hey guys, i need help bad! I am getting lipo batteries, but i still dont know what charger to get. I really want a nice one, but at a good price. Anything under $90. Thanks guys. I would love to see what kind of chargers you suggest. I would like if they had a built in balancer too. Thanks again

FMA Cellpro 4S
http://www.fmadirect.com/products.htm?cat=45&nid=4

Originally Posted by felker14

FMA Cellpro 4S
http://www.fmadirect.com/products.htm?cat=45&nid=4

I second that; I've had one for a couple of years and its been great. The newest version has a storage-charge setting and also charges A123 batteries. The only downside is that you've got to buy adapters for the balance connectors for different vendor's batteries, but you'll never need to buy a separate balancer.
-norms

I have the new 10S. Just charged my 1st set of A123 batteries about 10 minutes ago. It is a snap to use.

Like everything in RC, the definition of a good charger will vary with your needs. Tell us about what you are flying now, and what you think you will be flying in the next year. Do you want to charge at home, or in the field, or both? Do you want to charge small lipos, or very large lipos? We can then be more specific in our suggestions.

As an example of what works for me. I fly both small, and larger electrics. For my small planes like foamies, and 45" size electrics that run on 3 cells between 900mAH and 2500mAH I use an Electrifly PolyCharge-4 that lets me charge 4 batteries concurrently. It has no provisions for balancing, I use a Blinky Balancer every so often for that. I charge at the field, and can basically fly non-stop, all day with my battery collection. I use a deep discharge marine battery which I carry in the back of my truck to charge off of.

I have a 58" EF Extra that takes a 5 cell 4350mAH battery. I have a Hyperion 25% Extra that takes a 10S battery (two of the 5 cells in series). Batteries of this size require a sophisticated charger, with balancer, to keep them in proper shape. I have 8 of these batteries, so I can fly 8 flights on the EF, or 4 flights on the Hyperion, or some combination, before recharging. I have two Hyperion chargers for these batteries. Since batteries of this size tend to kill the source battery in pretty short order (never charge them off your car battery), I charge them at home with a 12 V power supply, almost never at the field. The Hyperion chargers will charge almost any type of battery, including A123, and the LiONs I use in my giant scale planes.

So, as you can see, we need to know a lot more about your needs before we can recommend the right charger setup. Let us know, and we will be glad to offer suggestions.

Originally Posted by DR10044

I have the new 10S. Just charged my 1st set of A123 batteries about 10 minutes ago. It is a snap to use.

I don't think the new 10S fits into the OP's request for it to be "Anything under $90".

While I don't have a lot of experience with chargers, when one considers the options available for less than $90.00 I think the previously mentioned 4S is pretty hard to beat. If you watch FMA's website, they put 'em on sale occasionally for $60.00.

Now, if he want's to charge something other than Li-Po's, Li-Ion's or A123's, then that charger isn't going to cut it for him.

I like my Triton2 Charger but it has been out for a few years now. I don't think that $90 will get you a great all around charger that will also charge A123s, etc., but I could be wrong?

There are a lot of great options out there but a $120 charger seems to be the going rate for something that is just kick ass.

I'm a fan of the Hyperion chargers. They have new units out with the balancer integrated. In particular they have a unit that has a built in power supply and can charge two packs at once. Its expensive, but so is buying 2 cheap chargers and two cheap balancers and a power supply.

http://media.hyperion.hk/dn/eos/

For $99 they have a balancing charger that can do 6S packs, the 0606i:



They also have a 4S version that should be cheaper but I cant find it for sale yet.

I have two of their older units and have been very happy with them.

yeah, to me some of the lipo chargers are so expensive, but i guess thats the price to pay to get great stuff. I like the $99 0606i one. thanks guys