Lipo charger and batteries

[Brainstain]

So, I'm starting to grasp the whole Lipo concept. But, I don't know exactly what to look for and avoid. I don't quite get the 1-2-3-4 S thing. I can't wrap my head around that. Anyhoo, any chargers and batteries that are better than others? I've looked around the Hobbytown in my area but with 3 batteries and 2 chargers it's not easy to figure out.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

S stands for series. 2s is 2 cells in series. 4s is 4. P stands for parallel. A 3s2p pack is a 3 cell pack, but two of them in parallel for twice the runtime. 2P packs generally fall out of balance sooner.


There are a few brands that are very solid, and many cheaper cells out there. First you should pick a budget and see what you can find. A charger with power supply and balancer is around $150, and most lipos for a crawler will be $35 and up each. Hyperion, PolyRC, thunder power, Kokam, Elite, all good cell brands.

 

[Rockcrawler]

This will explain some of it. For the rest of it, just go back to the main page and look around. These guys also have some of the best chargers and batteries. "thumbsup" They are also very helpful when you need it. ;-)

http://www.nitrokillers.com/showthread.php?t=390

 

[Brainstain]

So, a balancer within the charger will fix any unbalance every time I charge?

 

[Rockcrawler]

So, a balancer within the charger will fix any unbalance every time I charge?

Yes, they balance as they charge.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

It will help keep packs in balance and make them last longer. Some brands are pretty well matched and don't need it much, but it is still a good idea. I still have a thunder power from over 4 years ago that is going strong without balancing taps.

 

[fatbastard]

It's easy, 1 li-po cell is 3.7 volts. Like 1 sub-c cell or 1 2/3 a cell is 1.2 volts. the "s" refers to series. when you wire 2 batteries in series the voltage doubles and the mah rating stays the same. When you wire them in parallel the voltage stays the same and the mah doubles. So when you have a li-po battery that has a 2s 1320 mah rating it is 2 1320 mah cells wired in series to make 7.4 volts. the 2 refers to the number of cells and the s tells you that they are wired in series. If you had a 2p 1320 mah pack it would be 2 760 mah cells wired in parallel only giving you 3.7 volts. You also want to look for the c rating of your cells. This tells you how many amps your cells can provide safely. You want a battery with at least a 20c rating. This same 1320 mah 1320 mah pack with a 20c rating will provide 26 amps. A 5000 mah pack with a 20 c rating will provide 200 amps. I run Thunder power packs and I like them a lot, but you should try to buy the packs, charger, and balancer at the same time from someone that knows they will work together (like Holmes Hobbies) I did not and I ended up having to buy 2 different balancers for my two different kinds of packs, plus an adaptor. Don't cheap out on the charger, it can last many many times longer than your batteries so get one that has a lot of features so you don't have to upgrade it if your taste in batteries changes. I hope this confuses you further Just kidding

 

[fatbastard]

Holy sh!t I type slow:lol:

 

[Rockcrawler]

Holy sh!t I type slow:lol:

:lol: Copy, paste.

 

[Brainstain]

Ooooh, well this helps. I don't cheap out on important r/c stuff. So, what do you guys suggest I get as far as a charger?

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

Hyperion chargers are very nice. I use the 0606i, 0610i, and dual 0610i daily. The 0606i is really easy to use and has a built in power supply.

 

[fatbastard]

I have seen lots of folks recommend the hyperion chargers that jrh sells. I don't have one , so I don't know. I do know that he does not sell junk. In my opinion a built in balancer is the way to go. I also like ac/dc, but that can jack up the price. I know that there have been threads on those before.

 

[fatbastard]

Okay, I'm takin' my slow typin' ass to bed.

 

[Karadjas]

Maybe get some math skills while you're at it

a 2p 1320mah pack is 2 660mah packs in parallel, not 760. And a 5000mah pack with a 20c rating will be enough for 5x20=100amps, not 200.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Ooooh, well this helps. I don't cheap out on important r/c stuff. So, what do you guys suggest I get as far as a charger?

Hyperion EOS 0606i AC/DC. Best charger I've ever used in 20+ years of R/C.

 

[Rocksmith Eng.]

Hyperion EOS 0606i AC/DC. Best charger I've ever used in 20+ years of R/C.

X2
And since it charges lead acid batteries, it works great for charging my mortorcycle batteries. Built in balancer, ac/dc and charges anything. You just cant beat this charger, period "thumbsup"

 

[JAM MaxAmps.com]

Ooooh, well this helps. I don't cheap out on important r/c stuff. So, what do you guys suggest I get as far as a charger?

As everyone has said the Hyperion EOS0606i AC/DC balance charger is a great unit. The nice part is that while balancing and charging you eliminate the chance of any one cell from overcharging. It's a great added safety bonus. If your in search of crawler packs check our list out here: http://www.maxamps.com/products.php?cat=82 and the chargers can be seen here: http://www.maxamps.com/products.php?cat=33 . If you have any questions feel free to ask and don't forget to sign up as a member for discounts and specials.

Jason

 

[kurt]

Hyperion EOS 0606i AC/DC. Best charger I've ever used in 20+ years of R/C.

SWEET!! i just ordered one a few days ago. looked like a great unit

 

[Brainstain]

Wow! For $150 the 0606i is the way to go! I like that it can charge up to 14 cells too.

 

[tbizzle]

How about the cellpro 4s. I use this for my airplanes, boat and my crawler. The only downside is it doesnt have a power supply. I bought a laptop power supply for 20 bucks, works good.