RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       



All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> Helimax >> RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running
Page: <<   < prev  1 2 3 [4] 5   next >   >>  

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/3/2007 5:08:37 PM   
Jumpmaster


 

Posts: 21
Joined: 6/22/2004
From: Fort Irwin, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Has anyone tried this charger? $78, Tenergy smart charger. It is a balance charger for regular LiPo and LiIon and Thunder Power packs.

https://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1327

(in reply to Heliko)
       Post #: 76

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/4/2007 2:21:58 AM   
hobbsholepro



Posts: 33
Joined: 11/1/2003
From: Tappahannock, VA, USA
Status: offline 		So,
if I wanted to use my current futaba R127 receiver, I would need to get a ESC that would go in between the battery and the receiver?
Sorry,
I don't know jack about lipo yet!
thanks

(in reply to Jumpmaster)
       Post #: 77

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/4/2007 8:26:15 PM   
nzak


 

Posts: 166
Joined: 10/24/2006
From: valdosta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Got a 1700mAh lipo yesterday at the southeast model show in Perry, GA. It was kind of an impulse buy, I just couldn't leave without buying something! I still need a charger, was looking at the e-station BC5 from rcaccessory.com while I was there. Looked pretty nice. Didn't want to spend $125 right then on something I knew nothing about. Is anyone familiar with this charger? It balances also, looked like a pretty sturdy charger, and comes with a choice of connections at no extra charge. Anyone have knowledge of this one?

Thanks,
Nick

(in reply to hobbsholepro)
       Post #: 78

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/5/2007 3:50:00 AM   
AirforceRcks



Posts: 255
Joined: 11/19/2005
From: ABQ, NM, USA
Status: offline 		how bout this battery??
http://www.rchover.com/inc/sdetail/66538
and this chrger

http://www.rchover.com/inc/sdetail/40652

< Message edited by AirforceRcks -- 3/5/2007 3:53:35 AM >

(in reply to nzak)
       Post #: 79

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/5/2007 6:10:56 PM   
StrykerIncognito



Posts: 69
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Mobile, AL, USA
Status: offline 		Hey folks,

Newbie gotcha, of course.
I picked up a TP1320 and a TP205 balancer, but of course, apparently, I have not realized that I needed an actual 'charger' for the LiPo, even though I bought the balancer for it. I mistakenly thought the balancer had a charge ability, though I now see a darn-near identical device avaiable from TP that is their 'actual' charger.

I see lots of warnings in regards to NOT charging LiPos with just the two output leads, however when I purchased the TP batteries and balancer, it says simply to connect the red and black leads to your LiPo charger of choice and have at it. I understand the need for selecting the number of cells on a charger, etc.etc. However...

My question(s) are as follows:

I see the nice expensive chargers listed, how do people feel about the GreatPlanes 25$ charger? How about compatibility with the TP1320 3cells?

Are you supposed to leave the balancer plugged into the battery while charging or only balance it once completed?

Besides replacing the stock connectors on the battery / charger with MiniDeans connectors (lets just say for the sake of conformity in my opinion) I then have to supply a valid 12v source for my 'charger'. I have heard, before, that PC power supplies could possibly put out enough amperage to be able to run a basic charger, though not perhaps the ICE charger as it requests 12-15A or so for full ability). I have so many of those lying around to spare.

Any other Gotchas that I'm not already thinking of?

TIA for your gracious understanding of newbie bloopers.


< Message edited by strtykrincognito -- 3/5/2007 6:41:57 PM >

_____________________________

Stryker Incognito, Master Computer Guru, Newbie Copter Junkie.
Remeber, MicroSloth doesn't own the world, REBEL!

(in reply to AirforceRcks)
       Post #: 80

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/5/2007 6:42:51 PM   
Stric


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 4/7/2005
From: Clayton, AL, USA
Status: offline 		I have a mega power 1350 and a tp1320 they are almost the same size the mp is slightly larger but still fits the axe perfectly. I have had the tp about 1yr I just got the mp in Perry over the weekend. Phoneman has had one for a couple of months seem to be a good bat.

I don't know the charger I use a triton I've had for a few years and have never balanced my packs.

Mark

(in reply to AirforceRcks)
       Post #: 81

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/5/2007 9:39:00 PM   
Gamemaker


 

Posts: 68
Joined: 1/5/2007
From: Chesapeake, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Just picked up and tested a
Hobbico Accu-Cycle Elite Battery Cycler
and 1 of Thunder Power 1320mAh 3-Cell 11.1V LIPO, 16GA
will get another soon test good ran long din't time but came in due to wind.

(in reply to Stric)
       Post #: 82

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/5/2007 11:36:51 PM   
BoysToys



Posts: 526
Joined: 3/17/2006
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Gamemaker- I am using that same Thunder Power lipo and it is working great! In fact, I think I am going to pick up a second one from my LHS in a day or two. The heli is totally different running the lipo.

I just got a HeliMax Axe last friday and have been having a blast since. I normally hang out in the electric car section and have been running lipos in my trucks fro about 2 months now.

I am currently using a MRC 977 to charge my lipos but have a Hyperion EOS1210i on order as well as a 3s 1100mah lipo from MaxAmps. They should be at the door when I get home from work today. The Hyperion will charge up to a 12s lipo with a max charge rate of 10A. I went with the Hyperion because I already have a Hyperion LBA10 balancer and when connected I can see the voltage of each individual cell. Austin @ MaxAmps was nice enough to make an adapter so I can balance my Thunder Power packs using my Hyperion equipment. I am using a Pyramid 18 amp Power Supply to supply a DC current. I went with the big power supply because I charge a 6000 lipo for one of my trucks at 6A and want to have the option to run two chargers off it at a later date.

Besides my Hyperion I have heard good things about the ICE, Triton 2, and Thunder Power chargers.

I will post back with my results once everything is up and running.

< Message edited by BoysToys -- 3/5/2007 11:37:58 PM >

_____________________________

T-Rex 600CF~T-Rex 500CF~T-Rex 450SE V2~3DHS Extra 300 SHP~Extra Stiffy~E-Flite Mini Pulse XT~Parkzone T-28 Tojan

(in reply to Gamemaker)
       Post #: 83

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/6/2007 12:43:35 AM   
gatorz1


 

Posts: 22
Joined: 11/30/2004
From: Tampa, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I use the Electrifly PolyCharge 4 I like the price and the ability to charge 4 batteries at once.

_____________________________

When you ride in the back of an F-4 you can't see what's in front of you!!

(in reply to DscottM83)
       Post #: 84

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/6/2007 1:37:53 AM   
AirforceRcks



Posts: 255
Joined: 11/19/2005
From: ABQ, NM, USA
Status: offline 		What batt and balancer do u use gatorz??

(in reply to gatorz1)
       Post #: 85

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/6/2007 7:01:39 PM   
StrykerIncognito



Posts: 69
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Mobile, AL, USA
Status: offline 		Well, I picked up the Great Planes / Electrifly PolyCharge last night.

After I followed the specs on the balancer to to quickly analyze the battery, it detected minor voltage variances and balanced the cells in about 5 minutes and toned out clear.

I clamped the PolyCharge onto an old PC power supply's 12v output, selected the 1000mAh output, and then plugged in the TP1320's charge / discharge leads to it (FYI, as stock they have compatible connectors), and plugged the balancing connector to the TP205 balancer that I have.

The balancer immediately chimed up, and started monitoring the battery. The specifications of the balancer say that you are supposed to leave it plugged into the battery during the charge sequence, and IT wil tell you when the battery is fully charged with a series of tones as oppsed to the Poly Charge charger alerting you to when the battery is 'done'. Sure enough about an hour later the TP205 chimed 'done', but the charger hadn't toned out yet. After about 10 minutes more had passed, the Poly Charge toned out stating that ITSELF thought the battery was 'done'. During that time the balancer never complained once.

Earlier that day I had used only the charger without the balancer, and it still took the average hour to charge and tone done.

Runtime on the AxeCP was incredible! I can't give exact times, but it felt close to 15 minutes of skidding and hopping. As a n00b I was actually able to keep it in 5 second unstable hovers after two battery charges!!!! I was lucky to get it off the ground and not crash with the stock battery.

Probably going to order up a few more TP1320's and either a better bench charger and/or workbench power supply if I decide to go with a more powerful charger. I can see now that the next fear is motor death due to overheat. I'm betting that running two TP1320's back to back would be a bit taxing on those little motors.

Game on.

< Message edited by strtykrincognito -- 3/9/2007 4:08:26 PM >

_____________________________

Stryker Incognito, Master Computer Guru, Newbie Copter Junkie.
Remeber, MicroSloth doesn't own the world, REBEL!

(in reply to Stric)
       Post #: 86

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/8/2007 4:26:13 AM   
AirforceRcks



Posts: 255
Joined: 11/19/2005
From: ABQ, NM, USA
Status: offline 		Pilotlight

i was wondering if the charger u use is any good?
i also want to go the cheap route. what batt do u use?

thanks

(in reply to StrykerIncognito)
       Post #: 87

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/8/2007 4:40:33 AM   
PilotLight



Posts: 817
Joined: 8/15/2003
From: Benton Harbor, MI, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AirforceRcks

Pilotlight

i was wondering if the charger u use is any good?
i also want to go the cheap route. what batt do u use?

thanks


I'm not sure witch charger you are referring to, but here's what I have:

I'm using 3 Thunderpower 1320 mah packs.
For charging , I have 2 chargers. The first is a Hobbico Quick Field Charger MK II. The balancing charger is an E-sky Li-po charger from BPhobbies.com. You need an adapter from TP batteries to charger. BP has some, but I got mine from CommonsenseRC.com.
Finally, I'm using an adapter plug from Deans Micro to Deans ultra from Towerhobbies so I can keep the original plug on the Axe and use my TP batts from my planes.

Everything works great.

(in reply to AirforceRcks)
       Post #: 88

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/9/2007 5:05:58 AM   
AirforceRcks



Posts: 255
Joined: 11/19/2005
From: ABQ, NM, USA
Status: offline 		The charger would be the esky one
and what tower hobbies batt would work causei got like 3 $10 dollar coupons for them.

thanks

(in reply to PilotLight)
       Post #: 89

RE: What LiPo/Charger is everyone running - 3/9/2007 9:57:19 PM