RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners
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RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/18/2004 1:00:36 PM

Geistware

Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline

I am thinking about doing a review on it.
I am now using it as a quick charger but leaving it on trickle until I am ready to fly.
This is a great charger, but I am not too sure about the power supply. It is not regulated and goes anyhere from 14.15 volts up to 18.3 volts. The charger will go in alarm if the voltage is over 18 volts. The book says 22 volts. So for the power supply, I give it a thumbs down. They should have done better. As for the charger, The only thing that is strange is sometime it will signal that it is off charge and in trickle mode. During the trickle mode the voltage will increase about 0.8 volts to maintain the 52ma of trickle current. I was under the impression that the voltage at the end of charge is the voltage at end of charge not the voltage being applied to maintain trickle. I need to figure out how to determine this.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Slyder
Hi Geistware,
Any more thoughts or conclusions?
Do you feel it is worth the price yet?
Thanks

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(in reply to Slyder)

Post #: 51

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/18/2004 7:38:53 PM

Nickerz

Posts: 149
Joined: 4/9/2004
From: Clovis, CA, USA
Status: offline

This has been a great thread on the Hobbico Elite!

I back ordered mine from Tower Hobbies and Fedex's estimated ship date is 07/21, can't wait! I have 2 Thunder Power 860 Li-po packs that I am planning on charging with this charger.

BTW, I got my charger for $117.00, after shipping costs & everything! Tower applied a special $20 discount from an ad I received plus waived the shipping, plus I got a few more bucks off from another add I used. Otherwise they sell this charger for $150. Let me know if anyone would like the savings ad # to save them $20.

Keep the info coming as I'm learning! Can't wait to get this charger, neither can my GWS Tiger Moth!!!!

Nick

(in reply to Geistware)

Post #: 52

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/18/2004 7:46:13 PM

Nickerz

Posts: 149
Joined: 4/9/2004
From: Clovis, CA, USA
Status: offline

Here is a pic of my Li-po pack I intend to use with the Elite...

And here's one of my TM...

Attachments

Click to see fullsize image.

Click for fullsize

Click to see fullsize image.

Click for fullsize

< Message edited by Nickerz -- 7/18/2004 11:52:47 AM >

(in reply to Nickerz)

Post #: 53

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/18/2004 9:01:20 PM

JoeAirPort

Posts: 7149
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: Geistware

My next plan is to program two memories and see if I start channel one on memory one then go to channel two and select memory two. The manual says you cannot do this.

I just ran into this with mine today. My solution is that I plan on always using output one for my tx. So I'll manually set output one and it will never change. I'll use output two for all my rx's and that will use the memory since it changes a lot. Think that will work? For today I just did both manually since I wanted to get out and fly. I always charge my tx an rx at the same time on the way to the field. It works out perfect time-wise.

Joe

(in reply to Geistware)

Post #: 54

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/18/2004 11:36:37 PM

Geistware

Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline

Joe, I played with this and found that the manual setting stays even though the memory setting changes. I have tried to run two memories on simular battery packs and it seems to work. I didn't want to try packs that were a lot different because I didn't want to fry one of the batteries.

I also want to test the charger for early peaking but it will have to wait until I return from a business trip I am taking!

quote:

ORIGINAL: JoeAirPort

quote:

ORIGINAL: Geistware

My next plan is to program two memories and see if I start channel one on memory one then go to channel two and select memory two. The manual says you cannot do this.

I just ran into this with mine today. My solution is that I plan on always using output one for my tx. So I'll manually set output one and it will never change. I'll use output two for all my rx's and that will use the memory since it changes a lot. Think that will work? For today I just did both manually since I wanted to get out and fly. I always charge my tx an rx at the same time on the way to the field. It works out perfect time-wise.

Joe

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http://www.rcaircraft.net/
Information on the building and flying of Radio Control Aircraft.
Site for hobbyist in the R.C. Aircraft modeling world.

(in reply to JoeAirPort)

Post #: 55

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/19/2004 3:23:29 PM

JLundberg

Posts: 30
Joined: 1/15/2003
From: Denham Springs, LA, USA
Status: offline

Hello everyone,

I've been using the Elite now for about a week. Great little charger!

I've done all battery types and have had no problems. I also agree
that they should have put a fan in the unit. I think that's why you
can't discharge 2 batteries at the same time on max setting. Unit
would get too hot.

I've haven't found a way to read voltage just be plugging in a battery.
It has to be charging or discharging. I just use a meter for that.

I haven't had a problem with my power supplt. No over voltage msg.

I would recommend this great little charger to all those who are looking for a
multi-purpose unit.

Some of you may think the price is a little high.... But remember, You are
getting 2 chargers in one. And not just a charger.

I love the fact that I can charge 2 different types of batteries and switch
between the 2 to get the status of each battery during the charging phase.

I hope this report help someone.

John

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(in reply to Geistware)

Post #: 56

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/19/2004 8:19:34 PM

JoeAirPort

Posts: 7149
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: JLundberg

I love the fact that I can charge 2 different types of batteries and switch
between the 2 to get the status of each battery during the charging phase.

Do you manually set each output? Because the memory does not work for charging two different type batteries at the same time.

< Message edited by JoeAirPort -- 7/19/2004 2:20:22 PM >

(in reply to JLundberg)

Post #: 57

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/19/2004 8:41:06 PM

JLundberg

Posts: 30
Joined: 1/15/2003
From: Denham Springs, LA, USA
Status: offline

Sure you can. At least I can.

All I did was select mem #0 for Output #1 and Mem #3 for Output #2

Now I will tell you that I had to go through a few menus to get back to the main menu. (the one that shows which memory you're on) so I could change it.
Afert that I could switch between the 2 outputs and check how things were going.

Mem #1 was for a 1300 3S Lipo pack
Mem #3 was a nmh 1650 pack

Both charged just fine.

John

_____________________________

*** Honey please don't touch my plane.... I'll take it off the dinner table, floor, hallway, bed, bathtub, couch, chair...

(in reply to JoeAirPort)

Post #: 58

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/19/2004 9:46:00 PM

JoeAirPort

Posts: 7149
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: JLundberg

Sure you can. At least I can.

All I did was select mem #0 for Output #1 and Mem #3 for Output #2

Now I will tell you that I had to go through a few menus to get back to the main menu. (the one that shows which memory you're on) so I could change it.
Afert that I could switch between the 2 outputs and check how things were going.

Mem #1 was for a 1300 3S Lipo pack
Mem #3 was a nmh 1650 pack

Both charged just fine.

John

That's great but I wonder why the manual says you can't do it? I still have a lot of playing around to do to get around the menu's on this charger. I'll try it tonight.

< Message edited by JoeAirPort -- 7/19/2004 3:47:30 PM >

(in reply to JLundberg)

Post #: 59

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/20/2004 12:07:41 AM

Geistware

Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline

I have to agree, this is a very versatile charger that will tell you exactly the state of your pack and allow you to draw some very accurate conclusions about your equipment and how it consumes power.

_____________________________

Aircraft Proving Grounds
http://www.rcaircraft.net/
Information on the building and flying of Radio Control Aircraft.
Site for hobbyist in the R.C. Aircraft modeling world.

(in reply to JoeAirPort)

Post #: 60

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/20/2004 12:37:48 AM

JoeAirPort

Posts: 7149
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Status: online

Ok I figured it out.

-You just follow the directions on how to store all your batteries into memory

Now evertime you want to use the charger do the following:

-After it powers up, from the memory screen, you press Select Output until the output you want is selected
-Press Enter and change the memory number to whatever you want
-Press and hold the Charge button and the charge for that output begins
-Now press Select output to change to the other output.
-Press Enter and change the memory number to whatever you want
-Press and hold Charge and the charge for that output begins

The only thing is that the last output you selected displays, not both. So do it in the right order so the output you want to see is displaying.

Now why did the manual say you can't do this????

Joe

< Message edited by JoeAirPort -- 7/19/2004 6:39:20 PM >

(in reply to Geistware)

Post #: 61

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/20/2004 1:42:07 AM

JLundberg

Posts: 30
Joined: 1/15/2003
From: Denham Springs, LA, USA
Status: offline

You can switch the display to show any of the outputs.
Just press Output Select and the light for the corrisponding
output will flash amber for a few secs.

John

_____________________________

*** Honey please don't touch my plane.... I'll take it off the dinner table, floor, hallway, bed, bathtub, couch, chair...

(in reply to JoeAirPort)

Post #: 62

RE: Attn: Hobbico Elite Owners - 7/20/2004 2:47:36 AM

JoeAirPort

Posts: 7149
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: JLundberg

You can switch the display to show any of the outputs.
Just press Output Select and the light for the corrisponding
output will flash amber for a few secs.

John

Thanks for the help. Now I'm a lot more happy with this charger. I didn't know how to use it at first but this is exactly what I needed.

I still wonder why they say that you can't do two outputs with different memories numbers in the manual? Or did I misinterpret something?

Joe

< Message edited by JoeAirPort -- 7/19/2004 8:56:41 PM >

(in reply to JLundberg)