Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Is there such a thing as a fully automatic charger that has a built-in AC power supply, is strong, safe and reliable, that will both charge and discharge LIPO's at the best rate for each battery without me having to tell it what to do?

I am not hardcore RC and don't care to fiddle with a charger. I need to be able to EASILY charger 2s and 3s LIPO batteries. I just want to "set and forget".

If such a charger exists, can it also be connected to a paraboard for multiple battery charging without interfering with the "automated" features?

Finally, if such a thing does not exist with AC capability, then does it exist for DC?

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I have never seen such an animal. If there is one I can bet it's going to be costly. All the ones I've seen or own you will need to tell it how many cells and what (dis)charge current.

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I use this it's ac/dc and can charge up to 4 batteries at a time, it's very easy to use, but you have to tell it what to do. :mrgreen:

Hitec RCD X4 AC+ 4 Channel AC/DC Charger

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Maybe I could get my wife to tell it what to do. She's had plenty of practice on me!

But seriously, I don't mind having to tell the charger how many cells each battery has. If I can't do that, I shouldn't be in this hobby. I was thinking more along the lines of "Fool Proof" charging and discharging. That is, if I hook up a battery (or batteries) when I go to bed, the charger stops at the appropriate voltage. I suspect that most can do that. What I was even more interested in is this:

Are there any chargers that can tell if the connected battery is capable of higher than 1C charging and adjust itself to that automatically?

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I just browsed the classifieds here and see that MustangBoy is selling a HiTec x4 charger with 40amp power source for $160 shipped. Granted, it's not an AC charger, but he has a computer power supply already modded for use with it.

It appears to be an older version of the HiTec X4, but it gets good reviews. I don't know how "automatic" it is based on my wishes described above. Any feedback on this rig and the price?<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I have the newer Hitek X4 plus ac/dc charger. It is automatic after you set the battery type, mah, and number of cells. I'm not sure what you mean by automatic. When the battery has charged 2 hours or has sent the number of mah stated or charged each cell to its desired voltage it will sound an alarm and stop charging

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I'm running the same Hitec charger as Rowdy and am very happy with it.

One piece of advice, NEVER leave a LiPo unattended when charging.
I would NEVER go to sleep while one is charging.

I was in my basement working on a truck and charging my Thunder Power 5300mah 2S pack.. It is a 65C pack that I was charging at 1c, so 5.3 amps...
I heard a pop and looked over to see the hard case of the battery splitting open and one of the cells swelling.
I shut off the charger and pulled the battery. I grabbed it with a pair of pliers, and ran upstairs.
I had a 5-gallon bucket of with a water and salt mixture in the garage (was disposing of some old LiPo batteries earlier that week)..
I dropped the battery in and took the bucket outside...
Some time during the night the cell swelled even more, burst open, and burned the hard case and other cell, which caused that cell to open and fail...

If I would have been right there to see the battery swell, I would have definately had a fire.
Even in a LiPo sack, batteries should always be monitored when charging or dis-charging.

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I recently have been shown the light when it comes to chargers. Check out the revolectrix cell pro power lab 6, a little on the $$$ side, and needs a power supply but you really can't mess up using this charger . Even if you don't decide on getting this, just read the specs on it, very nice charger .

Cheers,
Wade

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Amazing story! Thanks for sharing! I will re-think unattended LiPo charging.

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Lipo's are nothing to f__k with!! You need to be more involved with any process while it's hooked up to a charger...not set it and forget it.

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I have a Duratrax Onyx 150 charger. I think it's about as 'automatic' as they get for LiPos. All I need to set is the current. Choices are 1.5, 3, or 5 amps. Alarms when it's fully charged. No LCD screen, just a multi-color LED to give you some data. ie, it blinks green 3 times when charging a 3S LiPo.

I hate it.

I can't wait to pick up a replacement. I don't like not knowing exactly what's going on with the pack or each cell. Would not recommend.

Do yourself a favor and take the 45 minutes worth of reading to really understand LiPos. You don't have to be an electrical engineer to know what's up, but please have a basic knowledge of Lipos and LiPo chargers.

If you're not interested in understanding them, LiPos might not be for you. LiPos might seem complicated, but they aren't that hard really. ;-)

$0.02 from someone very new to this hobby...

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I've been reading all afternoon. You're right, it's not that complicated. Pretty basic concept and math. As for wanting AC, it was for simplicity and small size. However, I'm already starting to get the bug for more power. Dang, it's a sickness! This hobby is going to cost me a fortune

Onyx 235 w LCD screen. Love it so far. Not a high dollar charger but does a great job. They are very popular w the plane guys I fly with so I went with one.


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Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

I have one made by Tenergy that is fully auto. Plug the battery into the correct port depending on the cell count and away it goes. A LED turns green when it's charged. It charges at 1 amp so it's pretty slow but it's been working great for over a year.


http://cdalejef.smugmug.com/Hobbies/...er-378x220.jpg

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Being that you now realize that this hobby will cost a fortune, I would recommend taking a close look at this charger. I recently "showed the light on chargers" to Wade as well (hopefully he bought one) You will not find a more accurate and safe charger to use...and chances are you won't outgrow it. Revolectrix

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Haven't bought it yet Johnny but that is the one I will be getting. Most likely by the end of February I will have a shiny new charger

Cheers
Wade

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Not to worry, you can take the shine off if you want to. A few stickers here, some paint or wallpaper there, maybe a combo of all three, and the shiny is all gone! Johnnysplits can attest to that. Check out his power supply in the picture from the link below:

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/elect...ml#post4619344

Re: Fully Automatic AC Lipo Charger?
 

Better than looking at sheet metal "thumbsup" Wallpaper :lmao: that red stuff is a decal of carbon fiber...$7 on ebay and still have a few feet of it left.