Author Topic: Type of charger (Read 3786 times)

machine · « **on:** November 29, 2006, 01:43:38 PM »

Phil,

Which charger were you using during the aberdeen race? I've been asked a few times. You were able to charge 2 sets of batteries at once right?

RC51 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2006, 08:00:36 PM »

Hi, Craig. Here is the charger that I used. If you hook batteries up in series, you can actually charge 4 packs at a time since it allows for 8 cells per pack. It does NiMh, NiCd and LiPo, too, up to 2 amps. It's a great charger and cheap, too. I have found, however, that I tend to blow fuses (7.5) if I use a cheap battery tray. Bye for now.

Phil

Grinder · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2006, 09:30:09 PM »

I use a battery holder to charge 8 AAA and AA batteries with my ICE charger. You can get a battery holder from you local electronics store or Radio Shack, etc. There are a lot of chargers that will allow you to charge multiple cells. Most will charge 8 cells but some like Jody's favorite the Triton will charge up to 24 cells at once. Just run all the cells in series set the delta peak detect at around 2 or 3 mV per cell and to a suitable charge current and you are good to go.

RC51 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2006, 11:26:43 PM »

This is what most of the MiniZ drivers have been doing, Kurk, although all cells first need to be equally discharged for it to work properly and all cells need to be of the same capacity (learned the hard way - I've toasted at least 4 cells and they were screaming hot!). With this scale of racing being so sensitive the punch difference is quite noticable. As such, charging two packs separately is what these folks are after. The charger is excellent to work with all things considered.

Phil

Grinder · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2006, 05:01:29 PM »

True - assuming you have all the same brand cells discharged equally there is no difference in charging 4 cells from chargin 8 cells or more. The current through the series cells are identical no matter what. If you are concerned that one will peak before another then you should charge each cell individually.

It is a good little charger for the price and if you are charging different packs that would be the way to go. Just pointing out that you don't need two seperate charge circuits and the charger he may have already may do the trick for him already.

RC51 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2006, 05:06:51 PM »

Hey, Kurk.

I see. The challenge most folks face is that the races are quite close together for each heat. With a means of charging two packs, you can charge one and peak the other. Most guys at Aberdeen were also running two or more classes so the charger were working overtime and knowing which pack was at a particular state (this one is charging from complete discharge, this one is peaked, that one was a re-charge after an 8-minute heat etc) allows a little more control I think. I sure know that I was happy to have mine with me! Running touring and F1 with 4 heats in a 5 hour period kept it busy for sure.

See you at the track.
Phil

machine · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2006, 12:57:46 PM »

thanks for the information Phil. I'm going to get 3 units for the shop for people to use. One less thing to clutter up our pit space.