Notices
Batteries & Chargers Nicads, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium, LiPoly, Chargers, Cyclers, etc...

suggestions on chargers

Old 06-23-2016, 10:34 PM
  #1  
Ewadz3006
Member
Thread Starter
 
Ewadz3006's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Near Erie
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default suggestions on chargers

Was just wondering what everyone is running charger-wise.

I'm looking for suggestions on a good charger maybe around 100$. more if its great but less if its great as well.

I've been out of rc'ing for a while, just wondering whats decent. Ihave nicads and nimh's now but am looking to take the leap on lipo's quick.would like a good charger, maybe one that charges 2 packs. I am not into racing but do mess around with buddies fairly serious.


thanks in advance..
Old 06-23-2016, 11:57 PM
  #2  
Rob2160
Senior Member
 
Rob2160's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 4,786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Ewadz3006
Was just wondering what everyone is running charger-wise.

I'm looking for suggestions on a good charger maybe around 100$. more if its great but less if its great as well.

I've been out of rc'ing for a while, just wondering whats decent. Ihave nicads and nimh's now but am looking to take the leap on lipo's quick.would like a good charger, maybe one that charges 2 packs. I am not into racing but do mess around with buddies fairly serious.


thanks in advance..
Plenty of great choices here in that price range.

What size batteries do you plan to use?

I have tried a few different chargers but my current favourites are the Reaktors - 250 Watt and 300 Watt versions.

This video is almost two years old and the charger is still going strong - (I have four in total now)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV3ujUzZims It also has a renerative discharge mode which is useful for discharging large capacity batteries fast.

You need a seperate power supply as the charger is DC input only but most of the good ones are the same.

Last edited by Rob2160; 06-24-2016 at 12:19 AM.
Old 06-24-2016, 04:38 AM
  #3  
Ewadz3006
Member
Thread Starter
 
Ewadz3006's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Near Erie
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Rob2160
Plenty of great choices here in that price range.

What size batteries do you plan to use?
.
I want to get a 1/8 scale buggy in the next few months. I'll probly get at least a 4s, miliamp I'm not sure. I'll have to check into prices. I wont get cheap batteries, but im not going to buy the latest and greatest either.

Right now I just have some cheap 3000ma nimh's. I just got back into the hobby and got some cheap packs to see if the cars I bought (at a auction) are in working order. I could get some better packs but I want to take the leap into lipos. Instead of buying good nimh's I'd rather start investing in lipos. But I want to get a charger first that will work for both.

A guy at a local hobby shop was showing me a onyx charger. Its a little cheaper BUt he said its a decent charger and he had one there charging a battery.
Old 06-24-2016, 05:18 AM
  #4  
RustyUs
 
RustyUs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 4,893
Received 40 Likes on 38 Posts
Default

You have to ask yourself if you want a separate power supply or not for your charging needs.
Old 06-24-2016, 09:20 AM
  #5  
Ewadz3006
Member
Thread Starter
 
Ewadz3006's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Near Erie
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I'm not against having a separate power supply. I'd rather not just for convenience, and added cost. I was looking at the turnigy's They have a reaktor 300w with a built in power supply.
Old 06-25-2016, 06:18 AM
  #6  
EXT2Rob
My Feedback: (1)
 
EXT2Rob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Placerville, CA
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

My buddy and I both got one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/UP120AC-12Amp...attery+charger
Built-in power supply does 120 Watts at up to 12 Amps PER PORT. Charge two batteries at a time. $100 at Amazon. Small footprint.
Old 06-25-2016, 06:50 AM
  #7  
EXT2Rob
My Feedback: (1)
 
EXT2Rob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Placerville, CA
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

If you're looking for Lipos, I strongly suggest you look here http://www.genstattu.com/
Excellent quality, reasonable prices. I've got Gens Ace packs that are 5 years old and still taking 4800mah.
Old 06-25-2016, 07:20 AM
  #8  
RustyUs
 
RustyUs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 4,893
Received 40 Likes on 38 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Ewadz3006
...A guy at a local hobby shop was showing me a onyx charger. Its a little cheaper BUt he said its a decent charger and he had one there charging a battery.
Duratrax has great chargers. It's just that some of the models are old, and missing some key features that should have been built into them when using LiPo batteries.

Last edited by RustyUs; 06-25-2016 at 09:19 AM.
Old 06-25-2016, 07:26 AM
  #9  
RustyUs
 
RustyUs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 4,893
Received 40 Likes on 38 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by EXT2Rob
My buddy and I both got one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/UP120AC-12Amp...attery+charger
Built-in power supply does 120 Watts at up to 12 Amps PER PORT. Charge two batteries at a time. $100 at Amazon. Small footprint.
+1 on this one. It's been on my wishlist for when my knock-off chargers give up. There are sooo many re-branded chargers at on the market, I can't keep up with who is the original maker of them.

Do you want to see what a name does for a sticker price?...stay tuned.

Last edited by RustyUs; 06-25-2016 at 07:31 AM.
Old 06-25-2016, 07:50 AM
  #10  
RustyUs
 
RustyUs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 4,893
Received 40 Likes on 38 Posts
Default

I know a member on here who won't like this....
$24.50

$49.99

Now I'm not suggesting these chargers for the OP. I'm just showing the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to re-branding in the RC hobby. I'm not picking on Venom, but they do have a lot of products that are made for them, and just slap their name on it. It's just the way it is in the manufacturing world. Everyone does it. I could be here all day showing examples of what changing the name on an item does to the price. I know, I do too much web surfing, but I'm the type of person who tries to get the most "bang for the buck".

Next up: One of the most beloved, and trusted brand names I have used in RC does it again.
Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	turnigy.JPG
Views:	85
Size:	40.9 KB
ID:	2169627   Click image for larger version

Name:	sneaky venom.JPG
Views:	67
Size:	44.5 KB
ID:	2169628  

Last edited by RustyUs; 06-25-2016 at 09:40 AM. Reason: added info
Old 06-25-2016, 08:17 AM
  #11  
RustyUs
 
RustyUs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 4,893
Received 40 Likes on 38 Posts
Default

EXT2Rob, this one is for you . I've been holding out on showing you this for quite some time now. So, without further ado Rob...
$100.40

$174.99

If it's good enough for Associated/Reedy, it's good enough for me .
Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	Ultra Power.JPG
Views:	78
Size:	46.5 KB
ID:	2169629   Click image for larger version

Name:	Reedy.JPG
Views:	73
Size:	72.9 KB
ID:	2169630  

Last edited by RustyUs; 06-25-2016 at 09:32 AM.
Old 06-25-2016, 09:50 AM
  #12  
EXT2Rob
My Feedback: (1)
 
EXT2Rob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Placerville, CA
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Sweeeet. I do love me a good deal. 😀
Old 06-26-2016, 04:49 AM
  #13  
Ewadz3006
Member
Thread Starter
 
Ewadz3006's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Near Erie
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

good info rustyus. this is exactly why i started this thread. I didn't even think of the markup factor.

Unfortunately this is what the world has come to. the quick buck. I'm also into car audio and its the same way. The inside of two amplifiers are nearly identical while one costs twice as much.
Old 06-26-2016, 09:02 AM
  #14  
RustyUs
 
RustyUs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 4,893
Received 40 Likes on 38 Posts
Default

I wouldn't be afraid to show up at a track with one of those chargers that Ext2Rob suggested. They IMO have great specs for a dual AC/DC charger. That's what I like. I don't like having to worry about separate power supplies.

I've been keeping up with EXT2Rob and his use of the charger. Those types of buttons are my only concern; not on any one particular charger...just in general. Many electronics use them. I've had $500 guitar effects processors' buttons fail me in a short amount of time, and my lowest of the lowest priced budget chargers, with those types of buttons, have been holding up to 6 years of use so far (knock on wood ).
Old 10-06-2016, 07:50 AM
  #15  
Ewadz3006
Member
Thread Starter
 
Ewadz3006's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Near Erie
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

ended up getting a deal on a venom 160w duo. So far so good. fairly easy to use.
Old 10-06-2016, 05:28 PM
  #16  
EXT2Rob
My Feedback: (1)
 
EXT2Rob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Placerville, CA
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I've had several different chargers with those blister buttons, no problems with any of them. Even my oldest off-brand 5 Amp charger I don't use anymore, just cuz the fan's gotten too noisy, the buttons still work fine. I've read that if those buttons are going to fail, they tend to do it within the warranty period! Between me an my buddy and four different chargers, all with blister buttons, none have had failures.

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.