ill send you a message
lol, a fair way away by perth standards.. too far for the beam of my throwiest torch to reach... But the BLF is great.
I wonder if anyone else uses these hobby chargers, and how they use them.
I have many LiIon chargers and often use them, but I do also use hobby chargers. I have two of these:
Where I can charge two cells in parallel.
For special size cells I have made made a clamp into a battery holder:
I always uses the hobby chargers to charge odd size batteries and when I want to charge fast, for regular charging I sometimes use the hobby charger, sometimes one of the other LiIon charges and if I need to charge many batteries I can have more than 6 chargers running.
I often use hobby charges to get a check on my LiIon cells, how much capacity they have left or when I want to discharge a cell.
i like that clamp HKJ very handy and thats a luminous battery holder you linked me before, i still cant make up my mind for a flat pack or compack 6s battery holder for balancing.
im sure you would know but with the ichargers you can check the internal resistance of your batteries, it also will show resistance in charge leads, but the best part is checking the internal resistance of the batteries you can see them go down hill over time and how the batteries are charged affects the internal resistance.
ive seen some of my lipo,s go down hill fast with parrallel charging due to voltage diffrence, they dont like voltage diffrence, they can handle huge discharge rates but not charge rates.
another bonus with the icharge as im sure you know you can check an alter the calibration if needed, upgrade the firmware online and do logveiw to see how the batteries perform and adjust the sensitivity for charging nimh witch i find is good, they are cheap i dont know why more dont have them.
i spoke to my old man last night, i gave him a jetbeam bc40 and a couple of trustfire flames batteries as a gift with a single charge cradle i made, he told me it takes to long to charge one by one, so i will give hime my 2s balance charge lead and ill make another and ill make a 4s blance charge lead for myself as well.
ill have to get him a decent charger his imax b6 over charges and sets off the over voltage protection, hes had it for 5 or so years, the imax b6 ive played with normaly under charge and dont do nimh well, i can see him ending up with my 106b+ as i need some thing with more amperage for rc.
i have not seen DasFriek on for a bit i wounder how his set up is going ?
Where do you get the plugs that go into the balance ports (on the Turnigy Accucell 6 in my case). I have even tried ebay, and while I can get made up cables for various battery packs, it does not look like I can find the plugs themselves easily.
I bought a JST-EH adaptor board with the Turnigy. That looks useful - so I guess I would be looking for EH type plugs. Or I could buy a whole pack of JST-XH plugs for the 6S port on the Turnigy, and only wire up each plug for the config I want?
I want to have a setup for 2S, 3S and 4S. I cannot imagine using any more than that. Currently (until I get this wiring issue worked out), I am simply using magnets and charging in series.
Sure - but the Turnigy Accucell 6 is currently only $22. Delivered to my door for around $32. That is less than HALF of the price of the iCharger. I have only had my Turnigy for a few hours, but so far it seems just fine for charging torch batteries. I don’t think I would use one if I was a serious R/C hobbyist, but as an alternative to AA, AAA and 18650 chargers, it seems like a good bet.
I think if I was a serious R/C nut, I would look at something like the Hyperions, myself.
the Turnigy Accucell 6 is currently only $22 for a reason mate.
any way ive found it easier to get jst-xh extention leads and just cut off the female plug, the jst-xh are the most common.
since your in australia
2s
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160589062439&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
3s
4s
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160580876761&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
5s i think these will be way to short for 5 x 18650,s in series like ive been doing.
6s i think these will be way to short for 6 x 18650,s in series like ive been doing.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320700477513&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
silicone wire
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320661932596&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
4mm bullet connectors to plug into the main charge ports, with heat shrink
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160580835674&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
rare earth magnets if you want to keep using them and need more
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300558237544&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
heat shirnk for the balacne wires you can use 2 or 3mm found on ebay for about $1.80 a meter like this stuff
red
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350341140012&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
black
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350409535922&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
these are all from aussie sellers i belive, but if you want longer jst-xh balance wire extentions ive been getting a few of these from 30 to 45 cm,s i rather be looking at the extra lenght then looking for it i rather have to much then not enough, but its from the usa post time is around 2 weeks.
or if you want to go even cheaper again but have a few week wait for shipping these guys are good.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/index.rc
i hope this helps
Thanks for the links. Am looking at getting a few of them as we speak. The short leads don't bother me - I can simply solder on more lead if required.
no worries im happy to help and im not sponsored by ebay lolls just i can not get this stuff localy, also more joins adds more resistance, but thats being anal it should not be a problem till you hit 5s and 6s balancing like the set ups ive done but there is many ways to do it, i also ment jst-xh is the most common not jst-hx a typo there i have edited it, have fun.
my old man pinched my 2s balance charge lead for his torch so i had to make another, i used shorter 22 awg 20 cm 2s balance extention lead and cut of the female end and used 18 awg main charge leads as the bigger stuff is not needed for these low charge rates and the usual male 4mm bullet connectors to plug in to the charger, lucky i had 3 magnets left over from my other leads i made.
i brought a 2 x 18650 and a 6 x compact 18650 battery holder from here to make up some better balance charging set ups.
http://www.luminousdiy.com/Light%20Kits%20and%20Parts.htm#holders
looks like they will only be sold to the 1/10/11 ?
here is a link for cheap 18650 battery holders
it might only be good for usa customers as shipping to australia for one battery holder is $30 usd....
I have got my battery holders from www.luminousdiy.com its a pity Chris is no longer going to be selling them
2 x 18650 and a compact 6 x 18650 (3 top 3 bottom)
I'm going to make these into balance charging box,s
2S balance revision 0
ill neaten it up a bit but so far i like it better then the magnets.
3 different brands, 3 different battery voltages and 3 diffrent mAh ratings
4 different brands and 6 different battery voltages 4 diffrent mAh ratings
the best thread on this topic on the inet, thanks!!
( and i have given up on hobby chargers. i dont feel ready for them hehe. lemme continue to watch my powerex )
What will be best balanced Charger? to charge all types of cells ranging from Lead Acid,Nicd,Nimh,Lion,Lipo etc,& still is cheap reliable & has a good lifetime
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6792 (Is this Genuine ?)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__5548__IMAX_B6_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_GENUINE_.html
If u have other suggestion then or experience with these charger then plz share,
Is it safe to purchase from Hobby King ?
I have an IMAX B6AC and find it great!
the only thing I do not like is the low discharge current (1A only)
I bought it from hobbyking, so good .. is genuine!
Icharger certainly is better but costs twice..
the only thing I do not like is the low discharge current (1A only)
I bought it from hobbyking, so good .. is genuine!
Icharger certainly is better but costs twice..
ah .. I forgot ..
if the balance function is essential for you .. do not get an IMAX B6.. it is not accurate in balancing
I got the Turnigy Accucell 6. How is balancing function on that?