Is an Ikelite Smart Charger necessary?

Can I use a standard charger to charge Ikelite 160 battery?

As far as Ikelite chargers go. Then yes you have to use the smart charger, and you have to use the Newest version of the smart charger. The older version of the smart charger can only charge the Older NiCad Packs. New Ikelite strobes come with NiMH batterys and thus you need the new charger. The old charger had a wire running from the wall socket to the brick. The new charger, the brick plugs directly into the wall.

As far as using other/non-ikelite chargers. I suppose the answer is that if you have to ask, the answer is no. Yes there are chargers out there other than the ikelite one that can safely charge the battery but knowing which ones will work is not so simple. If you post the brand/model of charger you have, someone might be able to figure out if it will work, but as a rule, no not just any charger will work - it must be compatible with the type and arrangement of cells in the battery pack.

For me, the cost of the charger is negligible compared to the cost of trips, etc. and the cost of getting the battery pack replaced or repaired. I'd rather not get part way through a dive trip only to find that the non-Ikelite charger caused the battery pack to fail.

For me, the cost of the charger is negligible compared to the cost of trips, etc. and the cost of getting the battery pack replaced or repaired. I'd rather not get part way through a dive trip only to find that the non-Ikelite charger caused the battery pack to fail.

Agreed, and I actually carry two of them in case I have an issue and can still charge both the DS-125s I have.

Agreed, and I actually carry two of them in case I have an issue and can still charge both the DS-125s I have.

I carry two chargers plus a spare battery for extra insurance. On a regular liveaboard I do, there often isn't enough time to charge two batteries sequentially so if one of the chargers dies or one battery dies, I can still have two charged DS125s for every dive.

The other good thing with the Ikelite smart chargers is they are very light so packing 2 really doesn't add much weight.

Can I use a standard charger to charge Ikelite 160 battery?

There are other less expensive smart chargers that work just as well. There are also more advanced chargers that work with virtually all types of battery packs, including the Ikelite ones. So the answer to your question is no, the expensive and overrated Ikelite smart charger is not necessary.

$26 Smart Universal Battery Pack Charger: 7.2V - 12V

http://www.batteryjunction.com/unsmch.html

This one will work great with new Ikelite NiMH battery packs. I have two of these. They are also smaller and lighter than what Ikelite sells in addition to being a lot less expensive.

You might need to spend another $0.85 at Radio Shack for the right size plug tip.

There are other less expensive smart chargers that work just as well. There are also more advanced chargers that work with virtually all types of battery packs, including the Ikelite ones. So the answer to your question is no, the expensive and overrated Ikelite smart charger is not necessary.