Xtar MC2+ Li-ion 18650 Cylindrical Cell Charger

Xtar MC2+ Li-ion Charger for 18650 and Cylindrical Cells

The Xtar MC2+ is a compact, easy-to-use charger designed for hobbyists who want a reliable and safe way to charge Li-ion cylindrical cells. Despite its small size, it offers a smart, processor-controlled charging system with three-stage TC/CC/CV charging, helping maintain battery health and ensuring proper charging from start to finish.

Key features

• Processor-controlled TC/CC/CV three-stage charging
• Automatically selected charging current: 0.5A / 1A
• Two independent charging channels
• Powered by any micro USB charger with at least 1A output
• Compact and portable design
• Deep-discharge cell reactivation function
• Built-in protections: short circuit, thermal protection, and reverse polarity protection

Xtar is a well-known manufacturer of high-quality Li-ion chargers, flashlights, and rechargeable batteries. Xtar products are available in more than 120 countries, including the USA, Germany, Japan, and many other markets. The brand is recognized for using quality materials and efficient electronics throughout its product range. All Xtar chargers carry CE certification required for the European market.

Inside its compact housing, the Xtar MC2+ hides a fully professional microprocessor-controlled charging system. It supports 3.6V / 3.7V Li-ion cells in the following sizes: 10440, 14500, 14650, 16340, 17500, 17670, 18350, 18500, 18650, 18700, 20700, and 21700 (unprotected cells only).

How does the TC/CC/CV charging method work?
This is a three-stage charging process for Li-ion cells that helps keep batteries in good condition by applying the right current at each stage and ending the charging cycle at the correct moment.

• TC phase: cells discharged below 2.9V are gently “woken up” with a lower current.
• CC phase: once the cell reaches 2.9V, it is charged with constant current — 0.5A for batteries up to 54 mm long, or 1A for batteries longer than 54 mm.
• CV phase: when the cell is nearly full, the charger switches to decreasing current until the battery reaches 4.2V. At that point, charging is complete and the cell is fully charged.

Cells with a voltage of 4.1V or higher are recognized by the charger as already charged. To top off such a battery to full, insert it into the charger before connecting the charger to power. Fully charged cells left in the charger will naturally self-discharge over time. Charging will resume automatically when the battery voltage drops below 4.1V.

The Xtar MC2+ also features a deep-discharge and 0V cell reactivation function. Many chargers on the market cannot handle batteries in this condition, but the MC2+ can attempt to recover them. Simply insert the deeply discharged battery as you would during normal charging, and the charger will detect the cell and try to reactivate it.

Please note: cells discharged below a critical level may suffer irreversible damage, and recovery may not always be possible. Deep discharging Li-ion batteries should be avoided, as it can significantly reduce lifespan, lower capacity, or permanently damage the cell.

Some chargers from other manufacturers can cause batteries to heat up significantly during charging, which may lead to faster wear. Xtar addressed this issue in the MC2+ by using an external power source. Thanks to this design, the temperature of a battery charged in the MC2+ increases by no more than approximately 15°C.

In the box with the Xtar MC2+, you get a micro USB cable and a protective pouch for safe transport. A power adapter is not included. The charger can be powered by any USB power source with a micro USB cable, such as a phone charger, a USB wall adapter, or a computer with a free USB port. A 2A (2000mA) USB power supply is recommended. It is also possible to use a 1A charger, but charging time will be longer.