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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 balancer?
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What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 balancer? - 11/2/2007 4:12 AM   
747



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From: Downingtown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi

I just built 2 - 5s1p A123 packs from a dewalt battery. What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 balancer you can

recommend?What brand , model? Is Astro the best or one of the best?

Thanks
747

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/2/2007 4:38 PM   
tashspop


 

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Status: offline 		i believe IMAX makes one, i'm thinking about using it. if you already have a decent charger, you can look into the Dapter also.

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/2/2007 5:32 PM   
zx32tt


 

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Status: offline 		Check out the FMA Cellpro 4. It has balancing capabilities.
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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/3/2007 2:00 AM   
747



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Status: offline 		The human error factor is very high for me. Thats why, I am afraid I might not change the battery type and charge the wrong battery with the wrong battery setting...!! Is it true that these multi chemistry chargers warn us when the battery connected does not match the type chosen in the charger settings?
Am I the only risky person here or is there any of you like me?!

Is the cell Pro4 one that also balances - a single chemistry one?

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/3/2007 8:33 AM   
jasonwang3a



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Status: offline 		for the LiPo and LiFe battery balance charger, CHARGER POWER can provide, the CHARGERY charger can charge 6S batter pack with up to 8A of charging current , maximal 150W output power, because of A123 cell can be charge at 3C, so the 8A is suit for the cell. for more information, please visit www.chargery.com

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/3/2007 3:04 PM   
tashspop


 

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Status: offline 		i can't seem to find a price for those anywhere.

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/3/2007 11:35 PM   
dick Hanson



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Status: online 		IF--you have a Astro Flite 12 or 12Deluxe buy a Dapter and use it tto interface and correctly charge your 5 cell packs - I have done 5 cell packs over n over and if you discharge them to almost dead (3.00v) and recharge them - in a few charges --they end up balanced
I had pigtails on em to balance em and ended up cutting them off and just using the Dapter .
For the newcomer - a 6 or 8 cell charger with full displays is not a bad idea .
There will be more feature laden chargers - in near future - look around -and remember this :
your ability to properly charge depends on the source of charging power - and MOST system stop at 8 amps OR 150 TOTAL watts .
These AIN"T Lipos

< Message edited by dick Hanson -- 11/3/2007 11:36 PM >

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/7/2007 2:36 AM   
Brad604


 

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Status: offline 		The FMA Cell Pro 4 is inexpensive enough that I just got another one and wrote A123 in big black marker ink on it and just use it for the A123s. The other one I wrote LIPO on it and just use it for them. I also have different balancing connectors for each chemistry, so there's little chance of a screwup. Plus multiple chargers means I can fly more often.

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bala... - 11/8/2007 1:09 PM   
Rickochet


 

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Status: offline 		If you can find a used Astroflight 109 charger you can get a replacement microchip for A123 for $15, but will limit use to A123 only.

< Message edited by Rickochet -- 11/8/2007 1:10 PM >

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/8/2007 2:16 PM   
Red Scholefield



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quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad604

The FMA Cell Pro 4 is inexpensive enough that I just got another one and wrote A123 in big black marker ink on it and just use it for the A123s. The other one I wrote LIPO on it and just use it for them. I also have different balancing connectors for each chemistry, so there's little chance of a screwup. Plus multiple chargers means I can fly more often.


And the CellPro is on sale now through the 15th of November for $60.


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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/8/2007 10:16 PM   
everydayflyer



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quote:

I just built 2 - 5s1p A123 packs from a dewalt battery.


Two replys recomended the CellPro 4.

Not sure how one goes about charging a 5S with a 2-4S charger. Cell Pro may be goo but not that good. Guess you could charge 2S then charge the other 3 but the way the CelPro is wired makes that difficult IMO.

The Balance Pro HD does up to 6S 123 and at close to 10A. AF 109 (A123 version ) a bit slower but has a display.

TP 1010C does 6S A123 right at 9A.


Charles




< Message edited by everydayflyer -- 11/8/2007 10:20 PM >

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/10/2007 11:26 PM   
madman75



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Status: offline 		Who has the CellPro 4 on sale for $60? What else is needed if you get the CellPro 4 to use it for A123 batteries? I want to get some of the newer B&D cells for RX batteries.

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/12/2007 12:11 AM   
everydayflyer



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Status: offline 		FMA Direct

monthly special


http://www.fmadirect.com/new_applications/monthly_special/monthly_special.html


You will need the CellPro balancing leads / pitail(s) ,one for each battery pack.

The $60 price was a special email price for this week only but I deleted it so do not have the code number.

Found it :

code SP111507


CellPro 4 for $60 Nov. 8-15 only.


Charles

< Message edited by everydayflyer -- 11/12/2007 1:03 AM >

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 11/15/2007 1:53 AM   
elevation


 

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Status: offline 		Of all the chargers I've used for Lipos and A123 cells the FMA CellPro is the easiest and most accurate. As stated above you need to have proper connectors. I recommend getting the node connectors from the FMA site and wiring up any 2, 3, or 4 cell park you use. Ask any CellPro user how they like it. All my friends love them.



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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 12/30/2007 8:25 PM   
flyin two low


 

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Status: offline 		I have been making 2 cell a123 packs from 36 volt dewalt batteries, and purchased a FMA direct cellpro 4s charger for my batteries. i also purchased node connectors from fma for balancing the packs. I am new to a123 chemistry, but seems like great potential. I just love the cellpro charger, and by the way, i just purchased it for $60.00. they have just announced a 10s charger due out in january.

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 12/31/2007 1:01 PM   
tashspop


 

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Status: offline 		oh goody, i want, need, that 10s charger.

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/15/2008 12:46 PM   
Kraeuterbutter


 

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Status: offline 		if you already have an strong charger (for NiXX) without Lipo-Mode
i would recommend the Lipodapter

http://www.slkelectronics.com/lipodapter/index.htm

handles up to 10 A123 cells
handles up to 8 LiPo cells
handles up to 8 amps

costs: ~30 Euro

specially with A123 it works great.. i feel no difference to charging with a "regular" charger with A123-mode


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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/17/2008 4:02 PM   
Uh-Oh!


 

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Status: offline 		I am very happy with my Imax B-6. ( https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5548 ) It's only a 50W charger so it may be a bit slow for those wanting 10C charges but, I'm using my A123's in 2S form as reciever packs with a standard JR connector for the Rx and the balance lead so I only charge my 1100 VPX's at 2.5A for fear the connector will deform. The on board passive balancer seems to work well and the JST-XH connector is the same pin spacing as the JR connector so I just make sure the ground is oriented correctly and plug it in. The balancer gets my packs within .01V

I've done LiFe, LiPo, NiCd and NiMH charges on mine and am happy with it.

Dave


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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/18/2008 11:47 PM   
everydayflyer



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quote:

I just built 2 - 5s1p A123 packs from a dewalt battery.


A CellPro 4 will not charge a 5S pack ,well not for the averge user atleast and a 50 watt charger would only charge at approx. 2.7A so charge times would be close to 50 minutes.

Charles

< Message edited by everydayflyer -- 1/18/2008 11:48 PM >

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/19/2008 4:08 AM   
747



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quote:

ORIGINAL: everydayflyer

OP

quote:

I just built 2 - 5s1p A123 packs from a dewalt battery.


A CellPro 4 will not charge a 5S pack ,well not for the averge user atleast and a 50 watt charger would only charge at approx. 2.7A so charge times would be close to 50 minutes.

Charles

everydayflyer,
I agree totally and thats why I got the Astro109 A123 chrger and I love it!!!!!!

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/28/2008 12:59 AM   
WHMC


 

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Status: offline 		FYI, The new software for the
TP 1010 includes
A123 batt charging logic. Along for the ride!

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/28/2008 10:46 PM   
everydayflyer



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Status: offline 		A123 M1 support Ver. 2.0 was added to the TP-1010C charger in Dec. 2006 and Ver.2.1A followed about two weeks later to fix a few minor problems.

I was a Beta / field tester for the 1010C( Dec. 2005) and was the one who talked Charlie Wang (Mr. Thunder Power) into adding A123 support.

Charles

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/29/2008 9:50 PM   
SS Pede



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quote:

ORIGINAL: Kraeuterbutter

if you already have an strong charger (for NiXX) without Lipo-Mode
i would recommend the Lipodapter

http://www.slkelectronics.com/lipodapter/index.htm

handles up to 10 A123 cells
handles up to 8 LiPo cells
handles up to 8 amps

costs: ~30 Euro

specially with A123 it works great.. i feel no difference to charging with a "regular" charger with A123-mode


This is a cool device, one thing I have considered if I were to upgrade to A123. Do you know of any similar devices like the Losi Lithium adapter and how they compare? Is the Dapter pretty much the standard or is there not much difference between competing devices?

The thing is, by the time I buy a Dapter and separate balancer to use A123 with my NiMH charger, I am almost up to the price (or with the dual-Dapter, beyond the price) of A123's Hypersonic charger, which has built-in balancing. So it is a struggle to decide what my best/most flexible option is.

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 1/30/2008 3:23 AM   
everydayflyer



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Status: offline 		I think for 2S and 3S 1P packs Sonic charger is fine. I use 3,4,5 and even 6S packs so the Sonic is not capable enough for me. Also I charge 3S A123 2300 packs in 6 to 10 minutes with a charger that cost me less than $10 to build.

Charles

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RE: What is the cheap and best A123 charger & A123 bal... - 2/17/2008 1:42 PM   
maR/Co


 

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Status: offline 		Hi there -everydayflier-; I just got two Dewalt 36V packs....I've been flying electrics for a while..but now I want to get into covnerting 40-sizers...what is that device you use that charges in 6 to 10 mins. you mentioned?

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