Charging solutions

[Gatorb8]

I've been using one of these : http://www.espritmodel.com/index.asp?Pa ... rodID=9359
...Cost about the same as the one you build...complete with fuse, etc.

I used my today for the first time. I like it.

that was a good find! probably would have bought one if I didn't build one

[Gatorb8]

Have you tried to run all of those chargers at the same time? Looks neat.

Flew some today so I loaded all my chargers with what ever I could find. Got to little over 20A at 12.3V on the Watts Up meter I used to monitor supply voltage and current. All my chargers limit out at 26A, I have a 32A supply. so far so good!

[WessCo]

How do you like your iCharger? I really like mine and want to get another one.

[Gatorb8]

How do you like your iCharger? I really like mine and want to get another one.

That's the first time I used it, so far so good.

I'm trying to figure out what cells I'm gonna run on my 40 and 60 size planes when I build them. Then I'll look at which charger gives the best output for series/parallel hook up..................it's a puzzle right now I haven't spent any time solving.................someday soon.....

[MikeMcChiken]

I am getting more and more into electrics . I have converted an old Lanier Radical to run 2 x 4s220020c lipos in parallel . I also have a bunch of 3s220020c packs so I run 2 in series on a 3DHS 55" SHP . I am having problems with one lipo drawing down more than the other . I am using flightmax zippy packs . I have somewhat learned about internal resistance . I have also found my Turnigy charger does not charge each battery equally on balance mode . I also read reviews on there newest charger that does 4 lipos at once and people had the same complaint .
I have been looking at the I-charger (106b+) and wonder how it will balance charge ? Will it peak each cell ? I need each cell to be close so I can maximize flight times and not destroy my lipos . I have also been looking at the Hyperion chargers (EOS 0720i NET3) that have the SYNC feature . The Hyperion is rated to closely match each cell to within 100mah when 2 chargers are linked together . Buying 2 of these would set me back 300 bones plus the price of the balance adaptors and SYNC cord . Might be worth it though .

What do you people with the most experience in this area suggest I get or what have you found to fix this problem ? I almost think that anything made in China is just not gana be good enough to work within tighter parameters .

[xraydoc]

Have you tried to run all of those chargers at the same time? Looks neat.

Flew some today so I loaded all my chargers with what ever I could find. Got to little over 20A at 12.3V on the Watts Up meter I used to monitor supply voltage and current. All my chargers limit out at 26A, I have a 32A supply. so far so good!

Are you putting your wattmeter between the power supply and the charger(s) to measure the amp draw?

I have a 42A\500w PS and always curious how much of it am using.

[Gatorb8]

Are you putting your wattmeter between the power supply and the charger(s) to measure the amp draw?

Exactly, I wanted to see how well voltage held as current went up.

[xraydoc]

Great idea for a way to use the wattmeter.

[Spaz]

I am getting more and more into electrics . I have converted an old Lanier Radical to run 2 x 4s220020c lipos in parallel . I also have a bunch of 3s220020c packs so I run 2 in series on a 3DHS 55" SHP . I am having problems with one lipo drawing down more than the other . I am using flightmax zippy packs . I have somewhat learned about internal resistance . I have also found my Turnigy charger does not charge each battery equally on balance mode . I also read reviews on there newest charger that does 4 lipos at once and people had the same complaint .
I have been looking at the I-charger (106b+) and wonder how it will balance charge ? Will it peak each cell ? I need each cell to be close so I can maximize flight times and not destroy my lipos . I have also been looking at the Hyperion chargers (EOS 0720i NET3) that have the SYNC feature . The Hyperion is rated to closely match each cell to within 100mah when 2 chargers are linked together . Buying 2 of these would set me back 300 bones plus the price of the balance adaptors and SYNC cord . Might be worth it though .

What do you people with the most experience in this area suggest I get or what have you found to fix this problem ? I almost think that anything made in China is just not gana be good enough to work within tighter parameters .

the icharger has one of the better tolerances with balancing.. i charge my 4s packs in parallel each balance channel would be doing 2 cells (in parallel, one from one pack and one from another) and they will always be the same voltage (this is what parallel does)
if you have one bad cell it will draw down the other and you will know because the charger will have a problem with the one channel that will not come up and let you know.. or take forever to balance up the low cell(s)

i check the resistance of the cells on my larger packs . cells can fail with low IR or high, when they fail low it will be the one to draw down more than the others.. high IR will draw down less in use.
As for what the IR "should be" it all depends, but if you find one that is double or half the rest then you might have an issue to watch

Also the quality of your connectors and parallel harness can make a big difference in how even your parallel packs are after use.

[MikeMcChiken]

I topped my packs off today before flying with them . It made no difference . It is a IR deal going on . Until I get a better charger I won't be able to measure the IR . I have each pack numbered though and have been keeping track of the capacity going back in the packs . I would think that should somewhat get me a matching set .

Between the dual charging Hyperion and the i-charger , which do you think is the best ? When you can measure internal resistance what is a good number to get and what is near unacceptable ?

[Erik]

Mike, if I had $300 or so to spend on a charging solution, I'd be VERY tempted to get the new 1000-watt FMA PowerLab8. It's on pre-sale for $240 right now. A lot of the features are over my head, but it's nice to have something to grow into.

[Gatorb8]

I'm getting 4S 3600 and 5S 3200 lipos that come with 4mm female bullet connectors. Up until now all my batts and charge pigtails are Deans T plugs. I'm looking at 2 options.

1) cut the bullets off the bats and go to deans female T plugs, I'll max at 90A, can thay handle 90A burst 60-70 constant?

2) make up some charge adapters with Deans female T plugs to 4mm bullet male connectors and keep my pigtails flexible.

I have to believe many of you ahve been at the same crossroad and decided a path, which way did ya go?

[WessCo]

I took a female T-plug and soldered on a male and female 5mm bullet connector to where you'd normally solder your wires to. Then i plug the battery into those and plug the male t-plug into the female t-plug and charge.

[Spaz]

I topped my packs off today before flying with them . It made no difference . It is a IR deal going on . Until I get a better charger I won't be able to measure the IR . I have each pack numbered though and have been keeping track of the capacity going back in the packs . I would think that should somewhat get me a matching set .

Between the dual charging Hyperion and the i-charger , which do you think is the best ? When you can measure internal resistance what is a good number to get and what is near unacceptable ?

IR is all relative to the cells being used, they will be all different, depending on size and C rate.. so to say what the IR should be is hard to do, you have to look at all of them and see what you have.. i would bet the one going down faster has a lower IR than the rest.. so the question is, is the one with the low IR bad or the one with high IR which isn't being used as hard the one that is bad... makes you go Hmmmm

[MikeMcChiken]

Well I bought a Hyperion 615 yesterday and am using it in force . I haven't tried the sync mode yet but really love all the data it gives you about the cells your charging . I have noticed a difference in IR from pack to pack . The range is from 38mohms to 100mohms on six lipos .

I have used this charger for 2 days and found it is like an assembly line for keeping my birds airborne .

Gator , My Radical is 90amps at WOT and my china deans are holding up fine .

[tomatocan]

Ive pulled 110 amps through the Deans plugs with no failures.....but the plugs seem to get very easy to disconnect after some heavy use. The spring things must be getting hot or something....I switched to EC-5's on the large stuff, and am making a specific charge board like the one I have for my Deans.

[Gatorb8]

Gator , My Radical is 90amps at WOT and my china deans are holding up fine .

After searching around, I decided on Deans. I tried silver solder which really needs to heat up the connestor to flow and the connector did get a bit looser. That's consistent with T'mater

[ProBroAndy]

i just finished a new charger case. it took quite a while a while to find one that would fit all my gear.. especially the thickness of my power supply. I wanted something light, yet had wheels on it so i could pull it around. the only case i could find that fit all the requirements was a Pelican 1720 tactical weapons case, so i snagged one.

here it is all set up. 4x 200w GT power chargers and 2 accucel 8150 150W chargers. im just shy on power to max it all out, but screw it.. it will work

so far so good.. no cooling issues as of yet. i just cant max the GT powers or else they thermally shut down at 2C (common problem) i think they are really only 150W cause at 7A, i have no issues.

[MikeMcChiken]

Gator , My Radical is 90amps at WOT and my china deans are holding up fine .

After searching around, I decided on Deans. I tried silver solder which really needs to heat up the connestor to flow and the connector did get a bit looser. That's consistent with T'mater

I just use regular thin rosin core solder . I keep a can of freeze it handy to so heat doesn't make it to the cells .

Nice Case Andy . Looks like a gun case .

[WessCo]

why silver solder?