SKYRC NC3000 Pro

Introduction

Congratulations on choosing the SkyRC NC3000 Pro Charger & Analyzer!

The NC3000 Pro is a versatile charger designed specifically for AA/AAA NiMH and NiCD batteries, combining charging, discharging, and analysis functions in one device. It supports QC2.0 and QC/PD3.0 inputs, and with its four independent slots, it can charge up to four batteries simultaneously. The charge and discharge currents are adjustable, with a maximum charge current of 3.00A and a discharge current of 2.50A. The color screen provides real-time data on current, voltage, and capacity at a glance. Additionally, the NC3000 Pro features built-in Bluetooth, enabling users to manage batteries and analyze data easily via the SkyCharger app.

Warning

• ⚠️ Never charge batteries other than NiMH or NiCD. Please read the battery's manual to ensure it can accept the programmed charge/discharge rates.
• ⚠️ Never expose the unit to rain or moisture to avoid fire.
• ⚠️ Never use the charger if it appears damaged.
• ⚠️ Ensure correct battery polarity (positive terminal facing the top). Wrong polarity may cause fire or explosion.
• ⚠️ Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight. Operate in a well-ventilated area. Do not place the charger on the carpet.
• ⚠️ Never allow the battery terminals to become shorted.
• ⚠️ Batteries may become hot during charging/discharging (especially at high current)! Handle with care when removing batteries.
• ⚠️ Remove all batteries and unplug the charger from the power source when not in use.
• ⚠️ Never leave the charger unattended when charging.
• ⚠️ Never charge or discharge any battery showing signs of leakage, expansion/swelling, damaged outer wrapper or case, color-change, or distortion.
• ⚠️ Never block the cooling fan or the air ventilation holes.

Features

• Supports mainstream fast charging protocols including QC2.0, QC3.0, and PD3.0, accommodating various input types.
• Four independent charging slots allow for customized charging for up to four batteries simultaneously, delivering efficient and convenient charging.
• Six charging modes: Charge, Discharge, Break-in, Cycle, MaxBoost, and Turbo to cater to different battery needs.
• Each slot supports up to 3.00A high current charging for rapid battery recovery.
• One-click synchronization of settings across all slots simplifies operation.
• Mobile app control allows users to monitor charging status and view detailed battery data.
• MaxBoost mode unleashes the full potential of batteries.
• Supports multiple languages, including English, German, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
• Intuitive Scroll and Button design for easy operation.
• Color screen provides real-time display of charging data at a glance.

Specifications

Battery Knowledge

What is the Meaning of "mAh" on Rechargeable Batteries?

mAh stands for milliamp hour, a unit that measures electric power over time. It is commonly used to indicate a battery's energy capacity. Generally, a higher mAh value means greater battery capacity and longer battery life.

Battery Capacity mAh = discharge (milliampere) x discharging time (hour)

For example, if you insert a 2400mAh battery into an appliance which consumes 50 milliampere current continuously, the operating time of the appliance will be around 48 hours.

What is "C" Charge/Discharge Rate?

The battery "C" Rating is the measurement of current at which a battery is charged or discharged. "C" stands for the battery capacity, and the number preceding it is the fraction of the battery capacity. For example, 0.3C means 0.3 times the capacity for the battery. For a 2400mAh battery, 0.3C would be 0.3 x 2400mAh = 720mA.

Choose the Right Charge & Discharge Rate

It is not recommended to charge at a rate lower than 0.3C and higher than 1.0C. Charging too slow may affect the charger termination properly. Charging too fast may cause the battery to overheat, and shorten its lifespan.

Generally speaking, a smaller charging rate can prolong the battery lifespan while charging time will be longer. A larger charging rate makes charging fast but with battery heat-up, which will shorten its lifespan.

It is not recommended to use a discharge rate above 1.0C.

Charge/Discharge Rate Reference - AAA Batteries

Charge/Discharge Rate Reference - AA Batteries

Battery Matching

Most electronic devices require two or more batteries to operate together. In such cases, the overall power performance is limited by the weakest battery. In other words, a poorly performing battery will reduce the device's operating time. Battery matching involves grouping batteries with similar capacities to ensure balanced performance. Grouping batteries by capacity maximizes efficiency. With Cycle mode, you can easily match batteries with similar capacities!

Battery Formatting

New batteries and those stored for more than three months become chemically deactivated. The battery formatting refers to activating the battery with a small charge and discharge rate. This can be achieved through the Break-in mode. In some circumstances, this process may need to be repeated two to three times.

Power and Battery Connection

1. Connect to a PD/QC 30W or higher power adapter, ensuring the input power complies with QC2.0, QC3.0, and PD3.0 input standards.

2. Insert AA or AAA batteries.

Note: Always insert the Negative (-) terminal FIRST as shown in the diagram.

Charging Operation

The charger offers a step-by-step process for charging and configuring battery settings.

Selecting a Charge Slot

Press the PORT and Scroll buttons to select the desired charge slot.

Entering Charge Settings

Press the Scroll button to access Charge Settings.

Selecting Working Mode

Press and scroll to select your desired working mode (e.g., Charge, Discharge, Break-in, Cycle).

Setting Parameters

Navigate through the settings to adjust:

• Capacity: Press and scroll to select the battery's capacity.
• Charge Current: Press and scroll to select the preferred charge current.
• Target Voltage: Press and scroll to select the cut-off voltage.
• Cut-off Timer: Press and scroll to select the safety timer.
• Restart Volt.: Press and scroll to select the restart voltage.
• -ΔV: Press and scroll to select the -ΔV parameter based on the battery condition.

Selecting Trickle Charge Current

Press and scroll to select the trickle charge current.

Selecting Current Mode

Press and scroll to select the preferred current mode (e.g., Fixed, IR Auto).

Initiating and Stopping Programs

• Press the Scroll button to initiate the charging program.
• Press the Scroll button to terminate the current program.

Applying Settings to All Channels

A prompt will ask to confirm if the charge settings should be applied to all channels.

The UI displays show current voltage, current, and capacity for each slot.

Working Mode

The charger supports six distinct working modes:

• Charge: For charging batteries in good performance. Process terminates when the battery is full or other criteria are met.
• Discharge: For discharging batteries in good performance. Process terminates when discharge criteria are met.
• Cycle: Determines battery performance based on actual capacity. Applicable for batteries stored for over two weeks but less than three months, or those not performing well. Capacity of each cycle can be viewed upon completion.
• Break-in: Activates new batteries or those stored for over three months, or batteries not rescued by Cycle mode. It involves a charge-discharge-charge sequence (e.g., C->D->C) with specific rates and rest times. This process may need repeating.
• MaxBoost: Designed for racing, it fully charges the battery then discharges it to a specified capacity for peak performance.
• Turbo: Charges four batteries simultaneously at up to 3.00A for effective charging. This mode requires batteries to perform very well. The charger measures battery resistance and adjusts current automatically if 'IR Auto' is selected. If resistance exceeds 40mΩ, charging stops to protect the battery.

Parameters Configuration

Customize various settings for optimal battery management:

• Capacity: Serves as rated capacity and a protective setting. In Break-in mode, it's the required rated capacity. In other modes, it prevents overcharging/overdischarging.
• C. Current: Applicable for Charge and other modes. Fixed at 0.1C in Break-in mode.
• D. Current: Applicable for Discharge and other modes. Fixed at 0.2C in Break-in mode.
• Target Volt.: Charge program terminates when battery voltage reaches this preset value.
• D. Cut-off Volt.: Discharge program terminates when battery voltage reaches this preset cut-off voltage.
• D. Cut-off Curr.: Holds voltage constant at discharge cut-off by reducing current, extending discharge period and reducing voltage recovery.
• Cut-off Timer: Terminates program with an error if working time exceeds the set limit, preventing overcharging/overdischarging.
• Restart Volt.: For Charge mode; sets a minimum battery voltage after charging, especially for batteries prone to self-discharging. Must be lower than Target Voltage.
• -ΔV: Controls charge termination for NiMH/NiCD batteries by monitoring voltage drop near full charge. Helps prevent overcharging and extends battery life.
• Trickle Charge: A small current applied after charging to counter self-discharge and keep batteries topped off.
• Current Mode: Choose between 'Fixed' (uses set current) and 'IR Auto' (automatically adjusts current based on battery's internal resistance) for Turbo, Cycle, MaxBoost, and Charge modes.
• Resting After C.: Duration (0-240 mins) for battery rest after a charge cycle.
• Resting After D.: Duration (0-240 mins) for battery rest after a discharge cycle.
• Cycle Count: Number of cycles (1-3 times) for Cycle mode, based on battery condition.
• Cycle/Break-in: Defines a sequence of charging and discharging routines (e.g., "D->C->D").
• D. Capacity: Applies only to MaxBoost mode; discharges battery to a specified capacity for optimal performance.

Charging Current Automatic Adjusted

As batteries age, their internal resistance increases, consuming more energy and generating heat during charging. The charger detects battery internal resistance. When 'IR Auto' is selected and high resistance is detected, the charge current is automatically reduced to minimize heating and protect the battery. In 'Fixed' mode, the charger uses the set charge current.

Note: Use the Cycle mode when determining battery capacity.

Battery Internal Resistance vs. Charge Rate

Status LED Explained

Rescue Batteries

If batteries are still underperforming after trying all modes, follow these steps:

1. Use Cycle mode once to three times.
2. If capacity remains low, switch to Break-in mode.
3. If these steps improve capacity by over 10%, repeat Break-in mode once to three times. If no significant improvement occurs and actual capacity is less than 60% of rated capacity, the battery may be at the end of its life and requires replacement.

Working with the SkyCharger App

The built-in Bluetooth 5.0 allows users to control the charger, view charging graphs, and upgrade firmware via the SkyCharger app.

Operation Steps:

1. Connect the charger to a PD/QC 30W or higher power adapter.
2. Insert AA or AAA batteries.
3. Press '+' to add a device and verify the Bluetooth ID before selecting it.
4. Set the passcode, select the slot, and configure parameters.
5. Choose whether to apply charge settings to all slots.
6. Click START to initiate charging.
7. Click Details to view the charging graph and operation details. Click the battery icon to switch views between slots.
8. Click the slot number button to stop the program operation for that slot.

Please be reminded:

• Ensure your phone's Bluetooth is enabled, then launch the SkyCharger app to search for and connect to the charger.
• DO NOT connect the charger through your phone's Settings > Bluetooth!

Errors Explained

In case of a fault, the NC3000 Pro will display an error message. Refer to the table for troubleshooting guidance:

In The Box

The package includes:

• 1 x SkyRC NC3000 Pro Charger
• 1 x Instruction Manual

System Settings

Press and hold the Scroll button to enter System Settings.

Conformity Declaration

SkyRC NC3000 Pro complies with all relevant and mandatory CE directives and FCC Part 15 Subpart B.

Liability Exclusion

This charger is designed and approved exclusively for use with the types of battery stated in this Instruction Manual. SkyRC accepts no liability of any kind if the charger is used for any purpose other than that stated. SkyRC cannot ensure that users follow the instructions supplied with the charger, nor does it have control over the methods employed for using, operating, and maintaining the device.

Consequently, SkyRC denies all liability for loss, damage, or costs incurred due to incompetent or incorrect use and operation of its products, or which are connected with such operation in any way. Unless otherwise prescribed by law, SkyRC's obligation to pay compensation is limited to the invoice value of the SkyRC products immediately and directly involved in the event causing the damage.

Warranty and Service

This product is guaranteed to be free of manufacturing and assembly defects for one year from the date of purchase. The warranty applies only to material or operational defects present at the time of purchase. During this period, defective products will be repaired or replaced free of service charge.

This warranty is void for any damage or subsequent damage arising from misuse, modification, or failure to observe the procedures outlined in this manual.

Note:

1. Warranty service is valid in China only.
2. For overseas warranty service, please contact your dealer first. Due to high shipping costs and complicated customs procedures, SkyRC cannot provide direct warranty service to overseas end users.
3. For any questions not covered in this manual, please email info@skyrc.com.