Lipo charger

Hey all, I'm going to buy some lipo packs, but if I want to use them, I'll have to get a charger for them as well. The packs I'm getting will be two 3s2p 10C cells with 8000mah, and I'll have them built with taps as well. What kind of chargers do you guys suggest to get? The only one I've really looked into is the AstroFlight 109, because our Hobby People has one and I could get a employee discount on it and drop it down from the $120 retail price. If at all possible, I'd like to be able to charge both packs at the same time to save time, but would settle for one then the other if I had to. My budget would be $150 max., but would hope to spend less; I might be able to condone a more expensive one if it does Nimh too.

[gixxer]

If you want to be able to do nimh packs too i would go with the duratrax ice. I actually have both and prefer the astroflight when doing lipo packs because it charges a little quicker (doesn't lower amps after reaching full voltage, it does a pulse instead and completes about 10min faster)
Both chargers are about the same price. You will also have to get a powersupply if you dont already have one.

Yeah, I know about the powersupply thing, this is going to kill my Christmas money wad for sure!

I don't really need a new charger for Nimh packs, because the two 959's I have are still going strong and I'm happy with them.

[nbcaznmaster]

http://www.emtel.com/search/product_...t_id=EMV15012V
i forgot who had this link. Pretty cheap.

[MetalMan]

I showed that link ;). I have been working with David to figure a bunch of this LiPo stuff out. So far, I haven't really been able to find a conveniently priced Lipo charger than can do 6s, and have the ability to do NiMh.

[mack]

I bought this loader it can do boht:Graupner Ultra Duo Plus 30

Charges up to 30 Nicads (at rates up to 7 Ah), UP TO 30 NiMH!! batteries, UP TO 10 Lithium!!!! Cells, up to 24V Lead Acid!
The ultimate field charger. 6 x 5-3/8 x 1-5/8", 26 oz. Recharges, conditions, balances, measures capacity of Nicads. Recharges, discharges to measure capacity of NiMH batteries. Charges, discharges to determine capacity of Lithium cells and Lead Acid batteries. Clear instructions, relatively easy to set. Can be adjusted to accept low car (input) battery voltage. For knowledgeable users this charger allows changing of Delta V for automatic cutoff, trickle current. Has adjustable safety timer, click sound when buttons are successfully pressed, buzzer sound for errors and completions. Allows separate charging of receiver or transmitter batteries.

GR6416 Graupner Ultra Duo
Plus 30 Automatic Peak
Charger ..... $ 199.90
IN STOCK

It doesn't have to do Nimh, but that'd be cool at the same time if it could. My main requirement would be the ability to handle 6s and 8000mah.

Oh, and I knew about that PC powersupply, seems like a good option.

Any others that you guys like? Getting closer to Christmas, which means closer to actually buying this stuff. :)

[MetalMan]

I think the new TP 10 cell 10amp charger would be just about the only other one under $200. It is a little expensive though.

http://parts.rctoys.com/rc-toys-hobb.../218133%20-%20(S)?#
It should be available in about a week or two.

Can't get that link to work, or find what you're talking about on their site.......little help?

Wait.....is it this one? Any other specs on it that you know of?

[MetalMan]

Ya, that's the one. Here's the latest info:

Newest super safe software: Version V1.85
1)Safe cell count reconfirm required (if cell count can not be confirmed by pack voltage)
2)Charge termination:100%, 97%, 95%, 50%
3)Discharge termination:3.3V/cell, 3.45V/cell, 3.85V/cell.
4)Easy to use memory key: program by user
5)Charge current:1 to 5 cells= 10A
6S=8.25A, 7S=7A, 8S=6A, 9S=5.5A, 10S=5A

Added safety with balancer
1)Auto cell count confirm
2)Over 4.25V safety protection shut-off
3)Extreme imbalance 25%(over 0.2V)shut-off
4)Auto charge rate reduction/reset if imbalance is 10%(0.08V) at 50% charge
5)Display cell voltage and imbalance by one touch

This charger can connect to one of TP's balancers, and communicate with it for things like individual cell voltage. This makes it so that the charger can change the charge rate (decrease it) or even stop the charge based on the actual pack information!

[BrianG]

Originally posted by nbcaznmaster
http://www.emtel.com/search/product_...t_id=EMV15012V
i forgot who had this link. Pretty cheap.

You know, if you have an extra regular computer power supply laying around, you can use the 12v output as your power source. You can get a current model new for as low as $25-$30 that will supply from 15A to 25A. You'd have to do a little modification for your use, but that's pretty cheap and the output is pretty high. I had an old unused car CD player so I built a case with speakers to put it in for a workshop radio using a PC power supply and it works well. Just another suggestion... :)

Sadly, no extra computer junk laying around. We do have a circa '97 or so Gateway 2000 with a single 200mHz Intel processor though, it's junk, but still runs so I can't destroy it.


EDIT: Hey Travis, does it go individually through the cells with the balancer? Sounds like an excellent deal, but the lipo plunge is looking more and more expensive.........gotta wait for birthday money now too I guess.

[MetalMan]

The TP 1010 still charges through the main connector (Deans), but the pack would be balanced by the balancer. If there were a large imbalance, the balancer could tell the charger to slow the charge rate down, and when things are worked out, it could tell it to go ahead and charge faster. The charger can also display individual cell voltage as it receives this information from the balancer. It really would be just about the ultimate charging setup.

Wow, sounds amazing........but that blasted price.......it'll take more saving to do this than I thought.