ORIGINAL: Matt Kirsch
fireman7875, with a screen name like that, you might want to educate yourself on the special handling required for LiPoly batteries, and the risks involved with their mistreatment.
If you need to charge multiple batteries, buy additional chargers. That's how we do it. Why don't they make dual-output chargers? Expense. A dual output version of the chargers currently on the market would cost nearly twice as much as the single-output version. Would you really pay $250 for a dual-output Astro 109? Not many people would, and the point is to sell large quantities of chargers to make money. If you're not going to sell large quantities of chargers, why make them?
1) In 12 years of fire service experience I can't say that I have ever seen a fire traced back to a lithium battery. I am aware that a lithium battery will catch fire if it ruptures since lithium is pyrophoric. However, just because you charge a battery in your car doesn't mean that it will rupture. I have seen several recommendations (outside of this forum) to use a fireproof container for charging. A fireproof container will be fireproof weather it's in your house or car. I don't want to burn up anything, but if I had to choose, I would rather burn up my car than my house anyway.
2) As I & stated, there are dual output chargers available. I wouldn't pay $250 for a dual output Astro 109 nor would I pay $130 for a single output Astro 109. I don't need to charge that many cells for for a little 36" span park flyer. If I want the power that 8 LiPo cells put out I switch back to my glow planes. I just want to charge up to three cells and be able to go to the park near my house and fly for an hour or so.
Thanks,
Brian