What charger would you recommend for my needs?

molitar · 2019-05-09T01:42:42.000Z

Features I am focusing on is ability to test the mAh of the battery to determine life and the internal resistance.

1. Test battery life
2. Test battery charge
3. Test mAh of battery
4. Ability to support large cell like 21700 is a plus
5. Capability of LifePo is a plus

Prefer to stick around $50 or so. I actually looked at the more expensive MC3000 but that is way over kill for my needs. I need one that will support most versions of batteries as I am not one that can afford to buy multiple battery chargers so it has to be the best for what I can afford at this time that will last me a while.

Virisenox · 2019-05-23T06:50:40.000Z

Opus BT-C3100

It reads voltage and tests capacity and internal resistance. I don’t think it’ll fit 21700s though, and I don’t know if it can capacity test LiFePO4.

Macka17 · 2019-05-09T03:14:31.000Z

I have several.
Xtar VC2/VC4 In home.

Travelling.
LiitoKala Lii 202 2 cell.
It does ALL incl 20700 and Li-Po.
All Cheap .ALL never missed a beat,
over 1 yr and several yrs of Regular usage.
I have over 30 Battery’s.

Chinese NAMED mfg. IS mainly, reliable Nowadays
I find.

They don’t test. But read internal capacity. total voltage and Auto voltage charge level giving trip out voltage too.
I never bother about anything else. Just use battery till it reduces capacity.
Then dump and use another one.
I ALWAYS carry a spare for each torch when going out
for any time. It’s both easier and gives peace of mind.
If the weight of a couple of these battery’s give you a problem.
I reckon somebody got a problem.

Mishanchik · 2019-05-09T22:14:17.000Z

SkyRC MC3000 or Miboxer C2-4000 ( 2 cell charger )

will34 · 2019-05-09T23:07:26.000Z

SkyRC MC3000 +1

20700 and 21700 fits nicely. Very accurate mAh reading vs opus chargers.

molitar · 2019-05-10T02:01:36.000Z

I thought of the MC3000 but from what I read their is not really a working just put battery in and let it charge option. My mother who I support that lives with me probably would not be able to just plug in AA or AAA batteries and have them charge with no effort. I love complex stuff as I am into computers big time and have setup my own HTPC using a Logitech Harmony Remote but for a charger I need to consider that my mother can just insert and it charges for her.

RelakS · 2019-05-10T04:49:39.000Z

will34:

SkyRC MC3000 +1

20700 and 21700 fits nicely. Very accurate mAh reading vs opus chargers.

Even the protected ones?
I can’t imagine, how even the unprotected fits, as not all the pins can be moved to the end of the charger. At least on my MC3000.

fmc1 · 2019-05-12T20:57:55.000Z

I would not rule out an MC3000 because you are worried about a non tech person using it. Just assign the charge programs for the batteries they are going to charge to one of the short cut keys. Then it becomes a two key press operation to charge the batteries. The current firmware allows for 8 short cut key assignments. I made up a cheat sheet for my wife and she uses the chargers all the time. I think by now she has the key press sequence memorized. I set them up to be up+1 is AAA white, up+2 is AA white and up+3 is AA black. Also unprotected 21700’s fit fine. I don’t own any protected 21700, however for sure I would not count on them fitting.

Frank

molitar · 2019-05-13T07:14:36.000Z

fmc1:

I would not rule out an MC3000 because you are worried about a non tech person using it. Just assign the charge programs for the batteries they are going to charge to one of the short cut keys. Then it becomes a two key press operation to charge the batteries. The current firmware allows for 8 short cut key assignments. I made up a cheat sheet for my wife and she uses the chargers all the time. I think by now she has the key press sequence memorized. I set them up to be up+1 is AAA white, up+2 is AA white and up+3 is AA black. Also unprotected 21700’s fit fine. I don’t own any protected 21700, however for sure I would not count on them fitting.

Frank

Is there a good video or review that explains the MC3000? I checked out Youtube but all useless they mention Modes: Dummy; Simple; Advanced but do not explain what any of these modes are. I keep seeing mention of a cheat cheat but I don’t even understand why a cheat sheet is needed just how complex is this unit?

RelakS · 2019-05-13T07:38:13.000Z

The user guide has its flaws also. I will have take notes when to click, when to press (long click) a button …
In short:
Dummy mode: only NiMH and LiIon. You can set up in the settings the charging properties, after that you show in the batteries, and it will charge them.
Simple and Advanced: you can create programs to charge the batteries: chemistry, charging/discharging current, etc. Simple means you can change less settings. In this mode, you put in your batteries, select the program you like per channel, and press start to charge.
The difficult part is to find the settings for the programs you need. After you set up the programs, it is almost dead simple to use it.

molitar · 2019-05-13T13:44:43.000Z

RelakS:

The user guide has its flaws also. I will have take notes when to click, when to press (long click) a button …
In short:
Dummy mode: only NiMH and LiIon. You can set up in the settings the charging properties, after that you show in the batteries, and it will charge them.
Simple and Advanced: you can create programs to charge the batteries: chemistry, charging/discharging current, etc. Simple means you can change less settings. In this mode, you put in your batteries, select the program you like per channel, and press start to charge.
The difficult part is to find the settings for the programs you need. After you set up the programs, it is almost dead simple to use it.

Wow… if they have BT capability why don’t they have a config dump and just have default configs users can download that support all types? Seems they are wasting the capabilities of this unit.

RelakS · 2019-05-13T14:52:12.000Z

molitar:

Wow… if they have BT capability

Stop … right … there

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.

molitar · 2019-05-15T20:17:33.000Z

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?

BlueSwordM · 2019-05-15T20:30:02.000Z

From the US?

As I’ve said before, the Folomov A4:

illumn.com

Folomov A4 Intelligent Rapid Charger Li-ion/LifePO4, NiMH/NiCd Charger

Folomov A4 Intelligent Rapid Charger

Price: USD 39

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.

Mishanchik · 2019-05-15T22:44:42.000Z

molitar:

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 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

molitar · 2019-05-16T22:05:58.000Z

Mishanchik:

molitar:

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 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.

Mishanchik · 2019-05-16T22:16:51.000Z

molitar:

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

molitar · 2019-05-16T22:27:31.000Z

Mishanchik:

molitar:

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

Mishanchik · 2019-05-16T22:32:31.000Z

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”

dekozn · 2019-05-16T22:35:39.000Z

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.