New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger  
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All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> E-Flight Power Sources >> New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger
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New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 9/23/2003 8:36:15 PM   
Matt Kirsch



Posts: 7080
Joined: 7/5/2002
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I just plunked down my credit card for the new AstroFlight model 109 LiPoly charger. Even with my limited arsenal of LiPolys, I'll give you guys a full report as soon as I get it and play with it for a while.
       Post #: 1

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 9/27/2003 2:42:42 PM   
luc-RCU



Posts: 256
Joined: 8/29/2003
From: Courbevoie, FRANCE
Status: offline 		First reports look like for big packs (5S and more) the auto-select of cell number is not fool proof, which make me prefer a system with mnual input (jumper or manual) to avoid that kinda mistake.
Of course, we have to wait complete experience to see wether this is true or not...

(in reply to Matt Kirsch)
       Post #: 2

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 10/3/2003 11:34:32 PM   
Gary Retterbush



Posts: 238
Joined: 3/9/2002
From: Eisenschmitt, AE, GERMANY
Status: offline 		Luc, where did you hear that? I am thinking of buying one.

(in reply to luc-RCU)
       Post #: 3

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 10/5/2003 8:25:15 PM   
luc-RCU



Posts: 256
Joined: 8/29/2003
From: Courbevoie, FRANCE
Status: offline 		Hi Gary
This has been reported in the RC Group. As you live in germany, the Schulze 330D does more in li-po and accepts other cells too for just a bit more money (batman was selling it 130€ in Aspach)

(in reply to Matt Kirsch)
       Post #: 4

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 10/5/2003 11:37:40 PM   
Matt Kirsch



Posts: 7080
Joined: 7/5/2002
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Just opened the box on mine. It arrived in the mail on Saturday.

(in reply to Matt Kirsch)
       Post #: 5

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 10/7/2003 1:21:02 PM   
Matt Kirsch



Posts: 7080
Joined: 7/5/2002
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Gave the Astro a whirl last evening. It couldn't be simpler to use. Start with the current dial at 0, plug in the pack, and dial the desired current. It had absolutely no trouble identifying the almost-charged 3-cell packs I attached to it.

Watching the display is pretty neat, as once the charger reaches a certain point, it starts pulse-charging the cell. It'll give the cell a quick blip of juice, the voltage will spool up on the display, then it will spool back down. If the cell doesn't hold its full voltage, another quick blip of juice. It will continue pulse charging until the battery holds its full voltage for some predetermined length of time.

I can see where the aggressive cooling fan may annoy some people, but the beeper is pleasant and the only times the charger makes noise is when the battery finishes charging, or you do something stupid like disconnecting the pack... So far, I like it.

(in reply to Matt Kirsch)
       Post #: 6

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 10/8/2003 8:18:45 PM   
GBR2


 

Posts: 497
Joined: 12/25/2001
From: Snohomish, WA, USA
Status: offline 		Only thing I don't like about the charger is that current knob. Granted one should always be around a charger when it is doing its thing but accidents happen. What if the knob gets turned way up while you are charging. Per AstroFlight the knob is always active. I might have been better after time X from when you set the current level, that the charger disengaged the knob ability to affect anything. It would also have been good if the charger would not work till the knob was first fully turned down.

(in reply to Matt Kirsch)
       Post #: 7

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/2/2003 5:19:46 AM   
PLANEBENDER


 

Posts: 231
Joined: 11/30/2002
From: Sacramento, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I hope it's ok if I jump in here, What would you all recomend for a LI-PO charger that will charge (MULTIPAL) units and will work AC or DC if money was no object? Thanks for the help. Dave

(in reply to GBR2)
       Post #: 8

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/3/2003 11:20:15 PM   
BEC


 

Posts: 63
Joined: 8/1/2002
From: Auburn, WA, USA
Status: offline 		If I were to make that recommendation today it would be as many Astro 109s as you want to charge packs simultaneously, and a big switching power supply to run it all.

Now if some of the packs you want to charge are small (1500 mAh or smaller and 4 cells or less) then substitute Apache 1500s for the Astro 109s (but that would only save about $30-40 per charger depending on where you get them - but it would take up much less space).

There are things being developed that may change that answer, but if I were to be running up a credit card today, that's what I'd do.

(in reply to PLANEBENDER)
       Post #: 9

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/4/2003 1:58:13 PM   
Matt Kirsch



Posts: 7080
Joined: 7/5/2002
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Two things you'll notice about chargers:

1. AC/DC chargers are limited to 7 cells or less. A high-capacity charger with a built-in power supply would be relatively heavy, and significantly more expensive to build and sell. There are many low-cost alternatives for 12V DC power supplies, and you don't have to lug it to the field if the power supply is a separate unit.

2. High capacity chargers generally only have one output. You've got heat dissipation issues to deal with. Multiple outputs would require an even larger DC power supply. Multiple outputs would make the charger more expensive, and price is always a major factor.

I haven't had the opportunity to use my new 109 much. Haven't had much opportunity to fly. It's been raining just about every day, I go to work when it's dark, and I go home when it's dark...

(in reply to BEC)
       Post #: 10

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/9/2003 11:30:15 PM   
Cliffw



Posts: 180
Joined: 1/11/2003
From: Cumming, GA, USA
Status: offline 		The 109's have been jumping off my shelf lately and All I have heard is that the DC clips could be a bit bigger as they get warm/ or hot when at 7-8 amps.


_____________________________

Cliff Whitney
Atlantahobby.com

(in reply to Matt Kirsch)
       Post #: 11

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/19/2003 4:15:50 AM   
dive4life


 

Posts: 13
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Will the Astro Flight Model 109 take ni-cd, ni-mh, and li-ion packs also? I seem to be building quite a collection. Thanks in advance.

(in reply to Cliffw)
       Post #: 12

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/19/2003 12:03:36 PM   
Cliffw



Posts: 180
Joined: 1/11/2003
From: Cumming, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Sorry it will only do Li-Poly packs. YOu should look atthe Astro 110D click here to see it and then get the new chip to convert it to the 109. Then you have the best of both worlds.
Click here for the chip.


_____________________________

Cliff Whitney
Atlantahobby.com

(in reply to dive4life)
       Post #: 13

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/19/2003 1:39:02 PM   
Matt Kirsch



Posts: 7080
Joined: 7/5/2002
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		One caveat with that idea: You need to disassemble the charger and swap the chip each time you want to switch to a different cell chemistry. The chip changes the 110DX to a 109; it does NOT give the charger the capability to charge all cell types.

(in reply to Cliffw)
       Post #: 14

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/19/2003 1:53:52 PM   
Cliffw



Posts: 180
Joined: 1/11/2003
From: Cumming, GA, USA
Status: offline 		You are correct! YOu have to take it in and out to flip types. But it is just a lowercost way to get both with the chip and most who go down the Li-Poly path will stay on that side as it gets better and better.


_____________________________

Cliff Whitney
Atlantahobby.com

(in reply to Matt Kirsch)
       Post #: 15

RE: New AstroFlight LiPoly Charger - 11/25/2003 2:31:37 AM   
Jakeluke



Posts: 11
Joined: 12/28/2002
From: East Greenwich, RI
Status: offline 		Is there room in the 110 case to mount both chips, to be controlled with a switch on the side?

(in reply to Cliffw)