Which LiPo charger should I buy?

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Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby rogueqd » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:47 am

Hi Guys n Gals n Bruces, :)

I currently have a Turnigy Accucell 6 charger. It works fine, but as I accumulate more and more batteries I'm noticing that it takes bloody ages to charge them all. So I want to buy a second charger.

The other problem with the Accucell 6 is that it balances by discharging the full cells and then charging all the cells back up again, rather than just charging the low cells and leaving the full ones as they are.

So what I'm looking for is a charger that can preferably charge two batteries at the same time (with out any silly piggybacking 2 3S as 1 6S tricks) and that charges through the balance plug so that it balances properly, not by draining the full cells.

Can anyone recommend a charger? Hopefully not too expensive. :)
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby Hal9000 » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:57 am

Not a recommendation. Have you looked on hobby kings website?

I found the following;

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... rger_.html

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... arger.html

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... rger_.html

Is that the sort of thing you are after?

I do recommend that you read the reviews and discussions to determine quality and reliability. One or two of these units are cheap and the adage you get what you pay for seems to apply.
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby rogueqd » Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:16 am

Hi Hal,

I had looked at Hobby King previously, but I couldn't tell which chargers did the drain to balance thing. I looked more closely at the ones you posted and I noticed they all have "Current drain for balancing li-xx: 300mA" in the specs. I gather that means that they do the drain to balance thing (which takes a lot longer than just charging each cell independently).

Art least now I know how to tell the difference, and maybe with a 4 battery charger it won't matter that it takes a while to balance. :)
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby quarry44 » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:35 am

I first bought a Turnigy 7A charger,but found the buttons rather vague in operation.They wouldn't always get me into the program i wanted.
I therfore bought this one:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__5548__IMAX_B6_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_GENUINE_.html
This one has much more positive buttons,and works as it should.The specs claim a discharge rate of up to 1 amp.
Btw.,DON'T buy the cheaper imax copy,I have heard many reports of dodgy electronics,and even overcharging,which is fatal to lipo's.
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby rogueqd » Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:03 am

After looking through all of HK's chargers I'm tempted to get a couple of these. They charge each cell separately which is what I wanted.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... oduct=2055
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby quarry44 » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:06 pm

If I read the specs correctly,the max charge rate is only 2 amps.Fine for park flyers,but a bit limiting for bigger models.As a charger for balancing only it would be fine.But you would then need another charger for normal charging.
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby cynr100 » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:35 pm

Nearly bought one just for balance charging then I realised it is only for Li-po. No Li-ion, LiFe etc.
My Accucell6 and HK watt/checker/balancer is doing a good job for me, anyway.

Dennis
Not enough time in the day for all my crazy ideas, I'm not slow, I'm just pacing myself
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby rogueqd » Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:33 pm

Well I already have my Accucell 6 charger, which also does discharge and storage so it's obviously not being replaced.

I've bought the one I post above and also this one.

My main objectives were quick balancing and also charging multiple batteries simultaneously. I only have a Bixler and an AXN so my biggest batteries are 3S 2200mah. There chargers will do be fine for now, although I may eventually upgrade to a 4 battery 4 button charger like the top one Hal suggested, that looks sweet. :)
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby rogueqd » Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:37 pm

cynr100 wrote:My ... HK watt/checker/balancer is doing a good job for me
Hey, I have one of those. I totally forgot it does balancing, lol.
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Re: Which LiPo charger should I buy?

Postby hakank » Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:40 pm

rogueqd wrote:
cynr100 wrote:My ... HK watt/checker/balancer is doing a good job for me
Hey, I have one of those. I totally forgot it does balancing, lol.


Be careful with that one.The one I got stinks when it comes to accuracy during balancing. It's way off. If you have the money I would recommend: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6792

It's very accurate and also has a good user/manufacture support at: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=839657

/Håkan
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