So up to this point, I've never needed a real charger. I run a Blade CX2 with the little charger it came with, and I've just used AAs in my nitro trucks.
I have an opportunity to purchase a Blade mSR, and I want to invest in some LiPo or LiFe reciever packs for the nitros. Also, I'd like to be able to charge my CX2 batteries faster. So I have a dilemma. Do I want a single, high-output charger like this [link=http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__17422__TURNIGY_MEGA_400W_V2_Lithium_Polymer_Batt ery_Charger_Version_2_.html]400W Turnigy[/link], or would one of the 4-output chargers be a better choice?
With the one output charger I could parallel charge several batteries, either 1s LiPo for the mSR or 2s LiPo for the CX2 and still have the capacity to charge high-power batteries, say if I ever got a brushless truck. However, if I want to charge a LiFe reciever pack, a 2s 800 mah LiPo, and a 1s 500 mah LiPo ALL AT THE SAME TIME, I'm out of luck. Something like the HobbyKing 4B6 would allow me to do the aforementioned charging craziness.
So, are the 4-output chargers a good choice? And if so, is a particular one better than another? I have found 4 I rather like, of which 2 are within the $75 amount I'd like to spend.
[link=http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__16374__HobbyKing_ECO_4_x_6S_Lithium_Polymer_Mult i_Charger.html]HobbyKing ECO 4X6s[/link]
[link=http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__15986__HobbyKing_4B6_Balance_Charger_Plus_Access ories_200W_.html]HobbyKing 4B6[/link]
[link=http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__10327__HobbyKing_Quattro_4x6S_Lithium_Polymer_Mu lti_Charger.html]HobbyKing Quattro[/link]
[link=http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=18812]Turnigy 4X6s[/link]
What is the real difference between the 3 HobbyKing 4x6s chargers? They all seem to be 200W, 50W per port. If I only use one port at a time, can I put 200W through that port, or is the most power i could ever put to a single battery 50W? And, is the Turnigy a justifiable expense (at nearly double the "budget" I tried to put on this charger
) for the 100W per battery?