Outdoor charging

[ginge]

New to racing and will be moving to out door racing in april.
How do you's charge you lipo batterys while outside
Can I use my car ??
Do I need a generator ??
Or what other way can be used

If I was to buy a generator what watt of one would I need

Thanks

[MatJohnson]

12v caravan battery. You can use your car, but you will screw your car battery up.

[dale]

A leisure battery is the cleanest/quietest/simplest way, available from any camping or caravanning shop.

Or you can use a battery designed for electric scooters/wheelchairs:

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-Power/Monobloc-Gel-Electrolyte-Batteries-73327

The capacity needed will depend on what you're doing. A full weekend of touring car racing with tyre warmers etc will need something like 80Ah. For a day of off-roading pretty much anything will do (I can charge all day off a tiny 20Ah gel battery designed for wheelchairs).

You can charge off your car, but car batteries aren't really designed to be deep discharged regularly. That said, charging Lipos doesn't take that much out of it, so if the battery is in decent condition you should be fine.

[VintageRacer]

I've been charging off my car and running the engine periodically to avoid it being overly discharged.

[ginge]

It will be for a days touting car racing with tyre warmers and charging 1 or 2 lipo batterys.
After the days racing how do I charge the caravan battery ??

[adon30]

Take it home and plug it on a smartcharger like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-RSC506-Smart-Charger/dp/B006T5B6Y4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1329248118&sr=8-7

I use a similar one to maintain my car battery as I use it all the time to charge the lipos only. A smart charger will not overcharge the battery and will maintain it until you next need it. They are also great for your car if you leave it for weeks on end.

[Snowey]

Halfords do a maintaience charger for about 15quid. Just stick it on when you get home and it will do the rest!

[mark christopher]

Take it home and plug it on a smartcharger like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-RSC506-Smart-Charger/dp/B006T5B6Y4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1329248118&sr=8-7

I use a similar one to maintain my car battery as I use it all the time to charge the lipos only. A smart charger will not overcharge the battery and will maintain it until you next need it. They are also great for your car if you leave it for weeks on end.
keep an eye on aldi /lydl same charger in different case is £10 when on offer

[adon30]

keep an eye on aldi /lydl same charger in different case is £10 when on offer


Thats a bargain!!! :woot: Which I'd known that a few months ago.

[ginge]

Thanks for your help.
Will keep a eye out for a battery.
And might take a look around halfords tonight

[JCJC]

keep an eye on aldi /lydl same charger in different case is £10 when on offer

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-A77E9ACC-2E1662FB/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_27894.htm?offerdate=&ERR=noservice

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_20978.htm

not sure when they are on sale, but do pop up at Aldi & Lidl often.

Caravan outlet or eBay for leisure battery, with this type of charger should last years, you may need a box to put it in, spillage etc. Of course you do see generators being used, the cheaper smelly 2 stroke type make a bit of noise, the nicer 4 stroke (honda type) are better but costly, sometimes come up in the secondhand section here.

[ginge]

Thanks again
Will keep a look for the charger.
Think I will go for the battery. For power