WhataNut FMA PowerLab8 1000W charger

[feistyacorn]

Originally Posted by MindThoughts

PS. Is it possible to charge a LiPo using the banana plugs, without using the balance plug as well? Reason being- I have some two cell LiPo's that use the two bullet connectors 4mm and the very small 2.5mm I believe it is- bullet connector between the (+ and -) two 4mm connectors. I have a Team Check Point LiPo balancer which only requires I use the banana jacks- from any given charger.

I'm sure I could buy the proper adapter to allow the PowerLab 8 to do the balancing for these older LiPo's I no longer use- but I'm at the moment interested in if this charger will allow me to somehow charge through the banan jacks only- Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

I think I know what you are talking about and yes, you can make all sorts of adaptors.... Or you can buy something like this: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...llet-Connector

A Main has all kinds of adaptors that might work for your situation. The Monster even has one for Hyperion Charges that you could modify: http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...LB10CAR&cat=19

[MindThoughts]

Thank you for this information Snellemin-

I'm going to continue to store these liPo's until I sell them, and though the voltage has maintained a steady rate in storage thus far(many months), I would like to do at least one discharge and then storage mode charge with each of these LiPo's. I'll charge them back up to 50 or 60 percent after a minimal discharge to each of the batteries. I'm thinking it may be easier to buy the adapter which allows me to balance charge these specific LiPo's with the PowerLab 8, rather than using the external Team checkpoint balancers which I- at one time- used to balance these cells with- long ago(with the Team Checkpoint- 10amp chargers).

If you or anyone knows of a link where I may buy the balancing adapter which would allow me to balance charge with my PowerLab 8- the Orian Platinum Series LiPo's which has two 4mm female bullet connector/receiver holes in the battery for the positive and negative leads- and then one very small- I think it's 2.5mm female bullet type receiver plug/hole in the battery case between the two 4mm holes- for balancing this type of battery. I do not know the proper name or type of plug used for balancing this battery. Nor do I know how I would go about making such an adapter. What puzzles me- is I had ask Howard at FMA Direct- when I initially place my order for these chargers- that I would need the proper balancing adapter for these type of batteries(I specified the battery plug type- (two 4mm & one 2.5mm Female bullet connector) in order that I may balance charge these liPo's- if ever needed. If anyone here has any insight- into which adapter(s) I may need- please let me know on this thread- as a last resort- I'll see if I can get into contact with Howard Matos at FMA Direct- where I purchased these power plants.

[MindThoughts]

Yikes-
I didn't see this post-
Thank you for the information. To this day- I've not modified nor made my own balancing adapter plugs- though I'm very interested in how to do this. Though I would need to be certain I would not damage the charger nor any of the cells in the battery. The RC Monster balancing adapter plug(link to- in your post) looks like it may plug right into the PowerLab 8- if not- maybe I can find a way to make this adapter work- by replacing the end which plugs into the charger- with the plug which fits into the PowerLab 8 balancing port.

Originally Posted by feistyacorn

I think I know what you are talking about and yes, you can make all sorts of adaptors.... Or you can buy something like this: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...llet-Connector

A Main has all kinds of adaptors that might work for your situation. The Monster even has one for Hyperion Charges that you could modify: http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...LB10CAR&cat=19

[feistyacorn]

Originally Posted by MindThoughts

Yikes-
I didn't see this post-
Thank you for the information. To this day- I've not modified nor made my own balancing adapter plugs- though I'm very interested in how to do this. Though I would need to be certain I would not damage the charger nor any of the cells in the battery. The RC Monster balancing adapter plug(link to- in your post) looks like it may plug right into the PowerLab 8- if not- maybe I can find a way to make this adapter work- by replacing the end which plugs into the charger- with the plug which fits into the PowerLab 8 balancing port.

If you read the manual there is somewhere in there that talks about the pinout config. BrianG has a area on his site that might help you understand how a pack is wired. http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/lipo.html

I have to pick up a 2mm bullet and then I will make an adaptor too. I will take some picks when I build the adaptor. It probably wont be for a few weeks though.

This is what Im going to use to do a custom adaptor:

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...xtension-Cable (Im going to chop off the end and get rid of the extra wires)

and

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ana-Plug-Cable

and

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...-Male-2-Female

and

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...-Male-2-Female

PS: I saw your post on RC Tech, just get a slipperential....

[MindThoughts]

This is fantastic information. And thank you for the links as well :-)

PS. Once you've create your own balancing plug adapter- please do post pictures of the plug. And if possible- also post pictures of the process of parts you begin with- and what you change- or modify to make it suitable for your specific application. Thank you again :-)

Originally Posted by feistyacorn

If you read the manual there is somewhere in there that talks about the pinout config. BrianG has a area on his site that might help you understand how a pack is wired. http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/lipo.html

I have to pick up a 2mm bullet and then I will make an adaptor too. I will take some picks when I build the adaptor. It probably wont be for a few weeks though.

This is what Im going to use to do a custom adaptor:

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...xtension-Cable (Im going to chop off the end and get rid of the extra wires)

and

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ana-Plug-Cable

and

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...-Male-2-Female

and

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...-Male-2-Female

PS: I saw your post on RC Tech, just get a slipperential....

[snellemin]

Just some update:

Two of my Powerlab's failed with the same scenario. But my third one still works great. Warranty issues are handled quickly. One got repaired and the other is just being replaced. Failure happend when charging at 40A on 25V input. A capacitor and voltage regulator was fixed in my first powerlab.

[MindThoughts]

Thank you for the update snellemin.

It's great to know FMA Direct took care of you quickly and that you had a good experience with FMA Directs Customer Service in terms of repairs and replacement- and a speedy process.

My two PowerLab 8 Battery WorkStations have not had any problems- though I'm only charging my Thunder Power G4 Series at 30 Amps Because the G4 Series can only accept a maximum of a 6c charge rate(6c x 5000mah = 6 x 5 = 30). And my Common Sense RC power supply is also only a 13.8volt unit. I will be upgrading to a 24volt 100Amp(minimum) Power Supply once I upgrade to LiPo's which can accept a 12c(60Amps for a 5000mah capacity) charge rate.

Note: On the Thunder Power RC's Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) page, Thunder Power mentions that they are in testing of extremely high powered chargers which will charge their latest G6 series LiPo's(which can accept a 12c charge rate, which would be balance charging at 60 Amps for a 5000mah LiPo- for an approximate 3 to 5 mintute charge time).

Originally Posted by snellemin

Just some update:

Two of my Powerlab's failed with the same scenario. But my third one still works great. Warranty issues are handled quickly. One got repaired and the other is just being replaced. Failure happend when charging at 40A on 25V input. A capacitor and voltage regulator was fixed in my first powerlab.

[snellemin]

Charger doesn't die anymore after I got it back from FMA. Here's a pic of me charging 6s4p A123 at 40A with my dual psu.

[MindThoughts]

That's very nice- snellemin :-)

Very nice indeed.

[snellemin]

FMA also send out my other Powerlab, which will get here tomorrow. This was just exchanged with me sending the damaged unit past Monday. This is like Castle service.

[MindThoughts]

That's truly great to hear :-)

Originally Posted by snellemin

FMA also send out my other Powerlab, which will get here tomorrow. This was just exchanged with me sending the damaged unit past Monday. This is like Castle service.

Got one of these beasts about a week ago but as yet I haven't had a chance to go near it. I have just plugged it into a PSU to see if it comes on and other than that it has been sitting and waiting patiently. I have just been so busy with work.

Anyway I have downloaded and printed the manual for the Powerlab8 V2. All 70+ pages of it. I nearly shat a brick when I saw the whole thing but to be honest it doesn't seem to be all that complicated from what I have read so far. It is well written and should be easier enough to follow.

I am going to order the Means Well 1500W PSU from EP Buddy next week to run this beast. I think that should take care of all my charging needs. I hope. I just need to get some free time to work out how to use it.

[snellemin]

hahahah, shat a brick. Classic.

I hit a bit of a roadblock today. Could someone please point me in the right direction for the adapter that I need to buy to be able to charge my Turnigy packs. They are JST-XH balancing plugs. I had a look at the FMA online store but having a bit of a hard time working out what exactly I need. Could someone point me in the right direction? A link to the adapter would be awesome.

[snellemin]

this one
http://www.store.revolectrix.com/Pro...am-Std-Adapter

or this one
http://www.store.revolectrix.com/Pro...rallel-Adapter