Best Airsoft Battery Chargers – Buying Guide & Tips
There’s no denying that AEGs make for some of the coolest airsoft guns. First of all, a mid-priced AEG rifle usually looks and feels like the real steel design, which is exciting when you’re playing in the field, with your buddies. Second, you get to use auto fire mode to your heart’s content (or for as long as the mag lasts) and you don’t have to worry about resetting the spring or reloading the gas container.
Moreover, AEGs are easy to use, so both beginners and advanced players get a kick out of playing with them. In addition, some of the most powerful airsoft guns are AEGs!
However, even though these airsoft models are easy to clean and maintain, you still need to be careful when it comes to the types of batteries and chargers you use. A low-quality battery can damage the gearbox and slows down the trigger response, which will directly impact your experience on the field. On the other hand, a high-end battery ensures the internals of your AEG will last longer and move quicker.
Besides the high-end battery, you also need a high-quality charger that supports faster and more reliable charging. Therefore, today I’ll help you find the best airsoft battery chargers on the market and provide a few tips on how to choose the right one for your needs.
Top 3 Best Airsoft Battery Chargers
Before we start talking about the best airsoft battery chargers, it’s best to mention that many players consider the lithium-ion technology ideal for an AEG. That’s because they have a high energy density, so you can have a powerful battery that’s also small and compact. In addition, modern AEGs come LiPO ready, so make sure you have the right batteries before making a purchase.
Lastly, you should also keep in mind that LiPO batteries tend to heat up while charging, so it’s best to keep an eye on them.
Now that this is out of the way, let’s talk about the best chargers an airsoft player should buy:
Valken 2-4 Cell LiPO/LiHV Quick Balancing Smart Charger
A multi-use LiPO battery charger with five-pin, four-pin, or three-pin ports that works with 14.8V, 11.1V, and 7.4V. The charger is designed to keep the battery’s durability and it chargers LiPO batteries really fast. It also comes with a power supply cable and has short-circuit, over-current, over-charge, and reverse polarity protection.
Lastly, the charger is compact so you can place it in your airsoft bag and forget about it until it’s needed.
Valken Energy Digital Display 2-3 Cell LiPO / Li-Ion Charger
Compatible with 2-3cell LiPO and Li-Ion batteries, this smart charger features an LED display where you can read your battery’s charging status and other useful statistics. Since this is a smart charger, the charging time is shorter than with standard chargers. Also, it has overcharging protection (the charging cycle is stopped automatically when the battery’s status is full), which increases the battery’s durability. Lastly, the charger is equipped with short circuit and reverse polarity protection.
Multi Balance Smart Charger for NiMH, NiCd, LiPO, and LiIon Batteries
This compact multi-balance smart charger is compatible with LiPO, LI-FE, NI-CD, and NIMH batteries of any size. It has LED status lights that tell you when a battery is fully charged and it has reverse polarity input protection and input voltage protection.
It also has an auto stop function, to avoid overcharging and shortening a battery’s life span. In addition, you can use it to charge your batteries from the car’s battery. Lastly, the charger is designed to maintain a battery’s life span by making sure all the cells are charged to equal levels.
How to Choose the Right Charger
The battery chargers in one of those must-have airsoft accessories that can make or break your game experience. Therefore, if you want to make sure your AEGs are well taken care of, you need to get the best battery charger for your needs.
If you take a look at the products above, you’ll notice that only the last charger on the list is suitable for several battery types. That’s because each battery type uses a different method for charging. For instance, NI-CD and NIMH batteries use the pulse charging method while LiPO batteries use a Constant Current/ Constant Voltage method.
Therefore, in order to choose the best charger for your batteries, you need to check its compatibility. If you’re using LiPO batteries (and you probably are if you have a modern AEG), you need a LiPO compatible charger.
Another factor that matters (for a LiPO compatible charger) is balancing. This process equalizes the voltage of each cell in a battery pack in order to preserve its life span and features. So, a LiPO charger must have built-in balancing capabilities. If this is not the case, you can buy a stand-alone balancer, but it’s best to have everything packed in the charger.
Lastly, an airsoft battery charger should support an auto stop function. This function cuts off the charging process once the battery’s status is full. This way, the battery is protected against overcharging, which can lead to overheating and can produce damage to the internal structure and functioning of the battery. Also, make sure to get a charger that has a built-in short circuit and reverse polarity protection.
Wrap Up
In summary, while it may be a bit more expensive than standard chargers, it’s best to get a smart charger that’s compatible with a wide range of batteries (LiPO or other types). A smart charger can handle several batteries at a time, providing each battery with the right type of energy. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about damaging your batteries via overcharging as most modern models have auto stop function built-in.