Hello everyone, today we will see theUCN1 sent for the occasion from Nitecore , whom I thank for the opportunity and trust given to me.
CLICK HERE to go to the official page on the site Nitecore.
I want to clarify that the reviews are done at the amateur level and without the aid of scientific instruments or test in secret Labs cutting edge therefore, between the lines that follow, there will also be my humble impressions.
Official features taken from Nitecore:
- two bay battery charger
- compatible with Canon LP-E6/LP-E6N and LP-E8 camera batteries
- real-time information on battery voltage, charging current, battery temperature, battery level and other parameters
- monitors battery status and displays battery health
- reverse polarity protection and anti-short circuit protection
- automatic adoption for the optimal charging modes between CC and CV
- automatic termination upon charging completion
- activates over-discharged batteries with protective circuits
- compatible with power banks and solar panels
- made from durable and fire retardant PC and ABS (V0) materials
- optimal heat dissipation design
- insured worldwide by Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd
Where to buy it
You can purchase the charger at the official retailer Nitecorestore.com
The packaging and accessories
The UCN1 comes in a plastic blister packs enclosed in a rigid cardboard packaging to protect it and which is repeated several times the compatibility with the batteries Canon LP-E6/LP-E6N/LP-E8 on different sides.
On the side, in addition to the acronyms of the batteries, are also listed various models of Canon cameras that use that type of battery.
Once extracted the contents from the blister, we find:
- the UCN1
- warranty card
- the manual in different languages.
To follow the manual, you can also view or print from Nitecore website by clicking HERE.
The charger
The UCN1 is the charger for the Canon's reflex batteries from Nitecore. I want to clarify that the Nitecore has also other models of USB charger like this one, but with batteries compatible with Nikon, Sony, Leica in different variants (ULM9, ULM240, ULQUIOR and ULSL) and for various versions of GoPro starting from 3 (UGP3, UGP4 and UGP5).
This model in particular has a small high visibility monitor with black background and white lettering.
To charge the batteries there are two independent housing, different from each other. In fact, the one positioned just below the monitor is able to accommodate and recharge your batteries LP-E6/LP-E6N while the other one, found on the rear of the charger, will works with the LP-E8 batteries. About the chargers speeds, we have incoming 5v 2A and outgoing 1A on each channel.
The small plastic body, which is able to delay the spread of any flames, hides on the right side a small semi rigid cable, featuring a classic male USB connector, which has the task of drawing the necessary current, for recharge the battery by power bank or other devices that deliver current in this way.
The body is also not smooth at the edges but is surrounded by ridges that are mandated to dissipate excessive heat.
Here's what it looks like from the front. What you see on the upper left corner of the screen is the protective film that I didn't want to take off. I have not got one ruined.
What you see, is the compartment for the battery LP-E6/LP-E6N.
This following is the picture of the rear with the LP-E8 battery compartment. As you can see, the connector is different so you do not run the risk of being wrong to insert the battery.
On the top right you can see the USB connector hidden inside the body of the UCN1
extracted easly
and goes to fit comfortably into any USB port.
How does that work
Operate with the UCN1 couldn't be simpler. Just attach the USB cable to a powerbank or a car or wall charger and then insert the battery you have to reload.
The charging process will start automatically and the charger will think to get the job done, managing the speed automatically and report the status of charging or when it is finished.
After inserting the battery, the charger will also make a control on it, analyzing the internal resistance, and will tell his State that can be "Good", "Normal" or "Poor".
If necessary, the UCN1 will be able to recover even the batteries that, by mistake, they must have been dischargered more than necessary.
Dimensions: dimensions and weight
The measuring of the UCN1 are 8,54 x 5,07 x 2,52 cm. Weighs 57 gr.
Below, some photos for a dimensional comparison with a big BIC lighter,
with the Canon basic charger,
and with battery LP-E6 and a LP-E8.
Here is a photo of UCN1 profile with both batteries inserted. The thickness in this case is 4.88 cm.
Battery compartment and recharge times
To test this, I used a LP-E6 and a LP-E8.
Profile view of battery compartment slide LP-E6/LP-E6N.
To install the LP-E6 battery pack, just place it just before the contacts
and then push it to allow contact with the parties.
This is the profile view of the LP-E8 .
To insert the battery, you must insert it inclined
then push it and align it to the charger.
Once you have entered the batteries, as I mentioned above, the UCN1 will analyze the cells and will tell if they are still good or not and starts charging.
We will have two lines on the screen.
In the first line will appear only informations on slots in use and battery status.
On the main line, larger than the former, it will be a vertical bar that indicates the percent of charge, will then be shown the V of the cell, the charging rate (expressed in mA), the temperature (in Celsius degrees in EU version) and the current capacity stored since the process started charging (expressed in mAh). With the exception of the vertical bar, the information will not be displayed all together. The screen will change every 3 or 4 seconds, changing the slot if 2 batteries are inserted.
I leave you to the various screens that indicate a charging process from start to finish with 2 batteries.
Note from the two pictures to follow that the charge rate decreases as we move towards charging is complete.
END appears when charging is complete.
From my tests I founded that charging from 0, then with the reflex that fails to ignite, takes about 2 hours to fully charge the battery.
Personal considerations
This Nitecore UCN1 is av ery, very interesting product.
It is a small and powerful concentrate of technology, able to complete charging of a battery in times honest without needing to be close to a wall outlet.
I haven't found flaws in the model. Its only Achilles heel, are the modern power bank that off the power when the currents involved are almost nil. Unfortunately this becomes in a terminated charging of only 99.9%.
Nevertheless, it still a product with excellent skills that I recommend to all photographers. Given the extra functionality of this model that might come in handy to many of them, both professional and budding, wishing a charger a step higher than the basic.
What do you think about? Are you considering a purchase?
G'Day Neil_Tennen, 
Thank you Very Much for the Very interesting review for a Very interesting new product.
I just hope it doesn't damage the Very expensive genuine Canon batteries. That concern is what is keeping me from buying and using one.
If I was less concerned about battery damage, then I would get both the Canon and Nikon chargers.
Best Regards,
George
Thanks for the review!
I didn’t know these existed, I’ll probably grab a USN1 on my next amazon order.
Thanks for the review!