Hey guys, I’m in the market for a new charger. My Opus BT-C3100 v1 is having fan issues (sounds like a car revving), and one of the spring loaded negative battery contacts broke off. I’ve had this charger for ~3 years and I feel like its time for a new one; and keep this one as a backup. I definitely need something with 4 or more ports, and has at least 2 of the ports able to charge a 2amps.
I’m debating between:
Opus BT-C3400 (Looks like the same thing as my old one)
Efest LUC V4 (Looks great but doesn’t have the discharge modes like the Opus does)
XTAR VP4 Plus Dragon Charger (Has all the features of the Opus, for $20 more)
Any other recommendations? I definitely want a charger packed with features.
I have the LUC 4 and I am actually storing it because of my 3 x Fenix ARE-C2[Using Two] that I like better and my recently purchased Opus BT-C3100 2.2.
I have 4 chargers on my table. 2 Fenix/ Opus 2.2 and KP L2 for my smaller cells and when I only need 1 or 2 charged!
I looked at the dragon b/4 I got the opus. The price was definitely a factor and iirc you can only see 2 slots at once on the LCD screen. I prefer seing what ALL bays are doing at once! There was a few other things i was not fond of but can not remember!
I would go with the Opus 2.2 version. From what I heard the fan noise was reduced from the earlier models. Mine does not make much noise at all.
Beats me. Even the top of the line MC3K can’t charge 2 ports at 2A….2Amps total….but not on 2 ports at the same time. That charger you’re looking for better have one helluva good cooling setup.
I have two 4 port chargers. AccuPower IQ338XL and MC3K…but neither will do that.
If this is true, then there’s no point in even looking at that one. I’m beginning to realize that I’ve been spoiled by all the features on the Opus.
And as far as the heat, I’ve never had an issue with the Opus. I’ve got plenty of batteries lying around so I rarely charge a 18650 higher than 1amp and 26650’s usually at 2. Never had a heat issue.
I do on occasion charge a AA, 18350, discharging a 18650 and charging a 26650. So independent slots is a tough feature to give up.
Oh yes, the Opus’ feature of having fully-independent slots of 4 is so versatile that it can get you spoiled, as I seldom use the same mode on all 4 bays at once, but almost always a combination of modes.
On the other hand, someone in CPF reported his MC3000 goes up to 70C or 158F discharging 4x18650 @ .7a I believe…and he put a laptop bottom fan just to bring down the temperature to 60C! For me that’s poor thermal management and can be scary if something goes wrong with the fan but goes unnoticed.
Though I believe something that costs this much should have been re-designed after thermal issues have been reported for quite a while already, yet….it’s just too hot for my taste.
I have not seen any thermal issues with the MC3000 and it is very unlikely that any will happen. It has sensors that will reduce power long before it gets too hot.
That the sensors works was shown in the first batch where the fan was pulling air down past the heatsink, that could not always remove all the heat from a 4 cell LiIon discharge and the charger would reduce the discharge current to avoid any issues. In later the models the fan has been turned around and blows air up over the heatsink, this improves the airflow slightly and the charger can usual discharge at full current (This will depend on the ambient temperature).
Oh well, issues like this would now have been avoided if “due diligence” (for a charger/analyzer costing that much) have been done right from the start, and even then, with the current model, I don’t have a problem with my Opus even with an ambient temperature reaching 38C in my country, easily discharging 4 x 18650 @ 1A each, even from the time of the 2.0 version.
Technical superiority should have been coupled with excellent functionality.
Happy are those who have the latest versions, but for the rest of us, I rest my case. :person_facepalming:
Some of the replies say their charger “Never gets hot”………how do you know? (for those of us who don’t own those chargers)
That’s very subjective. What is “Hot” ?
I’ve seen my MC3K get to 122F (system temperature). Would you consider that as “hot” ?
BTW…my new MC3K was only $79.95
I wish you guys that generically said “my charger never gets hot” would have posted the max temps you’ve seen with your LUC and OPUS chargers. That might have been more helpful. Or…maybe those chargers don’t tell you the system temp…so you would have no idea? Are we guessing? (maybe they do)
I believe the System temp. is the heatsink temp and 122F/50C is fairly cool for a heatsink. As far as I remember the limit is 176F/80C and even that is not hot for a heatsink.
Awesome!
Ya know…I like to keep my cool so I use a mini desktop cooling fan just for extra measure. I usually have a system temp of 82F (27.7C) when charging or discharging.
I have to admit, as much as I’m not happy with their warranty process, I really like the MC3K and at the price I paid it was an easy decision.
This thing is so far above all the others it’s in a whole different class.
