execs and cons
- Easy to make use of.
- It has loads of techy options to please the geeks.
- It does an excellent job of finding out batteries that may’t or should not be charged.
- It’s costly.
- It takes up a good bit of desk area.
- It may be somewhat noisy in use.
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Olight is a reputation that is been synonymous with high quality flashlights for quite a few years. I’ve owned quite a lot of Olights in my time, they usually have been excessive performers which have far surpassed my already excessive expectations.
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So, once I obtained the prospect to get my palms on Olight’s new AA/AAA battery charger — the Olight Ostation 2 Professional — I jumped at it. In spite of everything, if it was wherever close to pretty much as good as its flashlights, it was going to be wonderful.
And it was.
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The Ostation 2 Professional is a beast
The Ostation 2 Professional (there’s additionally a regular model that omits a number of the options) is sort of hefty as chargers go, and it has fairly a desk presence. It contains a fashionable, all-plastic building that is each robust and classy.
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On the entrance is a 2.8-inch touchscreen for real-time monitoring of battery cycles, well being, and standing, which actually provides to the high-tech, geeky really feel of the unit.
I just like the touchscreen on the Ostation 2 Professional.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The charger is powered by a 12V/1.5A PD 3.0 USB-C enter for sooner charging underneath full load (a small wall charger is included), and there is an app obtainable (iOS and Android) for individuals who wish to dive deeper into the small print than the show affords.
The app affords a deeper dive into charging.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
What are you able to cost?
The Ostation 2 Professional can deal with any model of AA and AAA Ni-MH batteries, in addition to Olight’s personal Ostation 1.5V AA rechargeable Li-ion batteries (Olight does not but have any Li-ion batteries in AAA dimension).
I fairly like Olight’s personal AA Ni-MH batteries.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Nonetheless, bear in mind that it will not cost random Li-ion batteries as a result of the charger makes use of a safe handshake protocol to speak with Ostation batteries for optimum Li-ion charging security.
It is simply really easy to make use of!
As soon as it is plugged in and switched on (and I like to recommend downloading the app to test for any firmware updates), it is simple to make use of.
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Yup, assume every little thing wants a software program replace these days.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
You load batteries into the highest (it may well take a dozen AAs and one other dozen AAAs), after which the Ostation 2 Professional checks, assessments, and fees them. Freshly charged batteries seem within the applicable drawer on the backside of the unit over the course of the day (an AA battery takes about 2.5 hours to completely cost).
My batteries making their method by way of the Ostation 2 Professional.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The unit can cost 4 batteries at a time (two AAs and two AAAs).
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Any batteries that fail to cost, are faulty, or are alkaline batteries that should not be recharged find yourself in a separate drawer.
And all of it simply works. I’ve loaded it with all types of AA and AAA batteries — Olight Li-ion batteries, random Ni-MH batteries, faulty rechargeable batteries, and even a sprinkling of unrechargeable alkaline batteries — and the unit carried out completely, charging all of the rechargeable batteries and rejecting all those that could not or should not be charged.
The Ostation 2 Professional forces me to be tidy!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
No fuss in any way!
There is a hidden secret for Olight followers
On the aspect of the unit is a flap that hides two magnetic charging (MCC) ports that can be utilized to cost suitable Olight flashlights (the Baton, Warrior, Seeker, Marauder Mini, Arkfeld/ArkPro, and Perun 2 collection of flashlights).
Since I’ve a couple of Olight flashlights, the MCC ports are a pleasant contact!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
What I actually like concerning the Ostation 2 Professional is simply how straightforward it’s to make use of. Sure, I really like the touchscreen and the deeper dive that the app affords, nevertheless it’s the simplicity that’s the actual profitable bit for me. There is no must load batteries into some spring-loaded contraption, no want to recollect to test on them each few hours, and no want to fret that somebody may load the unsuitable batteries into the charger. I really like the simplicity of simply piling discharged batteries into the highest and pulling charged ones out of the drawer on the backside.
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It is tremendous straightforward and tremendous handy, and it makes it tremendous laborious for the person to mess one thing up.
Final point out of the productThe Olight Ostation 2 Professional retails for $140 for the charging unit alone, or $200 for the charger and 24 Olight Ni-MH batteries (which is an effective deal). It is a very good charger, however in order for you a less expensive choice, the Ostation 2 (which replaces the touchscreen with an LED show, makes use of a slower 5.0V/2.0A USB-C charger, and does not embrace the magnetic charging ports for Olight flashlights) is priced at $100 for the charger alone and $160 in order for you the 24 batteries.
