I think it is time to get a charger (other than the standard wall warts). I've just started using 2000 mAh (both 4.8V and 6V, NiCad and NiMH) battery packs in my planes (kind of as a safety thing...to give me a little extra juice) and although I have gotten them to charge fully with the wall warts is does take quit a while. I don't have (or expect to) any electric planes, just glow. I've been looking at various chargers and am thinking that the Triton EQ is best for my needs. Any suggestions?

Also, on a slightly different subject, I ordered a 1100 mAh battery pack for my Futaba transmitter...but it does not fit! I'm a little livid about paying $50 for a transmitter battery (made by Futaba) that does not fit my Futaba transmitter. The AA cells in the pack are just a little too long (maybe 1/8") to fit inside the transmitter. What am I missing here?

Thanks in advance for the help & advice.

Jeff

First, for a good charger, the Accucycle Elite, or the Ice, or the Triton all do just fine and will charge any number of various types of batteries. The Ice and Triton can be set up for either slow or fast charge rates.

As for the Futaba battery, where did you get it from? Was it an authorized Futaba dealer? Did you order the correct battery pack? More specific info is needed.

CGr.

I ordered it from Tower.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXRXH1&P=7

My transmitter is a Futaba 6 EXP (which it states at the bottom of the page is one of the transmitters this high capacity battery pack is made for).

There are numerous people here including myself that would attest to the quality and ability of this charger:
[link=http://Turnigy Accucell-6]http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7028&Product_Name=Turnig y_Accucel-6_50W_5A_Balancer/Charger[/link]

Curtis

I have bought a few chargers, and if I were to buy any more it would be the one linked above, or maybe the Accucel 8 just because I'm going to be getting into running pairs of 4 cell batteries.

As Joe said, I love my Accucell-6 but will probably move up to the 8 simply because I want to charge my 6 cells faster. 50W is good, but 150 is a whole lot better. It's a great charger and for the money, you really can't beat it.
C

stay away from tower for chargers, you end up paying 3-4 times more just for brand name. I got my charger from hobby city for $50 and its a balance charger up to 5 amps and de-charges up to 1 amp. It will charge everything including the newer A123 batteries. I am very pleased with it.

Do you plan on flying electrics eventually? If so you'll most likely end up charging multi cell lipos in which case you'll want a balancing charger. A good fairly priced balancing charger that will charge most other type batteries as well is the Cellpro Multi 4 from FMA direct for $80.
http://www.fmadirect.com/products.htm?cat=45&nid=4 If you do get one don't forget to ask what adapters you'll need, especially to charge your standard NiMH and NiCd batteries.

This is the one I use comes with a wall plug as well as every plug youll ever need to charge what ever battery you have.

http://www.xheli.com/thac6bachwac.html

I have a Accucell-8, but am sorry I didn't buy the one mentioned above, as it works on 12VDC or 120VAC. I've seen them at our field and it's a nice one. Yes, 150W is better than 50W, but having integral 120VAC is very nice.

jack

Jack, How do you supply 12v to your Accucell-8? I got a used PC power supply from a techie friend and tapped the 12v line.
Curtis

The eq has nice features, but exceeds your needs. An accucycle elite is just as good for nicd/nimh but can charge two at a time. For something cheaper, look at the regular triton. I like mine.

I decided on the Accucycle Elite partly due to the two outputs, and the 10 battery memory. When I first decided to 'upgrade' my standard 600 mAh TX & RX packs, I got an 1100 mAh RX, then got two or three 2000 mAh 4.8V RX packs, then finally got a little smarter and upgraded to 2000 mAh, 6V NiMH RX packs so I have several different kinds of battery packs to keep charged and find the 10 battery memory function very useful.

Back to the TX battery from Tower that doesn't fit. I called Tower and explained the problem. I was told that the 1100 mAh pack that I bought was 2.06 inches Wide where the 'original' pack supplied with the Futaba 6EXP is slightly under 2 inches. I asked why the Tower web site for the 1100 mAh pack states it is for the Futaba 6EXP when it won't fit, and was told "I don't know. Call Futaba". When I did, Futaba's Customer service rep said "just send it back and get a refund". Anyway, after a little searching I found a Hobbico 1750 mAh NiMH pack that does fit my TX. Better capacity, and a NiMH vs a NiCad.

Re-reading this post it may seem like I've gone a little nuts over higher capacity/voltage batteries, but I guess I think it is smart to put a few extra $ into batteries that may keep me from loosing a plane that I have hundreds (or thousands) invested in. Anyway, thank for the advice.