HZ Chargers

[spar]

The more I read about recharging batteries the more confused I get. Let me summarize what I think I have learned and tell me if I've got it wrong:


The HZ AC Wall Charger:
- can't fully charge stock battery
- always subjects battery to a two+ hour charge
- good for completely discharged batteries
- can overcharge a battery that has some residual charge


The HZ DC Peak Charger:
- can fully charge stock battery
- charges battery in less than 30 minutes
- has automatic trickle charge
- can top off batteries with some residual charge


If I understand this correctly, it makes no sense to use the AC charger. Instead, we should use the DC charger by plugging it in our car cigarette lighter or other 12 volt power supply.

Wouldn't it have better if HZ made the AC charger power up the DC charger?

[duck9191]

the wall charger is very slow, but it should fully charge the stock battery. you may not notice as much power for the first few minuets because of the way it charges. when you use a high charge rate the battery will normally have a higher peak voltage which will give you a burst of extra power at first compaired to useing a low rate charger like the wall charger. i never had a problem with the wall charger over charging either.

the car charger is a variable rate charger, which if you turn it up to 1.2 amps it should charge a 1000 mah batter in 49 minuets. it is a delta peak charger so you can put half charged batteries on there to top them off, or fully charged batteries right before flight. the ac charger is a delta peak charger too, just has alot lower charge rate for over night.

i have had problem with the stock dc charger detecting a false delta peak and shutting off before the battery was charged. i would have to disconnect and reconnect the battery a few times to get a full charge. this is how my cub ended up in a tree once. though it was charged but as soon as i got in the air it hit the lvc and crash it went.

one way to tell if your battery is near fully charged is that it should be warm when the charger shuts off. now if its hot to the touch its over charged, which is not good.

one last thing, if you use the prakzone dc charger it will charge at 1.8 amps, which would give you a 33 minuet charge time, but it will heat up the battery and may cause damage over time. i would rater charge at 1.5 amps and be a little safer.

[Twister65]

I use the AC charger only for charging my 8-cell 9.6v 1000mAh. It doesn't get a full charge on the DC adapter. I use the DC for my 7-cells. I have an AC/DC "Eliminator" power box that I plug the DC charger into in my house, so I don't have to keep running out to my truck.

[hack73]

I made my own DC power supply out of an old computer power supply and used a radio shack DC car adapter to plug in my Hobby Zone car charger. No more running out to my truck to check the battery.





Radio Shack part:
www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103589&cp=2032056.2818117.2818328&pg=2&parentPage=family

Or you could use this:
secure.hobbyzone.com/catalog/HZ/search/HBZ6513.html

[kalnaren]

My AC charger foobared my battery, and I stopped using it. I use an NPV charger ($60 charger, much better quality) to charge my batteries and just use the DC peak charger to top them off before flight.

[supercubdub]

I bought a 7 cell 1500Mah spare battery. Can i use either of the Stock chargers with it?

The AC charger says it can charge 600mah to 1000mah packs. Does this mean it wouldn't fully charge my 1500mah pack?

[duck9191]

the car charger will work, just turn it up to 1.5 amps and it should be done in an hour. if it kicks off in like 10-20 min and the battery is not warm to the touch disconnect the battery for a few seconds and then reconnect it again. you may have to do this 2-3 times to get a full charge. if the battery is warm don't disconnect reconnect as it may over charge the battery.

[davemac2]

What i have found with the dc peak chargers is that they can false peak frequently at a high charge rate. If you use them by charging at less than 0.8A or so, they usually do much better. Delta peak detection is tough to do reliably at a high current unless the charger is intelligent enough to charge at a high rate intially and then taper off the current near the end.

dave mc

[frazer1981]

Can i therefore buy a dc to ac converter which has an output of 12v / 1amp. I have 2 dc peak chargers, my idea is to leave one in the house and plug the other one into the converter for when im needing to charge at home?? im in england with english power supplies by the way?!

[frazer1981]

Can i therefore buy a dc to ac converter which has an output of 12v / 1amp. I have 2 dc peak chargers, my idea is to leave one in the house and plug the other one into the converter for when im needing to charge at home?? im in england with english power supplies by the way?!

[frazer1981]

0

[SCC]

Frazer.
If you want to go the cheap route then one of these will do. It's the same site as the battery you have ordered.
www.component-shop.co.uk/html/radio_control1.html

The lower the charge rate the longer it will take to charge.

[frazer1981]

Thanks scc