Battery Chargers - Which one to buy?

[cyberwarrior101]

So now that I'm even more into Electrics then ever, and with all the horror stories about fires and overcharging and balancing I figure it's time to ask the experts about chargers.

So here's my story...

My first and only LIPO / NIMH / NICAD charger has been the Triton Charger by Great Planes.. I've been using it to charge LIPO's quite often. Granted it's only a single batter charger, but it doesnt seem to have a balancer for LIPOS.

Now that I have more $$ invested in batteries, I need to be edu-ma-cated about chargers, which one to buy but yet not spend a ton of money..

I guess what I'm asking is what your recommendation for a charger would be? I understand what balanacing does but when should I do it? IS there a charger that will monitor cells and balance on each charge? What about overcharging? I'd like to just PLUG-N-PLAY these lipos.. I bought a cell monitor/voltage monitor and am ready to purchase an additional charger.. I hate having to wait 1+Hr's to charge just ONE pack at the field.. I guess this is why I bought 10 .. but now I want to make sure I'm supporting these packs over the long term.. So far I've been lucky.. have never had a pack die, explode or just quit..... Only have had one get smashed in a crash.. (well it fell out the plane LOL).. Damn velcro.

Any input would be appreciated.

- Learning as I go...

[50%plane]

I just bought this one because it can charge my A123's, LiPo's, and Li-Ions:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXTCK1&P=ML

[exeter_acres]

My favorite is the Bantam BC-6...

A/c and D/c, all chemistries.... Really easy to use... and built in balancer....
http://www.atlantahobby.com/shopexd.asp?id=6784

[Scott Gerber]

Celpro4 or Celpro10


Scott

[exeter_acres]

while their products are just fine... I just can't support a company that leaves it's retailers hanging like FMA did.......

but I guess that is water under the bridge...

[scalefreak]

	Quote: Originally Posted by exeter_acres
	My favorite is the Bantam BC-6... A/c and D/c, all chemistries.... Really easy to use... and built in balancer.... http://www.atlantahobby.com/shopexd.asp?id=6784

Yep! I second that. The BC-6 and BC-8 (depending on cell count needs) are both extremely hard to beat. The BC-6 has an internal power supply, so you can power it with AC current or DC current at the field on your car battery! It will balance charge and charge almost any battery under the sun, including A123's If you're going to buy a good charger, make it count.

[Greyhoundman]

I have been using a Hyperion 610 DUO for a few months now. Works flawlessly, has 2 outputs, built in balancing, and charges anything I can throw at it. http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=3589

[pepatrick]

Hyperion 610 duo...maybe the best charger you can buy for the money.

[k3sui]

	Quote: Originally Posted by pepatrick
	Hyperion 610 duo...maybe the best charger you can buy for the money.

Absolutely agree!!

Barry in WV

[scalefreak]

	Quote: Originally Posted by k3sui
	Absolutely agree!! Barry in WV

I've been eyeballing that charger for about a month now...hmm

I can charge 2 packs with the bc-6 and bc-8 with their dual boards, but they have to be the same capacity and it's has to be 2 3s packs or 2/3 2s packs. I can charge a combination of different cell count packs (as long as capacity is same still) with some home made adapters I made for the balance boards.

It would be nice to charge multiple packs on 1 charger at different settings. What would ONE MORE charger hurt?

::edit:: does anyone know if the balance port is the same as a bc-6 or bc-8?

[Greyhoundman]

Not sure what the bc-8 or bc-6 are, but the 610 duo has 2 built in LBA 10 balancers and you use plug in adapters for the different brands of balance connectors.

[STLAV8R]

Thunderpower 610. Has a balancer incorporated into the charger.