Buy THIS Charger! [XTAR VC4 Plus]
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- Affordable, versatile, reliable, and feature-rich, this is the charger you should buy to handle all of your various flashlight batteries. An upgrade of the old VC4 charger that I've been using for years, this Plus model offers some key upgrades such as larger cell bays, USB C connectivity, battery grade and storage modes, and an improved display. This is the number one charger that I recommend!
Buy this charger (Not an affiliate link):
www.amazon.com/XTAR-VC4-Batte...
This product was sent to me by XTAR for the purposes of review. I was not otherwise paid for this video, and all opinions expressed here are my own.
TIMESTAMPS:
Intro - Why this charger is great: 00:00
Design/Build: 00:46
Operation: 01:46
Some Flaws: 04:44
Assessment: 06:11
Outro: 06:57
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Music used in this video:
"Dude" - Patrick Patrikios
"Sunday" - Otis McDonald
Light leaks effects from Vecteezy
www.vecteezy.com/
Camera Gear:
Camera: BMPCC4K
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Lenses:
Panasonic Lumix 25mm F1.7
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Auto-Vivitar 35mm f/2.8
Edited in Davinci Resolve Studio 17.4 - Věda a technologie
![The CHEAPEST Emisar! [KC1]](/img/n.gif)
Love my Xtar VC2S that's been working flawlessly for nearly a year! Prior charger was a Nitecore that failed less than 6 months in. Xtar for life 👊
The text is small, but I like that it shows each battery at the same time instead of having to flick through each battery separately.
Fantastic review as always! I have the VC8 and love it. Are there better chargers? Maybe. But this one does the job amazingly for me and charging isn’t something I personally obsess over.
One thing worth pointing out is that while it can work with any USB port, if it’s not QC3.0, it’ll be VERY slow. This was one of the main complaints in the older models because they didn’t include the brick and didn’t explain well enough how to best operate it. As long as it’s that spec, it’ll be a winner.
Will a USB-C PD port give it the necessary power or does it absolutely have to be QC 3.0?
@@ItsEverythingElse it will be ok
VC8 Plus has 12 V Port, and is loading fast.So you cant compare VC4 Plus and VC8 without Plus.
I got the Vapecell S4 plus for around $40 on free shipping and for portability and big batteries Xtar SC1 plus.
An Excellent and Comprehensive Review of the XTAR VC4 Plus........ Thank You! 👍
Your explanation of the 'Store Mode' has given me an idea. You say that in Store Mode, the VC4 Plus cuts off at 3.6 volts.
This 3.6 volts would be the optimum charging cut-off voltage for my 3.2 volt (32650) LiFePO4 Battery, which has a Maximum Charging Voltage of 3.65v (+ - 0.05v).
Surely then, 'in theory', on the above setting, this charger would be ideal for the above purpose?...........Hhhhmmm 🤔
I got the smaller Xtar X2 (New). Yeah, just Xtar things I guess... they add another word in the model name. Anyway, I specifically got that for AC/USB input and the ability to charge protected 21700s as stated but also as proven irl with my Fenix 21700. I got no complaints other than it doesn't test capacity. It's a 15€ charger though.
Nice I got the new extended X4 it has AC USB sadly micro 👎🏼 and output for Phone charger when you put a cell in the 4thbay
Haven't tried one, but it seems good. I've mostly been using a Nitecore D2 that I got for $13. I got lucky and got one which terminates at about 4.17V for longer cell life. Also sometimes an Xtar Ant MC1 Plus that came with a Sofirn light, when I want faster charging or 21700. And for NiMH, a Lacrosse BC-700 I've had for ages. The D2 can do it, but isn't good at NiMH and can cause weak cells to vent. Oh, and when I want to charge married sets of 2/3/4 cells in parallel, I put them into my BLF LT1 and monitor progress with battcheck mode.
But for someone who isn't swimming in chargers, the VC4+ seems like a good solution.
I've had one of these for 3 months now. Pretty good.
To your remark about the Nitecore D2 protecting batteries, the Xtar VC4 Plus never charges Li-ions above 4.16 v, usually to around 4.13 v depending on the battery.
The user-selectable current setting is in effect just a ceiling - the charger clamps the current much lower if the battery's internal resistance is high. (There may be other criteria, e.g. if it detects a NiMH from the lower voltage.) So, if you do something stupid like trying to charge a NiMH AAA at 3 amps, it doesn't allow that. It clamps it at around 500 mA.
And 21700s fit easily in this charger.
Two slight problems.
The four slots aren't wide enough to accommodate four large batteries side by side, e.g. C batteries. Only two can fit - in the two outer slots. So, if you have a device with four C batteries, you can't charge them all at once.
AAA batteries don't make reliable contact with the negative contact sliders - they lie a little too low for the contact nubs. Solution is to cut small rings from silicone tubing, thread the ring around the battery and use it to raise up the battery tail slightly. Also makes getting AAA batteries out less fiddly.
BTW, your Anduril creation is a phenomenal achievement. Keep up the good work!
Totally unrelated but if this is you, THE Toykeeper, thank you for your efforts for all my hank lights!!! Best ui ever.
The two things I love, it supports protected 21700, many companies will tell you their charger will, but actually will not fit a protected 21700, so frustrating. The other thing I really like is the storage mode. The killer and reason I dislike XTAR chargers is the dumb interface, you should be able to control each bay individually, that is a no brainer and one of the most basic features of a charger. I have looked at the SkyRC MC3000, tons of control but WTH, no support for protected 21700. Flashlight tech continues to evolve at a steady pace, battery charging is at a almost neanderthal stand still.
My general complaints with XTAR chargers are the display and the lack of manual per bay settings; the display might be personal preference but I think it looks cheap and gimmicky and I'd rather have a digital voltage and current readout on the main screen, the inability to manually adjust current and battery chemistry for each bay is inexcusable to me. I'm sad to see that this new charger doesn't change either of those things, although I do appreciate the ability to adjust the current at all, my VC4S will try to charge a 14500 at 3 amps and there's nothing you can do about it. It's worth having just for storage mode but it could never be my primary charger, and it's the same story for the VC4 Plus, although it's getting closer!
The vc4sl is basically the same as the vc4 plus but you have 4x1A instead of 4x0.5 plus the vc4sl has manual charging current selection. Sadly not per slot but for all 4 slots
Lol I really like the display on this one. Per-bay settings would be great, I would love to have store mode on certain bays and charge on others. I do hope Xtar continues to improve this charger with future versions that add new features, it seems the older chargers just getting cheaper too so that's cool.
@@andreasn455 I don't have a VC4SL, I have a VC4S. They are not the same charger
@@LuxWad I certainly hope they keep improving! The settings thing just seems ridiculous to me, my current main charger is a Miboxer C8, all 8 bays can have their settings changed individually, and this isn't some crazy expensive high end charger so I don't know what XTAR's excuse is.
Edit: don't take this as a recommendation or a review of the Miboxer C8, it has its own issues, I'm just comparing one aspect of it here
@@andreasn455 But sadly it don´t work. I tried it often enough with different PSUs
This is a really nice charger. Too bad it cant charge my 10180s though
Hey LuxWad. How did you get it to work with custom Olight 21700 batteries? Mine wouldn’t charge because they have a little plastic lip that protrudes. But I see you using the same battery in your video and charges fine
Just careful placement, I had to make sure the top contact actually touched the cell. If you can't get it to work you can try adding a small magnet or other metal spacer on top of the cell
Does the VC4 Plus support proprietary protected 21700 cells where there are positive and negative contacts at one end with a plastic circle sitting high around the positive button top? E.g. Klarus 21GT-E50. My VC2L can charge these cells. My XTAR SC1 Plus can't (the notch isn't long enough).
It just depends on the battery, but probably not - my propreitary Thrunite cells don't make very good connection so I wouldn't depend on this to charge those.
I'm very possible to XTAR Charger is in put voltage is USB 5V 18650. 3.7v 4. battery is fully charged 16.80V how charger to charge
Not sure this thing works great with NiMH cells like AAs. Did a capacity test on several and got crazy low numbers. Also I don't get why it tries to charge those to 1.55V, that's too high.
ive got a Xtar VC4s its very fast at charging
Підтримую вибір Шановного Автора - XTAR перевірений і дійсно якісний зарядний - кріпкий та надійний! 🇺🇦
Другий рік користуюсь VC2S (коштував $13) - компактний тому при нагоді може служити power-bank'ом (зараз вже є його модифікована версія з usb-c).
Повністю вистачає для потреб невеликого парку акумуляторів (в ротації 10-20 шт.)
Will a battery live longer when it is charged at lower amps?
Like with 1amp than with 3amp?
Yes, over time the battery capacity will fall, but using slower charging speeds will reduce that impact and extend the battery's lifespan
Whats the difference between the vc4 plus and the vc4sl? What you describe on features is basically the existing the vc4sl.
I'm not sure what the difference is, each VC4 model is just a minor change from the previous, and the SL seems functionally the same as the Plus
I think i found out. You say the vc4 plus has 4x0.5A . The vc4sl is basically identical but has 4x1A
There is no difference between those two chargers, except their name. An article on XTAR's official website has ever mentioned it.
@@andreasn455one of them came with a power adapter and the other didn’t. So just a packaging difference for distributors that wanted to include a power adapter
Vc4/vc4+ or nitecore ci4.. aaa,aa, 18650 and cr123r. What would you pick?
I prefer the XTARs, they have more useful detailed displays
Hi.. does this model charge 18650 batteries that are completely zero?
That's the revival feature, it will try to revive cells at 0v but if they are too worn out it will stop trying to charge. At that point the cell is dead and should be recycled.
Does the vc4 plus shows the total capacity of your battery after fully charge?
Only added capacity. To show total capacity you'll need to use grade mode.
🤣 my 6 year old VC4 still has the screen protector on it too
What about the VC8 Plus? Ist the VC4 Plus better in any way?
They're basically the same, the VC8 just has double the bays. I usually recommend the VC4 simply because most people don't need to charge 8 cells at once, but it's definitely a great charger!
Luxwad what charger will accomodate a 26800 cell?
I use an Olight magnetic charger for mine, XTAR also makes a single-bay charger that fits these cells:
xtardirect.com/products/xtar-sc1-plus-powerful-3a-charger-smallest-power-bank
Can it charge Olight Custom 21700 cells?
Maybe, it can charge their proprietary 18650s but it's a bit finicky, you have to line it up properly
It pains me to see that you haven't taken off the protective film on the screen
Gotta prevent it from getting scratched!
@@LuxWad lol
Have you tried using Liitokala?
No, I have heard they're pretty solid though
Avoid the Lii-500S. The slots discharge at different current levels giving you drastically different results from identical cells
so what is the difference between the vc4 plus and the dragon vc4 plus?
The Dragon VP4 Plus is bigger and uses DC power instead of a USB C port. It also has a charging port for 11v battery packs and USB outputs for smart device charging.
@@LuxWad thanks. Does it charge individual batteries or only in pairs?
@@user-du6op6qx5s Individual batteries
The VP4 Plus also has probes for 4 wire AC IR 1khz measurement. The bays aren’t independent I believe they work in pairs.
Honestly it’s a tad expensive compared to the Vapcell S4 Plus(V3 has storage function) but the AC IR measurement tool would could you $30+ on its own.
hello how is the XTAR VC8 plus ?
It's good, very similar but with 8 bays instead of 4
VC8 can be had for under $30 from Ilumn and Li Ion Wholesale. VC8 Plus has no real advantages over the 8 so its the best bang for the buck right now in the Xtar lineup
4 cells can be charged at 1A....
The VC8 can be had for 27.99 and 28.99 at Illumn and Li Ion Wholesale which kinda kills the 4+/4SL in every regard
The VC4SL is even cheaper at Illumn. It's fine but it's not faster than the 4-bay model since it has the same current output (.5A*8 at most) and it's not as portable as the VC4X, which is part of why I love them.
@@LuxWad The 4SL is two dollars cheaper which is roughly its average price on Amazon. Xtar told me months ago there was another 8 bay in the pipeline which explains the discounting on the VC8.
When I turn my 8 sideways it is 10mm wider and 30mm longer than the 4SL. I bought 4 4SL's and really regret it because the grading mode is consistent but very....conservative on the numbers it puts out. The VC8 lines up really close to my EBC-A20. Yes, the VC8 does go lower (2.65? vs 2.80) but I see a 200mah difference on 3500mah cells and theres not that much capacity below 2.80V
And don't get me started on the dial. Thankfully you can put it in storage mode to get a numerical voltage reading
What power brick (5V 3A PD 3.0 maybe ?) do you use for the xtar to be able to charge each 4 batteries at 1A at the same time ?
Thanks
@@adrien_rzk You need a power brick that has QC2.0 or QC3.0. Xtar says they use QC3.0 but my USB Tester says it is QC2.0. Not really a big deal but you will find most power bricks on the market today advertise QC3.0 which is backwards compatible with QC2.0 so just find one that advertises QC3.0.
The next part you need to determine is if it supports 9V2A. I don't think I've ever seen a QC3.0 charge brick that doesn't support 9V2A. Some don't support 12V1.5A or 12V2A but you do not need 12V. You only need 9V2A. If the power brick says 9V1.5A that will not be enough. You need the 18 watts provided by 9V2A to charge all the cells at 1A (4.2V*4 slots*1A=16.8 watts plus the small amount of power the charger needs to work=18 watts)
One more time: the output will say 9V2A and the charger will have QC3.0 somewhere near those numbers. Without 9V2A you will be stuck with 5V2A or 5V3A or 9V1.5A
@@ericklein5097 Thank you very much for all this information, do you know if it support PD 3.0 as well ? I have a 20 watts (5V 3A - 9V-2A) power brick that's Power Delivery 3.0 compatible coming up in two days, will it work to charge 4 batteries at 1A?
26800 compatible? My Vapecell fast charges all batteries not just 1.
Nope. He covered that in the video…
@@KBWrecker That's what I thought. They need to upgrade these already to include the 26800 since more lights are going to use this battery now.
I'm sure they will release a xx800 compatible version before too long
The new XTAR SC1 PLUS can charge 26800.
Yes but they don't have a vc4 model that can support it yet
какое лучше XTAR VC4 plus или XTAR VC4SL ?
They are the same, I am not aware of any differences between the two.
What about SKYRC MC3000?
It's pretty much the best charger, but it's much more expensive than the XTAR at $100+, it's just overkill for most people's needs
@@LuxWad completely agree, in many cases it is an overkill but I really like the quality and flexibility of MC3000 :)
does it work with a usb c to c cable?
Yes but it does not work with cables that have an Emarker (5A/100W+ cables). Seems to work with all my 3A cables
@@ericklein5097 that’s very interesting. thx for sharing.
@@charng no problem. Vapcell S4 Plus V3 is out (might have to email Vapcell sales as I’ve only found a German online store with the V3).
It has the storage function just like the Xtar plus 3A per cell charge rate (all 4). I believe it’s 0.5A discharge on all 4 or slots 1 and 4 can do 1A while 2 and 3 do 0.5A. Blows Xtar out of the water and as long as the price is similar to V2 ($40-$45) then it’s the best charger on the market barring the $110 SkyRC MC3000
Downside is it doesn’t use USB C. Because of the charge rate it has a 12V 5A power adapter
Can this one charge the AA 1.5V Li-ion battery from Xtar ?
Yes, I believe it can, but you should reach to Xtar to verify
Have you found the amswer for this by any chance? Im also wondering if it can charge AA 1.5v li-ion battery
Anyone successfully use this with NiMH D cells?
eeehhhhhyyyy face wad content lets gooo
Save yourself sometime and just get a vapcell S4+ charger. You'll thank me. Great review as always though Luxwad
I haven't tried the S4+, it looks really good though! I wish I could compare more chargers but unfortunately it would take too long, I've just stuck with the Xtars because they've been great for me
@@LuxWad I also use thr Vapcell S4+, got it for about 40$ from the sofirn store. Probably the best charger at this budget.
The Xtar compared is probably better value, but the inability to select different charging speeds (current) for indivitual slots automatically crosses it off for me. I'm a bit surprised it's not mentioned in the review, or I just didn't hear it :/.
Edit: Forgot to mention, the Vapcell also uses a 12V power brick and can charge 3A in all bays at the same time (12A in total).
@@grzybek3376 The S4+ looks great and I'd love to try one, the biggest factor is USB - the ability to power ther VC4 from any USB port is huge for me.
I do wish the VC4 allowed more control per bay, but personally I just charge everything at either .5A or 1A so it's not particularly important. However I did talk to XTAR and they said they would consider adding those features to the VC4 line so we'll see what happens :)
Doesn't do storage mode, does it?
@@The-Wise-One I don’t think so. I just got the vc4 plus. Exactly same as vc4sl according to xtar. One isn’t supposed to come with power brick but mine did. I do wish you could
Control each bay and temp function is nice on the s4. I don’t really care about the 3 amp charging speed per bay myself. If I would have known sofirn sold them for sub 40 bucks and with coupon code I would have bought one instead of the xtar
SkyRC MC3000
I have this charger and really give it the price for the most awful charger. Here my experience with it nad NiMH-charging
+ Nice looking
- Flickering display, charging current almost unreadable on analog scale
- manual charge current works not really because automatic override
- my best output with 4 cells was 4x 500mA (in theory, in reality it loads with around 340mA)
(sometimes I have the luck that one of 2 cells gets charged with 1A, the 2nd with 0,5A; with 3 or 4 cells all go down to 0,5A)
- if 4 cells inserted one (or more) of it stops charging at 20% or less
- with a QC3.0-PSU, even from Xtar, the chance gets higher to have more early terminations
- bad termination with a lot of cells, jokes like loading 3800mAh in a 2100mAh cell
- no chance to adjust different charge speed for the single bays
... but I think it doesnt matter because the charger override your settings
So which charger would you recommend?
@@senectarius9685 Still the Vapcell S4+
Some of the comments are ridiculous and uncalled for.
Please peel off the plastic!
No!
😂
@@LuxWad I 'm with you on this. I still got the plastic film on my X2plus screen.
😀
Work on eliminating your vocal fry so we can hear the end of your sentences. Thanks
Just got this charger and so far it's total junk. all day and night to not finish charging. 10/10 would not recommend.
What are you charging with it?
@@LuxWad vape batteries. 18650
@@mikavelli2365 What batteries though? If they are in low health with high internal resistance the charger will take quite a whiile to finish, espeically if it's doing a revive. How much capacity has the charger added to your cells?
@@LuxWad no idea what any of that means. Last charger I had I put the Batts in and it charged them with zero issues in a few hours. This one does not.
@@LuxWad inr 18650 3.7v 3000mah (11.1wh)
I've never seen a more useless manual than this. It doesn't tell you in detail what the settings do. Even worse, the font is so tiny that I had to use a magnifying glass just to read it.
So I thought I'd download the manual on my phone to make it easier. I enlarged the manual to the maximum 600% and I still had to use a magnifying glass (and I have good eyesight). Are you kidding me, how on Earth a company thinks this nonsense is acceptable is dumbfounding. Is it that hard or expensive to write a basic manual? Had to look through CZcams just to know how to use it.
Also, it kept detecting my new eneloops as Li-Ion and if you accidentally bump it the batteries move and lose connection.
Ended up returning this for a refund. Purchased a Nightcore D4 which has a manual that's readable and informative, unlike this joke.
looking for a trade for one here , would prefer a 4 bay charger , i use 21700 n 18650 batts for my lights, email me please , thanks > tom !
this charger sucks for AAA batteries