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Electric Flight Explained
By Robie R.
Chargers, Balancers, & Power
Supplies
The number of Lipo chargers on the market today are
overwhelming, but they all do the same thing. Charge
lipo batteries.
Many do a great job and
some are a waste of money. Shown below are some chargers I own that all do a
decent job of charging
lipo batteries.
Charger 1
AstroFlight 109
Search Google for this charger
| Cell Types |
Lithium Polymer |
| Minimum Cells |
1 |
| Maximum Cells |
9 |
| Maximum Charge rate |
9 amps |
| Minimum Charge rate |
50 ma |
| Charge Time cut off |
10 hours |
| Discharge Rate |
1.25 amps |
| Discharge cut off |
3.2 volts per cell |
| Current Display |
50 ma to 10 amps |
| Cell
balancer |
No |
| Voltage Display |
Yes |
| Charge time Display |
Yes |
| Amp hour Display |
Yes |
| Supply Voltage |
12 to 15 volts |
| Supply
Current |
16 amps |
| Pros |
Simple to use, wide range of
current adjust and cell count |
| Cons |
Only charges battery to
about 90% of capacity. No built in balancer |
| Price |
$110 |
Charger 2
Loong-Max E6
Search Google for this charger
| Cell Types |
NiCd, NiMH, Lilo, Lipo, LiFe
and Pb |
| Minimum Cells |
1 |
| Maximum Cells |
lipo 6 cells, NiMH 15 cells,
lead acid 20v |
| Maximum Charge rate |
5 amps |
| Minimum Charge rate |
100 ma |
| Charge Time cut off |
Adjustable |
| Discharge Rate |
0.1 - 1 amps |
| Discharge cut off |
3.2 volts per cell |
| Current Display |
50 ma to 10 amps |
| Cell
balancer |
2 - 6 cells Up to 6S(series)
Li-Po |
| Voltage Display |
Yes |
| Charge time Display |
Yes |
| Amp hour Display |
Yes |
| Supply Voltage |
11 to 16 volts |
| Supply
Current |
16 amps |
| Pros |
Wide range of battery types
and current adjust. Charging status can be displayed on a PC using the
supplied USB cable and software. |
| Cons |
Can be confusing with so
many features |
| Price as of 1/12/09 |
$57 |
Charger 3
E Sky EK2-0851
| Cell Types |
Lithium
Polymer |
| Minimum Cells |
2 |
| Maximum Cells |
3 |
| Maximum Charge rate |
800ma |
| Minimum Charge rate |
800ma |
| Charge Time cut off |
None |
| Discharge Rate |
None |
| Discharge cut off |
N/A |
| Current Display |
NA |
| Cell
balancer |
2 - 3 Cells |
| Voltage Display |
No |
| Charge time Display |
No |
| Amp hour Display |
No |
| Supply Voltage |
11 to 15 volts |
| Supply
Current |
2 amp |
| Pros |
Very simple to use |
| Cons |
Only charges 2 & 3 cell
800mah batteries |
| Price
as of 1/12/09 |
$11 |
Charger 4
2-3S LiPo Balancing Charger, 0.5-3A by E-flite
included with the Apprentice
Search Google for this charger
| Cell Types |
Lithium Polymer |
| Minimum Cells |
2 |
| Maximum Cells |
3 |
| Maximum Charge rate |
3 amps |
| Minimum Charge rate |
0.5 |
| Charge Time cut off |
|
| Discharge Rate |
None |
| Discharge cut off |
None |
| Current Display |
None |
| Cell
balancer |
Yes 2-3 cells |
| Voltage Display |
No |
| Charge time Display |
No |
| Amp hour Display |
No |
| Supply Voltage |
12 to 15 volts |
| Supply
Current |
5 amps |
| Pros |
Simple to use |
| Cons |
Limited to only
2 - 3 cells, Max charge rate is 3amp |
| Price
as of 1/12/09 |
$30 |
Charger 5
Great Planes ElectriFly Triton2 DC Computer
Charger
Search Google for this charger
| Cell Types |
NiCd, NiMH, Lilo, Lipo, LiFe
and Pb |
| Minimum Cells |
1 |
| Maximum Cells |
lipo 5 cells, Handles 1-24
cell NiCd/MH (1.2 - 28V) 1-5 cell Li-Ion or LiPo (3.6 or 3.7V cells) 6, 12,
24V Pb cell (2V per cell) |
| Maximum Charge rate |
7 amps |
| Minimum Charge rate |
100 ma |
| Charge Time cut off |
Adjustable |
| Discharge Rate |
1 - 3 amps |
| Discharge cut off |
3.2 volts per cell |
| Current Display |
50 ma to 7 amps |
| Cell
balancer |
None |
| Voltage Display |
Yes |
| Charge time Display |
Yes |
| Amp hour Display |
Yes |
| Supply Voltage |
11 to 15 volts |
| Supply
Current |
11 amps |
| Pros |
Wide range of battery types
and current adjust. |
| Cons |
Can be confusing with so
many features, No cell
matching |
| Price
as of 1/12/09 |
$130 |
Charger 6
Great
Planes PolyCharge4 DC 4 Output LiPo Charger
Search Google for this charger
| Cell Types |
Lithium
Polymer |
| Minimum Cells |
1 |
| Maximum Cells |
4 |
| Maximum Charge rate |
3000ma |
| Minimum Charge rate |
300ma |
| Charge Time cut off |
3 hour |
| Discharge Rate |
None |
| Discharge cut off |
N/A |
| Current Display |
NA |
| Cell
balancer |
None |
| Voltage Display |
No |
| Charge time Display |
No |
| Amp hour Display |
No |
| Supply Voltage |
12 to 15 volts |
| Supply
Current |
15 amp |
| Pros |
Very simple to use, charge
up to 4 packs at the same time |
| Cons |
No cell matching |
| Price
as of 1/12/09 |
$100 |
Charger 8
Hobbico Accu-Cycle Elite Battery Cycler
Search Google for this charger
| Cell Types |
NiCd/MH , LiPo, Li-Ion |
| Minimum Cells |
1 Lipo |
| Maximum Cells |
3 Lipo |
| Maximum Charge rate |
2000ma |
| Minimum Charge rate |
50ma |
| Charge Time cut off |
Auto |
| Discharge Rate |
50ma - 2000ma |
| Discharge cut off |
3.7 volt LiPo |
| Current Display |
Yes |
| Cell
balancer |
None |
| Voltage Display |
Yes |
| Charge time Display |
Yes |
| Amp hour Display |
Yes |
| Supply Voltage |
12 to 14.5 volts
AC Power Supply included (2 amp max) |
| Supply
Current |
| Pros |
Wide
range of battery types and current adjust. Can charge two packs at a time. |
| Cons |
No cell matching.
Can be confusing with so many
features, Max charge rate is 2 amps |
| Price
as of 1/12/09 |
$140 |
Charger 9
Imax
B5
Search Google for this charger
| Cell Types |
NiCd, NiMH, Lilo, Lipo, LiFe
and Pb |
| Minimum Cells |
1 |
| Maximum Cells |
lipo 6 cells, NiMH 15 cells,
lead acid 20v |
| Maximum Charge rate |
5 amps |
| Minimum Charge rate |
100 ma |
| Charge Time cut off |
Adjustable |
| Discharge Rate |
NA |
| Discharge cut off |
NA |
| Current Display |
50 ma to 5 amps |
| Cell
balancer |
2 - 5 cells Up to 5S(series)
Li-Po |
| Voltage Display |
Yes |
| Charge time Display |
Yes |
| Amp hour Display |
Yes |
| Supply Voltage |
11 to 16 volts |
| Supply
Current |
10 amps |
| Pros |
Wide range of battery types
and current adjust. |
| Cons |
Can be confusing with so
many features |
| Price as of 1/12/09 |
$50-$85 |
So now you ask what charger should I
get?
If you
want it simple and cheap I suggest the E-Flite 2-3S LiPo Balancing Charger (charger
4). It cost less than $30 and is as close to plug and play as you can get.
Just remember that you can only charge 2 and 3 cell LiPo packs at a max charge
rate of 3 amps.
If you
want all the bells and whistles I suggest the Loong-Max E6, (charger
2) this charger will charge just about any type of battery on earth and
displays the Pack Voltage, Charge Rate, Elapsed Time, Amount charged in mah, and
each cell voltage when cell matching LiPo packs.
For
Charging up a lot of Lipo packs at home I use the Great Planes PolyCharge4 DC 4
Output LiPo Charger (charger 6) on a 10 amp power
supply with the Cell Balancers seen below.
Cell Balancers
Shown below are some of the cell Balancers I use when charging Lipo packs with
the
Great Planes PolyCharge4 DC 4 Output LiPo Charger (charger
6). All the balancers shown can be used as the battery is being charged or
as a stand alone unit.
Balancer 1
ElectriFly Equlnox
Search Google for this Balancer
The Equinox LiPo
Cell Balancer offers two easy ways to equalize cells and maximize pack
performance. Connect it directly to a balanced pack, and it's a gentle
cell-by-cell discharger. It starts by bringing the voltages of all cells into
balance, and then monitors each cell until it's completely discharged. As a
result, the voltages of individual cells end up within just a few millivolts of
each other. Connect the Equinox between a balanced pack and a LiPo charger, and
it brings all cells into balance at the same voltage, before charging each cell
to its absolute, individual peak of power. Using the Equinox LiPo Cell Balancer
to discharge or charge is good. Doing both not only ensures maximum voltage from
the pack, but longer pack life, as well.
Easy, push-button operation
Automatically checks for "bad" cells
Charges at up to 3A (or 6A w/GPMM3163 [available separately])
Adapters for 7.4V and 11.1V packs included. (Adapters for 14.8V and 18.5V packs
available separately [GPMM3162])
8 status LEDs for easy monitoring
Includes gold-plated banana plugs
Compact: 3.2 x 1.6 x 0.6 in (82 x 40 x 15 mm)
Lightweight: 1.55 oz (44 g)
Overload-protected
Balancer 2
Astro-Flight Blinky
Search Google for this Balancer
The Blinky is
specially designed for Lithium Polymer Batteries.
The Blinky works with 2 to 6 cell Lithium Polymer Batteries.
The Blinky first detects all cells that are above 3.2 volts.
The Blinky then balances your pack while charging.
The Blinky can also balance your pack after being charged.
The Blinky will discharge any cell that is over 4.2 Volts.
Balancer 3
HeCell
1 to 6 cells
Balancer 4
MKS Propo 3 in
1 Battery Balancer LCD 2-6S
Search Google for this Balancer
Specifications:
- Product specification: (CE certificate & ROHS compliant) LxWxH : 93.5 X 60
X 17mm
- Measurable battery type and amount: Li-Polymer/Li-Fe 2 ~ 6
- Cell(standard voltage 7.4 V ~ 22.2 V using divided voltage joint).
- Receiver battery 1.2 V ~ 8.5V DC (Not limit battery type, but need external
power source 7.4~11.1V, use JST joint)
- Balance voltage setting range(lower limit):2.0V ~ 3.9V(pre-setting value 3.2V)
- Discharge voltage setting range (lower limit):3.0V~ 4.2V(pre-setting value
3.9V)
- Max. bleeding current : 450 mA (at 4.2V / cell)
- Weight: 70g w/o package
This Balancer is also nice to check to see if a pack is charged before using
in a plane.
Power Supplies
| Radio Shack Power Supply
22-506 Unit is a Radio Shack Brand 10 Ampere
13.8 Volt Power Supply, Catalog # 22-506. Unit has a binding post connection
on the front of the unit, and a automotive cigarette lighter socket outlet |
 |
|
Radio Shack Power Supply 22-510
Red/black
terminal post outputs
Provides
13.8VDC at up to 25 amps continuous |
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