SkyRC — IFA 2014 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

wus

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I usually use my SkyRC MC3000 charger to recondition NiMh and LiIon batteries.
Hello Gaudi, does this really help? Which programm & parameters do you use to recondition NiMH cells?

Reason why I ask:
I have older and newer AAA and AA eneloops and EBL USB chargers that I take along on trips to remote areas without electricity, where I recharge from a somewhat bigger USB power bank. These EBL chargers refuse to recharge some of the older eneloops for their increased internal resistance.

However, my older Camelion charger, and also the MC3000, recharge these same cells without any issue, and they also work well in the devices that I power with them.

I hope after the reconditioning - with your parameters :) - I can recharge these older eneloops also with the EBL USB chargers.
 

Gaudi

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Hello Gaudi, does this really help? Which programm & parameters do you use to recondition NiMH cells?

Reason why I ask:
I have older and newer AAA and AA eneloops and EBL USB chargers that I take along on trips to remote areas without electricity, where I recharge from a somewhat bigger USB power bank. These EBL chargers refuse to recharge some of the older eneloops for their increased internal resistance.

However, my older Camelion charger, and also the MC3000, recharge these same cells without any issue, and they also work well in the devices that I power with them.

I hope after the reconditioning - with your parameters :) - I can recharge these older eneloops also with the EBL USB chargers.

Hi, I by no means mean to establish a procedure to fix worn batteries. Once they show high internal resistance and they do not hold good charge any longer, they are bound to be disposed.
I have a couple of Siemens Gigaset DECT phones (C430H, C610H), and they seem to trash eneloops in as short as 3-4 months, so it looks that the handset internal charger is a piece of crap (at least for LSD batteries like Eneloop).

Having said that, I have managed to bring back to usable life in low demanding applications (remote controls, kid toys, low power led lights). Many of them reduced their internal resistance from >2000 mOhm to around 200-400 mOhm (some mention that MC3000 is not a reliable way to measure such variable).

Program I have used is:
BATT TYPE: Eneloop
MODE: Refresh
MODEL: Std AAA
C.CURRENT: 0.40A
D.CURRENT: -0.10A
C.RESTING: 30min
D.RESTING: 60min
CYCLE COUNT: 5
CYCLE MODE: C>D>C
TARGET VOLT: 1.65V
DELTA PEAK: 3mV
TRICKLE C.: OFF
TRICKLE TIME: OFF
RESTART VOLT: OFF
D.REDUCE: OFF
CUT VOLT: 0.90V
CUT TEMP: 45°C
CUT TIME: OFF

Please observe that the cut off voltage for discharging is 0.9V, which may be low for some people. I have also noticed in the continuous chart (Data Explorer) that the capacity consistently improved after each cycle.

And this is the reason why I would like the charger to test for Internal Resistance after each cycle, to see if it improves or not: without touching the battery or switching bays, even if the measure is not accurate, the shown trend could be useful. I can set a single refresh cycle, and retest anfterwards, but it is cumbersome and not unattended.

Hope it helps.
 

jabz

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

Hi so I replaced my 2nd gen MC3000 and now using a dual fan version since 2019.
I had a closer look at the terminal contacts and wondering if the following is normal, is the stainless steel coming off or is something corroding? Can it be cleaned? With what?
ecb926e26d29d6b9442c5d0060a1e8eb.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Gaudi

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

Hi so I replaced my 2nd gen MC3000 and now using a dual fan version since 2019.
I had a closer look at the terminal contacts and wondering if the following is normal, is the stainless steel coming off or is something corroding? Can it be cleaned? With what?
ecb926e26d29d6b9442c5d0060a1e8eb.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mine is like new, and it is also ca. 2018.
Do you use/store your unit in a humid place?
Any sort of fumes?
Have you charged defective batteries that may have leaked?
Try using WD40 with a small brush and a paper towel to clean.
 

wus

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The photo looks indeed as if the metal is corroded, but I think this impression might also be caused (or emphasized) by making the photo using a wrong white balance.

On my unit it looks like this: (Photo made with white balance set hard to daylight, using a daylight white balanced strobe:):

ghqUX38.jpg


My MC3000 is about the same age as yours. I did not need to clean its contacts so far.

If I need to clean cell tops, I use a fiberglass pen. Should I ever need to clean the charger´s contacts, I will probably use this pen, too, although I would then hold the unit upside down, so that the scratched off (electrically conductive) dust can't fall into it.





@Gaudi - thanks for the ...
Program I have used

We have some DECT phones, too, with the same problem. And it is by no means limited to LSD cells - I tried with "classic" NIMHs as well.
 

NiOOH

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

Mine is like new, and it is also ca. 2018.
Do you use/store your unit in a humid place?
Any sort of fumes?
Have you charged defective batteries that may have leaked?
Try using WD40 with a small brush and a paper towel to clean.


It looks like corrosion indeed. Have you had cells venting during operation?
WD40 is not ideal in this case IMO, since it leaves a residue that evaporates very slowly. Try isopropanol (sometimes called rubbing alcohol) with some cotton buds. Do not spray any liquid directly on the contacts, since the liquid can get inside the unit.
 

EdoNork

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Hi,

I have just ended reading all of the huge thread. Yes, I know...
About 4000 messages ago I purchased the MC3000 that has arrived 3 hours ago, perfect timing with the end of my lectures.
That you all for the knowledge shared here.

Hummm, flimsy buttons...
 
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EdoNork

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Some question I have not managed to find answer searching the forum:

1- If I send a new program to the MC3000 with the PC software, can I store it in a memory location in the device afterwards?

2- In the PC software, can I copy programs from one channel to others?

3- Using DEX, can I "develop" a program in it and send to the charger? I can only load one from the charger, rename, and send to the other channels, but I can't modify parameters.

4- Can I start and stop the charger from within DEX?

TIA.
 
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EdoNork

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Some question I have not managed to find answer searching the forum:

1- If I send a new program to the MC3000 with the PC software, can I store it in a memory location in the device afterwards?

2- In the PC software, can I copy programs from one channel to others?

3- Using DEX, can I "develop" a program in it and send to the charger? I can only load one from the charger, rename, and send to the other channels, but I can't modify parameters.

4- Can I start and stop the charger from within DEX?

TIA.

ANSWERS:

1- NO.

2- NO.

3- NO.

4- NO. It seems some old versions of DEX had this functionality but it was removed afterwards.
 

DeJaVu

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

Havent used dex for god knows how long, but i do remember being able to start/stop the charger from within it. Upon checking on setup files i have left from that time, i have versions 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.2.8 and 3.3.0. So one of those(probably all) should have the ability. Try looking for one of those versions, or if you cant find them i can upload them somewhere for you.
 

EdoNork

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

I will try them.
Why don't you use DEX anymore?
 

DeJaVu

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

Used to use it to get detailed discharge curves, but now i have no need for that.
 

NiOOH

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

Used to use it to get detailed discharge curves, but now i have no need for that.

Same here. Used to use DEX when I first got the MC3000. I was interested to get all the information. Nowadays, I just can't be bothered to connect a laptop to the charger every time.
 

EdoNork

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

So you are back to dummy mode... :devil:
 

NiOOH

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Re: SkyRC — IFA 2014 / CES 2016 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

So you are back to dummy mode... :devil:

Nope, I just use customized programs stored in the charger. You don't need DEX or any other software to use it to full potential.
 

Thoraldus

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Just ordered my MC3000, will be here tomorrow. It looks like no other company has attempted to enter this "high function charger market in the last 6 years. Kudos to Sky RC for hanging in there. I haven't read this entire thread (yet) but hope to attempt that soon. My current understanding is the latest revisions for this puppy are:

Firmware: 1.15
Hardware: 2.2

A quick question, has the author of the English User Manual ever been identified? A delicious sense of humor displayed there! ;-)

Rick Stirling
E.E., Ham, Flashlight Collector, Photographer & Web Site Designer (Not necessarily in that order)
 

-Archie-

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It's a nice charger indeed, and I don't know any serious competitor so far. Like any other device from that part of the world, it have some design flaws - but they're relatively easy to fix. As for Data Explorer - I use it when detailed information about the cells is required, but for most jobs, the charger alone is enough. My only desire about DEX would be, the ability to change connection method: MC3000 bluetooth module is pretty much garbage, and I'd prefer to change it to e.g. HC-05 or the like, but AFAIK Data Explorer does not currently allow to use serial communication for MC3000...
 

mactavish

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A quick question, has the author of the English User Manual ever been identified? A delicious sense of humor displayed there! ;-)

Rick Stirling

Perhaps, the first poster in this thread.....
 

Thoraldus

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Just ordered my MC3000, will be here tomorrow. It looks like no other company has attempted to enter this "high function charger market in the last 6 years. Kudos to Sky RC for hanging in there. I haven't read this entire thread (yet) but hope to attempt that soon. My current understanding is the latest revisions for this puppy are:

Firmware: 1.15
Hardware: 2.2

A quick question, has the author of the English User Manual ever been identified? A delicious sense of humor displayed there! ;-)

Rick Stirling
E.E., Ham, Flashlight Collector, Photographer & Web Site Designer (Not necessarily in that order)

MC3000 arrived. Love it! It does everything I need it to do.

Observation: There are basically two ways to insert a battery into the MC3000:

1. Use the battery to push the negative slide terminal back and force/push the anode in place

2. Use your finger to pull back the negative terminal, drop battery in place and then release negative terminal.

Over time I think method 1 will lead to damage of the MC3000 and/or the batteries. I will stick with method 2. :cool:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick Stirling
E.E., Ham, Flashlight Collector, Photographer & Web Site Designer (Not necessarily in that order)
 
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