SkyRC MC5000 Charger#

• Specifications
• Introduction
• Charger in use
• Dimensions
• Battery compatibility
• User interface
• Testing a battery charger and analyzer
• Tests
• USB-C Output
• Thermal Images
• Conclusion
• Product page

Specifications#

Brand/model	SkyRC MC5000
Input Voltage	100V-240V (50Hz/60Hz)	Figure-8 power cord
Input Current	Max 1.5A @ AC220V, 2.80A @ AC100V
USB Output	PD3.0 Max 65W
Output Power	80W charge, 20W discharge	PD output takes priority, with the remaining power evenly distributed among the four slots.
Battery Count	1 to 4 cells	four independent slots
Battery Sizes	AAAA, AAA, AA, Sub-C, C, D*, 10340, 10440, 10500, 12340, 12500, 12650, 13450, 13500, 13650, 14350, 14430, 14500, 14650, 16340, RCR123, 16500, 16650, 17350, 17500, 17650, 17670, 18350, 18490, 18500, 18650, 18700, 20700, 21700, 22500, 22650, 25500, 26500, 26650, 26700, 32600**, 32650**, 32700**	* Up to two D cells can be accommodated along with two other batteries. ** Two cells can be accommodated along with two other batteries, except C batteries.
Operating Voltage Range	0.2V to 5.0V per slot
Battery Chemistry Types	Li-ion, Li-ion HV, LiFe, NiMH, NiCd, eneloop, NiZn, RAM, LTO, Na-ion
Battery Capacity	100mAh to 10,000mAh	Safety cut-off
Charge Current Range	0.05A to 5.00A	0.05A increments
C Cut-off Current	10mA to 990mA	10mA increments
-ΔV	3mV to 12mV, 1mV increments	NiMH/NiCd
Trickle Charge	50mA to 300mA, 10mA increments	NiMH/NiCd
Discharge Current Range	-0.05A to -2.00A
D Cut-off Current	10mA to 990mA	10mA increments
Tasks	Charge, Storage, Discharge, Cycle, Refresh, Break-in	Available tasks depends on the Battery Type
Cycle Count	1 to 3
Cycle Mode	4	C>D, C>D>C, D>C, D>C>D
Resting Tiem	1min to 120min	Charge Resting, Discharge Resting
Cut-off Timer	30min to 1440min
LCD Screen	320x240 LCD color screen
Dimension	188*122*65mm
Weight	665g
Firmware updatable?	Yes (via Bluetooth)
Review date	April 2025

Introduction#

The SkyRC MC5000 Battery Charger and Analyser is the much-anticipated successor to the MC3000.

It has four independent slots capable of up to 5A charging and 2A discharging.

The user interface can be controlled with a PORT button and a scroll wheel button or with the SkyCharger app for Android and iOS over Bluetooth.

SkyRC kindly sent this charger for review. I have not been paid for this review nor have I held back my opinions of this charger.

Packaging#

The SkyRC MC5000 comes in a large box with plenty of foam to protect it.

Features and specifications are printed on the side.

There is a QR code for the SkyCharger app. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The following is included in the box:

• SkyRC MC5000.
• AU figure 8 power cable.
• Quick start guide.

The SkyRC MC5000 came with protective film on the display.

SkyRC included a figure-8 cable with an Australian plug. It has two insulated pins.

Quick Start Guide#

Charger in use#

The SkyRC MC5000 is pretty big for a four slot battery charger and analyzer!

I can forgive the size due to the awesome display and the fans.

There is a PORT button and a scroll wheel button to control the SkyRC MC5000. The quality feels really good.

The positive terminals have two notches each. This makes it easier to insert flat top cells without needing to balance them near the top. That said, if the wrap of a cell blocks the negative end then you will need to carefully align the notch on the negative terminal with the negative end of a cell.

The four rubber feet are massive and they feel durable.

There are three fans and multiple vent holes to cool everything down.

There are two stands that kick out at a 13 degree angle. This helps with the airflow and makes it easier to see the display from an angle.

Dimensions and weight#

Dimensions#

I took the following measurements using a digital caliper.

Measurement	Unit (mm)
Charger height	62.2
Charger width	122.27
Charger length	65.34
Shortest cell length	31
Longest cell length	79

Weight#

I took the following measurements using a digital scale.

Weight	Unit (g)
SkyRC MC5000	665

Battery compatibility#

The SkyRC MC5000 is able to fit most of the cells that I have.

10440 and 16340 cells with flat and button tops work.

18350 cells with flat tops, recessed tops and button tops work. Olight 18350 cells work.

14500 cells with flat tops and button tops work. eneloop and NiMH AA and AAA cells work.

I was able to get a 26800 cell to fit but it was a very tight squeeze. 26650 and 32650 cells work.

Overall, I am impressed with the battery compatibility.

User interface#

The SkyRC MC5000 has two buttons to control it:

1. A PORT button to select the slot.
2. A scroll wheel that can also be pressed down to act as a button.

I found the user interface to be very intuitive.

You can use the SkyCharger app for Android and iOS to control the SkyRC MC5000.

There are two ways to select a slot:

• Press the PORT button. The display will change to a screen for slot 1, 2, 3 or 4.
• Scroll up or down from the main screen. The number 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be highlighted. Press the PORT button or the scroll wheel to select that slot.

From the slot screen, press the scroll wheel to edit the configuration.

Select the Battery Type by scrolling down and by pressing the scroll wheel.

Battery Types:

• Li-ion
• Li-ion HV
• LiFe
• NiMH
• NiCd
• eneloop
• NiZN
• RAM
• LTO
• Na-ion

Once you have selected a Battery Type (e.g. Li-ion for 3.6V/3.7V Li-ion), select a Task (e.g. Charge).

Li-ion Tasks:

• Charge
• Storage
• Discharge
• Cycle

Each Battery Type will have a different set of Tasks with different presets. When you edit the options for a task, the SkyRC MC5000 will memorise your preferences. Upgrading the firmware might reset your preferences.

Once you have selected a task, insert a cell, scroll up, and press the scroll wheel to select Start. You will be prompted with a question asking whether you would like to apply your choice to the current slot or all slots.

If you would like to stop a task early, select a slot and press the scroll wheel. You will be prompted with “Stop Working?”. Press the scroll wheel again to stop the task or press the PORT button to cancel and resume the task.

I highly recommend reading through the Quick Start Guide.

Testing a battery charger and analyzer#

I started by reading HKJ’s web page “How do I test a charger” to figure out how to measure the voltage, current and temperature of a cell in a charger.

This resulted in ordering some parts from mouser to create a shunt to measure the voltage so that the current could be calculated:
30*603-MFR-12FTF52-0R1 MFR-12FTF52-0R1 0.1 OHM 1/6W 1%
1*590-540 540 DB SIDE COP CLAD BRD

I decided to use parametrek’s ble_meters script to record the data from two Zoyi ZT-300AB Digital Multimeters with Bluetooth connectivity.

After assembling the shunt, I tried to determine the resistance of it so that I could calculate the current:
https://www.robotroom.com/Measuring-Low-Resistances.html

I measured a resistance of roughly 9.5686 mΩ using a UNI-T UT139C Digital Multimeter.

The ble_meters script sees what the Zoyi ZT-300AB has on the display.

For example:

The voltage measured across the shunt might be 0.99mV when there’s a pre-charge current of 100mA.

A 300AB that’s hooked up to the shunt will display 00.99mV and ble_meters will have 0.00099 V.

I can use Ohm’s law (V=IR or I=V/R) to determine the current based on the voltage displayed and the known resistance value of the shunt (0.0095686 Ω).

I = V / R = 0.99mV / 9.5686 mΩ = 0.00099 / 0.0095686 = 0.10346 A

In the interest of transparency and to help others try to measure battery chargers, here is a charger_plot.py script that I created based on bmengineer’s RuTiTe to generate graphs showing the voltage, current and temperature over time.

To measure the temperature, I taped a type K thermocouple to the cell with Kapton tape.

DISCLAIMER: My results may not be very accurate because. A 2A charging current might end up being read as 1.95A or 2.05A. There may also be gaps in the data where Bluetooth connectivity has dropped. I restarted tests where too much data was lost.

Tests#

Room temperature: 21 C

I have measured the voltage, current and temperature of various 1.2V Ni-MH, 3.6V Li-ion and 3.2V LiFePO4 cells while charging and discharging them in a the SkyRC MC5000.

The temperature was measured with a Type K thermocouple.

The voltage was measured with a Zoyi ZT-300AB Digital Multimeter.

The current was calculated by measuring the voltage across a shunt with another Zoyi ZT-300AB Digital Multimeter.

The start and finish voltages were measured with a Fluke 117C.

Here are the test results!

Battery Type	Task	Current	Cell	Link
Li-ion	Charge	2000mA	Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh	Results
Li-ion	Charge	5000mA	XTAR 26650 3.6V Li-ion 6000mAh	Results
Li-ion	Storage	2000mA	Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh	Results
Li-ion	Storage	-2000mA	Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh	Results
Li-ion	Discharge	-2000mA	Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh	Results
Li-ion	Cycle	1000mA	Vapcell M11 V2 18350 3.7V Li-ion 1100mAh	Results
NiMH	Charge	2000mA	LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh	Results
NiMH	Charge	2000mA	LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh	Results
NiMH	Discharge	-2000mA	LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh	Results
NiMH	Cycle	1250mA	LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh	Results
eneloop	Charge	2000mA	eneloop pro AA NiMH 2450mAh	Results
eneloop	Charge	2000mA	eneloop pro AA NiMH 2450mAh	Results
eneloop	Discharge	-620mA	eneloop pro AA NiMH 2450mAh	Results
LiFe	Charge	1000mA	SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh	Results
LiFe	Storage	1000mA	SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh	Results
LiFe	Storage	-500mA	SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh	Results
LiFe	Discharge	-500mA	SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh	Results
LiFe	Cycle	500mA	SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh	Results
LiFe	Cycle	1000mA	SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh	Results

I bought two SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh cells from jaycar.com.au to see how the SkyRC MC5000 handles them. The product page mentioned that they can be cycled 2,000 times. Specifications: 2.0A (Peak Current), 1.0 mAh (Amp Hour Rating), 60 mOhm (Internal Resistance), Nipple (Connection Type), 5 second (Peak Discharge Duration), 1.6A (Continuous Current), 3.2V (DC Voltage). There was no data sheet. I found SB2307 mentioned on an Electus Distribution website. I will take the specifications with a grain of salt and be conservative when using the SkyRC MC5000 to charge and discharge the cell.

Li-ion Charge #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: Li-ion
Task: Charge
Capacity: 5000mAh
Cut-off Voltage: 4.20V
Charge Current: 2.00A
C Cut-off Current: 100mA

Battery: Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	3.365
Finish Voltage	4.203
Capacity (mAh)	3384
IR (mOhm)	12
Time (hh:mm:ss)	01:53:31

Li-ion Charge #2#

Firmware: 1.56
Battery Type: Li-ion
Task: Charge
Capacity: 8000mAh
Cut-off Voltage: 4.20V
Charge Current: 5.00A
C Cut-off Current: 100mA

Battery: XTAR 26650 3.6V Li-ion 6000mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	2.953
Finish Voltage	4.178
Capacity (mAh)	6051
IR (mOhm)	136
Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:36:58

Li-ion Storage #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: Li-ion
Task: Storage
Capacity: 5000mAh
Storage Voltage: 3.70V
Charge Current: 2.00A
Discharge Current: -2.00A

Battery: Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	3.310
Finish Voltage	3.700
Capacity (mAh)	1336
IR (mOhm)	13
Time (hh:mm:ss)	01:09:45

Li-ion Storage #2#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: Li-ion
Task: Storage
Capacity: 5000mAh
Storage Voltage: 3.70V
Charge Current: 2.00A
Discharge Current: -2.00A

Battery: Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	4.204
Finish Voltage	3.709
Capacity (mAh)	2117
IR (mOhm)	30
Time (hh:mm:ss)	01:41:13

Li-ion Discharge #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: Li-ion
Task: Discharge
Capacity: 5000mAh
Cut-off Voltage: 3.20V
Discharge Current: -2.00A
D Cut-off Current: 100mA

Battery: Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	4.206
Finish Voltage	3.223
Capacity (mAh)	3560
IR (mOhm)	13
Time (hh:mm:ss)	01:55:51

Li-ion Cycle #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: Li-ion
Task: Cycle
Capacity: 1300mAh
Target Voltage: 4.20V
Cut-off Voltage: 3.20V
Charge Current: 1.00A
Discharge Current: -1.00A
Cycle Mode: C>D
Cycle Count: 3
C Cut-off Current: 100mA
D Cut-off Current: 100mA
Charge Resting: 10Min
Discharge Resting: 10Min
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: Vapcell M11 V2 18350 3.7V Li-ion 1100mAh (yellow) (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	4.192
Finish Voltage	3.290
C1 Capacity (mAh)	001
D1 Capacity (mAh)	1126
C2 Capacity (mAh)	1114
D2 Capacity (mAh)	1112
C3 Capacity (mAh)	1114
D3 Capacity (mAh)	1111
IR (mOhm)	33
Time (hh:mm:ss)	06:56:01

eneloop Charge #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: eneloop
Task: Charge
Model: Pro/XX AA
-ΔV: 6mV
Target Voltage: 1.65V
Charge Current: 1.25A
Trickle Charge: OFF
Keep Voltage: OFF
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: eneloop pro AA NiMH 2450mAh

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	1.167
Finish Voltage	1.450
Capacity (mAh)	2489
IR (mOhm)	24
Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:24:14

eneloop Charge #2#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: eneloop
Task: Charge
Model: Pro/XX AA
-ΔV: 6mV
Target Voltage: 1.65V
Charge Current: 1.25A
Trickle Charge: ON
Keep Voltage: OFF
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: eneloop pro AA NiMH 2450mAh

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	1.199
Finish Voltage	1.470
Capacity (mAh)	2432
IR (mOhm)	23
Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:13:52

eneloop Discharge #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: eneloop
Task: Discharge
Model: Pro/XX AA
Cut-off Voltage: 0.90V
Discharge Current: -0.62A
D Cut-off Current: 100mA
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: eneloop pro AA NiMH 2450mAh

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	1.429
Finish Voltage	1.134
Capacity (mAh)	2534
IR (mOhm)	22
Time (hh:mm:ss)	04:13:55

NiMH Charge #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: NiMH
Task: Charge
Capacity: 2600mAh
-ΔV: 6mV
Target Voltage: 1.65V
Charge Current: 1.25A
Trickle Charge: OFF
Keep Voltage: OFF
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	1.085
Finish Voltage	1.429
Capacity (mAh)	2515
IR (mOhm)	27
Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:15:38

NiMH Charge #2#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: NiMH
Task: Charge
Capacity: 2600mAh
-ΔV: 6mV
Target Voltage: 1.65V
Charge Current: 1.25A
Trickle Charge: ON
Keep Voltage: OFF
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	1.176
Finish Voltage	1.480
Capacity (mAh)	2529
IR (mOhm)	26
Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:16:21

NiMH Discharge #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: NiMH
Task: Discharge
Capacity: 2600mAh
Cut-off Voltage: 0.90V
Discharge Current: -2.00A
D Cut-off Current: 100mA
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	1.461
Finish Voltage	1.157
Capacity (mAh)	2573
IR (mOhm)	23
Time (hh:mm:ss)	01:37:52

NiMH Cycle #1#

Firmware: 1.49
Battery Type: NiMH
Task: Cycle
Capacity: 2600mAh
-ΔV: 6mV
Target Voltage: 1.65V
Cut-off Voltage: 0.90V
Charge Current: 1.25A
Discharge Current: -2.00A
Cycle Mode: C>D
Cycle Count: 3
D Cut-off Current: 100mA
Trickle Charge: 50mA
Charge Resting: 10Min
Discharge Resting: 10Min
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	1.168
Finish Voltage	1.329
C1 Capacity (mAh)	2543
D1 Capacity (mAh)	2524
C2 Capacity (mAh)	2548
D2 Capacity (mAh)	2526
C3 Capacity (mAh)	2528
D3 Capacity (mAh)	2525
IR (mOhm)	28
Time (hh:mm:ss)	12:19:17

LiFePO4 Charge #1#

Firmware: 1.53
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Task: Charge
Capacity: 5000mAh
Cut-off Voltage: 3.65V
Charge Current: 0.50A
C Cut-off Current: 100mA

Battery: SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	2.767
Finish Voltage	3.444
Capacity (mAh)	1937
IR (mOhm)	36
Time (hh:mm:ss)	03:55:59

LiFePO4 Storage #1#

Firmware: 1.54
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Task: Storage
Capacity: 5000mAh
Storage Voltage: 3.30V
Charge Current: 1.00A
Discharge Current: -0.50A

Battery: SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	2.759
Finish Voltage	3.284
Capacity (mAh)	370
IR (mOhm)	66
Time (hh:mm:ss)	01:03:26

LiFePO4 Storage #2#

Firmware: 1.54
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Task: Storage
Capacity: 5000mAh
Storage Voltage: 3.30V
Charge Current: 1.00A
Discharge Current: -0.50A

Battery: SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	3.600
Finish Voltage	3.327
Capacity (mAh)	47
IR (mOhm)	39
Time (hh:mm:ss)	00:17:31

LiFePO4 Discharge #1#

Firmware: 1.53
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Task: Discharge
Capacity: 5000mAh
Cut-off Voltage: 2.60V
Discharge Current: -0.50A
D Cut-off Current: 100mA

Battery: SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	3.424
Finish Voltage	2.757
Capacity (mAh)	1926
IR (mOhm)	36
Time (hh:mm:ss)	03:56:04

LiFePO4 Cycle #1#

Firmware: 1.53
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Task: Cycle
Capacity: 5000mAh
Target Voltage: 3.65V
Cut-off Voltage: 2.60V
Charge Current: 0.50A
Discharge Current: -0.50A
Cycle Mode: C>D
Cycle Count: 3
C Cut-off Current: 100mA
D Cut-off Current: 100mA
Charge Resting: 10Min
Discharge Resting: 10Min
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh (flat top)

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	2.757
Finish Voltage	2.760
C1 Capacity (mAh)	1935
D1 Capacity (mAh)	1925
C2 Capacity (mAh)	1935
D2 Capacity (mAh)	1923
C3 Capacity (mAh)	1934
D3 Capacity (mAh)	1920
IR (mOhm)	52
Time (hh:mm:ss)	24:22:17

LiFePO4 Cycle #2#

Firmware: 1.54
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Task: Cycle
Capacity: 5000mAh
Target Voltage: 3.65V
Cut-off Voltage: 2.60V
Charge Current: 1.00A
Discharge Current: -0.50A
Cycle Mode: C>D
Cycle Count: 3
C Cut-off Current: 100mA
D Cut-off Current: 100mA
Charge Resting: 10Min
Discharge Resting: 10Min
Cut-off Timer: OFF

Battery: SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh (flat top)

The capacity and duration for each charge and discharge cycle can be viewed by using the scroll wheel.

Measurement	CH1
Start Voltage	2.804
Finish Voltage	2.773
C1 Capacity (mAh)	1935
C1 Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:02:56
D1 Capacity (mAh)	1924
D1 Time (hh:mm:ss)	03:56:07
C2 Capacity (mAh)	1932
C2 Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:02:12
D2 Capacity (mAh)	1921
D2 Time (hh:mm:ss)	03:56:29
C3 Capacity (mAh)	1929
C3 Time (hh:mm:ss)	02:02:03
D3 Capacity (mAh)	1920
D3 Time (hh:mm:ss)	03:55:54
IR (mOhm)	69
Time (hh:mm:ss)	18:45:41

Charging a protected Li-ion cell#

The SkyRC MC5000 does not appear to be able to activate a protected cell where low voltage protection has been triggered.

I tried to charge a protected 14500 3.6V Li-ion 920mAh cell where a flashlight had discharged it to a point where low voltage protection was triggered. However, the SkyRC MC5000 was unable to detect the cell.

I put another 14500 3.6V Li-ion 920mAh cell with a relatively low voltage of 3.2V in slot 1 and started charging it. I then quickly swapped it out with the other 14500 cell and the SkyRC MC5000 continued charging. This workaround works but it would be better if the charger could apply a low current when selecting Start for a slot.

USB-C Output#

The SkyRC MC5000 has USB-C PD3.0 65W output.

Here is a graph showing my phone being charged from 69%:

These are the protocols that were detected by various USB Meters:

ChargerLAB Power-Z KM003C

QC2.0 5V, 9V, 12V, 20V
QC3.0 3.6-20V
FCP 24.0W 5V/2A 9V/2A 12V/2A
SCP 40.0W 3.30V-12.00V 0.03A-4.00A
AFC 24.0W 5V/2A 9V/2A 12V/2A
SFCP
PD3.0 60W 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/3A
PPS 3.3-21V/3A
QC5
DCP SAM 2A
Apple 2.4A

FNIRSI FNB58

PD -> PD3.0 65.00W PDO:6
APPLE -> 5V 2.4A PE+1.1
BC1.2 -> DCP 5V 1.5A PE+2.0
SAMSUNG AFC -> 9V 12V
HUAWEI FCP -> 5V 9V 12V
HUAWEI SCP -> 3.3 - 12.0V @ 40.0W
QC2.0 -> 5V 9V 12V 20V QC4.0
QC3.0 -> 20.12V Max QC4.0+

Internal Resistance#

The internal resistance detected by the SkyRC MC5000 is slightly higher compared to a FNIRSI HRM-10.

Battery Type	Cell	SkyRC MC5000	FNIRSI HRM-10
Li-ion	Molicel P42A 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4200mAh	15 µA	9.67 µA
NiMH	LADDA AA NiMH 2450mAh	35 µA	25.12 µA
eneloop	eneloop pro AA NiMH 2450mAh	31 µA	21.12 µA
LiFe	SB2307 18650 3.2V LiFePO4 1600mAh	44 µA	22.88 µA

Thermal Images#

I used a Zoyi ZT-R01 IR Thermography Multimeter to take thermal images of the SkyRC MC5000 while charging a Molicel P42A at a rate of 5A.

1 minute 40 seconds#

5 minutes#

6 minutes#

AC Leakage#

To check whether there is any risk of electric shock by touching the positive or negative terminals, I measured the AC leakage between the positive and negative terminals and Protective Earth with a Fluke 117C and a UNI-T UT139C.

The measured AC leakage was 70V 27 µA.

According to AS/NZS 60335.1:2020, the maximum permissible touch current from accessible parts to earth for Class II appliances is 250 µA AC.

Conclusion#

The SkyRC MC5000 Battery Charger and Analyzer may have dethroned the MC3000 as the ultimate cylindrical battery charger! What are your thoughts?

I am a massive fan of the physical clicky buttons. They are easy to use and fast. The scroll wheel feels so nice.

The 320x240 colour display provides access to plenty of details. The graphs look pretty cool.

The positive and negative terminals for each slot worked with all of my cells. It would be even better if the slots were 3mm longer so that 26800 cells fit comfortably (they fit but it was a squeeze).

SkyRC have been releasing multiple firmware updates for the MC5000 and they have been updating the SkyCharger app too. I appreciate how SkyRC have been accepting user feedback and how they have been making improvements available via firmware updates.

I would love to see a feature added where a user can save a particular Battery Type and Task to a list of Favourites and then quickly select and apply one of their favourite configurations to one or more slots.

The SkyRC MC5000 is one of the best battery chargers and analysers that I have tested. I can highly recommend it.

Pros:#

• Great build quality.
• Good user interface.
• Good positive terminal design.
• 320x240 colour display.
• Physical buttons and scroll wheel instead of capacitive touch sensors.
• 5A charging.
• 2A discharging.
• Fans and vents for cooling.
• Beep (alarm) that can be adjusted or turned off.
• USB-C PD3.0 65W output.
• SkyCharger app for Android and iOS.

Cons:#

• No favourites feature to save and recall commonly used tasks.
• No USB-C input.
• Unable to charge a protected cell when low voltage protection has been triggered.
• -ΔV is limited to 3mV to 12mV. 0mV would be nice for some situations.
• Discharge cut-off voltage is currently limited to 2.90V for Li-ion and LiFe.
• Slightly too short to comfortably fit 26800 cells.

Price#

TBC

Product page#

SkyRC MC5000 at skyrc.com