Review: SkyRC B6neo LiPo Battery Charger – Best Portable Charger of 2023? Better than M4 Pocket?

The SkyRC B6neo is an affordable, portable LiPo battery charger that’s compact and lightweight, making it the ideal solution for refuelling your batteries on the move. With a power rating of 200W, it’s well-equipped to handle the demands of daily use. And, at a modest price of just $36, it’s an excellent choice for beginners who don’t want to break the bank. But does it deliver in terms of performance and reliability? Let’s dive in and explore in this review.

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New to FPV? Learn more about LiPo charger in this buyer’s guide: https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/

Where to Buy

You can get your SkyRC B6 Neo charger from the following vendors:

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFnuemV
• Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-utze
• SkyRC: https://www.skyrc.com/b6neo

Included in the package, you’ll find the charger and a user manual.

Specifications

The B6neo charger has the following specifications:

• Input voltage: DC 10.0-28.0V, PD3.0/QC 12.0-20.0V
• Input current: DC 12A, PD 5A
• Maximum output power: DC 200W, PD 80W
• Working mode:
  • LiPo/LiFe/LiIon/LiHV: Balance CHG, Charge, Storage, Discharge;
  • NiMH/NiCd: Charge, Re-Peak, CYCLE_C_D, CYCLE_D_C, Discharge;
  • Pb: Normal, AGM Charge, Cold Charge, Discharge;
• DC power supply 5.0-27.0V, 1.0-10.0A
• Supported Battery type/cells:
  • LiPo/LiFe/LiIon/LiHV 1S-6S,
  • NiMH/NiCd 1S-15S,
  • Pb 3S/6S
• Charge current:
  • LiPo/LiFe/LiIon/LiHV 0.2A-10.0A,
  • NiMH/NiCd 0.2A-10.0A, Pb 0.2A-10.0A
• Discharge current: Current 0.1A-2A
• Power: Max. 24W (±10%) based on 6S(4.2V/cell)
• Balance current: LiPo/LiFe/LiIon/LiHV Max.500mA
• Size: 70x50x32mm
• Weight: 82g 83.3g

Notable Features

The SkyRC B6neo charger is not just about raw specifications. Here’s what sets it apart:

• Compact and portable design.
• Equipped with XT60 and USB-C Input Power Options, supporting DC 10.0-28.0V and PD3.0 12.0-20.0V.
• Capable of charging 1S to 6S LiPo and Li-ion batteries.
• Provides a decent maximum output of 200W.
• Compatible with a wide range of battery types.
• Can double as a power supply.
• Also serves as a battery voltage checker.
• Equipped with an error and warning system for enhanced safety and troubleshooting.
• Offers Balance Charge and Direct Charge modes.
• Features voltage calibration capabilities.
• Available in a fantastic selection of colors to suit your style.

A Close Look at the B6Neo

The SkyRC B6 Neo has a stylish and compact design, making it easy to carry and store. It’s the details that excite me – the option of five unique color combinations adds a personal touch, making the user experience that much more enjoyable.

Traveling with my drones requires a lightweight and portable setup, and this charger fits the bill perfectly. Check out my travel setup here: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-travel-setup/

The small form factor and stylish design aren’t the only reasons I am excited about  the B6neo, it also has both XT60 and USB-C input. This means you can power it from a PD3.0 power source, such as a power bank or USB adapter – incredibly handy when you’re on the move. I use this Anker 65W USB-C adapter to power my charger: https://amzn.to/3VE3yro

Powering the B6 Neo through USB-C only gives you 80W of power. If you want the full 200W charging power, you have to use a bulkier external power supply (PSU) and power the charger via XT60. Here are my PSU recommendations (240W or higher is preferred): https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/#Choosing-the-Right-Power-Supply-for-Your-Charger

Previously, the only charger accepting USB-C PD input was the ToolkitRC M4 Pocket, which I loved. However it can only charge up to 4S batteries. In contrast, the B6 Neo supports up to 6S – a desirable feature nowadays because 6S is just as popular as 4S, if not more popular. It’s also more powerful than the M4 Pocket, at 200W vs 80W when powered through the XT60.

Left: M4 Pocket; Right: B6neo

The output is a XT60 connector – I might sound picky, but I wish it had a XT30 connector as well just like the M4 Pocket. I found it to be really helpful and I used it quite often for charging small batteries. You could just get an XT60 to XT30 adapter I guess.

Don’t let the $36 price tag fool you. The B6neo doesn’t compromise on features or performance. It’s compatible with a wide range of batteries, including LiPo, LiHV, Li-ion, LiFe, NiMH, NiCd, and Pb.

The user interface is similar to the SkyRC D200Neo I recently reviewed. Like the D200Neo, the available charger modes include Balance Charge, Charge, Discharge, and Storage.

Why two charge modes, you ask? The Charge function (direct charge) allows you to charge without connecting the balance lead, although this isn’t recommended as it doesn’t monitor and balance individual cell voltages. Use Balance Charge whenever possible. Most other smart chargers only allow Balance Charging for safety reasons. Having the Direct Charge option in the B6Neo provides flexibility but also introduces a level of risk for newcomers.

Like the D200Neo, the B6neo can double as a power supply. This comes in handy if you need to test your drone or power devices with DC input, like my favourite HGLRC RC2 / SI012 soldering iron. It offers a voltage output of 5.0-27.0V, current output of 1.0-10.0A, and maximum power of 200W.

Its system settings include safety timer, maximum capacity, trickle charge, holding voltage, language, minimum input voltage, LCD backlight, volume, completion signal, and DC power settings.

Overall User Experience and Potential Issues

My experience with the B6neo shows that SkyRC has addressed several issues I pointed out during my review of the D200Neo.

For example, checking battery internal resistance (Batt IR) during charging is now as easy as pressing the + button. No more going into the system menu for a “battery performance check” just for that.

Moreover, the B6neo now displays the input voltage – a feature hidden in the 200Neo. It takes a few presses of the + button to reveal this, which isn’t exactly user-friendly. I would prefer a status bar to constantly display key information such as input voltage, output power, and charger temperature etc. This is a common feature in many other popular smart chargers on the market.

In contrast to the M4 Pocket, which has preset charge current levels you can cycle through (1A, 2A, 3A, and 5A), the B6Neo allows you to customize charging current with a single press, much like traditional chargers. While this may not be as simple as the M4 Pocket’s near plug-and-charge operation, it offers you more control over the charge current.

M4 Pocket

However, setting charge current on the B6 Neo can be a sluggish process. The charger takes a moment to respond to user input. When you want to move to a much higher or lower value, holding down the + or – button can help you avoid repeatedly pressing these buttons. However, the jumps are inconsistent, often landing on an unexpected value. It would be better if holding down the + or – buttons could change the value in fixed increments, like 0.5A or 1.0A.

Like the D200Neo, you can’t adjust the current during charging on the B6neo – you must stop charging to set the current, which is slightly inconvenient.

Oddly enough, when I was charging at full power (200W), the charger consistently stopped at the 1-minute mark. It seems as though this behavior is programmed into the charger. To avoid this, I had to slightly lower the charge current to bring the output power lower to around 180W – 190W. It’s unclear if this is a bug or an intentional feature.

The charger can also be used as a battery checker, a handy feature. No need to power up the charger – just plug in the balance lead of the battery you want to test.

Although SkyRC claims a maximum discharge power of 24W, I found it to be closer to 21W. Not a deal-breaker, but worth noting.

When powering the B6Neo via USB-C, I can only get a maximum output power of 51W, not the 80W claimed (I tried various 100W and 65W power supplies, same result).

Hopefully, future firmware updates can address some of these issues. Speaking of which, there’s no mention of how to update the charger firmware. I assume it’s done via their “Charger Master” computer program by connecting to the USB-C port, but the program failed to detect the charger when I tried it. I’m still waiting for more information from SkyRC on this matter.

Here’s a screenshot of some parts of the manual:

Voltage Reading Accuracy

To ensure the accuracy of the D200Neo charger, I went ahead and cross-verified its voltage measurements in all connectors. The results were quite satisfactory, affirming that the charger’s voltage readings are sufficiently precise for hobbyist use. It also provides an option to calibrate voltage in the system menu if required.

Here is a comparison of charger-reported voltage readings versus Digital Multimeter (DDM) readings:

How to Calibrate Voltage

My charger seemed pretty well-calibrated straight from the factory, so I believe calibration is not necessary for most users. However, if you decide to calibrate yours, ensure you are using a calibrated multimeter.

The calibration process for the B6neo charger is as follows (steps from the manual):

1. On the main interface, press the “+” button twice to enter the interface of battery resistance.
2. Connect the 6S battery to B6neo.
3. Hold the ENTER and “+” buttons together to enter the calibration interface.
4. Press the “+” button to go through the voltage of each cell.
5. Press the ENTER button to choose the voltage, the value of which will turn blue.
6. Press “+” or “-” to adjust the values.

A List of Errors and Warnings

In the event of a fault, B6neo will display an error message, helping users to troubleshoot issues effectively. Here is a list of Errors and Warnings as mentioned in the B6neo charger manual:

1. DC In Too Low! – DC input voltage is lower than preset.
2. DC In Too High! – DC input voltage is higher than preset.
3. Connection Break! – The battery may be broken.
4. Cell Error – The cells do not match.
5. Battery Type! – The battery type is wrong.
6. Overcharge Capacity Limit! – The charged capacity reaches the preset capacity limit.
7. Over Time Limit! – The program is timed out.
8. Int.Temp.Too High! – The internal temperature is high.
9. Over Load! – The charger is overloaded.
10. Reversed Polarity – The battery connection is reversed.
11. Fully Charged – The battery is fully charged already.
12. Outlet Volt. Too Low! – The DC output voltage is too low.
13. Outlet Overload! – The DC output is overloaded.
14. Balance Connection Error! – The balance connection is interrupted.
15. Cell Volt Diff. – The voltage difference between each cell is high.
16. Set Power Error – There is an error in setting the DC power.

Please refer to the manual for more detailed information on each error and warning, and how to resolve them.

Conclusion

The SkyRC B6Neo is an exciting new charger. It’s cheap, with exceptional specifications and performance. The charger is great for travel and serves as a perfect entry point for beginners on a tight budget.

You can get your SkyRC B6 Neo charger from the following vendors:

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFnuemV
• Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-utze

In my testing, I noticed that the charger didn’t quite reach the claimed 80W output when powered via USB-C, topping off at about 51W. As such, investing in a 65W USB adapter should be adequate: https://amzn.to/3VE3yro

If you’re looking to get the charger’s full potential of 200W charging power, you’ll need an external power supply (ideally 240W or higher): https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/#Choosing-the-Right-Power-Supply-for-Your-Charger

While there’s certainly room for improvement on the performance and user interface to enhance user experience, I’m hopeful that these fixes can be incorporated through software updates.

The B6Neo has effectively replaced the ToolkitRC M4 Pocket as my preferred travel LiPo charger, mainly due to its ability to charge 6S batteries and function as a battery voltage checker. While the M4 Pocket is a solid option and offers a simple plug-and-charge experience, its lack of 6S support, limited 80W output power and fixed charging current limits its versatility.

How to Update Firmware

Here’s how to update the firmware for the SkyRC B6Neo LiPo battery charger.

Download and install the latest version of Charger Master (Windows program): https://www.skyrc.com/downloads/

The steps to update your firmware are as follows:

1. Simultaneously press the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ buttons while connecting the charger to your PC using a USB cable.
2. Open Charger Master.
3. Click the button labeled “Check For New Version”. If any new firmware versions are available, click the “Update” button.
4. When the firmware upgrade is complete, the charger display will turn off.
5. Before using the device, please power it off and then power it back on.