Disclosure: XTAR gave out several samples of their MC0 charger in a recent giveaway; that’s where this one came from.
The MC0 is a charger designed for cylindrical lithium cells roughly from the 18500 size down to 10440s. Several great MC0 reviews were recently published with electrical test info, so this post will provide highlights and focus on just a few items found from my first use. Others have concluded this charger has a good charge profile, check out the links at the end of this post if you want more details.
Pros
- Selectable charge rate: 250 or 500 mah, slower is safer for smaller cells
- Great for travel: small size w micro USB input & cable (), great for travel
- Reverse polarity protection (I needed it!)
- Electrical features good fit for target cell range (small l-ion)
Cons
- Several markings could use a contrasting color to make them easy to see and read, especially the charge rate and the battery direction markings
- The USB input broke (pushed back into the unit) on my sample in less than a half-dozen uses. That is a first for me, with any USB input on scores of electronic devices. Unlike my ML102, the unit is sealed (glued?) so it may be difficult to repair without breaking it further.
Note: The unit includes a USB cable but not a power adapter. Some may see this as a con, but I did not.
I was really excited to get this charger. I’ve used several different chargers since pretty well switching over to lithium ions a couple years ago. I now mostly use an ML102. The MC0 is smaller and designed specifically for smaller cells. I had one of the cheap, common Chinese chargers with a slider for different length cells but the slider broke within a year of use so the MC0 was both a replacement and companion to my beloved ML102.
Charging times seem pretty reasonable. Here are the cells I planned to use and then discharged for the first few charge time tests.
Since I had 2 similar FF 14500 cells, my plan was to test each charge rate. I found the 250mah setting took quite a bit longer than the 500mah rate - much more than double. Here’s a pic of how the 14500 fits in the MC0.
Note that in the pic above, the cell is loaded backwards; more on that later. The first cell was charged at 500mah, bringing the resting voltage from 3.8v to 4.2v in only 48 minutes. The second cell at 250mah took 148 minutes.
I also found a Trustfire 14500 flame charged @500mah raised the resting voltage from 3.6v to 4.2v in 80 minutes. Others have noted when using the higher charge rate there can be a small amount of unfilled capacity when the green, charge-complete light comes on. This Trustfire was full with only a few seconds of charge after the light came on. The extra time for the Trustfire was due to both a lower starting voltage and a greater true capacity than the not-so-great FandyFires.
No heat observed with either of the cells charged at the higher rate.
About polarity protection. Very nice that it is built in! It’s funny that when I loaded the cells for the pics they looked right because a couple other charges I’ve used are built with a movable positive. Not seeing markings, I followed that pattern (who reads manuals?). I even put the poster paint on the charge rate markings and didn’t see the polarity markings. After about 3 hours of waiting for the light to come on and tell me the first cell was charged, I realized it wasn’t charging. Then i couldn’t get any of the cells to charge, not even with 3 different power sources. It finally dawned on me to look more closely and realize what I should have seen at the beginning - polarity markings. Again, very nice that protection is built in!
Additional Pics
Half full: 16340 fit in MC0
Full: 18500 fit in MC0 -
Contents of the box - charger, cord, manual, and warranty card
Front of box - note the nominal voltages for this charger
Box side - easier to see list of the many l-ion cell sizes that work with this charger
Back of box - some basic specs
Charger front - at this angle the camera caught the polarity markings
Input side of charger- note metal frame is correctly in place here
Back of charger - markings hard to read without light at steeper angle
The MC0 fits a nice range of smaller cells - now I need some 10440s, 17500s, and 18350s!
This label on side of charger is complete with scratch-off section. I suspect it is there to prove authenticity and it also seals the unit for warranty
Poster paint pen on charge rate markings make them easier to read.
Other
The package was sent DHL, but is wasn’t fast. DHL doesn’t deliver direct to my location so they subbed the final delivery out to a local courier service and that added extra days before I finally received my sample. An inner package was mislabeled for another country, but I don’t believe the DHL trip was affected. I’ve received packages via China Post that came as fast as this DHL shipment.
Links
XTAR Light manufacturer specifications and pictures
Other MC0 Reviews on BLF
HKJ Test/Review of Charger Xtar MC0
jpil Review of charger Xtar MC0
old Test-Review Xtar MCO usb Charger
Update 1/30: I just received a replacement MC0 from Xtar without request, or stipulation. I sent only a link to the review, and described the problem seen. So, I’m pretty impressed with such attentiveness to my issue, especially as a non-paying customer. I will buy an additional charger later this year, so they will get top consideration from me.