RC,

Definitely there with you already on that issue. I don't use the ac wall charger any more either that came with the Firebirds. I do still use the peak charger that came with the ABC, but I also bought a Duratrax intellipeak charger. Additionally, I purchased from Sears one of those portable battery packs that will jumpstart your car. Its very useful for other things besides electric flight, but I use the DC port (cigarette lighter style) to plug my aerobird peak charger into for one battery, then I put a battery on the Duratrax hooked to my car battery, then I place another battery on the Aerobird peak charger in my cars cigarette lighter jack. I am charging three batteries at once that way. I've found that you have to peak the battery as close to right before you fly as possible for longest flight times. (has an ac power converter that will power ac appliances and it has a decent air compressor as well)

Another change I'm making is to convert all batteries, chargers, and planes to the Deans Ultra connector. I had found that the ABC peak chargers quit working after about a month, only it wasn't the charger it was the battery connection plug was failing. (the supplied tamiya plugs are pretty cheap and wear out quickly) The Deans plug seems to be a very good connector that allows for wear. When they are plugged in its a very solid connection. (a little tight even until they break in a little.)

auto5man