iCharger 4010 Duo vs 308

[rs2k]

You can parallel or series charge batteries of similar age, use, capacity and C rating. That can really speed up your charging process. I usually parallel charge my heli battery packs.

I recommend at LEAST a 24 volt power supply. For the 4010 you can go up to 48 volts. The more voltage the better up to its max. You can build safe, cheap and reliable power supplies for charging with using old server power supplies. I use four 12 volt power 600ish watt power supplies plugged into a 3500 watt generator to power my charging system. 2 sets of 2 in series giving me over 100 amps of power at 24 volts. I have less than $100 in my PSU setup including wires, connections, cables, the PSUs and a case.

[mrultralite]

Thanks guys, a little more research i'm thinking the 308 is more my style, some are worried about blowing breakers and going 220v w/ thec4010 holly crap!

[Slyster]

You can run the 4010 as a 308 (lower input amps/volts) and yet have the capacity for the future... buy cheap buy twice you know. Although the 308 is great too and certainly isn't really buying cheap

[rs2k]

Buy one of each.

[Slyster]

Originally Posted by rs2k

Buy one of each.

Maybe if you are a 'prepper"...

[rs2k]

I like to be prepared.

I have two chargers and two sets of power supplies. I also have a backup pair of NiCd's good for 43 AH's each at 24 volts if the generator gives out. I leave those at home though.

[IamProStreet]

Originally Posted by rs2k

You can parallel or series charge batteries of similar age, use, capacity and C rating. That can really speed up your charging process. I usually parallel charge my heli battery packs.

I recommend at LEAST a 24 volt power supply. For the 4010 you can go up to 48 volts. The more voltage the better up to its max. You can build safe, cheap and reliable power supplies for charging with using old server power supplies. I use four 12 volt power 600ish watt power supplies plugged into a 3500 watt generator to power my charging system. 2 sets of 2 in series giving me over 100 amps of power at 24 volts. I have less than $100 in my PSU setup including wires, connections, cables, the PSUs and a case.

You use something like these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/360966494144 How do you wire them? Maybe a picture of your power supplies would help!

[RedOctobyr]

Those, the DPS-600PB, have been a popular choice for a while now, I have 2 of them.

This thread has everything you need to know about modifying/wiring them. I assume that if doing 36V vs 24V, you just modify (float the ground) on 2 supplies, vs 1.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1581061

The DPS-1200FB are also becoming quite popular. They're apparently light and quiet, and put out 12V, 75A, 900W each.

[rs2k]

Here's my setup. I haven't connected them in parallel yet.

[IamProStreet]

Originally Posted by rs2k

Here's my setup. I haven't connected them in parallel yet.

I see you also use power pole connectors. I'm thinking about making 2 sets of 2 power supplies in parallel. Then I assume I can wire the 2 sets in series when I do get a charger that can run on 24v. Will have to do some studying to figure out how they will need to be set up as far as what needs a floating ground and continuity testing.

[rs2k]

One set has power poles and one set has banana clips. I like the power pole connectors better on the power supplies. You can connect them in parallel, but you're supposed to connect pin 11 on the power supplies.

12 volt PSU 1 pin 11 to 12 volt PSU 2 pin 11.
Floating 12 volt PSU 1 (24 volt side) pin 11 to floating 12 volt PSU 2 (24 volt side) pin 11.

It's relatively easy to make a floating DC ground. You take the PSU apart, cut the DC grounds (I use a dremel and grind the ground off the PCB), short a couple pins (I use only solder on the back side), put them back together and power them up.

[IamProStreet]

Just ordered up 2 sets (4 power supplies) http://www.ebay.com/itm/281365024076 . Will have to read up on the build a little more. From what you are saying it sounds like the 2 on the 12v side not floated and the 2 on the 24v side are floated? What exactly is floating, not having the case to ground? I would guess if one of the 12v cases touches a 24v case your going to have some fireworks if all the cases are grounded. I do understand how electricity works (not an electrical engineer or anything) but new to power supplies.

[RedOctobyr]

What chargers are you using? Anything that can't take 24V almost certainly can't draw more current than a single server supply can provide. Running 2 in parallel seems like overkill.

Sent using Tapatalk.

[rs2k]

I float the DC ground, not the AC, so it's very safe. The PSU cases are both grounded and are touching, but they don't have to touch. You must either float the DC ground or the AC ground to do 24 volts. Floating the AC ground is easier, but it's not as safe. I can send images of what I did later this evening. I'm planning to modify one of mine and can take some images when I open them up.

[rs2k]

Originally Posted by RedOctobyr

What chargers are you using? Anything that can't take 24V almost certainly can't draw more current than a single server supply can provide. Running 2 in parallel seems like overkill.

Sent using Tapatalk.

My icharger 308 can pull over 55 amps at 24 volts. The PSUs are rated at 47 amps max. I have two chargers which is why I have four PSUs.

I quite often charge four 6S 5 AH batteries at 4C at a time.

[IamProStreet]

Right now I'm using a B6 Duo with a 30A power supply. If I charge 2 6s lipos at 10A each my 30A power supply will go into over current protection. I am kicking around getting a iCharger 4010 Duo or a 308 Duo that I would run on 24v. Possibly using the B6 and 308 off these power supplies.

[IamProStreet]

Originally Posted by rs2k

I float the DC ground, not the AC, so it's very safe. The PSU cases are both grounded and are touching, but they don't have to touch. You must either float the DC ground or the AC ground to do 24 volts. Floating the AC ground is easier, but it's not as safe. I can send images of what I did later this evening. I'm planning to modify one of mine and can take some images when I open them up.

That would be awesome, thank you!!!

One pare not floated (in parallel 12v) and one pair floated (in parallel 12v). Now could I still use both sets independently at 12v (2PS in parallel) for 12v chargers until I get a charger that can take 24v then connect them in series?

[rs2k]

Originally Posted by IamProStreet

That would be awesome, thank you!!!

One pare not floated (in parallel 12v) and one pair floated (in parallel 12v). Now could I still use both sets independently at 12v (2PS in parallel) for 12v chargers until I get a charger that can take 24v then connect them in series?

Yup, you can use the PSUs with the DC ground at 12 volts. You're not supposed to use the floated ones by themselves though. I don't know why, but I'm guessing it's for safety.

You can also use them both at 12 and 24 volts at the same time. I've seen some conversions that have two leads off the ground, one off the 12 volt output and one off the 24 volt output.

[RedOctobyr]

Originally Posted by rs2k

My icharger 308 can pull over 55 amps at 24 volts. The PSUs are rated at 47 amps max. I have two chargers which is why I have four PSUs.

I quite often charge four 6S 5 AH batteries at 4C at a time.

Sorry, my comment was directed at IamProStreet.

FWIW, the DPS-1200FB supplies can do 900W, 75A each. Meaning that 2 of them can max out a 308Duo/406Duo, so you don't have to run supplies in parallel.

[rs2k]

Originally Posted by RedOctobyr

Sorry, my comment was directed at IamProStreet.

FWIW, the DPS-1200FB supplies can do 900W, 75A each. Meaning that 2 of them can max out a 308Duo/406Duo, so you don't have to run supplies in parallel.

I looked at those and a few other PSUs before deciding on the DL380s. I didn't like the exposed PCBs at the end of the DPS-1200FB. I also found all the info I needed to safely (floating DC) convert the DL380's without having any questions about doing it. The DL380's were also cheap enough to get four of them and not question it.


Someone at out field has a 48 volt server PSU good for 2000 watts. I'm pretty sure it's also half the size and weight of a single DL380. That thing would be amazing paired with a 4010. Too much voltage for a 308 though.