SkyRC — IFA 2014 — MC3000 charger-analyzer

[HKJ]

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

I uses Brother labelling system on most of my batteries.
These cells has been into and out of a lot of chargers:

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

Hi Henrik

What is the model number of that Brother labelling system that you use if you don't mind me asking as you say the labels stay stuck to the cells, when maukka says the dynamo labels start peeling away.

EDIT: The Brother PT-90 seems alright, the compatible tapes are quite cheap.

Thanks

John.

I uses Brother labelling system on most of my batteries.
These cells has been into and out of a lot of chargers:

 

[HKJ]

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

What is the model number of that Brother labelling system that you use if you don't mind me asking as you say the labels stay stuck to the cells, when maukka says the dynamo labels start peeling away.

I use Tz tapes, the one on batteries are 6mm wide and I can select short run-in and run-out on the machine I use.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

Still waiting for my MC3000 shipped on the 23rd from GB, I found this power switch similar to the one kreisl posted, does this one look like it will work? it`s only $1.73 from Aliexpress.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Powe..._9&btsid=1bdcb6d8-4cfe-4efb-ac47-7d69afeb6bac

John.

 

[chemEJoe]

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

Still waiting for my MC3000 shipped on the 23rd from GB, I found this power switch similar to the one kreisl posted, does this one look like it will work? it`s only $1.73 from Aliexpress.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Powe..._9&btsid=1bdcb6d8-4cfe-4efb-ac47-7d69afeb6bac

John.

It does look like it could fit the wall to transformer connection. You might look at the wall socket side as that would hang on the wall and have better heat dissipation if that is any concern. I have a few of those around the house to turn different appliances off (wifi, printer, etc.). For me, it's better than sitting on the carpet or desktop.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

Just got my MC3000 from Gear Best, it took 9 days to get to me in the UK and it only cost me £65 no import charges

One negative so far my AAA nimh battery`s barley make contact with the bottom negative slider stud which could have been lowered a bit.

My MC3000 has firmware v1.03 and hardware v1.04

John.

 

[tripplec]

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

I just checked that connection on my SH4 with my AAA Eneloop as well. It contacts ok because of the flat tail of the battery. the +ve end is no problem because of the elongated contact vertically in the charger.

 

[Devon]

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

Just got my MC3000 from Gear Best, it took 9 days to get to me in the UK and it only cost me £65 no import charges

One negative so far my AAA nimh battery`s barley make contact with the bottom negative slider stud which could have been lowered a bit.

My MC3000 has firmware v1.03 and hardware v1.04

John.

Mines the same John, but it's fine on all the aaa Eneloops I use. Can fully seat them and they all still charge fine....

I always charge at 0.3C and often less. It always terminates correctly at 0.3C and even at 0.2C no problems terminating most of the time.....0.1C it misses 99% of the time, as it should.

I don't discharge the batteries all that much in the charger but no problems there either.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

Thanks Devon, I think you are right, I just have to double check the connection before i start the charge.

When i got my MC3000 i cleaned all the charger contacts with "caig progold contact enhancer" before i charged any cells.

I was charging 3 old nimh C Powerizer 5000mah using a cycle test, after an hour or so i heard and alarm and one of the c showed an connection break?

Thanks

John.

 

[tripplec]

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

Many times I roll the cell in the charge slot while running. I never had a connection break. Odd nor have I ever heard or seen contact cleaner needed. If it were going to be that sensitive a plated contact point would be needed.

 

[kreisl]

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

I was charging 3 old nimh C Powerizer 5000mah using a cycle test, after an hour or so i heard and alarm and one of the c showed an connection break

it has been fixed in fw1.04

i am testing fw 1.04e, the latest beita.

more of the listed ideas will be included in fw1.04 looks like. still unclear how the update will be made available. pcls procedure maybe not anymore.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

It would be nice if you could put the firmware on an usbstick and update using the usb charging port if it has an data connection.

2nd set of battery`s on the day i got my mc3000 and i find a fault, just my luck.

John.

 

[tripplec]

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

Send it to COVENTRY

I believe thats where the rubbish goes!!!

LOL

 

[Devon]

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

Thanks Devon, I think you are right, I just have to double check the connection before i start the charge.

When i got my MC3000 i cleaned all the charger contacts with "caig progold contact enhancer" before i charged any cells.

I was charging 3 old nimh C Powerizer 5000mah using a cycle test, after an hour or so i heard and alarm and one of the c showed an connection break?

Thanks

John.

Charging old NiMH if they are stuffed can often lead to the connection break error msg. This I have found to be a fault with the battery and not the charger...maybe it should give a msg "Buy some new batteries, English man! "

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

Flashlight or Battery or Chargers, Come on look at my sig i am doing my best

John.

 

[Rapster]

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

Charging old NiMH if they are stuffed can often lead to the connection break error msg. This I have found to be a fault with the battery and not the charger...maybe it should give a msg "Buy some new batteries, English man! "

How dare you - off to the Tower you go!

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

Anybody tried one of these cheap voltage references, are they worth buying to calibrate the MC3000 or check you DMM`s accuracy.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-5v..._9&btsid=f1773d26-3fed-4fea-ad95-72feaf9effb9

John.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

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

Nobody else reading this thread any more I have questions.

I tried doing a breaking in on my C nimh 5000mah I set the capacity to 6000mah so they would not be undercharged but on discharge they got down to 1.01v and the discharged capacity was around 4500mah but the discharge rate was so low and getting lower after a few hours the capacity got to approx 5000mah the voltage was still showing 1.01v and the discharge currant was at approx 30ma and I though maybe the discharge would continue until it reached the 6000mah I had set and that would be a long time if ever so I pulled the cells.

The only thing I set on the default break-in was nimh and 6000mah for my 5000mah cells so they would not be undercharged.

So what happened, should I just have left the cells to finish?

Thanks

John

 

[DeeFff]

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

...
So what happened, should I just have left the cells to finish?

Yep - you were so close!

Break-In (among other things) discharges at 0.2C down to 1.0V. If you waited another -0.01V the discharge would have finished - see page 19 (user manual) for all the gory details.

Try again and see what happens

P.S. - For Break-In, set NOMINAL to the actual battery capacity (without a cushion like you might do for charging). Bumping NOMINAL in this case might overcook your batteries somewhat.

P.P.S. - Yeah, what kreisl said - I missed where you noted the discharge current dropping :duh2:

 

[Gauss163]

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

Anybody tried one of these cheap voltage references, are they worth buying to calibrate the MC3000 or check you DMM`s accuracy.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-5v..._9&btsid=f1773d26-3fed-4fea-ad95-72feaf9effb9

More useful: for $5 you can buy a very accurate 5 digit panel voltmeter 0-4.3000V-33.000V. Typically these are off by no more than 1mV in their lower range 0-4.3V, and the 0.1mV resolution there can prove very handy (e.g. giving some intuition on battery drain rate). They employ an 18bit ADC (Microchip MCP3421). For further details see this EEVBlog thread, where you'll find many reports of users impressed by the accuracy. They are a steal at $5.
Update These have relatively low input impedance, about 350K see here.

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