Sirius Quad Charger
 

Vin,

I couldn't agree with you more, they are fantastic.

I'm not the smartest guy in the world and have limited time to enjoy my hobbies, so I need to keep things as simple and reliable as possible. The Quad Charger does that for me.

I don't carry a torch for any manufacturer or drink anyone's Kool Aid, nor do I rationalize how great a product is simply because that's the one I own. When I was looking for a turbine I bought a JetCat because, to me, it was the most reliable and easiest to use turbine on the market. If someone can show a me a more reliable, easier to use turbine I would buy it.

Same goes for my Quad Charger. It charges my TX, RX, and ECU batteries simultaneously each at a 1 amp rate, operates on AC or DC, has no buttons or switches or knobs or readout screens, charges and stops automatically by simply plugging in the pack, can't be hooked up backwards, is built like a tank, does the work of four separate chargers and will charge NiMH batteries as well.

Unless it actually plugged your packs in for you I can't imagine a charger easier to use. If someone could show me one that was simpler and more reliable to boot I would gladly buy it!

Like I said, guys have reasons they prefer other chargers and I'm not trying to change anyone's mind or sell Sirius products. Just thought I'd pass on my experience with it.

CHARGERS
 

Dustflier,

With your quip about "Kool-Aid" and "Rationalizing" you have turned this thread from offering friendly advice to a bash. What is your purpose? Mr. Bagostix asked about chargers that would not only charge NiCads and NiMh but possibly Lithium types as well. Were you paying attention?!?!? Will yours? I'm not on anyones payroll nor do I tout brand "X" simply because I own one. When I was looking for a charger I did a lot of investigating. The Schulze is a battery maintainer as well as a charger. It has several auto charging/discharging/cycling capablities as well as manually charging/discharging. Its capabilities go way beyond that of a glorified wall wart charger. It is also very easy to use. The display readings that you don't like show a wealth of information on the Schulze. The Schulze manual would probably teach you a thing or two about maintaining, charging and discharging batteries as well as what state to store them in. (Charged or discharged)

With the investment that jetjocks make it is wise to invest in a charger that will do as the Schulze does. For $165 you get a lot of bang for the buck. It handles NiCads, NiMH, Lead Acid, and Lithium types. (Both Metal and Ion) Add another $40 an get the PC interface with software to accurately track your batteries' condition. You don't know what the health of your batteries are, do you?!?

Flame suit on!!!!! fire away!!!!! Kevin

Quad Charger
 

Kevin,

I love the way the word "Bash" is thrown around with reckless abandon on this forum. Basically what the meaning of the word has degenerated to is this: say something someone else doesn't appreciate and it is a "Bash."

Where did I make any unfounded negative statement about another product?

As far as paying attention is concerned, didn't BAGOSTIX say most of his RX batteries were NiMH?

Now, back to chargers. The Quad Charger is not for everyone. One of the main disadvantages is that it only charges at a 1 amp rate. Some guys want to charge at 5 amps or more. It has no discharge/cycling capability, you have to buy a "Super Test" for that which I believe is around 50 bucks or so. It will not charge lithium.

Kevin, my apologies to you if my post was not to your liking.

Sorry guys,

EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET OUT THEY PULL ME BACK IN!

Sirius Charger
 

Dustflyer,

I use the pro charger mostly at home with the 110v adapter to top off my tx ,rx and pump pack. At the field I use the Siruis limited (2amp) charger, it has two rx ends and no tx. I just plug it in after the flight and top off the rx and jetcat pump pack. The radio typically won`t need a field charge but I can top that off too with the pro charger at the field on 12v. I know people say the pulse type charging is not any better than peak charging but since I have been using the Sirius chargers my nicads have stayed healthy for quite some time. I also own two Astro flight 112d chargers for my elec stuff and like them too.

Vin...

Re: Quad Charger
 

I bought one of the first Sirius Quad chargers, just because I'm always looking for new chargers to try out. I ended up selling it to a friend.

My main reasons for not keeping it were:

1) Pathetic "instructions". When I spend this $400 on a charger, I expect useful instructions, rather than having to waste time using my multimeter to figure the unit out.

2) 1 amp charge rate was limiting. That would restrict me to about 1 flight every 30 minutes.

3) Max 1000 ma per charge was limiting.

4) No feedback. (e.g. the Graupner & Schulze chargers tell you how much they charged the battery - I get to know how much a typical flight takes out, so if I ever see the charge taking noticeably more, that's a red flag ! With the sirius, there are just two leds, and that's it.)

You mentioned the Sirius being so easy to use... have you ever used the Ultra Duo ? With the primary output (the only one I use), just plug the battery in and it does everything - and no need to do it twice for over 1000 ma. Not sure how it gets much simpler than that.

I can also get multiple Ultra Duos for the price of the Sirius Quad charger, so I saw no economic reasons for having the Quad either.

The IMAC guy that I sold my Quad charger to loves it though - so maybe I just demand more from my chargers than others do.

Later,
Gordon

Schultze Chargers
 

I just received an answer from Matthias Schultze about the ISL6-330 backorder situation. They have been on summer vacation, and are now starting back in full production. R-C Direct in San Diego should have some soon.

If you really don't want to have all those other functions, just plug n play, the Sirius Limited Edition, like Vin uses, is the ultimate in simplicity and has an adequate charge rate of 2000ma.
They were originally designed to recharge the dual 3000maH packs that the Giant Scalers use in their 40% birds. I just don't like idiot lights, when for the same price, you can get a much more versatile charger/cycler in the UltraDuo/Schultze 330.


Tom

Quad Charger
 

Gordon,

I hear you, all very valid points. Like I said, there are other choices out there more suited to the needs and desires of other users.

Regarding that teeny instruction booklet, that's the beauty of it! Simple charger, simple manual, simple brain! For me they all kind of work together!

Don't you get tired of those fat manuals you get for every stinking piece of electronic gear you buy these days? Heck, the manual for my Casio watch was a quarter inch thick for Pete's sake!

My mind is already there. Now, if I could just make my life as simple as the Sirius instruction manual I'd really be accomplishing something!

Re: Quad Charger
 

LOL - I hear ya on that simple brain part. May even have ya beat on that one !

Yeah - if everything is totally obvious, then you don't need instructions. However, right out of the box there was something that was not in the least obvious to me (its that simple brain part), and which was not covered in the instruction leaflet... the unit came with 4 pin plugs. What the heck !?!??

I haven't had 4 pin plugs for R/C since I used a Syleader + Kraft R/C system that had a centre-tapped battery, so why were there 4 pins ? I guess I was supposed to plug into just three of the 4 pins, but if so, which 4, and which way around ? Didn't seem in the least obvious to me (though it probably is to others), so I checked the "instructions" - no help there, so I had to get the DVM out and check the voltage on each pin in order to figure it out. That was easy enough to do, but I just felt that for $400 I shouldn't have to generate my own instructions.

Anyway - as long as you and others are happy with the Sirius - have at it ! BTW, I didn't list my "issues" with it to harass Sirius owners, but simply to try to provide some other views to anyone who is trying to decide which charger to buy.

Later,
Gordon

Those goofy plugs!
 

Gordon,

Now that you mentioned it, you are absolutely right! Had forgotten about that. I couldn't stand those things either. Once I figured out which way to stick a plug into them I just put heavy duty Futaba extensions in there and forgot about it from that point on.

The current models don't have those plugs any more, just Futaba female ends. I suppose you can get it with JR ends if you want.

How are you enjoying those 300 days of sunshine a year out there in San Jose? Gee, I really feel sorry for you Gordon. With all that great flying weather where do you find time to build? Must be terrible being cooped up outside all the time!

I get out to Milpitas from time to time. One of these days I'll have to come out and visit the TomCats. From the website it looks like you guys have a great field.


Regards,

Gene

It's a hard life.
 

Hi Gene,

It's a hard life, but someone has to do it. Compared to Scotland (where I was born), this is paradise. Anyway, I don't fly all 300 sunny days - just 2 or 3 times a week.

I work early shift, so my building is typically done mid afternoon and evenings, and I even have a TV etc in my garage to help convince me to spend plenty of time in there. Just finished cleaning it up yesterday in preparation for the first of 2 super bandits, which should be here within a week.

Anytime you're in the area, drop me a note an we'll try to hook up - or just drop by the flying field if you know how to get there. We have about 7 or 8 turbine pilots in the club, though not all of them are particularly active.

Regs,
Gordon

Visit
 

Gordon,

Sounds great, thank's for the invite!

Gene

CHARGERS
 

Dustflier,

If you don't like bash then we'll let you pick the word. All that I was trying to get across to you is that the thread was going well and then you chime with some childish nonsense about "rationalizing and drinking Kool-Aid". What did your comments have to do with charger types and did they have a positive impact on the thread? This is not the first time (nor will it probably be the last) that you will add these simplistic comments to your posts. For the most part you have been very constructive and that is what this hobby is all about---furnishing help to those that need it. Those that know me know that I've been in this hobby a long time and I will bend over backwards to help a fellow modeler. My enthusiasm for this hobby is great and I was only trying convey this with my comments concerning the Schulze chargers. Your barbs just kind of struck a nerve with me and for the life of me I don't understand why you threw them.

Kevin

Schultze ISL6-330 Charger Availability
 

Thanks for the plug Kevin.
John Weaver of Discount Hobby Warehouse (RC Direct) keeps them in stock. Contact him at: 858-560-9633 for pricing and availability.
I use one of them as well as a Dymond Super Turbo for all of the batteries on my jets.
Either/both of them will charge any and all batteries that we currently use, and do it quickly and economically.
I feel that you will be pleased with either of them.
I won't mention any of the features of either charger, as this has been very well explained already.

Harley Condra
BVM REP
Battery melter

Schultze ISL6-330 Charger Availability
 

Thanks for the plug Kevin.
John Weaver of Discount Hobby Warehouse (RC Direct) keeps them in stock. Contact him at: 858-560-9633 for pricing and availability.
I use one of them as well as a Dymond Super Turbo for all of the batteries on my jets.
Either/both of them will charge any and all batteries that we currently use, and do it quickly and economically.
I feel that you will be pleased with either of them.
I won't mention any of the features of either charger, as this has been very well explained already.

Harley Condra
BVM REP
Battery melter

CHARGERS
 

The Schulze chargers are amazing. They're the only thing around really that properly charge the 27 cell packs in my F5B airplanes (electric sailplane) and are probably the most capable readily available charger around. I know the Alpha 4 is very good.. but it's not exactly readily available..

-Doug

RE: CHARGERS
 

I have the Duo Plus 30 and very pleased with it. Gives me full battery charges with only the slightest bit of battery heat at cutout. I am trying to figure out how I can charge my cell phone battery rated at 950ma 3.6V li-ion. The charger only allows input in 100ma intervals for Li-ion. What settings do I use. Can I enter the capacity on the charger as 1000ma for 1cell. wouldnt think so and 900ma may not allow a full charge.

Is there a setting I could use to trick the charger to select the correct values for this battery. Any ideas??

Regards