First Good Charger!

[_Kyle_]

Ok guys Im looking for some tips on a good starter charger! I was looking at some of the combos on ProgressiveRC.. Are the combos good for starters? I have a 450 and would like to be able to charge 6s batteries in the future! I also have been wanting to get a good charger because right now I just have Aligns regular balance charger.. Ive seen that you can charge multiple batteries at once.. Any tips Helps!


Thank you


-Kyle

[CrashNburn420]

Whats your budget?

[Slyster]

Look up above your post to the sticky

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=476431

[_Kyle_]

Originally Posted by CrashNburn420

Whats your budget?

I would like under 250$ will go to 300 if big difference

[jagalactic]

I was happy with a Hitec quad 50 watt charger until I got my first 12s heli. When I realized it was looking at 2+ hour charge times, I went shopping.

I got a 1000w Meanwell power supply and Powerlab 8 charger from Progressive RC, and parallel charged 6s packs for my 12s T-Rex 600. After a year or so, my packs started to degrade, and charge times went up (due to parallel balancing mismatched cells). Parallel charging is great until the packs degrade; if they get sufficiently mismatched, charging takes forever at best, and catches fire at worst. ;-)

I was considering getting a second Powerlab 8 around the time the iCharger 4010duo came out. I got that, and I'm very happy with it. I can keep an eye on cell IR (all fits on the screen at once), and I don't have to parallel charge my big 6s packs. I initially intended to sell the Powerlab 8, but it's nice to have a 3rd high-power charging channel. I run both chargers in parallel from the same 1000w Meanwell supply, and I've never seen any smoke. We do have AC power at my club's field though ;-)

High wattage chargers pretty much require a separate power supply. Not cheap, but I'm certainly happy with my rig. You can get it somewhat on the cheap if you get a pair of 12v computer server power supplies wired in series for 24V. Note that high wattage chargers require a 24V or higher supply voltage - they will run on 12V but not at full power.

My setup is not fancy-mounted in a case (nice as that would be). I have a $25 harbor freight case that works great, with the 2 chargers wrapped in towels. I just unload the case onto a table at the field (we have a great field with AC power and benches in Round Rock, TX)

Bonus suggestion: I highly recommend logging your charges (including mAH in, charge time, and IR). I use an iPhone app called LipoLog, and I have records going back 2 years. In addition to keeping records of the condition of my expensive Lipos, I know exactly how many flights I have on my big helis.

Cheers,
John

[_Kyle_]

Originally Posted by jagalactic

I was happy with a Hitec quad 50 watt charger until I got my first 12s heli. When I realized it was looking at 2+ hour charge times, I went shopping.

I got a 1000w Meanwell power supply and Powerlab 8 charger from Progressive RC, and parallel charged 6s packs for my 12s T-Rex 600. After a year or so, my packs started to degrade, and charge times went up (due to parallel balancing mismatched cells). Parallel charging is great until the packs degrade; if they get sufficiently mismatched, charging takes forever at best, and catches fire at worst. ;-)

I was considering getting a second Powerlab 8 around the time the iCharger 4010duo came out. I got that, and I'm very happy with it. I can keep an eye on cell IR (all fits on the screen at once), and I don't have to parallel charge my big 6s packs. I initially intended to sell the Powerlab 8, but it's nice to have a 3rd high-power charging channel. I run both chargers in parallel from the same 1000w Meanwell supply, and I've never seen any smoke. We do have AC power at my club's field though ;-)

High wattage chargers pretty much require a separate power supply. Not cheap, but I'm certainly happy with my rig. You can get it somewhat on the cheap if you get a pair of 12v computer server power supplies wired in series for 24V. Note that high wattage chargers require a 24V or higher supply voltage - they will run on 12V but not at full power.

My setup is not fancy-mounted in a case (nice as that would be). I have a $25 harbor freight case that works great, with the 2 chargers wrapped in towels. I just unload the case onto a table at the field (we have a great field with AC power and benches in Round Rock, TX)

Bonus suggestion: I highly recommend logging your charges (including mAH in, charge time, and IR). I use an iPhone app called LipoLog, and I have records going back 2 years. In addition to keeping records of the condition of my expensive Lipos, I know exactly how many flights I have on my big helis.

Cheers,
John

Ok thanks for the help! Very detailed!

[HeliSoCal]

A powerlab 6 and an server powersupply woud come in close around $300 and allow future expansion. Also might want to check out the icharger 308duo, but it will put you over 300 with power supply

[Stikman26]

I run the HiTec X4, which is capable of 12VDC or 120VAC input. I think I paid $220 for it. This was my second charger and wish I bought it sooner since I was using my triton, which only charges one at a time. After a few flights, I was always waiting to fly due to the lack of charged batteries. You are better off spending a little more money to get a good one rather than getting one cheap. The biggest pack i have so far is 2200mah, and no issues with it yet.

[chris-fry]

I have an iCharger 3010B. Does upto 10S on the charger itself, but limited to 6S with the Paraboards. I have yet to tap into the data bank that the 3010B has to offer. There is so much stuff in those chargers, it is not even funny! But, that is a good thing!

[satgod]

Originally Posted by _Kyle_

Ok guys Im looking for some tips on a good starter charger! I was looking at some of the combos on ProgressiveRC.. Are the combos good for starters? I have a 450 and would like to be able to charge 6s batteries in the future! I also have been wanting to get a good charger because right now I just have Aligns regular balance charger.. Ive seen that you can charge multiple batteries at once.. Any tips Helps!


Thank you


-Kyle

a PL-6 will do up to 6s a PL-8 will do up to 8s (PL=PowerLabs)

if you dont think your ever going to ago above a 6s battery the PL-6 will do you fine
if you can swing the extra get the PL-8 and your set reguardless

A good server supply will do it. 12v 60+ amps or 24v 50+ amps

This is my newest power supply solution
24v 75a, with 12v, usb and cig adapter (bad weather and I needed something to do)

[NSFlyer12]

Another vote for the PL8 or PL6.

[_Kyle_]

I have raised my budget because I think I will be in this hobby a while.. And I want to get into bigger helis.. (500+) I was wondering if the "Hardline Home Solution" is a good choice. (ProggressiveRC) As it comes in a case and it would be easy to bring to the field.. 600$ Is my MAX budget.. I was also looking at the Dynamo.. A little more expensive but better and no case.. Yalls opinion? Man this hobby is adding up the $$$...

[RedOctobyr]

I haven't looked up those particular combos, but I've look at PRC's combos before.

It depends on your priorities. I bought a 308Duo for $270. I bought a TDK Lambda 1500W 24V supply for ~$140 on eBay ($1300 new, very similar to a Meanwell; see the 308Duo thread for more info). Two V3 Safe Paraboards from BuddyRC for $26 each.

$462 for 2-channels, 30A+30A, 1300W of charging. I could have saved some by using my existing DIY server supplies (cost me $40-50) for now.

No case, but I'm going to make something myself.

I don't know what's included in the combos you looked at, but you may not need a case at all. Or if you're up for some DIY, you can make your own case. And potentially save some significant $ over a combo.