Cheap Orion lipo chargers?

[sefton]

I'm thinking of going LIPO (on a budget)

Has anyone heard of these cheaper Orion lipo chargers? (they arent on the Orion web site).

http://www.lstshop.co.uk/catalog/ind...d8329e34435d5f

Craig.

[DCM]

You got to look in their flight electronics section.... Avionics I think it is called.

[sefton]

do you think they would be good enough or would it be wize to get the advantage charger?

Craig.

[ashleyb4]

They are no good for charging the lipo's for 1/10th cars i would get the advanatge i have one and i have never charged lipo off it but it is a very good charger.

A

[DCM]

not to sure, but I think this one http://www.teamorion-avionics.com/Ad...harging+System is a little low on the charge current, and designed for flight packs and receiver packs

[sefton]

just had a look on ebay, the advantage is about £75 plus postage from HK or USA.

Craig

[ashleyb4]

If its the newest version (the one that looks like carbon fibre) then that is a bargain.

A

[dave g]

just remember that there is no benefit from high amp charging of lipo's,the performance remains the same wether you charge at 1 amp or 5 amps,only time is saved by faster charging.

dave

[DCM]

Originally Posted by sefton

just had a look on ebay, the advantage is about £75 plus postage from HK or USA.

Craig

Dont forget though, if it goes pop, the UK distributor will not help you get it repaired.

And LiPo, never re-peak them......

[dave g]

cmon steve..you know as well as i do that its impossible to repeak lipos

dave

[DCM]

You and me, yes, but there are lots out there, and I have heard some real horror stories, especialy when Helicopters first started using LiPo, and the amount of people who ask if they can use they X charger to charge LiPo, lol

[dave g]

in theory you cant overcharge the lipo if the charger is working correctly no matter how many times you try to retop them up,because the chargers work on a voltage cuttoff point not peak detect(lipos dont have peak drop off,they just keep climbing)
so when the charger detects 8.4v it terminates the charge(some are set to 8.2v)

dave

[jimmy]

This is the one I am using with the Trakpower lipo



http://www.flightpower.co.uk/acatalog/Chargers.html


Its great, not much more to say about it really, will mention it in the trakpower lipo review though.


There were a few guys running the TrakPower lipo tonight (touring cars) running a range of different chargers.. there is no real advantage (pun!) to any of them..

[dave g]

yes a cheap charger should provide the same lipo performance as an expensive charger since charge rate bears no outcome on the performance of the cell,obviously its paramount you buy a good quality charger thats fit for the job as the last thing you want is a charger failing.

dave

[sefton]

So am I right in thinking, I can charge then race then charge then race and so on?

Theres no need to discharge and equailize or cool down time before recharging?

Craig.

[JCJC]

Interesting range from Bantam, lots of info here

http://www.bantam301.20m.com/

Do they do adjustable Delta Peak on NiMh, anyone know?

[Dunc]

Originally Posted by JCJC

Interesting range from Bantam, lots of info here

http://www.bantam301.20m.com/

Do they do adjustable Delta Peak on NiMh, anyone know?

If in doubt, read the manual!

I had a look at the 902 model and it does have an adjustable delta peak of 5-20mV per cell (look at page 7 of the manual). I didn't check any of the other models.

Hope that helps.

[sefton]

has anyone got any pics of how lipo's are wired up? because the pics always look like a closed solid unit!

[DCM]

depends on the LiPo pack, if it is the team orion, then it is just a pair of corally connectors going into the case.

[JCJC]

Originally Posted by Dunc

If in doubt, read the manual!

I had a look at the 902 model and it does have an adjustable delta peak of 5-20mV per cell (look at page 7 of the manual). I didn't check any of the other models.

Hope that helps.

Cheers Dunc, looked at the 301 manual before, not mentioned, but thought manual was mabey missing it.
Mick

5-20mV per cell---------is that a little high for NiMh or am I missing something as usual