Li-ion 18650 cylindrical battery charger Xtar MC3

Fast, three-channel, compact processor charger Xtar MC3
for Li-ion batteries in sizes 18650 and others

Main features

• microprocessor-controlled three-stage charging process TC/CC/CV
• three independent charging channels
• powered by any micro USB charger or from a computer USB port (3A)
• compact size - easy to carry
• deeply discharged cell reactivation function
• protections: short circuit, thermal, reverse polarity

Hidden in a small casing is a fully professional microprocessor charger with a three-stage charging process TC/CC/CV. It charges 1-2 Li-ion cells 3.6 / 3.7V of any capacity in sizes 14500, 14650, 16340, 17500, 17670, 18350, 18500, 18650, 18700. It is also possible to charge a single battery of size 20700, 21700 - only unprotected, 22650, 25500, or 26650.

What is the TC/CC/CV charging method? It is a three-stage charging process for Li-ion cells that ensures the cell is kept in good condition by charging with the appropriate current at each stage and completing the charging process at the right moment.
The individual stages of the TC/CC/CV process are:

• TC Phase: cells discharged below 2.85V are 'woken up' with a lower current.
• CC Phase: after reaching 2.85V, the cell is charged with a constant current of 1x 2A / 2x 1.5A / 3x 1A (depending on the number of cells being charged).
• CV Phase: when the cell is almost fully charged, the charger switches to charging with a decreasing current until a voltage of 4.2V is reached on the cell. After reaching 4.2V, the charging process is complete - the battery is fully charged.

Batteries with a voltage of 4.1V or higher are treated by the charger as charged. To recharge such a battery to full, it should be placed in the charger before turning it on. Charged batteries left in the charger will undergo a natural self-discharge process. Charging will resume when the voltage on the battery drops below 4.1V.

The Xtar MC3 charger has a reactivation function for deeply discharged cells and cells with a voltage of 0V. Many chargers on the market are unable to charge such batteries. Here, the Xtar MC3 charger comes to the rescue, which in many cases allows for the 'rescue' of such cells. Just place the deeply discharged battery in the MC3 charger, just like with normal charging - the charger will detect the discharged cell and attempt to reactivate it. Note! Cells discharged below a certain level may suffer irreversible damage and their reactivation may be impossible. It is advisable to avoid overly deep discharging of Li-ion batteries - this can lead to a significant reduction in their lifespan and capacity or render them completely inoperable.

Chargers from other manufacturers can significantly raise the temperature of the charged cells during charging. Excessive heating of the cells can cause them to wear out faster. In designing the MC3 charger, Xtar has gone a step further than the competition by solving this problem in a simple way: external power supply was used. As a result, the temperature of the battery being charged in the MC3 will rise by at most 15 degrees.

Included with the Xtar MC3 charger is a micro USB cable. The power adapter is not included in the set. Any charger with a micro USB cable, e.g., from a phone, or a USB socket or a computer with a free USB port is sufficient to power the charger. The recommended charger power is 3A (3000mA).