Need AC/DC Charger With More Than 50W / 5A on AC Power

[MailManX]

I have just over a year in this amazing hobby, so I’m not a total noob, but still scratching the surface…

I have a very nice iCharger 308 Duo with one of Feathermerchant’s 64a 12v power supplies. It is awesome, but it’s a bit bulky for hauling around. A few months ago, I gave my grandson a Thunder AC6 charger to use on the 2S and 3S batteries for his Stampede. It’s no powerhouse, but I really like it: Simple to use, easy to read and does the trick for the small batteries.

I’ve decided that I would like to supplement my large charger with the addition of an AC/DC charger. However, I want something slightly more robust than the Thunder AC6 with its 50W / 5A max output. 80-percent of my batteries are 2S. Most of the rest are 3S. I don’t have any that are larger than 6S. When I need to charge a lot quickly, I’ll use the iCharger. I just want the AC/DC charger for portability and availability.

I would like to spend $80 to $100 and get an output of 80W-90W and 6A-10A on AC power. Unfortunately, many of the available AC/DC chargers mix together their specifications and tell you what the max output is without making it clear what the max AC output is. A few do, but some that I’ve been very interested in do not. That’s where YOU come in – you smart fellers and such:

I actually really like the Hitec X1 MF with a “Max” of 80W / 10A. Unfortunately, it fails to mention if that MAX is on AC, so I have to assume it’s only on DC. It annoys me that they seem to intentionally hide the AC specification. I also like the slightly less powerful Traxxas EZ Peak Plus 80W / 6A charger. However, same problem there.

I REALLY love the 90W AC capability of the Hyperion EOS 0720i NET3, but that comes with a hefty price tag of $160.

Can you point me in the direction of an AC/DC charger that’s under $100 with more than 50W and 5A on wall power (documented)?

 

[GLwagon]

The cleanest easy inexpensive alternative is the Xbox power bricks, 12volt and 135 (11amp) or 175 watt (14.5amp)
They aren't a direct connect to our chargers, but if you have knowledge of chopping wires, checking polarity & re-connecting you'll be fine.
In over 20 years I've never seen a AC/DC all-in-one charger I like.

I went to Goodwill and bought a $4 laptop bag, stuffed a few old chargers & a power supply in there & grab it on the go.

 

[Col_Sanders]

Hitec's site shows 55W on A/C power.

X1 MF 80-Watt, Multi-Function, AC/DC Charger | HITEC RCD USA

 

[MailManX]

Hitec's site shows 55W on A/C power.

X1 MF 80-Watt, Multi-Function, AC/DC Charger | HITEC RCD USA

Thanks for that! With the premium cost of the Hitec for a paltry extra 5-watts, I like the AC6 better.

GLWagon's XBox power brick suggestion certainly sounds valid. A small, affordable single DC charger along with the power brick would be easy for me to travel with. I'll give that serious thought.

Even so, I'm the curious type and would still love to know if a single AC/DC charger exists for under $100 with an AC-powered charging output of 60W or greater.

FWIW - I originally started this charger search looking for a dual AC/DC powered charger with more than 50W per channel output. I found two that fit my spec requirements: The Dynamite Passport Ultra Duo 400 and the Hyperion EOS 0720i Super Duo3. However, both are over $250. In my opinion, that's not a good value. I could buy a couple of decent singles for less than that.

 

[Norton]

I run a Hitec X4 powerd by a Trak Power 12volt-25amp power supply. I charge four 6400mAh 3s at 5 amps each at the same time without any issues. Great setup, little pricey though.

 

[MailManX]

I run a Hitec X4 powerd by a Trak Power 12volt-25amp power supply. I charge four 6400mAh 3s at 5 amps each at the same time without any issues. Great setup, little pricey though.

Nice picture! Nice setup! It's somewhat similar in size to my main setup. I'm looking for something smaller and simpler as an alternate travel setup.

 

[MailManX]

I've always respected the quality of Thunder Power chargers, but even they hide the AC specs:

TP610C-ACDC 1-6 Cell LiPo AC/DC Charger w/Balancer | HorizonHobby

An owner of this charger on a different forum posted that he measured the output on AC power at 60-watts. Not worth it at $120. This is becoming like a snipe hunt to me now. I'm determined to find a contender, but thinking it's not likely.

 

[MailManX]

The cleanest easy inexpensive alternative is the Xbox power bricks, 12volt and 135 (11amp) or 175 watt (14.5amp)...

I was just looking on Ebay at these things and see that the Xbox brick even comes in a 220 watt (17.9 amp) variety. HOWEVER, I don't think it's actually a Microsoft OEM adapter. That means there's a good chance the specs are a bit trumped up.

GLWagon, do you have any experience with any of the non-OEM adapters?

 

[GLwagon]

I don't have any experience with the generic aftermarket ones, but buy whatever you're comfortable with.
Like any electronic device it won't last forever, but an OEM one will likely be built a bit better.

 

[Col_Sanders]

I'm just getting back into the hobby after a few year hiatus. I have been researching chargers in that price range every day for the past week until my eyes were crossed. I think the X1 MF had the highest output. It was the one that I almost bought but was able to snag an icharger 106b plus from Hobby King. I always have access to 12VDC and I can "grow" a little more with that one.

 

[MailManX]

I'm just getting back into the hobby after a few year hiatus. I have been researching chargers in that price range every day for the past week until my eyes were crossed. I think the X1 MF had the highest output. It was the one that I almost bought but was able to snag an icharger 106b plus from Hobby King. I always have access to 12VDC and I can "grow" a little more with that one.

It sure is mind boggling and eye crossing after a while! I owned a 206b a few years ago when I was into small electric helicopters. It was a great charger and I wish I'd never sold it. I'm still on my snipe hunt.

 

[fletch696]

I've never tried this one, but I think it might be up your ally the Gens Ace iMars II Gens Ace iMars II Portable Charger for NiMH, NiCd, LiPo, LiFe, and Pb batteries (Black)
Specifications:
Input Power: 11-18V DC/10Amp at Maximum Charge Rate
Memory Profile: 12 Memories for each battery type
Charge Current: 0.2A-10A
Charge Control Type LiPo/LiFe: CC/CV
Charge NiCd/NiMH: Constant current -V delta peak charge/discharge cycles
Discharge Rate: 200mA-1Amp
Discharge Capacity: 8 Watt (Max 1A)
Capacity Display: 200-9900mAH
Timeout Limit: 10-250 Minutes (User Selectable)
Display Tolerance: 0.5%
Display Type: Backlit 2x16 dot LCD
Charge Maximum Output: 100 Watt

you would need a wall adapter like this one http://www.amazon.com/12-Volt-Power-Supply-Standard/dp/B00B8TRF0A

 

[MailManX]

I've never tried this one, but I think it might be up your ally the Gens Ace iMars II Gens Ace iMars II Portable Charger for NiMH, NiCd, LiPo, LiFe, and Pb batteries (Black)

That's a sexy little critter. If it's half as good as all my Gens Ace batteries, then it's a great little charger, indeed. It's barely larger than a battery itself.

As usual, Hobbypartz is out of stock on half the stuff on their website - including that charger.

 

[fletch696]

If you get one let me know how it works. I hate hauling around my big charger.

 

[1rcmonster]

What about the iCharger 106B-plus. You can get it here;

Value Hobby R/C Hobby Store (Addison, Illinois): iCharger 106B-plus 250W LiPO Charger

for $85. Seems to fit what you are looking for.

 

[mahgninnuc1]

I've made several of these, and they work great. I made mine and then it seemed like everyone wanted one. They can be made from old junk power supplies that are no longer useable in a PC but are still capable of a clean 12v power source.

http://www.instructables.com/id/ATX-->-Lab-Bench-Power-Supply-Conversion/

 

[DRTMI]

This one will do 100w on AC.
IMAX RC x150 LiPo NiMH NiCd Life 150W AC DC Touch Screen Charger | eBay

 

[MailManX]

I've made several of these, and they work great. I made mine and then it seemed like everyone wanted one. They can be made from old junk power supplies that are no longer useable in a PC but are still capable of a clean 12v power source.

http://www.instructables.com/id/ATX-->-Lab-Bench-Power-Supply-Conversion/

Those are great! I had one for quite a while, then sold it and replaced it with a more powerful server power supply which I now use to power my icharger 308 duo.

For my current purposes, I'm looking for a smaller, lighter, less cluttered and less powerful charger that I can move around more easily. It will be in addition to my current charging system. I'm torn between a full AC/DC charger or a small DC-only charger (such as the excellent iCharger 106b-plus mentioned above) with a small power supply brick. This thread is helping me narrow that down.

 

[MailManX]

This one will do 100w on AC.
IMAX RC x150 LiPo NiMH NiCd Life 150W AC DC Touch Screen Charger | eBay

Interesting. Imax can be hit and miss on their chargers, but I like most of them. The X150 may already be out of production. I can't be certain. The ImaxRC website skips right from the X100 to the X200. The X200 has an amazing new 4.3" screen. It's beautiful, but it's more bling than I need for a secondary charger.

 

[MailManX]

If you get one let me know how it works. I hate hauling around my big charger.

I have now placed my order. Nothing will arrive for several days, but I thought I'd let you know that I decided to buy two different small systems for purpose of experimentation.

System 1
Turnigy Accucel 6 DC Only (Newer Version) with 80W and 6A capability.
Turnigy Accucel-6 80W 6A Balancer/Charger w/ Accessories (AR Warehouse)
This is a copy of the Junsi iCharger 106b+ but only a quarter of the price.

To power it, I went with the suggestion of GLWagon and ordered the 203W (14.5A) version of the 12V XBox power brick (genuine OEM). That was $20.

System 2
Hitec X1 MF AC/DC. It is not particularly powerful, but I like Hitec units and I like how the knob works for rotating quickly through the options. If I wish, I can always connect it to a DC power supply to bring out more power.