Spektrum Smart battery question
07-25-2022, 12:38 PM
#2
Depends.
Gen1 Smart packs have a balance lead and can be charged conventionally.
Gen2 or G2 smart batteries have no balance lead and must be charged with a Smart charger.
If you're buying from Horizon you're most likely going to get G2, if you're buying old stock from a hobby shop or online retailer you need to be sure that what you're buying isn't G2 if you want to use a regular charger.
I have 24v icharger 308 and I love it, but i was sold on the S2200 smart charger once i tried it.
Edit for clarification: You can charge G2 smart batteries without a Smart charger (nobody is getting shafted) but you can't BALANCE charge them. It didn't occur to me to mention this because most people balance charge big lipos.
Gen1 Smart packs have a balance lead and can be charged conventionally.
Gen2 or G2 smart batteries have no balance lead and must be charged with a Smart charger.
If you're buying from Horizon you're most likely going to get G2, if you're buying old stock from a hobby shop or online retailer you need to be sure that what you're buying isn't G2 if you want to use a regular charger.
I have 24v icharger 308 and I love it, but i was sold on the S2200 smart charger once i tried it.
Edit for clarification: You can charge G2 smart batteries without a Smart charger (nobody is getting shafted) but you can't BALANCE charge them. It didn't occur to me to mention this because most people balance charge big lipos.
Last edited by BarracudaHockey; 07-26-2022 at 06:31 AM.
07-26-2022, 04:10 AM
#3
Depends.
Gen1 Smart packs have a balance lead and can be charged conventionally.
Gen2 or G2 smart batteries have no balance lead and must be charged with a Smart charger.
If you're buying from Horizon you're most likely going to get G2, if you're buying old stock from a hobby shop or online retailer you need to be sure that what you're buying isn't G2 if you want to use a regular charger.
I have 24v icharger 308 and I love it, but i was sold on the S2200 smart charger once i tried it
Gen1 Smart packs have a balance lead and can be charged conventionally.
Gen2 or G2 smart batteries have no balance lead and must be charged with a Smart charger.
If you're buying from Horizon you're most likely going to get G2, if you're buying old stock from a hobby shop or online retailer you need to be sure that what you're buying isn't G2 if you want to use a regular charger.
I have 24v icharger 308 and I love it, but i was sold on the S2200 smart charger once i tried it
07-30-2022, 05:44 AM
#5
Not every time, no. I also don't run my batteries down to near the low voltage point. I'm not the kind of person who spends his entire time at the field flying - being social with the other fliers is important to me. I do occasionally use the balance lead, but I stay away from Horizon Hobby batteries, even most other Horizon items, so I won't ever see this issue.
Horizon lost me as a customer when they bought up the field and raised their profit level.
Horizon lost me as a customer when they bought up the field and raised their profit level.
08-01-2022, 07:03 AM
#7
Probably not, if you have a spektrum smart charger and smart battery it detects the chemistry when you plug the battery in and activates the appropriate type and charge rate based on that information.
What battery do you have? I wasn't aware there were lithium Ion smart packs
What battery do you have? I wasn't aware there were lithium Ion smart packs
08-02-2022, 02:52 AM
#11
Fascinating!
My money is on that being a misprinted label. Here's what i come up with running that part number on Horizon's web site.
https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...PMX224S50.html
My money is on that being a misprinted label. Here's what i come up with running that part number on Horizon's web site.
https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...PMX224S50.html
10-24-2022, 01:19 PM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2004
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09-12-2023, 01:20 PM
#14
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10-02-2023, 04:02 PM
#15
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I bought an Apprentice from Horizon Hobby that came with a G2 smart battery & S120 USB charger.
Question - how can I tell if my smart battery is charged, or how much voltage is left in each cell without a balance lead on the battery?
Normally I would use my battery checker & plug the balance lead to check how much charge was left in my battery.
But without a balance lead on the battery, what do you do?
Question - how can I tell if my smart battery is charged, or how much voltage is left in each cell without a balance lead on the battery?
Normally I would use my battery checker & plug the balance lead to check how much charge was left in my battery.
But without a balance lead on the battery, what do you do?
11-12-2023, 05:14 AM
#17
Spektrum Smart batteries are designed to work with Spektrum Smart chargers. While it's generally recommended to use a Spektrum Smart charger for optimal performance and safety, you can still charge Spektrum Smart batteries on ISDT or normal LiPo chargers. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines and settings to ensure a proper and safe charging process. Safety first!
G2 SMART batteries (those they are selling now) balance through the data lead, they don't have a balance tap so you really can't safely charge those with a regular charger.
11-18-2023, 01:52 PM
#18
Join Date: May 2006
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I am not sure if that would fit in this thread but I will take a chance.
I bought https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...2002SLFRX.html
and the charger https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...SPMXC2060.html
I got thew extensions for main charging cables but what extension do I use for data cable?
Can I charge without data cable?
Thank you!
I bought https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...2002SLFRX.html
and the charger https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...SPMXC2060.html
I got thew extensions for main charging cables but what extension do I use for data cable?
Can I charge without data cable?
Thank you!
11-19-2023, 05:06 AM
#19
Extensions?
You just plug the battery into the changer.
If you need an extension of the main cable you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...SPMXCA319.html
If you need to extend the balance lead you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product.../DYNC0109.html
You just plug the battery into the changer.
If you need an extension of the main cable you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...SPMXCA319.html
If you need to extend the balance lead you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product.../DYNC0109.html
11-19-2023, 03:18 PM
#20
Join Date: May 2006
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Extensions?
You just plug the battery into the changer.
If you need an extension of the main cable you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...SPMXCA319.html
If you need to extend the balance lead you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product.../DYNC0109.html
You just plug the battery into the changer.
If you need an extension of the main cable you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...SPMXCA319.html
If you need to extend the balance lead you can use this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product.../DYNC0109.html
Just what I was looking for.
