MiBOXER C2-3000 Smart Charger Spring 2017 Review

KITROBASKIN

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Product Link:

http://www.miboxer.com/eng/p2.html

Opening Video: 3:14

https://goo.gl/photos/NtZQwMyc5LKgMC5T7

First Use: 5:48 (I was able to make video of the charger display in brief demonstration)

https://goo.gl/photos/Ubu4m4xVcA7iHVP58

The plan is to experiment then put together a YouTube video on this interesting 2 bay charger. So far, so good

Thanks to Leo at MiBoxer for this opportunity. When I asked how much this charger will cost, he wrote back US $24.9

Additionally, Leo wrote they will be releasing a 4 bay charger and higher current chargers.
 

CuriousOne

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Haha, also writing it's review right now :)
Looks VERY promising, but certain decisions, as usual, are hard to understand :)
 

KITROBASKIN

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Looks like MiBoxer is wanting to establish vendors in USA as well as Europe and elsewhere. My first thought is to see if Orbtronic, illumn, and mtnelectronics might be interested but I have not contacted them yet.

The unit has a solid feel and appears very nice but let's test it out. I have some ideas, and am welcome to input, including from HKJ, even though my limitations regarding equipment and knowledge are a factor. It Would be nice to get one to HKJ.

The display information regarding internal resistance is very interesting but my grasp of that aspect is very basic; would like to learn more. I have some very old 18650's that will be charged with the C2-3000. I will be excercising caution, by-the-way.
 

KITROBASKIN

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Video showing how using the Xtar USB Detector affected this charger, negating quite a few tests made previously (4:40 and not for most viewers- kind of perfunctory)

https://goo.gl/photos/UbRzQVSoJsBicVNE7

I did mention on the video that the backlight for the display screen will stay lit for a while, then goes out but then a person can push the 'slot' button (also used to read data from each individual bay) to turn the backlight back on.
 

KITROBASKIN

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OK this video is more interesting for some of us. 6:19 that shows how a person can use an Xtar power supply/cord for a VP2 to run this MiBOXER charger, and mentioned why having more than an Amp or so, going through a micro USB is not such a good idea, hence the plug used on the VP2 and the D2-3000. An additional option the MiBoxer offers is the ability to pull off of any standard USB connection. So that is good.

Also I tested whether the length of the battery being charged has an effect on how much current is supplied, as another charger functioned, if I remember correctly.

The smallest Li-ion battery the MiBOXER is said to be able to charge is a 10340. I do not have such a cell but do have a 10250, where I also used a spacer to see what would happen.

https://goo.gl/photos/iYFhhEL4KHy2dFv5A

This charger does not use length of battery to determine voltage. The little 10250 (80 mAh) was getting more current than I would like, but should be mentioned that this nifty charger is not rated for it.
 

KITROBASKIN

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CPF member vicv released another MiBOXER C2-3000 review: good stuff.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?432405-Another-Miboxer-C2-charger-review

Having just run some 12 volt tests with this charger, it performed as well as vicv reported! This is good news for those who want to use this charger in a motor vehicle or directly connected to a solar panel(s). I experimented with a 15 watt and a ~5 watt panel in variable sunlight. Also did a temporary "hard shadow" on the panels and the MiBOXER took it in stride, no problems, though some of the readouts reacted in a way I do not understand (internal resistance etc.)

I took video of the tests, and also want to mention that in solar panel charging or any other application, this MiBOXER's backlight can be turned off by pressing/holding the slot button, thereby more efficiently charging from a less powerful source, even though the backlight will go off on its own in a couple minutes.
 

KITROBASKIN

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This 5:15 video demonstrates that a power supply that feeds less Amperage can be used with this charger. This could be handy for those who would rather charge their 18650 batteries at less than the chargers assessment of what the battery can take. In this case, a pair of 18650's were getting less than a half Amp.

The second part of this video shows that, indeed, the charging bays are independent of each other. I charged a AAA NiMH and an 18650 simultaneously.

https://goo.gl/photos/SevWqwSwqgPs2H8D7
 

KITROBASKIN

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Here we have a 3:06 video using the MiBOXER C2-3000 in a motor vehicle with the motor off.

https://goo.gl/photos/w4VfpJda5g2ecWUt9

The supplied car adapter and cord gave good results in terms of providing more Amperage than AC 'wall' power; something like 2.5A combined if I remember.

Also, the Xtar VP2 car accessory cord will work with the MiBOXER; less current than what accessories MiBOXER provided.
 

KITROBASKIN

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45 second video showing a fully charged 18650 battery. No current indicated, showing FULL, and a voltage reading of 4.17V. This tells us there is no trickle charging, right?

https://goo.gl/photos/Vtez31CS9sYYsZNR8

Also, as all my videos show, the readout screen is white, not blue. Not sure what is going on with a recent reviewer's comments.

I finally removed the protective film that was on the MiBOXER logo at the top of the unit. It is a good looking charger, and plan on doing more solar and 12 volt charging with it.
 
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KITROBASKIN

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54 second video with the MiBOXER hooked up to a ~5 watt Sunkingdom lightweight solar panel after about 5 minutes in the charger. (Full sun-.45A and .5A for a pair of protected 3400mAh KEEPPOWER batteries that started at about 74%)

https://goo.gl/photos/zBEFRQCMarwaMojX6

Next is a 31 second video at the end of the solar charge cycle, after about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Readings indicate no trickle charge. I did not show the two significantly different milli-Amp hour readings from the two bays because our old boy dog was coming to me to get the young, frisky girl dog to stop messing with him, and I forgot. Those batteries are a dedicated pair.

https://goo.gl/photos/zZ36GTuo5FCGBhGP8

It is really nice that this charger gives a percentage reading and a basic internal resistance level, as well as charging rate and voltage. My original plan was to ship this charger to illumn, mtnelectronics, orbtronic or pflexpro if any might be interested in selling them, but I am getting rather fond of it, especially since it works so well with 12 Volt and solar systems. I have no problem with using different power supplies to suit varied charging needs (less powerful power supply in order to charge at a lower current as well as using other options to charge 26650's up to 1.5A) and appreciate the simplicity. Seeing that Leo from MiBOXER sent quite a few of these chargers to various CPF members, it is no surprise that some of us want more control, more options but I believe those are not the primary target for this model. In that vein, it does seem prudent to ship an AC power supply with the charger, as well as the 12 volt car adapter and USB capability (works great with smaller solar panels). This addition of the AC power supply will probably raise the price above the US $24.90 originally quoted to me by Leo of MiBOXER.

I'll keep these real time, unprofessional videos on google photos for some months, or until a newer iteration of this model emerges. They will be deleted after that. As far as making a YouTube video from these clips, well, seems like the YouTube audience is more interested in something slick or more engaging for the target consumer wanting an automatic charger. I am open to suggestions, except no promotion-for-the-sake-of-promotion fluff videos will be made by me.
 

KITROBASKIN

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Received an email from MiBOXER regarding the availability of their C4 and C2-3000 smart chargers, with the C2-4000, C2 6000 and C4 12 "coming soon". This is on Amazon US and the price for the C2-3000 is spot on with what they told me initially; a very much competitive price for the features. I still regularly use my demo sample.

I am wondering where a person could get the cable to connect the C2-3000 to a USB or 12Volt automotive source? This charger works well with 12V and solar panels.
 

CuriousOne

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Yes, I also received that email.
regarding the cable, search for "USB to barrel connector cable" with inner diameter of 2.1mm.
 
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