[Review] - XTAR VC4S Charger Multichima QC3.0 3000mA - by Lock

XTAR VC4S: the multi-chemical charger for Li-Ion / Ni-Mh batteries equipped with an LCD screen and powered by a QC3.0 port that can supply a current of 3.0A on each single slot.



Main features
• LCD display showing all current cell information and charge status
• Widely compatible with all cylindrical lithium and Ni-Mh batteries
• Quick charge QC3.0, Max 3A for each slot
• Cell capacity test
• Micro-USB input
• Automatic battery type detection
• Guaranteed safety thanks to protections against overcharging, overheating and polarity reversal
• High precision, auto-off when charging is complete
• Input: QC3.0 (5V-3A or 9V-2A)
• Constant current: 3Ax1 / 2Ax2 / 1Ax4 / 0.5Ax4
• Automatic interruption of the charge (Voltage): 4.2 ± 0.05V / 1.45 ± 0.1V
• Automatic charge interruption (Current): less than 120mA
• Operating temperature: 0-40 ° C
• Dimensions: 149 mm x 115 mm x 35 mm
• Weight: 212 grams
• Compatible with the following 3.6 V / 3.7 V Li-Ion / IMR / INR / ICR battery models 10440 14500 14650 16340 17335 17500 17670 18350 18490 18500 18650 18700 20700 21700 22650 25500 26650 32650 and with Ni- batteries MH / Ni-CD: AAAA / AAA / AA / A / SC / C / D. Note: 20700/21700 protected batteries cannot be charged

Product description
The XTAR VC4S comes in a white cardboard box with all the main product information printed on it. Inside the package you will find the charger inside a nice carrying bag together with the QC3.0 cable and the user manual.











The body is made entirely of high quality flame retardant and self-extinguishing ABS.







The VC4S is equipped with a large color display where all the cell information and their charging status can be displayed. The viewing angle is 170 °.







There are two switches "Disp" and "Mode" which are used respectively to change the display of information (Capacity, Current and Internal Resistance) and to change the charge settings (Charge, Grading and Storing Mode).



The slots for the cells has enough sliding slides. The insertion takes place without any difficulty and in a very fluid manner. It is possible to load cells up to 70mm long so it is for example 21700 and 20700 (but unprotected) batteries. The two side slots can accommodate two 32650 cells simultaneously, while only 3x26650 can be loaded simultaneously



















Laterally and on the back there are dissipation fins that allow a good dispersion of the heat produced during the charging phase. The VC4S also has a temperature control system inside to prevent overheating.



At the front there is the QC3.0 charging interface, for maximum compatibility with commonly used power supplies.







At the rear are all the power supply and compatibility features of the accepted batteries.



Functions of the XTAR VC4S

The operations and functions of the XTAR VC4S are varied and, thanks to the presence of a large LCD display, it is always possible to have, for each recharge channel, information such as the state of charge, the accumulated capacity and the health status of the cells ( Internal Resistance).
To charge a cell, just insert it inside the charger and you're done! The current will be chosen automatically by the charger based on the health status of the cell and the availability of current supplied by the charger.
We have three modes of operation:

Charge Mode : Once the cell is inserted, the VC4S recognizes the type of chemistry and automatically chooses the ideal charging current.
Grade Mode : During this phase the charger tests the real capacity of the cell through a "charge-discharge-recharge" process
Storage Mode : In this mode the battery is brought to its nominal voltage 1.2V / 3.7V. This voltage is ideal for storage should the cell not be used for a long time.

LCD Display
The LCD display shows, in a tachymeter style, the instantaneous voltage of the batteries (in the white part) on a scale from 0V to 4.2V, the charging current (in the blue part) on a scale ranging from 0.5A to 3.0A. furthermore there is a counter for the accumulated current capacity and the indication on the type of chemistry of the cell being charged.
In charging mode, by pressing the "Disp" switch, it is possible to view for each slot the accumulated capacity from the beginning of the charging phase (CAP), the charging current (CUR) the internal resistance (IR).

If instead Mode is pressed, the operating modes will charge (Charge, Store and Grading)

Below the display, for each slot, there are red or green backlit messages. The meaning of the colors is as follows:
• Green: stand-by / charge complete / Grading or Storing mode completed.
• Red: test / charge / activation.



Battery Activation Function
The VC4S is able to activate lithium ion batteries with a protection circuit. After installing the battery, the charger will test and activate the battery before starting to charge it.

Turning off brightness
After 1 minute without any activity the screen will automatically go into standby turning off .. Just press any button to reactivate.


Final considerations
The XTAR VC4S is a quality charger, complete and simple to use.

The display is truly exceptional and perfectly visible from any angle, it is also quite wide and allows you to view all the information on the charging and on the status of the cells. I like the fact that it is able to see the internal resistance of the battery (information that allows us to understand when it is time to "retire" that cell).

The VC4S is also a safe product thanks to the presence of a series of control mechanisms: we have protections against polarity inversion, against short circuits, against overheating.

It can be powered from a convenient QC3.0 port (5V 3.0A max) via the supplied cable.
The two Grading functions are very convenient for testing and understanding how much current a cell is able to accumulate during the charge and Storaging phase that allows to bring the cell voltage to its nominal value (utiule for storage for long periods).

This XTAR VC4S is a satisfactory product, it is simple to use, it works well, it has all the functions that a charger needs to have.
Thanks for reading!!

USB 3.0 - where did you find him?

You do not understand the difference between USB 3.0 vs Quick Charge 3.0?

My God, why did you take the device for review, not understanding anything in charging?

yes correct friend...i understand the differences from USB 3 and QC..

there was only a mistake in the text...keep calm..i will correct it...XD

My God - The current is measured in mA/A and the capacitance is measured in mAh/Ah. Did you study at school?

my god, friend...yes correct...XD

Thanks for the review, I had the older variant a long time ago. Didn’t like it very much because the charging speed was very slow.

Thank you for presenting an extensive overview. And for zooming in on specific aspects of this charger.
Not all of us own HKJ’s equipment but you put much effort in making a lot of pictures to go with it.
You certainly got me interested in this charger.

To all others: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. And before throwing: look into the mirror.

My god ,did your parents not teach you manners? My god ,have you never made a mistake?

Once - this is a typo, many times - an error. And if there are errors throughout the text, then comments are not needed.

If a QC3.0=USB3.0, mAh=ma - then yes, where are my manners, but where is your education.

Writing a review takes a lot of time, effort and patience. I believe this is a nice review and not everything can be expected to be error-free, even in the best circumstances. Also, this is an international forum - not everyone is native in English and we are all doing this in our free time, not as a job (unless you are a professional affiliate marketer on here).

At first, I felt a lil bit shunt…I thought he will be forgiven for his mistake…but then…

Booom! You got smashed! How is it feel man? :smiley: deep breathe, our friend here is just try to correct you.

Mishanchik remind me a teacher of mine, strict but rezpected. What wrong is wrong and need to be corrected. All the people who read the review could had been wrong too if not realised the tiny lil mistake.

So, Mishanchik right. Deserved. Maybe his unique way to advise people. I like it though and I felt some sense of humor too… :partying_face:

Ok, cheers folks!!! This is 1st time…

Plenty of education my friend , enough to know what he meant ,there’s better & more polite ways of telling him he’s made a mistake ,maybe it’s a language barrier that makes you sound rude , maybe that’s the way it’s done in Russia , no harm done let’s move on :person_facepalming:

Look at my avatar, and immediately understand everything.

Mishanchik, I've entered you in the contest below

If I’m not mistaken, the one that sit back behind with yellow dragon flag…with a mustache and un-armed. I think he is a Bussiness man or chief of trades? :smiley: