RCCrawler Forums

losikid · 08-18-2011, 02:36 PM

Anyone charge their lipo's in their car? Through the DC outlets?

Can the outlets handle a few amps of current?

CarterFab · 08-18-2011, 02:42 PM

I run a small inverter in mine and do it all the time. Don't know if that helps.

Solitude · 08-18-2011, 03:27 PM

Yea you can our whole group does it

AreCee · 08-18-2011, 04:45 PM

I use a 10amp car power tap with bullet outputs I got from Radio Shack. Works great, a lot easier than big alligator clips on the 12v battery and ground under the hood.

Manning · 08-18-2011, 04:57 PM

Done it for years. I use one of these to have a handy connection.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3875401

If you have a truck with a 7 pin trailer connector, one of the pins is full time power. I've made an extension cord so I can set up on the tailgate. Very handy.

Oh yeah, if the outlet is for cigarette lighters, then the outlet is usually limited to 8 amps. If it is called a "power outlet", they can usually do 20 amps, IIRC.

losikid · 08-18-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manning

Done it for years. I use one of these to have a handy connection.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3875401

If you have a truck with a 7 pin trailer connector, one of the pins is full time power. I've made an extension cord so I can set up on the tailgate. Very handy.

Oh yeah, if the outlet is for cigarette lighters, then the outlet is usually limited to 8 amps. If it is called a "power outlet", they can usually do 20 amps, IIRC.

No, i just have alittle 1990 toy with a 4 pin connector...but good idea. Most of my crawling is done in my back yard (40 acres with plenty of rocks).

8 amps is plenty

for a single charger...the plug i have only has a 3 amp fuse. I'll probably put a higher amp fuse in it, but i need to tear it apart and inspect the circuitry alittle bit more before i do that.

Charlie-III · 08-20-2011, 12:49 PM

I either use an inverter in the car or direct from the battery to charger.

I also carry a 12VDC/7AH gell cell in my carry case (big box that carries a 2.2, 1.9, parts, tools, etc) for "in the field" charging.

outkast7222 · 08-20-2011, 05:45 PM

I have a deep cycle battery in the back of the pickup I run my charger off from. Not that I am worried about fires or dead batteries, its just always back there for the trolling motor on the boat. I have on occasion used an adapter that I made with banana clips and a cigarette lighter plug but found I have to keep the charge rate down or it pops the fuse. (Small fuse, underrated plug and was only used in wife's car.)

I am sure someone will or could do the math but I can go weeks charging off that deep cycle battery and when I throw the charger on its usually still above 11.8 or 12.0 volts.

JeremyH · 08-21-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by losikid

Anyone charge their lipo's in their car? Through the DC outlets?

Can the outlets handle a few amps of current?

I charge mine like that all of the time in my 4Runner and have done it in several rental cars and never had an issue. I bought an adapter (with an included on/off switch) from RatShack and installed some banana plugs on it and on my charger.

Just make sure to use an adapter that is NOT also a transformer. Most cell phones charge at 3.5V (they use 1 cell batteries) so the adapter includes a step down transformer and will not work.

boulder · 08-21-2011, 03:02 PM

Yep, do it all the time.

I have a 2000W power inverter that I installed in my van. I run a power supply that I converted from an old computer power with 5V and 12V banana jacks, is supplies 36A, so I have plenty.

My charger is an ICharger 3010B that I bought for use with my airplanes and I have no issues running this and another charger at the same time.

I do run my van while I'm running the charger with an extension cord...don't have my additional batteries installed yet.

Stregone · 08-21-2011, 03:12 PM

I do it every weekend when I race. Well, I don't use the outlet. Got a small table setup right in front of my car with my charger on it. Pop the hood and use my jumper cables to hook the charger to the battery.

08-18-2011, 02:36 PM	#1
losikid Got Worms? Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 6,116	Charging LiPo's in Vehichle Anyone charge their lipo's in their car? Through the DC outlets? Can the outlets handle a few amps of current?

08-18-2011, 02:42 PM	#2
CarterFab Metal shaper Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hog Eye, Texas Posts: 3,519	I run a small inverter in mine and do it all the time. Don't know if that helps.

08-18-2011, 03:27 PM	#3
Solitude Pebble Pounder Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Longview Posts: 122	Yea you can our whole group does it

08-18-2011, 04:45 PM	#4
AreCee RCC Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chicago/Bloomington Posts: 1,505	I use a 10amp car power tap with bullet outputs I got from Radio Shack. Works great, a lot easier than big alligator clips on the 12v battery and ground under the hood.

08-18-2011, 04:57 PM	#5
Manning RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lowell, Arkansas Posts: 1,307	Done it for years. I use one of these to have a handy connection. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3875401 If you have a truck with a 7 pin trailer connector, one of the pins is full time power. I've made an extension cord so I can set up on the tailgate. Very handy. Oh yeah, if the outlet is for cigarette lighters, then the outlet is usually limited to 8 amps. If it is called a "power outlet", they can usually do 20 amps, IIRC.

08-20-2011, 12:49 PM	#7
Charlie-III I wanna be Dave Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 07456 N. NJ USofA Posts: 8,314	I either use an inverter in the car or direct from the battery to charger. I also carry a 12VDC/7AH gell cell in my carry case (big box that carries a 2.2, 1.9, parts, tools, etc) for "in the field" charging.

08-20-2011, 05:45 PM	#8
outkast7222 Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Elk River, MN Posts: 58	I have a deep cycle battery in the back of the pickup I run my charger off from. Not that I am worried about fires or dead batteries, its just always back there for the trolling motor on the boat. I have on occasion used an adapter that I made with banana clips and a cigarette lighter plug but found I have to keep the charge rate down or it pops the fuse. (Small fuse, underrated plug and was only used in wife's car.) I am sure someone will or could do the math but I can go weeks charging off that deep cycle battery and when I throw the charger on its usually still above 11.8 or 12.0 volts.

08-21-2011, 03:02 PM	#10
boulder Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leon Valley, TX Posts: 93	Yep, do it all the time. I have a 2000W power inverter that I installed in my van. I run a power supply that I converted from an old computer power with 5V and 12V banana jacks, is supplies 36A, so I have plenty. My charger is an ICharger 3010B that I bought for use with my airplanes and I have no issues running this and another charger at the same time. I do run my van while I'm running the charger with an extension cord...don't have my additional batteries installed yet.

08-21-2011, 03:12 PM	#11
Stregone Pebble Pounder Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 128	I do it every weekend when I race. Well, I don't use the outlet. Got a small table setup right in front of my car with my charger on it. Pop the hood and use my jumper cables to hook the charger to the battery.

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