Which Charger? [Archive] - oOple.com Forums

tjpMT2

21-12-2007, 12:12 AM

I'm Looking for a charger to charge my Receiver pack and transmitter pack for my 'smelly nitro thing' :p I'm a complete noob at leccy stuff but at the moment i need it to charge NiCD's and NiMH's but for the 2008 season I'm hoping to be running Li-Po's. It will also need to be able to charge a 12V battery. Bonus's would be discharging and cycling (for the NiCD/NiMH's) and ideally it would be 12V and mains. I'm not sure how important Li-Po balancing is so would that be needed? Would be good if it was a good make for re-sale!

Thanks in advanced,

Toby

ashleyb4

21-12-2007, 12:29 AM

If you want it to run off 12v be able to charge your hump packs for your smelly things and your transmitter and nicads nimhs and lipo to be able to cylce and discharge the perfect charger for you is the orion advantagecarbon edition. I have one really good charger only ever had one problem with it but that was beacause i got it wet lol

http://www.microtechracing.com//product_info.asp?name=TEAM+ORION+ADVANTAGE+RACE+CH ARGER+%28NEW+LIPO+VER%29&ID=10616&Pcat=ACCESSORIES&cat=CHARGERS

A

AndyM

21-12-2007, 06:49 AM

Pro-Trak :D

gargadud

21-12-2007, 07:46 AM

Using this one for a while and very satisfied!
http://at.robbe-online.net/rims_at.storefront/476b6ebf000859fc271b3e0dc1460644/ChangeLanguage/EN

VintageRacer

21-12-2007, 08:10 AM

Seems like everyone is recommending what they have rather than what is needed. Maybe one of these:

http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/Ansmann_Racing_xBase_Deluxe_Programmable_Intellige nt_RC_Charger2.html

1-14 cells NiMh and NiCad
1-5 LiPo
Will also charger 12v lead-acid batteries

12v and mains power input

Doesn't appear to cycle but it's inexpensive so won't loose much on resale.

Never used one so I don't know how good they are.

If you go down the second hand route, you can get some good race spec chargers from LRP, Novak, orion, etc for around £50 but then you will need a mains-12v power supply and a 12v lead-acid charger.

RoadRunner122

21-12-2007, 09:32 AM

Have a look at this one. It's a very value charger/discharger/cycler:

http://www.bantamtek.com/products/charger-301DX.htm

sosidge

21-12-2007, 10:31 AM

Pro-Trak :D

I assume you are joking? Pro-Trak will not do half the things the original poster requested!

A few people above have already mentioned more "model plane" kind of chargers, the car ones don't tend to be as flexible, normally just intended for up to 6-cells NiMH and maybe 2 cell LiPo.

ben

21-12-2007, 11:19 AM

Im sure the pro-trak does nearly everything on the list of requirements. Because doesnt the new version of the pro-trak charge lipos? Correct me if im wrong:)

lil ben

Mike Hudson

21-12-2007, 11:31 AM

yep the new1 charges lipo :D i myt have one soonies :D

ashleyb4

21-12-2007, 11:56 AM

Vintage racer i would be weary of cheap chargers like that i used to have a anasman charger one of the better ons to and it never used to charge my cells properly on 12v.

A

tjpMT2

21-12-2007, 12:32 PM

Have a look at this one. It's a very value charger/discharger/cycler:

http://www.bantamtek.com/products/charger-301DX.htm
Ive had a few people recommend this charger but in its Pro-Peak form..
http://www.ripmax.com/Product_Images/large/o/o-ip2801.jpg

I don't think i could justify a charger over £80 just for RX and TX batteries, and i have no intention of running leccys (no where near me)... The only problem with that charger is i would have to buy a separate Balancer as well as a power supply... :(

Ill have a look around for some 2nd hand ones as well...

tjpMT2

22-12-2007, 12:12 AM

Going onto the more aeroplane aimed chargers, wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts/experience with the Hyperion EOS 5i DP AC/DC Charger+ Lba10 Balancer (http://robotbirds.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9_94&products_id=1901)? (on there website (http://www.b-p-p.com/proddetail.php?prod=d_EOS_5IDP)) OR the Hyperrion EOS606i AC/DC Charger-Built in Balancer (http://robotbirds.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9_94&products_id=1976) (again on site (http://www.b-p-p.com/proddetail.php?prod=f_EOS0606i))

And what are LiFe batteries?! never heard of them before...

mark christopher

22-12-2007, 10:30 AM

Ive had a few people recommend this charger but in its Pro-Peak form..
http://www.ripmax.com/Product_Images/large/o/o-ip2801.jpg

I don't think i could justify a charger over £80 just for RX and TX batteries, and i have no intention of running leccys (no where near me)... The only problem with that charger is i would have to buy a separate Balancer as well as a power supply... :(

Ill have a look around for some 2nd hand ones as well...

hava a look here, i use it for all my ic needs and electric racing.it runs off mains/12 volts charges all your suggested cells balances lipo.
its not cheap buts it is by the time you have added the balancer to the other recomended chargers and its the only one thats been listed that meets all your requirments, you get what you pay for at the end of the day

http://www.flighttech.co.uk/Products/Chargers/Bantam/bc6.asp

RoadRunner122

22-12-2007, 10:45 AM

Yesterday I've bought 5 IB4200 cells by team Orion for my B44. The dealer said that with an 7.2V pack will be difficult to handle it... (at least for the start).

Anyway, I'd like to ask about the charger for theese cells: here (in Greece) the only serious chargers I can find through the local stores is the LRP Pulsar3 and the Team Orion Advantage (carbon look). Their prices and specifications are similar. Also; the Orion advantage has a thermal sensor.

Which of the two would you suggest?

I've my brother's Bantamtek 301DX but I don't think that is the best charger fot theese cells. Am I right?

Thanks in advance for your answers ;)

mark christopher

22-12-2007, 11:14 AM

both are good but i like to moniter the temp of my ib cells, which leaves the orion

the bantam will charge the cells fine as im told it has a low mv cut ot for the cells

RoadRunner122

22-12-2007, 03:54 PM

Mark thanks 4 the answer ;)

The dealer told me to charge them with 5.5A! The bantamtek charger can charge at 5.0A MAX! I think that 5.5Amps are too much... at least for new batteries and I'm afraid that if I charge at 5.0Amps their life will shorten.. .
Aynyway, anyone else who has an opinion about choosing one of theese two chargers? (LRP Pulsar3 VS Team Orion Advantage)

rob8246

22-12-2007, 04:30 PM

I have the Pro Peak Prodigy II and its very good for RX and TX packs.
I would recommend that you look at the CellPro 4S for charging your Lipo's. Its a true balancing charger as where the others will only level the cells. That is a big thing when your talking about Lipo's and the life span of the cells.
http://www.aurorra.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=16141&cat=0&page=1

This is one tidy bit of kit mate!

Im not convinced that chargers that claim to do everything are a good thing. ;)

RR.

RoadRunner122

22-12-2007, 05:10 PM

Rob, thanks for the answer but I've said; in Greece; I can find only Pulsar3 and Advantage.

So, I'm asking which would be better for my occasion (charge 5 or 6 cell saddlepacks of NiMh iB4200) ;)

rob8246

22-12-2007, 05:35 PM

Rob, thanks for the answer but I've said; in Greece; I can find only Pulsar3 and Advantage.

So, I'm asking which would be better for my occasion (charge 5 or 6 cell saddlepacks of NiMh iB4200) ;)

Ah ok, then the Pulsar 3 then. ;)

tjpMT2

22-12-2007, 05:37 PM

Thanks Rob, was a bit nervous getting a 'all in one' charger... is the FMA charger a good one to get?

mark christopher

22-12-2007, 06:20 PM

mark christopher

22-12-2007, 06:39 PM

Thanks Rob, was a bit nervous getting a 'all in one' charger... is the FMA charger a good one to get?
the Multi chargers are fine and the FMA does not do what you wanted a charger to do!!

rob8246

22-12-2007, 09:10 PM

Thanks Rob, was a bit nervous getting a 'all in one' charger... is the FMA charger a good one to get?

The CellPro is just to charge LiPo's. ;)

VintageRacer

23-12-2007, 07:27 PM

How about this just appeared in Ebay?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Novak-pro-peak-LRP-nosram_W0QQitemZ270198475918QQihZ017QQcategoryZ140 974QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Pete@BMM

23-12-2007, 07:41 PM

The ProPeak Sigma is a cracking tool.

Been using one today in store and it was spot on. RRP is £75 so not sure of his description of having paid £90? It is not equipped for balancing but by using the Orion SBS or ProPeak EQ4 it becomes a balance charger as well.

The Ansmann mentioned earlier is good, also worth a look is the Prolux range but not sure they offer much in the way of Lipo support.

Orion Advantage Avionics is good but 12v only but even with a £20 PSU its still good value though not as convenient as the Sigma.

Pete

showtime

23-12-2007, 08:03 PM

most of the so called "balancers" on the market are just cell levellers!
if charging an out of balance pack with one of the levellers you can still overcharge an individual cell before the levelling takes place :wtf:

Lipo's are only really damaged by over charging & running under voltage so a decent proper balancing charger is a must :)

it can make a real difference to battery life as a poorly treated lipo can crap out in less than 70 cycles whereas a well maintained one ie balanced correctly & never run flat should last up to & over 300 cycles before a noticable loss of performance ;)

tjpMT2

31-12-2007, 01:04 PM

The CellPro is just to charge LiPo's. ;)
Thats what i ment but it diddnt come out that way :p

Looks like ill prob get a LiPo balancer/charger and get a cheaper Nimh/Nicad/PB charger... thanks for the help :cool:

I'm wondering if i should go with a HTBatteries charger (http://www.htbatteries.com/Public_html/Chargers.htm) (the HT150) as that's what they recommend (but they would) but $65 dollars seems a bit cheep for a LiPo charger... sorry for asking so many q's bu after seeing a LiPo batt go bad a couple of weeks ago during a race i want to make sure i do everything i can so that mine docent :P