Just bought an old FMA charger - need help - RC-Monster Forums

Metallover · **Just bought an old FMA charger - need help -** 03.01.2009, 05:05 PM

I just bought an old FMA Direct Balance Pro HD 6s lipo lithium balancing charger used for 40 bucks. It can charge up to 6s lipo at 10a. This charger was one of the first balance chargers. Heck, this came out when people didn't even run balance taps on their lipos.

My problem is, on an old pdf I found, it stated the charger is only good for charging fma lipos. Do you think I can charge all my regular lipos with it?

pdf - http://www.fmadirect.com/support_docs/item_1190.pdf

brushlessboy16 · 03.01.2009, 05:19 PM

The only thing limiting you would be the balance taps, everything else is universal for lipos.

lincpimp · 03.01.2009, 05:45 PM

Ha, looks like that dinosaur uses a serial plug to hook the harness up!

Can you get us a closer pic of the harness. I wonder if it uses the tap wires to charge and not the main leads. If so most lipos use small gauge wires for the taps, and they can only handle 2amps, much more and the thin wires get very hot and could melt into the cells...

Metallover · 03.01.2009, 06:09 PM

http://www.trextuning.com/fma-cellpro_system.php

It's huge.

People use those connectors on their lipos...

lincpimp · 03.01.2009, 07:34 PM

Ok, looks pretty easy to adapt it to work with any connector. Looks like it charges thru the main leads, or can at least be modded to work.

Metallover · 03.01.2009, 07:49 PM

I think is charges through the main leads and balances as it charges in a "blinky style".

This lead is good for up to 6s. I'm thinking the negative is the ground, and 5 wires are the 1-5 cells and the red would be for the the 6th cell?

jhautz · 03.01.2009, 10:25 PM

I had one of those. It was a great charger. Worked great, but with no read out at all you kinda just had to trust it was doing what you wanted. Super easy to use though.

You can follow the wiring diagram in the instructions and make an adapter for any style balance tap.

http://www.fmadirect.com/support_docs/item_1236.pdf

snellemin · 03.01.2009, 10:46 PM

I use that exact same one and works great. You can see the voltages of each individual cell with the pc interface.

Metallover · 03.01.2009, 10:57 PM

Awesome! Now I feel good about this charger. Thanks for the wiring info j. I hope to get it by the end of the week and I'll post how it works out.

Is there any software you have to install to get it to work on your computer?

jhautz · 03.01.2009, 11:56 PM

The only reason I got rid of mine was I bought the newer 10s version they came out with. FMA makes awesome chargers IMO.