WhataNut FMA PowerLab8 1000W charger

[feistyacorn]

I am looking at getting one of these chargers soon here and I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with the IOTA DLS-27-25? It looks like a nice, easy, and clean power supply for $200.

[MindThoughts]

I believe this model(see the link just below) is the one simplechamp is referring to. And this will be my next power supply as well. I'm really happy to see MaxAmps offers these ready to go with the minor modifications already complete. And I must say- I do like the look of the wrap :) Thank You MaxAmps. Great Job- Well Done :) MaxAmps also sells the PowerLab 8 Chargers as well- so you can buy both your charger and your power supply from the same place without the need for separate shipping. This is a first in this industry for extremely high powered chargers and power supplies. In the past- we had to hunt around for a power supply which would sufficiently power our PowerHouse Chargers.

Direct Link To 24volt 47Amp Power Supply:
http://www.maxamps.com/Power-Supply-24V.htm

Originally Posted by feistyacorn

I am looking at getting one of these chargers soon here and I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with the IOTA DLS-27-25? It looks like a nice, easy, and clean power supply for $200.

[simplechamp]

I think for the price you'd be better off doing the server power supplies found in the "General Electric" section (also linked in this thread). Or Buy one from MaxAmps if you don't want to wire it yourself (but be prepared to pay quite a bit more, although still less than the one you are looking at) Then you can have 47A @ 24V.

[snellemin]

So I've been using the charger at 40a with a 40 blade fuse. The 8awg still got hot and the fuse was melting. So the fuse was no good. Ebay to the rescue and got a fuseblock for 7 bucks shipped. This time I use dual 40A glass fuses. Wires don't get hot no mo' at 40A.

[MindThoughts]

Thanks A Million For This Update :)
This is extremely important information and I'm very grateful you post this information up onto this thread. Please keep us up to date on your experience with your CellPro PowerLab 8 Balance Charger :)

PS. Happy Holidays Everyone :)

Originally Posted by snellemin

So I've been using the charger at 40a with a 40 blade fuse. The 8awg still got hot and the fuse was melting. So the fuse was no good. Ebay to the rescue and got a fuseblock for 7 bucks shipped. This time I use dual 40A glass fuses. Wires don't get hot no mo' at 40A.

[snellemin]

It was the cheapest solution for me. And I get to add as many connectors as I like to the output. Next up is making an extension for the balancing wire harness.

I'm charging the 2s 5000mah Acepow packs at 40A. The 4s pack at 35A. The A123 1p packs at 20A and the 2p packs at 40A. It's so nice not having to wait 10 minutes for a battery pack to charge. But my 8 year old son still complains after 5 minutes of waiting for his packs to finish.
I cycle the lipo's and A123's with 40A regenerative discharge.

I found that cycling the packs once or twice has the same effect as warming them up before usage. Resistance of the cells go down, especially the A123's. To achieve this, I don't do the cooldown between cycles.

[MindThoughts]

This is really great to know- Thank you for all the details and specific information.

How many amps are you discharging the LiPo and A123 cells when you cycle them?

Originally Posted by snellemin

It was the cheapest solution for me. And I get to add as many connectors as I like to the output. Next up is making an extension for the balancing wire harness.

I'm charging the 2s 5000mah Acepow packs at 40A. The 4s pack at 35A. The A123 1p packs at 20A and the 2p packs at 40A. It's so nice not having to wait 10 minutes for a battery pack to charge. But my 8 year old son still complains after 5 minutes of waiting for his packs to finish.
I cycle the lipo's and A123's with 40A regenerative discharge.

I found that cycling the packs once or twice has the same effect as warming them up before usage. Resistance of the cells go down, especially the A123's. To achieve this, I don't do the cooldown between cycles.

[snellemin]

Originally Posted by MindThoughts

This is really great to know- Thank you for all the details and specific information.

How many amps are you discharging the LiPo and A123 cells when you cycle them?

40 Amps. I wonder if I could discharge a total of 80A if I had two chargers in parallel.

[MindThoughts]

I did not realize the PowerLab 8 could discharge at up to 40 continuous Amps- that's truly awesome- and furthermore- at this point in time- I do not know of any other Balance charger which can discharge at 40amps.

PS. I never thought I would be so happy with any model charger- this charger is extremely powerful- extremely accurate- and very easy to use- and I really like plugging my PowerLab 8 Balance Charger into my Laptop Computer and using the free and very easy to use Charge Control Software. This charger is a dream come true- that's for sure :) Special Thanks To FMA Direct- and anyone and everyone that has been involved in the Beta Testing of this model charger for the past three years- perfecting the software and every aspect of these awesome balance chargers. The CellPro PowerLab 8 Battery WorkStation Is Truly In A Class Of It's Own- In Every Way :)

Originally Posted by snellemin

40 Amps. I wonder if I could discharge a total of 80A if I had two chargers in parallel.

[snellemin]

The charger is a Nut for sure. The 40A limit came about after the firmware update bumped the limit from 30->40A charge/discharge rate.

I figured that with a parallel balancing connector I can use dual Powerlab 8 to discharge at 80A, or use triple Powerlab 8 for 120A discharge rate. That should put a battery to test of true advertised C rating.

[feistyacorn]

Originally Posted by snellemin

I figured that with a parallel balancing connector I can use dual Powerlab 8 do discharge at 80A, or use triple Powerlab 8 for 120A discharge rate. That should put a battery to test of true advertised C rating.

That would be insane. Let us know if you do.

[MindThoughts]

I'm very interested in your test results for any and all LiPo and other chemistry batteries tested. Please do post your findings.

PS. Is it also possible to use two PowerLab 8 chargers wired in (series or parallel) to charge at- for example- up to 80Amps? For example- some of the High Mah(capacity) LiFePO4 chemistry batteries say they can be charged at up to a 15c charge rate- which for this model and capacity(6750Mah 3cell LiFePO4) = a 100 Amp Balanced Charge Rate. In which case we would need three PowerLab 8 Chargers Wired In (Series or Parallel?). Is it possible to wire the 40amp PowerLab 8 balance chargers in series or parallel- in order to achieve the 100amp balanced charge rate? I can see that though a 40amp balance charger is awesome and great- I agree with your son- we need more power from one charger :) a 100amp balance charger would be quite nice- and I'm sure FMA Direct is already beta testing them as we speak. Howard in tech support at FMA Direct- where I purchase my two PowerLab 8 Chargers- said they were Beta Testing the PowerLab 8 chargers for three years with zero major problems.

Here is the direct link to the LiFePO4 Chemistry Battery which can be charged at 100 Amps and comes with a 5 year 1000 one thousand cycle warranty. This link is to the 3cell variety. I may try the same capacity in the 2cell variety to reduce weight, or even try the 4cell 2250mah LiFePO4- considering that I'm running a 3600kv motor and my Mains/club races are only 7 minutes. I'm running an Ultra-Light Full Carbon Fiber(By Matrix Concepts Inc) Hyper 9E with a 3600kv 1/10th scale motor which is very fast on one- 2cell LiPo(on a medium size indoor- high bite- clay track). I realize the LiFePO4 Chemistry Battery is a little lower voltage compared to the LiPo chemistry battery- but I should be able to gear up(add one or two or maybe three pinion gear teeth) in order to compensate for the slightly lower rpm produced from the apx 1volt difference between batteries :)

http://www.maxamps.com/Life-6750-99-Pack.htm

Originally Posted by snellemin

The charger is a Nut for sure. The 40A limit came about after the firmware update bumped the limit from 30->40A charge/discharge rate.

I figured that with a parallel balancing connector I can use dual Powerlab 8 do discharge at 80A, or use triple Powerlab 8 for 120A discharge rate. That should put a battery to test of true advertised C rating.

[snellemin]

Lol, I wish I had to money for such a setup. That is buying two more chargers and 3 deepcycle batteries.

[SunnyHouTX]

Just got mine in the mail today! Woohoo It's the 30A version so I was able to get it as part of the Combo No. 2 TP/PQ package for the bargain basement price of $236 shipped to my door by a seller from another forum. BNIB too. Upgraded to V2 firmware already and going through the manual. This is going to be fun.

All I need to do now is to build a pair of charge leads to handle 40A discharge. Thinking of using the 4mm bullets that some on CC 1/10 motors and some 12awg wire. Is this OK for 40A? I opened up the stackable 30A connector and looks like the connector in there has a much smaller contact patch than the CC 4mm one.



Oh, and here's the fuse block I'll be using on the charge leads.

[snellemin]

12awg are enough for 40A. The bullets have to be long enough as well.