RE: A123Racing Charger Questions  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> A123Racing Support >> RE: A123Racing Charger Questions
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RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/16/2007 3:43:29 AM   
lifewater


 

Posts: 1
Joined: 8/18/2007
From: Floral Park, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I apologize for going a bit offtopic here.. but how exactly do you charge these? I've only used AC chargers before... DC is a bit new to me. DO you just use Car batteries or is there something else you use?

(in reply to SS Pede)
       Post #: 26

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/16/2007 5:34:41 AM   
snellemin



Posts: 738
Joined: 3/22/2007
From: Tomball, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Well, you could use a cheap car battery charger from walmart. Or you can buy a 12 volt power supply that puts out more then 10 amps, or even better by converting a computer power supply for use as the power source.

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(in reply to lifewater)
       Post #: 27

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/16/2007 6:09:22 PM   
SS Pede



Posts: 326
Joined: 2/2/2006
From: Reading, MA, USA
Status: offline 		I use this power supply here: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103960&cp=2032056&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2032056&categoryId=2032056&kwCatId=2032056&kw=power+supply&parentPage=search

(in reply to snellemin)
       Post #: 28

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/26/2007 4:37:38 AM   
CLofland


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 9/13/2007
From: , KS, USA
Status: offline 		I'm really new to this. Looking for a DC supply for the Sonic charger. Plug and play.

Eventually I want to run TWO Sonic chargers, so I can recharge two packs at once.

Would this unit be able to supply 12V to two Sonic charger's at once without tripping a fuse all of the time?

http://www.competitionelectronics.com/pages/pwr_supply.html

Thank you for any input/help. Other ideas are welcome.

(in reply to A123 Racing)
       Post #: 29

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/26/2007 2:25:58 PM   
snellemin



Posts: 738
Joined: 3/22/2007
From: Tomball, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: CLofland

I'm really new to this. Looking for a DC supply for the Sonic charger. Plug and play.

Eventually I want to run TWO Sonic chargers, so I can recharge two packs at once.

Would this unit be able to supply 12V to two Sonic charger's at once without tripping a fuse all of the time?

http://www.competitionelectronics.com/pages/pwr_supply.html

Thank you for any input/help. Other ideas are welcome.


It's cheaper to use a converted computer power supply. Good ones put out more amps then the link you provided. Anyways, I put 2 batteries in parallel and charge them from a single charger. Takes twice as long ofcourse, but I really don't mind.

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(in reply to CLofland)
       Post #: 30

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/26/2007 4:16:05 PM   
A123 Racing


 

Posts: 102
Joined: 8/25/2006
From: Hopkinton, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Hey CLofland,

The power supply you have specified will work with two of the Sonic Chargers, no problem.

Also note that a cheap car battery charger from Walmart, or anywhere else for that matter will not work with the Sonic Charger. The car battery chargers are not a regulated 12V they are very dirty (electrically speaking) and can cause damage to the charger.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Power . Safety . Life

Brian



(in reply to snellemin)
       Post #: 31

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/26/2007 5:28:17 PM   
CLofland


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 9/13/2007
From: , KS, USA
Status: offline 		What about charging from a car? ie. directly off of the battery or via a cigarette lighter adapter?

(in reply to A123 Racing)
       Post #: 32

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/26/2007 5:33:12 PM   
CLofland


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 9/13/2007
From: , KS, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: snellemin
It's cheaper to use a converted computer power supply. Good ones put out more amps then the link you provided. Anyways, I put 2 batteries in parallel and charge them from a single charger. Takes twice as long ofcourse, but I really don't mind.


Well, I do actually have PC power supplies laying around. They are mostly 200W, which I think is 15Amp? Since they are free to me, that would be an easy solution.

What does "converted" mean though? Can someone explain EXACTLY, as in in detail, what it takes to "convert" a PC power supply to do this?

Also, if you could explain what the purpose of each modification is, that would help a lot.

Thanks.

(in reply to snellemin)
       Post #: 33

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/26/2007 5:36:16 PM   
A123 Racing


 

Posts: 102
Joined: 8/25/2006
From: Hopkinton, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Hey CLofland,

There is no problem charging off of a car battery. I would not recommend the cigarette lighter though as they sometimes have a 5A fuse built into them. If you search online you should be able to find clear directions on how to modify your PC power supply, typically it is as simple as jumping a couple of wires. If it is 200W it may just be enough to power two chargers (depending on the efficiency of the supply)

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Power . Safety . Life

Brian


(in reply to CLofland)
       Post #: 34

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/28/2007 6:08:59 AM   
JettPilot



Posts: 1151
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: Paradise, USA
Status: offline 		I have seen some tests to indicate that A123 packs balance themselves over time. I have also read that A123 cells were not damaged by small voltage differences charging non balanced packs. After all, we never balanced NICAD and NIMH packs. Is balancing of A123 packs really needed ??

One more question, 10 amps seems like a LOT of current. Any advantage, or disadvantage to charging A123 cells at 1 amp or even 250 mA ???

JettPilot

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(in reply to A123 Racing)
       Post #: 35

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 9/28/2007 3:25:14 PM   
A123 Racing


 

Posts: 102
Joined: 8/25/2006
From: Hopkinton, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Hello JettPilot,

10A is a lot of current, that is one of the primary advantages to our cells technology. There is no advantage to charging with a lower amp rating, our packs are spec’d to cycle up to 1000 times with the 10A charge current. The only disadvantage to charging at 1A or even 250mA is that it will take two hours or more to charge the pack.

Power . Safety . Life

Brian



(in reply to JettPilot)
       Post #: 36

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 7/20/2008 4:05:36 AM   
scoobi


 

Posts: 1
Joined: 11/9/2004
From: , WV, USA
Status: offline 		hello. need help i bought 2 hypersonic chargers and 4 9.9 batterys and both chargers keep blowing fuse on the input 12 side 1 charger is brand new never got to use bought off ebay and they have not answer me yet is there something i can do to send both back to a123 factory. both doing the same thing 1 has charged about 4 batterys the other brand new. thanks

(in reply to A123 Racing)
       Post #: 37

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 7/21/2008 3:25:35 PM   
A123 Racing


 

Posts: 102
Joined: 8/25/2006
From: Hopkinton, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Hello Scoobi,


Please send an email to customersupport@a123racing.com someone will get in touch with you shortly to help you with your problem.

Power . Safety . Life



(in reply to scoobi)
       Post #: 38

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 7/23/2008 8:08:07 PM   
Caaine


 

Posts: 40
Joined: 7/1/2008
From: Reykjavík, ICELAND
Status: offline 		It appears I should have posted my problem here instead of making a new thread - unfortunatly don´t know how to move it.

Thread on RCUniverse

(in reply to A123 Racing)
       Post #: 39

RE: A123Racing Charger Questions - 7/27/2008 5:38:37 PM   
onewasp


 

Posts: 1360
Joined: 12/11/2002
From: USA, USA
Status: offline 		It appears I should have posted my problem here instead of making a new thread - unfortunatly don´t know how to move it.


Posts: 23
Joined: 7/1/2008
From: Reykjav�k, ICELAND
Status: offline Hi,

I just purhased a A123 battery pack for my 1/10 RC (E-Firestorm) and got the A123 charger as well. When I plug it in my car cigarette lighter or straight to my car´s battery. The Error light illuminates and stays on even before I hook up my battery.

Is there anything to do? Got the item shipped to Iceland, so getting it replaced will in all cases include shipping costs, so I was hoping there was a "fix" Maybe even something I did wrong? I am supposed to be able to plug it in my car, right?

EDIT: BTW, I plugged the battery in the car in the state I got it delivered and it totally rocked, soo much better than my 3600Mah NiMH fully charged and fresh. But I can´t charge it...

Rgds,


Caaine: There, I moved it for you.

Simply go to the post you wish to move; Copy it; then reply here and paste it.

< Message edited by Caaine 7/23/2008

< Message edited by onewasp -- 7/27/2008 5:42:06 PM >

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(in reply to Caaine)