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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Super-Nova chargers
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Super-Nova chargers - 9/16/2002 10:55:19 PM   
Steve Guinn



Posts: 835
Joined: 8/23/2002
From: WV
Status: offline 		Does anyone have anything negative to say about Super-Nova chargers?

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Super-Nova chargers - 9/16/2002 11:26:30 PM   
DSJBEAN


 

Posts: 276
Joined: 12/5/2001
From: PA
Status: offline 		Jusat got mine 3 weeks ago. Havn't had much time with it but all seems fine...

(in reply to Steve Guinn)
       Post #: 2

Super-Nova chargers - 9/17/2002 12:14:24 AM   
wolf123



Posts: 253
Joined: 9/12/2002
From: Castelnuovo Rangone (Modena), ITALY
Status: offline 		hi steve
whot software version ?
the old software don't manage nimh as well
on nicd put on automatic and it charge good

mirco

(in reply to Steve Guinn)
       Post #: 3

Super-Nova chargers - 9/17/2002 2:46:20 AM   
Jazzy



Posts: 1103
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Erie, PA, USA
Status: offline 		About the SuperNova 250s:

Owning two myself I really have no complaints.

One does however have to make one's own connectors/charge leads or purchase them from any number of vendors.

The unit, just as many others, can only charge one pack at a time.
(It charges so efficiently that it doesn't really matter.)

The unit operates from a 12V DC power source which the user must provide. Whether you choose to use a 12V battery or a 12V power supply with at least 5A output capacity is up to you.

Regarding the NiMH 'troubles' and the earlier SN 250 version:
The cutoffs for NiMH and NiCD were only three mV apart so using the NiCD mode for troublesome NiMH packs is actually recommended by the manufacturer.

While there are some things necessary to commence operation of the unit you'll find these things differ very little from those required by similar chargers/cyclers.

I am quite happy with both of mine and honestly I don't know how I got along without them!!

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Super-Nova chargers - 9/17/2002 4:53:25 AM   
Steve Guinn



Posts: 835
Joined: 8/23/2002
From: WV
Status: offline 		No software version yet. Just thinking of purchasing the Super-Nova or the new Great Planes Triton and wondered if there were any gripes about the Nova.

Thanks for the replies.

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"The weather is here, wish you were beautiful."
J. Buffett

(in reply to Steve Guinn)
       Post #: 5

Super-Nova chargers - 9/18/2002 7:22:45 PM   
rcpilotjae-RCU



Posts: 713
Joined: 9/1/2002
From: Lockport, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Steve:

I've owned a Super Nova 250S for a year now and I haven't had any problems with it and it's done exactly what I bought it for, to charge a wide variety of different packs and it does. Weather it be Ni-Cad or Ni-Mh, 4cells, 5 cells or big 10 cell 'C' size cells (in a pack), it's done a good job. I can't say anything negative about it, as it's always worked fine for me. And I believe that is the question you asked.


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Super-Nova chargers - 9/20/2002 9:34:38 PM   
latch66



Posts: 1145
Joined: 4/27/2002
From: Oskaloosa, IA, USA
Status: offline 		The SuperNova is a good solid charger.

I've had mine since March and am completely happy with it. No complaints.


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Good Charger - 9/22/2002 8:42:49 AM   
Amoore


 

Posts: 43
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: Dayton Ohio
Status: offline 		Hey Guys!

I highly recommend this charger.

Does it all really. Nicads just plug it in and push a button and go fly with your other pack.

However, I noticed one of you mentioned the cutoffs were only 3mv apart for nicd and nimh so using the auto charge function wouldn't hurt with nimh.
I would advise against this, you'll never get a full charge with the nimh if you try to "Peak" charge it like a nicd.

Reason: When Nicads reach peak charge there will be a relatively quick and large (in millivolt terms) drop in peak voltage, hence the term peak charging and it goes only with nicds. So, in peak chare mode (Auto) mode this charger will peak charge whatever you put on it. Nicds that's perfect.

However, nimh packs have a generally lower voltage than nicds, and more importantly, they will reach this peak voltage rather quickly.

BUT, the nimh pack will still be sucking up the mahs, in other words, it's still needs to charge to full capacity even though the voltage has peaked.

SO you can see, if you put a nimh pack on a nicd peak charger, the charger will recognize the peak voltage drop (Which occurs before a full charge on nimh) and shut the charging current off.

So yeah, the battery will act like its charged but will soon drop.

Be warned of the cheaper chargers that claim they are "Peak" detectors and charge nimh packs!

The SuperNova owners manual is excellent and explains this much better than my feeble attempt, and the manual mode allows you to setup the charger for each specific pack and type you have, then you're assured of a full charge.

This charger has never failed me or "falsely peaked" any type of battery I've used.

Another Note: Since NIMH packs reach close to peak voltage earlier in the charge cycle, they are naturally going to be warmer to the touch than a nicd. So don't worry about it.

Hope this helps you buy this charger it's great and no I'm not a rep for the company just a satisfied consumer.

Aaron

(in reply to Steve Guinn)
       Post #: 8

Super-Nova chargers - 9/22/2002 10:42:53 PM   
Jazzy



Posts: 1103
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Erie, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Sorry Aaron, I disagree.
It is not necessarily the path to the peak but moreover the peak itself that is the main difference between peak charging NiMH and NiCD batteries.
A NiCD's peak is rather... abrupt while a NiMH's peak is much less prominent. When viewed on a graph, the change in slope, delta V, for NiMH is less than that of a NiCD. Thus the reason for the lower delta V for NiMH peak cut-off.
At the peak delta V is 0. Beyond the peak the slope becomes negative indicating the battery has taken as much charge as it can. People who manually peak charge their batteries watch for this decrease in voltage to end the charging process. Microprocessors in some units do it for us.
Charging any battery beyond it's peak will lead to an early demise - except at C/10 or lower charge rates.
Then again, trickle charging NiMH is generally not recommended.

I have put my SuperNovas through some pretty rigorous tasks and they both came out shining with great results.

Good Luck,
Jeff

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Super-Nova chargers - 9/23/2002 4:03:38 PM   
rcpilotjae-RCU



Posts: 713
Joined: 9/1/2002
From: Lockport, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Jazzy:

I'm new to charging NiMh packs with the Super Nova. Is there some formula one uses to figure out at what rate (ma) and time to charge at? I have two 1650 packs and two 2700 NiMh packs that are new and would like to break these puppies in right. Your thoughts? Thanx....

PS It was so brainless and easy with NiCads, just hit auto!

PS...The 1650 NiMh's are 4.8v and the 2700 NiMh's are 6v.

< Message edited by rcpilotjae-RCU -- Sep 23 2002 11:36AM >


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Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart

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Super-Nova chargers - 9/23/2002 4:21:18 PM   
simo_aus


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 7/31/2002
From: Melb, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		I have a very easy system, may not me the best but hey, I'm not saying you have to use it. I just find the right charge current, I know it's right when the pack heats up noticably, when this happens I drop the amps by about .2-.5, or however low it needs to be to not heat up much at all.

I can charge 2 of my electric flight packs at the same time as long as both are dead and or same cells, cell #, capacity and voltage. I won't explain but I have 2 deans wired in parellel, if I want to only charge 1 pack I bridge it into a single series circuit with ANOTHER deans plug. When charging like this you need to tell the charger the combined capacity of the 2 packs.
Yet to have a problem when charging electric flight packs like this, also yet to have a problem with my charger which I run off my 12V battery and it's wall charger.


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Super-Nova chargers - 9/23/2002 6:30:02 PM   
latch66



Posts: 1145
Joined: 4/27/2002
From: Oskaloosa, IA, USA
Status: offline 		My 2 cents on charging Nimh packs,

For the first couple of cycles, I'd charge them at a 1C rate. For the 1650 mah packs that would be 1.7 amps. For the 2700 mah packs that would be 2.7 amps.

After that, I would go to a 2C rate or as close as I could get to a 2C rate. For the 1650 mah packs that would be 3.3 amps. For the 2700 mah packs that would be 5.4 amps (but, as well as I remeber, the SuperNova max amps is 5.0)

A 1C rate is safe for Nimh packs. 2C is more aggressive, but will work well also.

If you are in doubt, charge them at the 1C rate.

To charge Nimh packs on the SuperNova you have to program the charger. Some people are charging Nimh packs with the automatic function, but you might wind up burning up a pack that way.


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Super-Nova chargers - 9/23/2002 11:40:01 PM   
rcpilotjae-RCU



Posts: 713
Joined: 9/1/2002
From: Lockport, NY, USA
Status: offline 		latch66

Makes sense, thanks. Yes, I knew about not using the auto mode. That's why I was wondering about a formula for figuring a charge program for the NiMh's. You summed it up quite nicely, easy to figure now, thanks again.


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Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart

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Super-Nova chargers - 9/23/2002 11:55:37 PM   
latch66



Posts: 1145
Joined: 4/27/2002
From: Oskaloosa, IA, USA
Status: offline 		Your Welcome

One thing I need to let you know.

When you setup the program on the SuperNova for Nimh packs, it will not let you setup a rate higher than 1C in the program.

The way you increase the charge rate for the program is to begin the charge in "Manual" mode.

Then hit the "up" button until you get to the charge rate you want.

You will have to do this each time if you want to charge your Nimh cells at a rate higher than 1C.

It's in the instructions, but it is hid