KenC Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 What is the most usable charger for all your IC powered ( LiPo varieties not needed ) flying needs RX, NiMH and possibly Pb 12v Does it have to look like a weapon from Star Wars Perhaps even include a discharger, or is that old fashioned for modern batteries ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 Don’t assume, cos you fly IC you are not going to use LiPo batteries. I use reliable switches that fail on, and regulate volts to the receiver. Powered by LiPo. I use high voltage servos, the ic powered plane then uses a 2 cell LiPo to power all the electronics. So I use common or garden 4 button chargers, HobbyKing in my case, than can charge and discharge, ( still a needed function) anything. You don’t need a spaceship type. A 50 watt jobbie will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 As Don says, get an all out one, if possible alimented on both 12v and 220v. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 I'd get a multi-chemistry charger, capable of balance charging, charging, discharging, storage. I've also found that I have a growing number of batteries in my ic planes: 1 battery pack - simple sport planes 2 packs - petrol and fixed u/c; petrol and electric u/c; sport planes with on board glow 3 packs - petrol with mechanical retracting u/c. Long way of saying I make use of a charger with multiple outputs, and multiple chemistries ('cos I use NiMh, LiPo and LiFe), otherwise it takes a while as I usually take at least 2 ic planes to the field, plus some leccy's. Personally, I never charge at the field so only have a mains charger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 IMAX B6 AC-DC Lipo Balance Charger. This covers the majority of charging requirements. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 (edited) I use a couple of things for IC. A cheap 4 button IMAX B6 copy/clone, used to charge the lipo on my starter, and the other lipo on my fuel pump / glow driver. A home made trickle charger* which can trickle charge 5x 4.8V packs in one go. The charger that came with my TX. If I'm in a hurry to get an RX pack charged, I can use the B6 to get one pack done quickly. I mostly use the B6 to charge my small electric flight packs as well. SkyRC make the real thing (IMAX B6) Any club will have a bunch of members who have a very similar unit to the B6 - which means if you get stuck with it, its easy to find local help. Or, most folks on here will have one. That said, they are easy to use. * nothing more than a resistor picked to get 80mA when everything is connected and charging. Edited March 7, 2023 by Nigel R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 I forgot I also need to charge my starter (LiPo) and glow sticks...... or gel cell if I use my power panel..... B6's are decent chargers, I have a couple, which have worked flawlessly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 Thanks for the replies, sadly some of the comments re LiPo and reliable switches are out of my experience range. In the good old days ( old git ) I used to have a SB Services box that you set number of cells , voltage , amps and then pressed one button and walked away. It discharged and then charged to the perfect levels . Will the Imax mentioned do that and charge 12v ? I thought it was a DC only unit, or do they supply wall adaptor for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 Just checked this out and they do a SkyRc IMAX B6AC V2 Professional that has both AC and DC input , but it is £50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outrunner Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 26 minutes ago, KenC said: Just checked this out and they do a SkyRc IMAX B6AC V2 Professional that has both AC and DC input , but it is £50 That will be £50 well spent. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 1 hour ago, KenC said: Thanks for the replies, sadly some of the comments re LiPo and reliable switches are out of my experience range. In the good old days ( old git ) I used to have a SB Services box that you set number of cells , voltage , amps and then pressed one button and walked away. It discharged and then charged to the perfect levels . All the smart chargers will do this and give you a reading of how much they've taken out and put back in, very useful for checking the usable capacity of you batteries, plus you can see the voltage dip of the batteries under load. Most of the mains powered chargers will also accept a 12v (or higher input), I've hooked a 16.8v lipo to mine and used it to charge our mower battery at the field after the winter lay off. It also has a 12v output for running some hobby power tools and a USB power socket which is great for charging my handwarmer, Tx, workshop bluetooth speaker etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 1 hour ago, Frank Skilbeck said: USB power socket which is great for charging my handwarmer, Tx, workshop bluetooth speaker etc. Oh this is getting like carp fishing now , you will soon have your TV with movies between flights. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 https://www.droneauthority.co.uk/products/imax-b6-charger?currency=GBP&variant=39359407685704&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=17378604620&utm_content=&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAiA3pugBhAwEiwAWFzwdTC0_HBSYUNB5j7xSWR8t3um-zn5OCVClIs-weAK-ro6KL6KbgaePhoCjfoQAvD_BwE They say if it looks too good to be true.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Wills 2 Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 My Dad has that charger, seems to do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 Re my last post and the rather inexpensive version....watch this YouTube vid from 10 minutes onwards... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 I have a fake. It's been OK. However. I bought one without the built in AC supply. I use a branded laptop supply brick. The built in supplies are rather poor quality in my experience - cost had to be cut somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 Me too. One fake, one original, neither with built in power supply. Both have worked fine, and are pretty consistent in direct comparison.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 (edited) The other problem with fakes is they tend to be quite optimistically rated. You might find, for instance, it'll work forever and a day at half its rated maximum current, and only once or twice at its full rated current. Two key expensive components in chargers are the power supply module and the output FETs, both obvious targets for a copyist to cheap out on. YMMV. Other ways to cheap out on... the SkyRC charger has a built in cooling fan. Copycat efforts often do not. Which one will last the longest..? (I should add, I hot glued a CPU fan to my copycat charger - crude, but effective) Edited March 8, 2023 by Nigel R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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