ToolkitRC MC8 battery tester 2-8S

ToolkitRC MC8 is a compact battery and signal tester suitable for both the workshop and the field. It measures and balances 2-8S lithium batteries (LiPo, LiHV, LiFe and Li-ion), measures and generates PWM, PPM and SBUS signals, and thanks to its two USB outputs it also serves as a field power bank powered by the connected battery. Everything is shown on a color 2" IPS display with wide viewing angles. Control is handled by a metal rotary wheel with push-button function.

The battery is connected via the balance connector, and the tester draws power directly from it. It displays individual cell voltages as colored bars — the highest-voltage cell in red, the lowest in blue — and below them the total pack voltage and the difference between the highest and lowest cell, which is the fastest way to identify an unbalanced battery. Measurement accuracy is below 0.005V. Pressing the wheel starts balancing: the tester discharges higher-voltage cells through internal resistors with a current of up to 60mA until the difference between cells drops below 0.005V. Total voltage can also be measured via the main XT60 input in the range 7-35V, for batteries of any chemistry. The bar indicator is calibrated for LiPo, so with other battery types it is only approximate.

In measurement mode, the tester displays the pulse width, period and frequency of the PWM signal, 8 channel values for PPM, and up to 16 channels for SBUS. It is useful for checking receiver outputs or verifying what signal the flight controller is actually sending. It can be powered via the signal port (up to 6V), the balance port, or the main input. In output mode, it generates the signal, so it replaces both a servo tester and an ESC tester. The PWM output offers a pulse width of 1000-2000µs with an adjustable period of 1-50ms (20-1000Hz), PPM 8 channels at 50Hz, and SBUS 16 channels at 74Hz. Pulse width is controlled manually with a slider, or changed by one of three automatic modes that smoothly sweep through the entire range at different speeds. For PPM and SBUS, individual channel values are set with the wheel, while the throttle channel can only be adjusted with the slider for safety reasons. The slider is also protected — the signal starts transmitting only after it returns to the zero position.

On the back there are two USB ports powered from the connected battery. USB-A provides 5V/1A and is also used for firmware updates, while USB-C fast charges with up to 20W (5-12V) using PD3.0, QC3.0, AFC, SCP and FCP protocols. In the field, it can charge a phone or other USB device from the flight battery. The battery is protected by low-discharge protection — if the voltage drops below the set limit, the tester turns off both USB outputs and emits a long tone. Settings also allow you to change display brightness (1-10), buzzer sound (7 tones or off), and light or dark theme. The voltage of the main input and individual cells can be calibrated against a multimeter. The tester measures 68x50x15 mm and weighs 50g.

Important notice: After balancing is finished, the battery must be disconnected from the tester, otherwise it may be over-discharged. The main input must not be supplied with voltage higher than 35V or with reversed polarity. We recommend calibration only with a multimeter accurate to at least 0.001V; a less accurate multimeter will rather worsen the tester's measurement.