a connection between the positive nipple and the negative casing. If such contact occurs, a charged battery will quickly overheat. Once you have peeled a battery, you must be careful to store and handle it properly. The rubber caps shipped with the Box can be used to prevent this problem. Storing batteries side-by-side in a case is fine. All charged batteries must be either in their case or have an end-cap on the nipple end to protect them from overheating (i.e., at all times when not in use in the Box).
Why don't my peeled batteries fit snugly?
There are small but significant diameter variations between various manufacturers. Because Magic-Flight has had to switch battery suppliers, the tension of the battery contact coil has been adjusted accordingly. The result is that it is difficult to know which batteries fit snugly in your particular Box. Batteries from some manufacturers can feel a little loose. This might be annoying but it doesn't interfere with use of the Box.
To operate properly, the battery needs only to contact the battery contact coil; a snug fit isn't necessary. To achieve this, some users find it helpful to twist the battery slightly after insertion. You can also look into the battery insertion hole while holding the end of the Box at right angles and see where the coil intrudes slightly into the opening. When the battery is inserted, you can gently pull the battery in the correct direction to make the best contact.
Can I leave part of the label on or wrap tape around the battery to make it fit snugly?
Yes. However, you must be sure that the battery casing is exposed to the battery contact coil when the battery is fully inserted into the Box. As long as the remaining label or tape does not interfere with that contact, the Box should work just fine.
Can the contact coil be safely bent or pushed to be a little tighter?
It is possible—but very difficult—for someone to adjust the coil. Magic-Flight uses a press with a special fixture to make the adjustment, and generally suggests that users treat this as a warranty issue. Magic-Flight is glad to recycle or re-adjust your existing units and/or send a replacement for a Box that is otherwise unusable (i.e., making no contact, regardless of battery used).
If you would like to attempt to make the adjustment, most often the best bet is to push the entire coil upwards from the bottom of the Box towards the lid side, with the lid open. Use a vice and a tool with a flat edge that can press with an even, gradually increasing pressure on the center of the bottom of the coil. The idea is to treat the entire coil as a unit, rather than to change the size/diameter of the coil itself. The main risk is to apply the adjustment force exactly perpendicular to the bottom of the Box at the center of the coil. If the coil moves at all forward or backward (rather than just up or down), the screen can be displaced and potentially damaged as the rod slides. Also, just the right level of force is necessary—too much and the coil either becomes too small or it is moved too far out of position—at which point, an opposite adjustment must be attempted. Above all else, please be safe—think about what you are doing before you do it.
If you have a Box that is not working due to this issue, and you attempt to make the adjustment and wind up further damaging the Box, please let Magic-Flight know so that we can send you a new Box.
What kind of batteries does Magic-Flight ship/recommend?
For many LB buyers, either the Eneloop or Maha Energy Imedions are good. They have the advantage of holding a charge for much longer than most batteries. This is good since it ensures that the batteries can be delivered to the purchaser charged, even if the Box happens to be sitting on a retail store shelf for awhile. Many people seem to use the Box on an occasional or infrequent basis, and for these people, having batteries hold their charge for months is especially advantageous. One downside of the Eneloop batteries is that they should not be charged in fast (15 minute) chargers, as this can decrease the life of the battery.
For people who generally use the Box every day, or multiple times every day, we also recommend the Maha Powerex batteries and the Energizer 15 minute charger. People who do this need to be very sure to keep track of which batteries are which—this is important. Otherwise, get a Maha charger—you cannot go wrong with that one (although it is pricey), or alternately, use the charger that ships bundled with the Box (which can also charge any NiMH battery—at no additional cost). For those people who simply want to use the Box and not worry about batteries, you can always purchase cells and chargers that are sure to work correctly with the Box from our Online Store.
Is it safe to use the peeled batteries for other devices?
It depends on the construction of the device, but in general it is a risk. The problem is that most devices use two batteries in series, usually packed right next to one another. In that case, one of the batteries can side short -- releasing A LOT of heat and potentially damaging the device. The labels DO have a safety function in that they make it much harder to accidentally short the battery, particularly when it is in a device. The best recommendation is to put tape over the battery so as to have the same coverage as the original label. Leave the two ends uncovered, but completely wrap the main body of the battery with exactly one layer of tape with no gaps.
Magic Battery 1 2 12v
IMPORTANT: Only peeled batteries should be used with the Box. If you want to use the batteries in other devices—make a new covering for the battery! Failure to do so can result in device and/or battery damage.
Depending on the details of the specific device, you might get away with it, but it is not recommended that you try the test without really understanding what is involved.
Does the voltage of the AA have any effect on how hot the Box gets?
Yes, it does. Higher voltage generally means hotter. The battery does not read the same voltage when it is in use as it does when in the charger, so the specifics of how much hotter, or even if the difference is noticeable, depends on the specifics of the battery and the sensitivity of your taste.
How many draws can I get from a battery?
Shipped 2000 mAh batteries should provide 5 minutes of vapor draw time. Assuming 15 second 'standard' draws, people should get approximately 20 draws-worth per battery? draws reliably, or if taking 12 draws per filling (completely cashed), somewhat more than 1 trench. This is only a rough guideline; the actual count depends on technique, condition of the load, and state of the battery. NiMH batteries deteriorate gradually with use, and more quickly if overheated. A smart charger that performs a conditioning cycle helps to prolong battery life.
What is the significance of the mAh of the battery? Does a 2700mAh battery just last longer than a 2000mAh?
Mostly, 'mAh' describes how long the battery lasts. A battery with more charge storage capacity tends to hold a higher voltage for longer as well, so higher mAh tends to also mean somewhat hotter operation for somewhat longer, if the battery is fresh.
So, some batteries are more powerful?
Yes. For example, Powerex batteries operate the Box hotter as well as longer, and because of the significantly increased heat, the timing and breath control of the user must be proportionately more accurate to prevent overheating (changes taste). Magic-Flight strongly recommends that new users become skilled with the stock batteries before trying higher energy density batteries.
Whether you choose LSD or HSD batteries, Magic-Flight ships and recommends Maha batteries. Tests have shown them to be top performers. Comments in forums also show that they are popular with LB users who say that their superior performance more than justifies their slightly higher cost. Batteries have venting holes at the positive tip that are there to vent gases in case of shorting or overheating.
Is it possible for the battery to vent gases that can be inhaled through the herb chamber?
No. The chances of this being any sort of issue are effectively zero.
- It is important to distinguish between the events of charging the battery and discharging the battery. With improper charging (i.e., a cheap or malfunctioning battery charger) the battery can be made to vent (its not common, but it is possible), however, venting does not happen during discharging. The Box only uses the battery in discharge mode. Therefore, there is no risk.
- Assuming that somehow the battery did vent, in considering risk, it is also worthwhile to consider what kind of gases are involved and how much might be generated. From the chemistry, the gas would only be H2 (hydrogen) and the quantity is tiny (a few cm^3 at most). Both the kind and the amount are biologically harmless. Again, no risk. For people who work with batteries in general, these points are considered to be common knowledge.
- The hole in the back of the unit is a construction hole. It connects to the battery compartment but does not extend through to the vapor chamber. As such, it does not provide any form of direct coupling between the battery compartment and the vapor chamber. To ensure that there is no doubt of this, the seal on the connector rod is tested to 5 PSI. Therefore, even if the battery does vent (see 1) and 2) above), it will not be available for inhalation, but will instead go in the opposite direction away from the user. Again, no risk.
In the interests of safety, however, it must also be reported that some chargers do not do as good of a job detecting when a battery is already charged. If people put a mostly charged battery into a fast charger, and that fast charger is not smart enough to detect this condition, it can potentially overcharge the battery causing it to get hot, and in particularly bad cases, to vent, leaving a white residue (not the end of the world). For some chargers, it can also be rather bad to put the battery in backwards. (Don't try it!) High quality chargers generally handle both of these conditions gracefully.
How can I test my batteries?
Testing battery power tends to be problematic as the voltage remains high until the battery is nearly fully depleted—making most battery testers useless. Magic-Flight uses in-house custom built testers that draw a lot of current and check for changes in the voltage to determine the battery state. Otherwise, the easiest way to check a battery is to put it into the LB with the cover open (and trench empty) and bring the Box up close to your lips—not actually touching, about 1/2 of an inch away. You should be able to feel sufficient heat, and if not, the battery probably needs recharging. A little bit of experience with fresh batteries versus used ones quickly gives you a really good indication of what is going on.
Is it very important to drain the batteries completely before charging them again?
No, not at all. NiMH batteries do not have a 'memory' effect. The charger picks up where the charge is at and adds what is necessary to 'top off'. Blink mac system font download.
Slow charging versus fast charging versus smart charging; Does it matter what charger I use?
The overall consensus is that nearly all NiMH chargers can work with nearly all NiMH batteries, but that poorly built fast chargers are likely to diminish the overall longevity/life of the battery (the number of complete charge cycles).
There are two main issues associated with battery charger quality:
- The manner in which energy is delivered to the battery.
- The method used to determine when charging has been completed.
In regards to charge energy delivery, there are two approaches: 'slow charging' and 'fast charging'.
In slow charging, energy is delivered at a low constant rate that does not require charge endpoint determination. These are also known as 'trickle chargers'. They are not the 'best' chargers, but they are reliable, simple, and safe. Their main disadvantage is that they can take a very long time to charge a battery (8 to 12 hours). Slow trickle chargers can also diminish battery life if batteries are simply left in the charger indefinitely (i.e., more than a week at a time without also using the battery).
Fast chargers are much more complex (and thus more expensive) since they can deliver energy at a much greater rate than the battery can withstand. For a fast charger to be 'good', it must perform two tasks:
- It must deliver charge current without surges, ripples, or spikes.
- It must reliably determine when the battery is full and shut off the charge current.
Failure to achieve either of these aspects can definitely shorten NiMH battery life (the number of recharge cycles and the max energy that can be stored per cycle). Specifically, the current delivered must be matched against the battery capacity. Also, if there are surges, ripples, or spikes, the battery discharge characteristics can be adversely affected. This in turn can result in a Box running either way too hot or way too cold, depending on the type of battery damage sustained. Furthermore, if the charge endpoint is not determined correctly, the battery can be overcharged, resulting in it getting very hot (too hot to touch) which can also permanently damage the battery. Such issues are more noticeable with LSD rechargeable batteries than with standard rechargeable.
Unfortunately, for fast charger manufacturers, determining when a NiMH battery is 'full' is far from easy. The battery itself provides little indication of its internal state. There are three approaches generally taken:
- Use a timer to cut off current after a given interval.
- Look for a specific sequence of battery voltage changes.
- Check the battery temperature and stop charging when the battery is hot.
Magic Battery 1 2 12
Each of these approaches has significant problems and are likely to fail if used exclusively. A good charger needs to test for at least two, if not all three, of these conditions to function reliably. It is in this respect that good chargers really stand out from their cheaper cousins—they preserve battery life by not accidentally over-charging the battery. Many fast chargers on the market simply do not test for charge endpoint conditions very well or very reliably.
Magic-Flight ships smart chargers bundled with the Box kit—not fast chargers. The primary reason for this choice is safety: anyone can use the bundled charger without having to understand specifics about the rechargeable batteries. These stock chargers are convenient insofar as they are compact (they fit in the tin) and are known to be a good reliable option, not because they are the fastest possible means for charging a battery.
What charger does Magic-Flight recommend?
Unfortunately, many charger manufacturers generally cut corners whenever possible in their product designs. Such chargers, even from well known brand name companies, can have issues with charge current regulation and endpoint determination. These things are not visible on the outside -- they are apparent only when carefully examining the internal electronics with controlled testing. Further, as there are hundreds of different chargers and batteries (with millions of possible test configurations), it is not really reasonable to expect anyone to have tested all batteries and all chargers. Recommendations are based on best available knowledge to date.
Also, in some cases, manufacturers put special features into their chargers particular to their batteries. For example, for the Sanyo batteries, the Sanyo charger is the 'best' -- it has the most smarts tuned particularly for their specific battery brand. For those who want to have a set of 'reserve' batteries which are sure to remain charged after sitting in your car for months, the Sanyo Eneloop batteries and chargers are very good in terms of quality, power, and long-term longevity.
Anyone looking for the fastest possible alternative charger which is known to be reliable should consider the Energizer 15-minute charger with the Maha Powerex 2700mAh batteries. This is the best combination for people who use the Box at least once every day and who are looking for optimum runtime performance. (The Energizer batteries themselves are not nearly as good -- take it or leave it.)
Note: Magic-Flight gains absolutely no benefit from recommendations or advice in this respect -- we have absolutely zero association with Energizer corp.
As an alternative configuration for people who use the Box less frequently (not every day), but are still interested in optimum performance, Magic-Flight recommends the Imedion batteries and the Maha MH-C9000 charger -- this is the best overall combination for both battery longevity and long vaping sessions. Be advised that this charger is somewhat more complex to use than most chargers and can be more expensive than most to purchase. Magic-Flight staff uses the Maha MH-C9000 internally and finds them to be excellent. They are a bit arcane for the average user, but for those who are into the advanced 'tech' of rechargeable batteries, it is a great unit.
For nearly everyone else, (the other 90% of Magic-Flight Box users), we recommend the stock batteries and the stock charger, since they are known to have good performance in most circumstances.
Finally, for the record, Magic-Flight does not make the branded chargers that are bundled with the Box. They are provided as a convenience so that people can use the Box without having to worry about such details.
Will LSD (Low Self-Discharge) batteries charge in a fast charge?
LSD batteries (such as Eneloops or the Magic-Flight stock batteries) can be charged in fast chargers, as long as they are not too fast. Charging an LSD battery in anything less than an hour is probably too fast. A charger that charges them in about one or two hours is about ideal. Furthermore, the performance of a battery is defined largely by the quality of the charger
Magic Battery 1 2 1997
Low self-discharge (LSD) NiMH batteries have a chemistry and physical constitution that differs slightly from standard rechargeable batteries. As a result, LSD batteries are more sensitive to overheating than the standard NiMH. Overheating a LSD battery can have a more significant impact, in terms of the loss of battery life (number of charge cycles) and the amount of charge that the battery can retain.
Statistically speaking, ultra-fast chargers -- chargers that charge a battery in less than an hour -- present too high of a risk profile in that detecting charge endpoint conditions is not an exact process. LSD batteries do not tolerate overcharging mistakes as well as standard ones (i.e., putting an already charged battery into a fast 15 minute charger is bad). As such, it is really not a good idea to put the stock batteries in a 15 minute fast charger more than occasionally. Magic-Flight does not recommend combining any 15 minute charger with LSD batteries except on rare occasions and when in great need.
The charger that Magic-Flight provides is actually a very good fast (though not the fastest) charger. Its maximum charging time is about 4 hours, and is usually noticeably less.
Magic Battery 1 2 1/2
Can I use a partially charged battery?
Yes. We recommend using fully charged batteries for performance reasons only -- so that people get the best possible experience with the Box, particularly on their first try when they are just learning how to use it. There are no problems with using partially charged batteries, as long as there is enough charge for them to be usable/useful.
There is also no issue with pulling a battery from the charger and using it before it has been fully charged (again, as long as enough of the charge is useful). However, it is recommended that you let the charger complete its charge cycle whenever possible, as the microprocessor in the charger may attempt to implement a conditioning cycle on the batteries. If it senses that the battery is low, it may discharge the battery before recharging it so as to extend the battery life. The charger that is being shipped is a smart charger and is designed to make the batteries last as long as possible.
The one thing that it IS necessary to watch for is putting an already fully charged battery back into the charger. Due to the nature of how the charger works, it is likely that the charger might be unable to determine that the battery is already fully charged, and might attempt to charge it again. This can potentially cause overheating in the battery and battery damage.
What if my batteries vent?
In most cases like this, we've found that after wiping off the vented potassium hydroxide, the batteries performed well within our specifications, and there was no long term damages, as the amount of potassium hydroxide is usually minimal, and the battery chemistry was unaffected.
For cleaning off the batteries, try using a vinegar/water solution, with just a slight amount of vinegar,applied to a cloth or sponge. The cloth or sponge should be only mildly damp. Use that to wipe the top of the battery, then wipe it with a dry cloth to take the moisture off, and everything should be good. (In case you're wondering: the potassium hydroxide is slightly basic, so the slightly acidic vinegar will neutralize it and aide in the cleaning.)
If the buildup is more than can be taking off with a swipe or two (i.e., the venting was moderate to severe), then let us know.