RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II
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RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 5:09:35 PM   
JNorton



Posts: 3134
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Mine works flawlessly also. But I never just top off the battery.
John

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       Post #: 26

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 5:52:50 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		After reading this thread, I took my 2700maH pack that was competely charged and set it to a 200ma charge. It timed out and shut off after a couple of hours with no damage to the pack. It was hot but not damaged.

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       Post #: 27

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 6:24:27 PM   
3D Joy



Posts: 1061
Joined: 12/21/2002
From: , QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		200 ma is not even C/10 witha 2700 mah pack. You will never fry a pack at less than C/10.

As for me not using the charger correctly, that is true, knowing what I know today. But from the instructions, nothing is mentionned. The instructions say that I should charge a pack that has not been charged for a few days (Nimh packs have a high self-discharge rate). That is exactly what I did and it resulted in a 50$ pack that is now useless.

I just looked at the instructions. It is not said that I should not "top off" a battery with it so I did and my pack is dead and cooked. They even recommend to charge if the battery has not been charged for a few days (for Nimh only).

Anyway, I know now what I should have known from the beginning. I would have liked some precisions as to how the charger "decides" the voltage it uses to charge a battery. This is an entry level charger and should be usable by entry level users (I am not expert in battery technology and charging technology).

(in reply to Geistware)
       Post #: 28

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 6:30:48 PM   
Wayne Miller


 

Posts: 969
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: DrumboOntario, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Giestware,

The Hobbico MKii normally terminates the charge itself, that is, if the batteries are fully charged, or if the batteries do not charge withing a specified time frame. I think 2hrs. for NiCd or NiMh, and 3 hrs for LiIo or LiPo.

When you selected 270 mah, it may or may not have detected the correct number of cells, but you were being safe with the 270 mah rate, and it should have automatically have timed out after a couple of hours anyway. Since the charge rate was 270 mah or C/10, the batteries should be OK.

Hope this helps.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne Miller

(in reply to Geistware)
       Post #: 29

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 6:33:54 PM   
MHawker



Posts: 2581
Joined: 3/1/2002
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Hey guys,

I'm in the market for a fast field charger. Flying larger planes with more servos, I find I need to recharge after a couple of flights.

How do you check the voltage output? Is a DVM needed or is it readable on the charger. And, if it's charging at too high a voltage, can you override it and set it manually?

Thanks.

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       Post #: 30

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 6:37:15 PM   
MHawker



Posts: 2581
Joined: 3/1/2002
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Oh, on a different note, I was talking with George at Peak (Sirius) who said their Pro "PLUS" charger can be used to charge two RX packs with the adapter (looks like a simple plug type change adapter). The Plus is a higher output than the standard.

It's a little pricey at $165, though, but Sirius products have a great reputation.

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       Post #: 31

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 6:52:05 PM   
Chevelleflyer


 

Posts: 19
Joined: 1/19/2004
From: Batavia, IL, USA
Status: offline 		This will probably sound like a stupid question, but since I'm a newbee, too, I have to ask.

I just bought the Hobbico MKII, thanks to many of your recommendations, and before I use it, I want to make sure I don't mess up. I have a new JR radio that (according to the specs. in the manual) has a 600 MA tx and 1100 MA receiver battery. So, when recharging the receiver battery, do I turn the dial to 1.1 amps and when recharging the tx, put the dial at 0.6 amps? I did read the instructions with the charger, but I think it assumes that you know what you're doing already.

I guess I'm a little confused because I thought that a tx has 8 AA size batteries in it, but the receiver battery is a small 4 or 5 cell pack. If so, why would the smaller pack have more power? I would think that the tx would require a higher charge rate.

Thanks.

(in reply to MHawker)
       Post #: 32

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 8:47:19 PM   
Highflight-RCU


 

Posts: 597
Joined: 2/28/2003
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		The number of cells of the pack determines the voltage, and the capacity of the individual cell determines the capacity of the pack. You'll probably notice that the cells in your transmitter are probably AA or AAA, and the cells of the RX pack are probably C.

If you don't NEED to fast charge, don't. The batteries will last longer.
Fast charge only at the field to get more flight time when you need to.

Highflight

(in reply to Chevelleflyer)
       Post #: 33

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 10:25:47 PM   
vicman



Posts: 6081
Joined: 12/8/2002
From: Valdese, NC, USA
Status: offline 		You are correct in your settings. Voltage and mah are different.


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       Post #: 34

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/7/2004 11:50:26 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Wayne, you are 100% correct.
If I am going to top of my pack, the most I will put in it is 400maH and that allows me to top off my 2700maH pack.
quote:

ORIGINAL: Wayne Miller

Hi Giestware,

The Hobbico MKii normally terminates the charge itself, that is, if the batteries are fully charged, or if the batteries do not charge withing a specified time frame. I think 2hrs. for NiCd or NiMh, and 3 hrs for LiIo or LiPo.

When you selected 270 mah, it may or may not have detected the correct number of cells, but you were being safe with the 270 mah rate, and it should have automatically have timed out after a couple of hours anyway. Since the charge rate was 270 mah or C/10, the batteries should be OK.

Hope this helps.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne Miller


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http://www.rcaircraft.net/
Information on the building and flying of Radio Control Aircraft.
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       Post #: 35

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/8/2004 2:27:03 PM   
Highflight-RCU


 

Posts: 597
Joined: 2/28/2003
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: MHawker

Hey guys,

I'm in the market for a fast field charger. Flying larger planes with more servos, I find I need to recharge after a couple of flights.

How do you check the voltage output? Is a DVM needed or is it readable on the charger. And, if it's charging at too high a voltage, can you override it and set it manually?

Thanks.


On the MKII, it can charge two different batteries of different type and capacity and voltage at the same time. If you look at the face of the unit, you'll see that there are FOUR pair of jacks. The additional two pair of jacks next to the charge jacks are specifically for the purpose of plugging in a DVM to monitor the voltage of the pair of charge jacks it's next to.
Using a DVM, it's incredibly simple to figure out what the charger is doing at any given time. In fact, with experience, you'll get to know how close you pack is to being fully charged by seeing where the voltage is at any given time.

Highflight

(in reply to MHawker)
       Post #: 36

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/8/2004 3:47:53 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Chevelleflyer, Their are no stubpid questions in life.
While technically you are correct, the charger can charge a dead pack at a minimum of .5C and a max of 1C.
The minimum is set because the charger has an auto shutoff feature that will stop the charger after 2 hours (0.5C) and the max is set by the manufacturer of 1 hour (1.0C). I would recommend that you set your RX to charge at a minimum of 0.6 amp and the TX at a minimum of 0.3 amp. This will keep your battery's internal temps lower and less stress on the pack. THis is a PERSONAL preference and is not based on any data collected or read.
quote:

ORIGINAL: Chevelleflyer

This will probably sound like a stupid question, but since I'm a newbee, too, I have to ask.

I just bought the Hobbico MKII, thanks to many of your recommendations, and before I use it, I want to make sure I don't mess up. I have a new JR radio that (according to the specs. in the manual) has a 600 MA tx and 1100 MA receiver battery. So, when recharging the receiver battery, do I turn the dial to 1.1 amps and when recharging the tx, put the dial at 0.6 amps? I did read the instructions with the charger, but I think it assumes that you know what you're doing already.

I guess I'm a little confused because I thought that a tx has 8 AA size batteries in it, but the receiver battery is a small 4 or 5 cell pack. If so, why would the smaller pack have more power? I would think that the tx would require a higher charge rate.

Thanks.


_____________________________

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 Chevelleflyer)
       Post #: 37

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/10/2004 3:56:19 AM   
Superfast


 

Posts: 117
Joined: 12/24/2002
From: Grandview, MO, USA
Status: offline 		Interesting post. I also have the MKII charger and really love it. I can charge the reciever and ignition packs of my gas planes at the same time !

We had one of our club members burn up a pack earlier this year with a MKII. It was attributed to the current setting being too high for the pack. He went on the assumption the a reciever pack of 1800 Mah should be charged at 1.8 Amps. Well that is not what the sticker on the charger says. Mine has a sticker on the side of the case that gives cell size (AAA, AA, etc.) and maximum charge rate. Bassed that a standard reciever pack is made up of AA cells the maximun charge rate should be no higher than 1.0A. So if you set the charger per the 1800MAH = 1.8Amps, you will heat up the pack and might even damage the charger. I currently run 1200 and 1800 Mah packs and always charge them at roughly .9 Amps, it usually peaks the pack in about 20 min.

Here is a pic of the sticker I am talking about :



Scott

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(in reply to Geistware)
       Post #: 38

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger Mark II - 10/12/2004 12:27:13 PM   
3D Joy



Posts: 1061
Joined: 12/21/2002
From: , QC, CANADA
Status: