What charger would you recommend for my needs?

Stop … right … there :frowning:

The BT is a joke. You just get an animation, instead of a visualisation how much you battery charged. Let alone, that sometimes you can’t even connect to the charger.
Maybe, I will take a closer look on that app, but it is not the best. Same for the windows program. I use the DataExplorer instead, to monitor, what happens in the charger.

This is a very capable charger, but the user interface in the charger, through BT or usb is a joke sometimes.

Ok MC3000 is out my mother is 82 years old and to press more then one button to start charging is too much… Especially if it’s so expensive and they have not improved on the UI or set default battery charging.

So focusing on the main 3 of my requirements the others were just a plus and not absolutely necessary.

LiitoKala Lii-500
Miboxer C8 or C4-12
Opus BT - C3100 V2.2
Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus

These are all chargers I can purchase in US either from BangGood or Amazon. I want to purchase from US either Amazon or a site that uses Paypal for payment. So if the MC3000 or Dragon did not exist what charger would you order that has the most of the features for the money?

From the US?

As I’ve said before, the Folomov A4:

Or the C4-12:
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Battery-Charger-Miboxer-Rechargeable/dp/B07HF43M7V/

Both are great chargers, and if the MC3000 weren’t available, I’d go with either of them, and probably the A4, since it has a more intuitive multi-button UI and support for LiFePO4.

From your list of interesting:

1. “Upgrade” Miboxer C4-12 with Li 4.35 and LiFePO4 ( The old version has a bunch of children’s sores with charging slots and springs )
2. Miboxer C8
3. Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus

Ok will order the Miboxer C4-12 then. Thanks for the advice.

Buy only new version - “Upgrade C4-12” with two yellow button!!!
Old version have frequent problem with springs, dying third slot, not support: 21700 protected, LiFePO4, Li 4.35

Ok got it. BTW what is the difference in the C4 v3 and the C4-12 they both look exactly the same. Are they the same but maybe just a different numbering for Amazon as on Amazon I only find the C4 v3.

Thanks

https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/Miboxer-C4S-C4-C4-12-C8-Smart/32911743024.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.2f883c00BVEd2E

This is the only place where I found a new “Upgrade C4-12”

Get a analyzing charger for yourself and a cheap trustable charger for your mother. I hardly use my opus cause it’s a big noisy block, I replaced it with gryfalcon 88 for just charging my cells. Even though the gryfalcon has 8bays as opposed to 4 it still looks smaller and makes a lot let noise then my opus. A Littokala can be bought pretty cheap depending on the amount of bays.

The Opus BT-C3100 fits unprotected 21700’s just fine

Neither one of those is an analyzing charger

You* REALLY* do want an analyzing charger. If you don’t now, you WILL later, I guarantee it.

There is no ‘perfect’ charger. Decide what is important, pick a charger and go on.

What is the difference in an Analyzing charger? I thought they all did the same the C4-12 and Opus BT. But if that is not the case the only one that I see that qualifies in my price range, found in US would be the Opus BT-3100 V2.2 as I can get that on Amazon.

Analyzing charger can more accurately measure cell capacity
by using a discharge test.
Opus 3100 can do that. Miboxer c4-12 cannot.

An analyzing charger will charge > discharge > the charge the battery and give you the capacity determined from DISCHARGE. This is the only accurate way to measure capacity.
Lii-500, Zanflare C4, and the Opus BT-C1000 are analyzing chargers.
The main advantage of the Opus is more control and options for charging and discharging. It has some ‘quirks’ that some people dislike. But, it IS more flexible, more powerful, and has more charging options.

A ‘charge only’ charger cannot do this.
The Miboxer C4-12 appears to be only a charger, but a good one. It’s fine if you don’t really want an analyzing charger. But I think you will.

See, the problem is that almost all analyzing chargers aren’t actually all that good.

They use resistor based dischargers, meaning current drawn goes down as voltage goes down, meaning capacity can easily be overread.

Got a better SIMPLE/REPRODUCIBLE way? What other ways are there to discharge accurately?

I assume you mean, “not all that good” at discharging? The charging is NOT in question?

That is a good question there. OK comparing the LiitoKala Lii-500 and the Opus BT 3100 v2.2 I have opted for the Opus and ordering it from Amazon. It is the same price as on BangGood but I get it delivered in 2 days :slight_smile: Opus supports more types and the larger battery sizes so that will be the charger I order. I appreciate the advice and assistance and the explanation of what an Analyzer/Charger is.

No, charging isn’t in question. They charge fine.

Get something like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-Battery-Capacity-Tester-Battery-Life-Internal-Resistance-Analyzer/263358206343

And a battery holder like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Plastic-Battery-Holder-Storage-Box-Case-for-1x-2x-3x-4x-18650-Batteries-Wire/332855641026

These work quite well, and you can test capacity very accurately, along with internal resistance.

? Looks like a resistor to me.
One * rating. Not encouraging.