rcfun2005

Hi ,

just seeing what others are using , looking just for charging the a123 and life battery go on board the jet.

something compact style charger maybe including ac supply built in .

thanks, Joe

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

I don't know about built in AC but if you're looking for 4 port, then Hitec x4

rcfun2005

thanks for reply ,

I did see Hitec x4 and newest model has AC supply built in ... but seems like i saw lot of post about hardware failures for Hitec unit ....

so checking to see if any other brands out there being used.

thanks, again , Joe

bcovish

My Feedback: (8)

Been using the Hitec x4 since they first came out and now using the one with the built in power supply. Not one hic-up. Sold the original x4 and it is still going strong.

bcovish

My Feedback: (8)

There are a number of 4 port chargers out there. Most of them use the same charging programs.

bcovish

My Feedback: (8)

Joe
What size battery packs are you going to be charging?

rcfun2005

hey Bob, good to see familiar name posting !! Joe from Houston...

the batt are (2)each a123, 2s, 2500ma for receiver,,, and (1) each 3s 3800 ma Life batt for ECU

do you think charger will handle 1c charge rate for all 3 batt at same time ?

thanks, Joe

Jgwright

I have been using a HK Quattro charger for all my charging requirements for A123b, Lipo etc for nearly 2 years now without any problems. It does not have a built in power supply but is very cheap at $89.99. I use it with a 30 amp HK power supply and there are a number to select from. I charge 4 2 cell 2200 A123 batteries at 4 amps all at the same time without problem.
I believe that some of the Quattro chargers are basically the same unit but rebadged.

John

highhorse

My Feedback: (2)

The 3s is the most demanding, obviously. As quad I used to have was good for 50w per channel. If the one you are looking at is in the neighborhood of at least 35w or so per channel then yes, it will charge your ECU batt just fine.

raron455

My Feedback: (38)

hitec x4 here, with a power supply. I charge all my lifes in plane. (hangtime hobbies 123 life batts) never any issues. And the X4 could handle charging all those you listed at 1c effortlessly.

JackD

My Feedback: (4)

Hitec X4 AC/DC rules! Get one, you won't regret it... I use it at home to charge everything (rx lipos and lions, tx nimh, foamy lipos, even my lead acid battery for my compressor. i even charged my bikes lead acid with it) and always bring it to the field to charge foamy batteries
Get 4 of everything (balance boards and charging plugs)

if mine ever breaks, i will get anotherone immediately!!!!

rcjetsaok

My Feedback: (7)

Joe,

This is the one I want.. 80W per channel ( 320 total ) but it is DC only.. It is however the most powerful in their line of quad chargers.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...arger-HRC44169


Danno

2walla

My Feedback: (10)

You may want to get something that can put out more than 50 watts per channel. 150 to 200 watts is nice to have. I use a racers edge prime 400 .. It is 200 watts per side. They make a 4 port one that is only 50 watts per channel that is about half the price of the hitec. At some point you will want to charge something bigger than a two cell pack and 50 watts takes forever to charge a 6s 5000. Also i prefer to have a pair of twin chargers than one big 4 port one for redundancy.

dbsonic

My Feedback: (3)

+1 on Hitec chargers

rcfun2005

thanks everyone , i did not know all the other model Hitec 4 port charges , will check them out , thanks for heads up !! joe

afterburner

My Feedback: (18)

The Hitecs are good. I have two of them. I blew one channel out on one after hooking up a compressor battery with alligator clips in reverse polarity. The first couple of times I did it, I got a reverse polarity warning but eventually it took out the circuit. My fault for getting lazy and not labeling the polarity on the battery. The other three ports are still fine so I brought that one into the shop and bought another for the field. If you are going to get into large ducted fans with five and six cell packs then you would want something in the 100 or 200 watt range but for turbine setups with two cell A123's and ECU batteries, the Hitec has worked out great for me.

husafreak

My Feedback: (3)

My first Hitec 4X was DOA but the exchange 4x has worked well for me for over a year now. It is out in the garage doing the 3 LiFe batts in my Hawk right now. My only gripe is the balance boards have very short leads and the power cord is short too. I need to make up some balance board extensions to make hooking everything up easier.

afterburner

My Feedback: (18)

Go on ebay. You can get 2s extensions in a 10 pack from china for around 3 bucks.

MetallicaJunkie

do you have a link?

afterburner

My Feedback: (18)

For some reason the crappy ebay app on my samsung note wont show me the results but go on ebay and type in 2s hx balance extension. They're actually less than 3 bucks

MetallicaJunkie

thanks

*edit here's the link http://www.ebay.com/itm/200656013335...84.m1497.l2649

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Nice find! Thanks

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

Okay maybe I missed the part about disconnecting the batteries from the rx?

If you are planning on charging the batteries inside the model at the same time without disconnecting at least one, you are going to run into what is known as "the common ground" issue. Most chargers use low side sense and the switches we use on our models do not cut the ground wire, only the positive when switched off so a common ground exists through the rx buss, one battery to the other and your charger will not like that unless it's one of the very few which don't use low side sense. The Hitec charger isn't one of them.

Just a thought....

rmh

be sure to add a smoke detector
(CO detector not necessary)

husafreak

My Feedback: (3)

Maybe someone here can explain an odd thing about my A123 and LiFe batts. When charging with the Hitec 4x what I see is the voltage in the cells in each battery comes up together. But at the end of the charge they suddenly diverge and the "full" voltage just when the charger shuts off is typically 3.4x on one and 3.60 on the other. The 3 cell is 3.4x on two and 3.60 on the other. Why does that happen? I have tried very low charge rates but it still ends like that. Checking voltages after the charge is complete obviously give lower voltages but still show one cell higher than the others by a fraction. With any other battery chemistry I find all the cells (in a good pack) are the same voltage, as it should be I think with a balancing charger.
FWIW I have an old Thunder Power charger that won't complete a charge any of my LiFe batts. It always ends up with a warning that cell voltage differs by more than 0.25v and the charger shuts down. I also have a Powerlab8 which does the closest match of all but still exhibits this phenomenon.