XTAR VC4
- Thread starter gopajti
- Start date
Yes it seems that I need to fully discharge the battery and then recharge it. The VC4 will not show the full capacity once charged. It will only show what was presumably added.
The one concern I have is, I topped off some Eneloops, supposedly adding 250mah. Which took about a hour and 15 minutes. I took them out of the charger, and put them right back in. It took about 40 mins or so for them to register "full" again, presumably adding another 130mah.
If I did that on my D4 it would take just a few minutes to register full again. I'm not sure why it would take so long for the VC4 to show full on a "full" battery.
I don't know much about how these chargers "think".
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The one concern I have is, I topped off some Eneloops, supposedly adding 250mah. Which took about a hour and 15 minutes. I took them out of the charger, and put them right back in. It took about 40 mins or so for them to register "full" again, presumably adding another 130mah.
If I did that on my D4 it would take just a few minutes to register full again. I'm not sure why it would take so long for the VC4 to show full on a "full" battery.
I don't know much about how these chargers "think".
Sent from my iPad using Candlepowerforums
Some additional observations.
I'm realizing there's not much of a difference between the D4 and VC4. They have their pros and cons. I kind of like the D4 more, however the VC4 is a little more useful to me in some ways.
The D4 definitely charges faster, however the batteries can get quite warm. I prefer them not to get so warm. On the other hand, if you're in a situation where you need to charge your batteries quickly, you're going to find the VC4 frustrating, especially with D cells.
The VC4 can accommodate D Cell batteries very well in the two outside ports. The D4 barely holds two C cells, it will not hold D cells. Furthermore, you can still utilize the middle ports on the VC4 while charging D cells. The C cells pop out when your try to charge other batteries on the D4.
The charging current on the D4 is more consistent and controllable. The VC4 fluctuates quite a bit. I assume because it's USB. You cannot control the current on the VC4, other than using the two middle ports for 1A.
The fact that the plug on the VC4 is USB is COMPLETELY USELESS because the input is not a micro USB. No matter what, you have to bring THAT cord with you. The D4 cord is no larger.
The fact that is it USB causes the VC4 to charge very slowly. I could look past that somewhat if the cord was interchangeable with other mobile devices I have, but it is not. The selling point of it being USB compatible would be using the cable interchangeably with other popular devices, such as with a micro-USB connector, not simply swapping the USB brick.
I like that the VC4 shows what was added to the battery. The D4 simply has progress bars. That being said, it's not all that useful unless that battery is fully discharged and you can see the true capacity of your battery. I originally thought the VC4 would reveal the full capacity of the battery once charged.
If the D4 could accommodate D Cells the way the VC4 does, I would probably not find much use for the VC4 at all. The only advantage beyond that is seeing how much is added back to the battery, but again, that's really only useful if the battery is fully discharged and you can see the true capacity of the cell once charged up. The display on the VC4 is really cool, but doesn't tell me much more than the D4.
In the end, I think my expectations were high for the VC4. Given the price, it's not a bad charger, but I think it falls short a little of what I feel it could have been. Since the it's not a true USB to micro-USB cable, I would have just preferred a regular plug giving a higher current, with the ability to select the charging current.
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I'm realizing there's not much of a difference between the D4 and VC4. They have their pros and cons. I kind of like the D4 more, however the VC4 is a little more useful to me in some ways.
The D4 definitely charges faster, however the batteries can get quite warm. I prefer them not to get so warm. On the other hand, if you're in a situation where you need to charge your batteries quickly, you're going to find the VC4 frustrating, especially with D cells.
The VC4 can accommodate D Cell batteries very well in the two outside ports. The D4 barely holds two C cells, it will not hold D cells. Furthermore, you can still utilize the middle ports on the VC4 while charging D cells. The C cells pop out when your try to charge other batteries on the D4.
The charging current on the D4 is more consistent and controllable. The VC4 fluctuates quite a bit. I assume because it's USB. You cannot control the current on the VC4, other than using the two middle ports for 1A.
The fact that the plug on the VC4 is USB is COMPLETELY USELESS because the input is not a micro USB. No matter what, you have to bring THAT cord with you. The D4 cord is no larger.
The fact that is it USB causes the VC4 to charge very slowly. I could look past that somewhat if the cord was interchangeable with other mobile devices I have, but it is not. The selling point of it being USB compatible would be using the cable interchangeably with other popular devices, such as with a micro-USB connector, not simply swapping the USB brick.
I like that the VC4 shows what was added to the battery. The D4 simply has progress bars. That being said, it's not all that useful unless that battery is fully discharged and you can see the true capacity of your battery. I originally thought the VC4 would reveal the full capacity of the battery once charged.
If the D4 could accommodate D Cells the way the VC4 does, I would probably not find much use for the VC4 at all. The only advantage beyond that is seeing how much is added back to the battery, but again, that's really only useful if the battery is fully discharged and you can see the true capacity of the cell once charged up. The display on the VC4 is really cool, but doesn't tell me much more than the D4.
In the end, I think my expectations were high for the VC4. Given the price, it's not a bad charger, but I think it falls short a little of what I feel it could have been. Since the it's not a true USB to micro-USB cable, I would have just preferred a regular plug giving a higher current, with the ability to select the charging current.
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Berneck, with all due respect I suggest that you read the manuals provided with both chargers as you clearly don't understand their specs and capabilities.
Hint, the VC4 is the more powerful charger with a very consistent and controllable output if you A) use a 2.1A USB charger (like the 12W iPad charger) and B) know which channels deliver which output (outer channels 1A, all channels 0.5A when an inner channel is used).
Hint, the VC4 is the more powerful charger with a very consistent and controllable output if you A) use a 2.1A USB charger (like the 12W iPad charger) and B) know which channels deliver which output (outer channels 1A, all channels 0.5A when an inner channel is used).
I have the VC2 and will get the VC4 once my go-to-store has it in stock (nkon.nl) but as usual I read manuals / online specs before ordering.
For me the choice to go with the VC4 over de D4 is a no-brainer:
- Its more powerful
- Easier to use
- I prefer USB over AC or 12V input (compatible with all power banks, USB hubs are small, etc)
- Screen reports exactly the information I want to know; voltage, amps and capacity in mAh
- And I assume it can handle fatter and longer cells (VC2 has big slots and Nitecore tends to be on the short side)
About the cable, micro USB is limited to 1.8A so isn't suited to provide the needed 2.1A for the VC4 to go full throttle so they needed to use something else, just like Apple did with the lightning connector for the iPad which can handle at least 2.4A to charge the giant internal battery within an acceptable timeframe.
Based on the pics I think and hope they went with the DC 3.5x1.1mm plug which is pretty common for 5V DC, my powerbank uses the same input plug and the many other powerbanks I have came shipped with an USB to 3.5x1.1mm cable and an assortment of 3.5x1.1mm phone plugs.
In the near future I hope everything will use the upcoming USB C standard which can handle 5A at a 5-20V range for a total of 100W, plus the plug can be plugged in both ways on both ends of the cable so is also very user-friendly in use (I hate micro USB in that regard).
Based on the pics I think and hope they went with the DC 3.5x1.1mm plug which is pretty common for 5V DC, my powerbank uses the same input plug and the many other powerbanks I have came shipped with an USB to 3.5x1.1mm cable and an assortment of 3.5x1.1mm phone plugs.
In the near future I hope everything will use the upcoming USB C standard which can handle 5A at a 5-20V range for a total of 100W, plus the plug can be plugged in both ways on both ends of the cable so is also very user-friendly in use (I hate micro USB in that regard).
I use one of these with mine:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311279605334?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Bill
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311279605334?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Bill
@ Apeture, why do you mention Micro USB? Is that what you are using?
I'm using a standard USB charger, with an output of 1.6Amps, I have a 2.1Amp 5 Volt charger on order.
Just not sure why the VC4 is reporting .5Amps per Channel when my charger can only supply 1.6Amps, when all 4 channels are utilised?
I'm using a standard USB charger, with an output of 1.6Amps, I have a 2.1Amp 5 Volt charger on order.
Just not sure why the VC4 is reporting .5Amps per Channel when my charger can only supply 1.6Amps, when all 4 channels are utilised?
I've just tried this VC4 with another USB charger, its output is 1.2A 5V and the VC4 is reporting on the display .5A per channel with all 4 channels used 4xAAA.
When I inserted the 1st battery it reported 1A, as I put the 2nd battery in it dropped to .5A and did not change when inserting the 3rd and 4th batteries.
Is this possible?
When I inserted the 1st battery it reported 1A, as I put the 2nd battery in it dropped to .5A and did not change when inserting the 3rd and 4th batteries.
Is this possible?
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I was merely responding to an earlier post where somebody complained about the fact the VC4 doesn't have a micro USB connector.
With a 1.6A charger the VC4 should be able to deliver 0.5A on four channels up to a charging voltage of 3.2V (1.6/2.1 times its 4.2V max voltage), my guess is you where charging four NiMH cells.
It might be advantageous to not assume because the manufacturer had cleverly not mentioned it due to their new baby being a "On a Need To Know Basis", which that this VC4 is ONLY an automaton charger in that it will neither discharge nor offer any means of setting charging values.
This charger is seemingly an instrumentation sort of new toy for the well-heeled of pocket and imagination.
This charger is seemingly an instrumentation sort of new toy for the well-heeled of pocket and imagination.
Beacon of Light
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2005
- Messages
- 2,122
Ok, I'm not getting what people are referring to when they say they are using a USB charger. Does this VC4 charge cells in it when say plugging your VC4 into your laptop USB port? I'm only seeing a DC jack on the VC4 so assuming it is this way. There is no USB output to use the VC4 with cells in the bays to function as a power bank the way the VP-1 will do? Not liking the LCD screen on this or the VC2 and just wish they'd make a 4 bay version of the VP-1
If you take a closer look at the product site of the VC4, you will see the charge cable has an USB plug:
Perhaps the forthcoming HKJ review might confirm that, for NiMH, this unit actually inject less mAh than even a Maha C-9000 with FW that does not top-up [at least mine doesn't top up with Mr Maha getting away wheet eet yet again], due possibly to the verbally Easy-Come, Easy-Go Chinese engineered circuitry for NiMH terminal voltage detection being distracted by Birds a-nesting nearby. As for Li-Ion, the terminal voltage detection might be OK and therfore the charging too but if you are after fairly full charging of your NiMH and couldn't careless about "extreme long life of gazillions of recharge-ability" [who wants to live forevah, eh?], then one should tread carefully before cashing-in this cow of a VC4 and its glitzy semi-circular display which disarms those who imagine that that is the sign that some Chinese god had his hands in the design. Not quite boyo.
This VC4 of a Chinese circus act is basically a Li-Ion charger with NiMH charging being there merely for show if you trust the declared verbage. Meaning that be wary should you intend to buy this mainly gor NiMH charging. Either that or my unit is one of those which had escaped from the QC asylum, the poor thang.
Got my VC4 last week. Only charged a couple of 18650s, but it worked well. I have not tried NiMHs yet, but i have other smart charges for them. I do not have a 2.1 amp wall power supply yet, only some 1.0 amp ones, so I was not able to get the fastest charging out of it. The display looked nice and clear and provided the information I wanted. Build quality is quite good, and overall, I am quite happy with this purchase.
ChrisGarrett
Flashlight Enthusiast
Can somebody tell me what the benefit of this USB charger is, if you really can't use it plugged into a typical PC USB 2.0 socket, but have to use it with a USB charger that plugs into an AC outlet?
I get that it might be able to be used with a power bank having a 2.0A output, but is that the only tangible benefit to using this charger? If I don't own a power bank and rely on AC or the PC's USB output, won't I be better off with just a unit that plugs into the wall, or has a 12v socket to run the charger with my emergency solar panel rig?
Thanks, Chris
I get that it might be able to be used with a power bank having a 2.0A output, but is that the only tangible benefit to using this charger? If I don't own a power bank and rely on AC or the PC's USB output, won't I be better off with just a unit that plugs into the wall, or has a 12v socket to run the charger with my emergency solar panel rig?
Thanks, Chris
Agreed. It's a bit of a gimmick if you ask me.
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Because every smartphone and tablet (and most other mobile devices for that matter) comes packaged with such an USB wall charger so instead of using a 12V adapter I don't need for any of my other devices I can now use one of the USB chargers already plugged into the wall at home, or is already in my travel bag, borrow from any of my friends because all of them have at least one, use the dual USB charger already in my cars 12V cigarette socket, etc, etc.
And yes you can also use the USB ports on your PC, the USB ports on my 4 year old MacBook Air for instance can deliver 5W of power which is enough to charge AA's at full speed and li-ions at half speed. A 12W USB charger is only needed to go full power with li-ions.
USB is the future, soon all mobile devices including laptops, battery chargers, etc will be charged with the new USB-C standard (100W at 5-20V), one charger and one cable to rule them all.
