What is a good charger?

Hey guys just wondering what I should pick up charger wise for the emoli 5s2p system I will be building. I currently have a GP triton that I think I could use if I built the packs like a 2s2p and a 3s2p and wired them in series. But I'd rather have a charger that I could charge all the cells at the same time. What do you guys recomend for a charger, don't want to go over $200.

[squeeforever]

If you are willing to spend $200, the TP1010 is the best I think.

[MetalMan]

Yeah, the TP-1010C for $200 is the way to go. You could charge that pack at 10 amps with the TP charger, which would give you a total charge time of about 50mins for a full charge.

Does your pack have taps? Taps are always a good idea so that you can balance a pack, and the Emoli cells aren't an exception. Although they may stay in balance well, they may not.

Really whether I was going to install balancer taps was going to be dependant on the charger. If I go with a low C rated charger I wouldn't use taps as the emoli cells seem to balance themselves out well at low charge rates.

I like the TP-1010C, but its kinda high price for me ($260/$300 with balancer) for a charger that only charges lipo and lion. Since I race mod 10th scale and 10th scale rally as well I would like a charger that could do both lipo/lion and nicd/nimh. I sold my CE turbo 35 last year after I stopped racing but now that I'm getting back into it I'd like a charger with some of the nicer features like the turbo 35 that could also charge 5 cell lipo at a decent rate if one exists. I just havn't been in the market for a charger in a long time and don't really have too much time to do the research about what is around.

If I could find a competition level charger that could do both nicd/nimh and lipo/lion I would be willing to pay more than $200 as thats what I got for my used turbo 35 alone. I just don't know whats out there.

Thanks,
Pat

[squeeforever]

The Schulze 330-D is an option. There about $170ish. The Hyperion EOS 7I would be another option for $120.

[MetalMan]

I was going to also suggest the Hyperion EOS 7i. Compared to its little brother (EOS 5i/Multiplex LN-5014/etc.), it can charge faster and can do up to 25 NiMh cells.

[cart213]

I use the 330-d and like it, but it's max current is only 5.5 amps. So you can only charge the 2p emolis at a bit less than 1C.

Went with the Hyperion EOS 7i got it from Bishop power products for 145 shipped with the EOS balancer. Next question is does anyone have a diagram I could look at for wiring a pack up with balancing taps

[MetalMan]

How did you/will you configure your packs?

My pack will be a 5s2p pack most likely with 4 cells on one side of the buggy and 6 on the other, but permanently wired together in a 5s2p config. Still have to figure out what is balanced the best with everything on the buggy.

[MetalMan]

How will you solder them together? I can do a quick drawing to show how the taps will go. If you're not sure yet, I can do a drawing demonstrating a way to solder them together.

Not sure how I'm going to solder them up yet. I will be building them in sxs config using standard sub-c battery bars if that helps at all. Never built any packs with taps before so any help would be greatly appretiated.

[MetalMan]

What's your battery space like? If you have a picture of your car and where that batteries will go, that would help.

Which taps (balancer) are you going to use?

[TheOne]

Can someone give a site for these chargers cause I will need one for some 6s packs.

[MetalMan]

The Hyperion chargers can't do 6s Lipo. To get a 6s charger, you'll need to spend at least $120. The easier-to-get chargers include the TP-1010C and the Astroflight 109:
http://parts.rctoys.com/rc-toys-hobbies/Items/TP-1010C?
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFWW2&P=ML
The 109 isn't the greatest charger. It isn't a CC/CV charger like normal Lipo chargers. You also can't do much with it in terms of buttons and changing settings.