dditch

Dave,
When you are looking at a new charger, look at the mAh, cell count of your pack as well as the Max charge rate you want to charge at.
LiPos are now selling that charge at 5C and even 8C!
For bigger 5000mAh packs that is some serious current so you'll need a big power supply or be using a marine deep cycle battery (which I use for field charging).

I followed the lead of the Helicopter guys at MHA and am using an iCharger 3016B. My Gens Ace Batteries can charge (when I'm in a hurry) in 15 minutes or less.
Best place to get the iCharger is in the USA from epbuddy.com. Small importer guy but he provides great service and is in Ohio.

Some others are using the Hyperion chargers or Cellpros for those bigger packs. But you really have to find people who are charging what you are wanting to charge and check how they are doing it.
I have a smaller capacity charger at home to charge at a slower rate, but I can hook up the 3016B to a 12V 47A modified server power supply for more power. This is something that is being done by the DIY guys all over the country.

Get a few different opinions before you jump in on an upgrade I suggest.

DMichael

My Feedback: (5)

Thanks, Dave- as a matter of fact, I was taking a look at the icharger 306B - you said yo uhave the 3016B- did you mean 306B or 3010B?

http://epbuddy.com/index.php?main_pa...roducts_id=106

It comes with a free "paraboard" so you can charge multiple batteries at the same time- simple but I like it.

http://epbuddy.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=15

Are you using one of these?


Why would I choose between the 306 or the 3010?

Dave

dditch

Right, 3010B, (I keep getting the # wrong).
30 for 30A max charge
10 for 10 cell.

They did not have the 306B when I got it but that's what I really needed.
Once you get above 6 cells, people usually series them up, but charge in parallel.

They did not have the paraboard when I got it so I use cables.
Paraboard is the way to go.

I may get a Deans/XH Paraboard soon

Each Paraboard matches the battery balance lead type. I use the more generic XH for the Gens Ace.

Note some of the specs, 1000W is when you have a much higher power voltage than 12V. With a 12V input, you charge at 500W max I recall.

on_your_six

My Feedback: (11)

Wow, I am honored... The Triton's are good chargers, but it was time to move on.

Just looked at the 3010B charger, I did not realize what the para boards could do. And 10 cell lipos!!! I would say that is an incredible charger.

Dave, please confirm... para boards require all batteries to be of the same cell count and capacity. Good thing about what I got is ability to charge 4 different batteries at a time. In essence four chargers in one. Limited to 6 amp though... but most people would blow things up at 30amp.

- - - - - - below written before I read what Dave posted.

I got the Hitec multi charger x4. It can charge four lipos at a time if you buy the additional balance boards. It is not high end like Dave is using. It will do 6amp / 50 watts per circuit. It will do all of the battery chemistrys LiPo, LiFe(123), Li-ion, NiCD, Ni-MH, PB(Lead)

[link=http://www.hitecrcd.com/products/chargers-setup-equipment/x4-multi-charger.html]http://www.hitecrcd.com/products/chargers-setup-equipment/x4-multi-charger.html[/link]

The one thing about using the iChargers is the measurement of internal resistance which indicates battery health. I will likely be getting an iCharger at some point, but this gives me some flexibility now.

This system is for use with 12 volt power sources, so a big 12v battery (like I already have) or a BIG home DC power supply (like I bought from Dave) are necessary. Dave knows this stuff, so I trust what he says.

dditch

yes, the paraboard is for parallel charging. If you throw different cell count batteries onto it, your gonna have some fireworks.

on_your_six

My Feedback: (11)

That was fast... I was pretty sure that was the case. Not a problem if you are charging a bunch of the same batteries for a contest, but my battery situation is more complex than that with three different battery types at the moment.

I may just get the 3010B to keep up with the Ditches (Jones - get it?)

on_your_six

My Feedback: (11)

After charging the first two packs on the new charger, I am pleased. It may not do a 10 cell lipo, but I don't have any (yet) and the current might not reach 30 amps, but I think those rates might be a bit dangerous and should be done outside anyway. If you are going to buy one of those chargers, you should absolutely know what you are doing.

At first, I was thinking of returning the charger, but now I am going to keep it AND get one of the 3010B iChargers. So I can have the best of both worlds.

Always bigger and better.

six

weathervane

Balsa USA and Castle are both donating to the prize table. Please check the event page for all the updated info.
-Andrew

weathervane

Here are a few pictures from my trip to SEFF 2011.
-Andrew

weathervane

A few more pics.
-Andrew

weathervane

Now for a few videos. Just some friends having fun.
-Andrew

[link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q3KTuQu6Bk]Tim having fun[/link]

[link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPKzIs6PNVs&feature=related]Bill and Laine[/link]

dditch

Did you see the GeeBee fly?
What's the story on the Cosair burn out?

weathervane

Yes I got to see Laine fly it. It looked great but the landing did not go as planed. The cosair just had a crash. I did not see it, just the Lipo fire smoke from the other end of the field.
-Andrew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeDrU...layer_embedded

weathervane

A few pics of my new toy.
-Andrew

tommygun32

Nice weathering detail on the intake, exhaust pipes and guns.

She's a beaut....

DMichael

My Feedback: (5)

Andrew- I saw the thread on RCG about your trip down. Looks like you had a great time. Nice Mustang- looking forward to seeing it at the field.

weathervane

Yea we had a blast. It was a good trip for sure. I am already looking forward to next year. The Mustang I am going to need a little help with. I have never flown a warbird. I know they land fast but that is about all I know. I will be bringing it out soon.
-Andrew

weathervane

I am thinking about having a best of show contest for the event. All planes must fly and be flown durring the event. This will be judged by the spectators. I will print up a sign up sheets for anyone who wants to enter there plane.

Up for grabs will be a prize from Balsa USA.

-Andrew

dditch

I'm gearing up for the foamie combat that Andrew commissioned me to work on.
In addition to the full contact event, I've been working on small foamie streamer combat. I've been out of work for the past 2 weeks due to an illness but I'm still finding 30 minutes here and there between drugging my self up to do some building I'm building 6 planes from [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1012551]SEMFF PLANS[/link]. They will all have the same power setup so things should be even. I plan to have a few practice runs, then hopefully have a quick event on June 4th. Then I'll be selling the planes at cost.

Montague

Dave, those look great, and that will probably a ton of fun.

Andrew, what are the details on the Mustang? That looks really nice.

weathervane

Dave, those look great. I really appreciate the work you are doing for this event. Thank you. Kirk, I don't have any info about the plane.
-Andrew

weathervane

I recieved a box from Castle creations. They have sent a generous donation for the prize table.
-Andrew

tommygun32

Well done weathervane....keep up the good work.....I know I'm hovering on the sidelines and on the other side of the planet.....but hey, I appreciate it..

weathervane

Thank you. I am hoping for a good event. I'm down to the last 5 weeks and I am in full panic mode. I have a lot of things to do still.
-Andrew

weathervane

Maryland Electric Day Spectacular
Event Schedule



8 a.m. Pilot Registration Opens

9 a.m. Pilot Meeting

9 a.m. to Noon Open Flying

Noon to 12:30 p.m. Noon Demos

12:30 pm. to 2 p.m. Open Flying

2 p.m. Raffle Drawings/Best of Show Award

3 p.m. until dusk Open Flying

Dusk Night Vapor Pylon Racing

Open Flying until Midnight for those who dare.