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Post by ripyellowbee on Mar 8, 2008 1:20:59 GMT 1
;DCan ANyone help me choose a new charger. I am purchasing the Elite 1500 packs from Cheapbatterypacks.com for my SC. I want a fast ( not too expensive charger) to also charge liops for when I get a new plane which might be the strykerc. SO something that can grow with me and something that can charge in the field if thats possible
Thanks for any help!!!
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Post by mararra on Mar 8, 2008 1:34:09 GMT 1
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Post by ripyellowbee on Mar 17, 2008 1:08:23 GMT 1
I have a repetitive question, Sorry. Ive been trying to figure out all this on my own. I am buying a T 28 Trojan, and Also some elite 1500's for the cub from cbp.com. Same question as before, a charger recommended to charge both of these? Also, if I geta charger w/o a balancer, can I 'hook up and balancer between the charger and the batteries? Also, why do all these chargers recommended on here need to be rigged to use AC power? Thanks for any help, I dont want to waste money, but I would also rather spend on good equipment and keep my batteries healthy. Thank YOU
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Post by higbe33 on Mar 17, 2008 22:59:19 GMT 1
I had that same question a few months ago and did some serious reading. Batteries are the heart of this hobby and I wanted to get a quality product that I wouldn't have to upgrade later. This review sold me; www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=666885Customer service is over and above anything I've ever seen. I'm a new flyer and had a lot of questions and he got back with me right away and being "new" I have a lot of really dumb questions. I'm just moving into Lipo's now and four emails from him on a Sunday got me all fixed up about that balancing harness. The unit costs more than my SC, but I plan on staying in this hobby and didn't want to upgrade later. It looks a little complicated, but remembers your settings and easy to change them if you want. I love it!! Hig |
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Post by flydiver on Mar 18, 2008 0:29:05 GMT 1
Fast charging + all chemistry +reliable + cheap doesn't work out in this sport well. The Bantam recommended is great, and very expensive. The Hobby City is cheap, slow (it doesn't charge at specification-I've measured it at about 3/5 claimed) and only does 2S/3S lipo. Most chargers are designed for field chargers so are DC. An additional power source will be required for AC; more expense. Think about what you really require and where you may be heading. If you are starting to go into lipo in all probability you will stop using NiXX or use on a limited basis. So your NiXX charging needs may be modest and you can concentrate on lipo. In that case I think your best cost effective, safe, fast, reliable balancing charger is an FMA cellpro www.fmadirect.com/detail.htm?item=2218§ion=45. flydiver |
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Post by ripyellowbee on Mar 18, 2008 19:48:06 GMT 1
Thank You for your answers, I appreciate it. Ive read so much but I definintely appreciate recommendations because this is all quite expensive and sometimes I feel you get what you pay for, and other times there are good deals. THank You guys for answering.
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Post by ripyellowbee on Apr 4, 2008 2:23:25 GMT 1
I ended up getting the bc 6 charger from rcaccessory.com
Great charger, great site!
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Post by SCC on Apr 6, 2008 12:46:43 GMT 1
I ended up getting the bc 6 charger from rcaccessory.com Great charger, great site! Good choice. I do not own one but if my Shulze packs up that is definitely the charger i will go for. |
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thameth
Flight lieutenant
Posts: 39
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Post by thameth on Feb 22, 2009 9:36:37 GMT 1
I guess instead of starting a new thread I'll jump in on this one too since I'm pretty lost too and trying to learn as much as possible about LiPo charging.
I just got two Zippy LiPo's in a trade for parts on my Cub. Now I need a charger, but i'm sooo confused on many subjects when it comes to these chargers. They seem to be anything but intuitive to use from what I'm reading.
I guess its coming down to two different chargers, the FMA CellPro 4s directly because of recommendations on this site. Or the Multiplex MULTICHARGER LN-5014 that I've seen listed by some users on here also. What are the differences between these two? Is one THAT much better than the other?
First thing, I'm guessing right off the bat I'll have to put together a power supply of some kind since they're all DC and I'll mostly be charging indoors on AC before going out to fly. I've seen a few people suggest inexpensive power supply ideas from Radio Shack that I'll probably buy.
Now the DC charging brings up another few questions. It would be nice while I'm up on one flight to be charging another battery for the next flight. But, what are the charging times like on a 2500mah Zippy LiPo? Are we talking 15min or 2hrs? I know there are different modes, but what speed would I expect for a fast charge? Will AC charging through the power supply be slower than DC?
Now another thing thats confusing me is mention of the CellPro 4s possibly not working with some batteries? Will it work fine with my Zippy's using Dean Connectors?
I plan to, of course, read the manual to either charger I get. But a nice introduction to how this will work would be greatly appreciated.
Also please don't just link me to some 40 page thread or 3 pages worth of reading on LiPo's. I'm actually working on reading multiple threads and links posted here and on RCGroups about balancing LiPo's and such but a nice quick and dirty explanation and answers would be greatly appreciated for now until I can catch up on the deeper reading that seems to go on forever. Some nice brief and informative answers to the above would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx!
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Post by flydiver on Feb 23, 2009 4:02:40 GMT 1
The Cellpro will charge anything, but you have to get the right adapter and lipos have to have a balance tap. People screw up and don't get the proper adapters.
The Cellpro can charge at 1C, 2C, and even 3C if you want shorter charging times. Currently this is almost the ONLY charger I would trust to do this.
How long it actually takes is a function of the cell quality and how badly it was discharged. Figure 1C will take an hour on a discharged cell.
The more confused you are, the more you need the Cellpro. It's likely the simplest and safest charger out there.
Download and read the ACTUAL manual of chargers you are interested in. Try to find a review. For common chargers there usually are some. Notice the experience base (posts, years flying, etc). of anyone with '28' posts claiming charger XXXX is FANTASTIC! and use that info for what it is worth.
The LN will not balance. You'll have to add a balancer. Some balancers will slow down the charge. Some will do that quite a bit.
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Post by mrmugen on Feb 23, 2009 4:25:43 GMT 1
ANother great charger with simple to use instructions is the thunder power 610C. It does all cell types as well and comes with the balancer that has eflite and TP balance plug ins on it. Nothing else to buy with this one. Should you have a battery with a different balance plug you can get an adapter from common sense r/c for about 4-5 bucks. I have one fo these and love it. I also have 2 of the 1010C's and they are just as good but handle more cells and up to a 10a output. A bit more expensive but as fly said....you get what you pay for in this hobby or any other hobby. IMO this is hands down the best charger for the money.
Kevin
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thameth
Flight lieutenant
Posts: 39
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Post by thameth on Feb 23, 2009 9:45:18 GMT 1
Well, I'm leaning pretty much towards the CellPro. Best thing is I just noticed they offer their own PowerSupply: www.fmadirect.com/Detail.htm?item=2262§ion=45And it seems worth it to order it from them instead of tinkering around finding the right one at Radio Shack for $5 less, also seems like their PS is smaller. Also just downloaded the CellPro 12 page manual and I'm reading it right now... |
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thameth
Flight lieutenant
Posts: 39
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Post by thameth on Feb 23, 2009 11:24:14 GMT 1
Now I'm leaning even more towards getting the Multi4 because its multi chem. I didn't realize the 4s didn't do Nimh...... There goes another $30. But I guess its $30 towards future growth and possibly not having to upgrade again in the future.
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Post by flydiver on Feb 23, 2009 17:40:16 GMT 1
Whatcha want NiMh for? Once you go lipo that chemistry gets dropped completely. Believe me, you will no likely be swapping lipo and NiMh into the Cub-need to change props and mess with the jumper and take the performance hit.
New fliers seem to think 'for future growth' they got to have it all but I think the reality is all they ever do is lipo. Growth maybe is ending up doing BIG lipo and needing to upgrade.
I've got 1 plane and 1 NiMh left and it's dying cuz I never use it.
I'm not knocking the 4S Mulli at all. They are trying to compete with the Chinese chargers that do everything and make breakfast too. I've got 2 stock 4S and a Hextronic 8080. I put them all to work when I'm in a charging frenzy but I only TRUST the Cellpro.
My buddy had a balance tap wire break on his Loong Max 3S (this is amazingly common BTW-there is a LONG string of folks asking how to fix broken tap wires. It will happen to you.). A 'dumb' balance charger charged it as 2S, of course his plane pulled juice out of ALL cells and killed one. A cheap charger ruined a 3S that was worth more than the charger. The Cellpro catches problems like that. Cells that go on the Hextronic get a QA check on the Cellpro to make sure everything is working right.
Be SURE to check out the links to the different balance taps and buy accordingly. They have a pdf file with pictures.
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Post by mrmugen on Feb 23, 2009 21:13:35 GMT 1
If you set on getting a mitliplex charger I have the 5014ln I believe. It is almost new. It was bought so I could charge up my field batteries...lead acid (Pb). It does it all but you would need a balancer. I have one of those too in hyperion plug style that I would toss in with it. Just don't need it any longer with 3 of the TP chargers. Just a thought...could save ya a few bucks in the long run.
Kevin
P.S. I still have the box and paper work.
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