Orbit MicroLader Pro--I love it.

[Shannon Davis]

After killing another set of Batts- I switched from my Astro Flight 109's to the Orbit. 10 flights no more problems. I do not know that it was the chargers or not but I haven't swelled any more cells since I stopped using the 109's. I do believe that the batts were being slightly overcharged. They would come off of the charger at 21.2 volts sometimes. (5S=21v)

Anyway the orbit is great- I love it. Hopefully I just had a bad charger. :?

[WayneR]

Have 2 and love them also. its hard to convince others to spend the bucks though. So I keep my mouth shut.

[JettaTDI2001]

how much is the orbit and were can i get one

[WillJames]

I'm here as a first hand witness. Shannon went through 5 or more 109's before he got the Orbit. Now he just flys the Ion-X and enjoys it. I guess the old saying is true here... you get what you pay for. :)

[bob00]

My Obrit Pros have been flawless - the backlit display is nice too - simple, yet the guy who designed it seems to have thought of everything. A 5S pack measures 20.98v fresh off the charger and both packs are usually within 0.01v of each other.

No regrets.
- Rob

[skippy]

That’s why I spent the extra money on my charges. Don't want to toast a set of batteries.

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hi Skippy,

I see you are using one of our local company's for your power supply. Good choice. Martin Jew and the gang at MFJ make some fine products. (I am also a ham (WJ5K) and use several of his products in the ham shack)

Which charger is that you have?

[skippy]

Hotshot Charlie

Did a lot of research on power supplies and the MFJ was very clean compared to most others. Also this puppy can put out 45amps continuous. Not a ham guy my self just like the power supply.

[JettaTDI2001]

I hate to interupt, but where can I get one?????

Skippy, Are those fuses inline or what???

[Hotshot Charlie]

Here is a link to their website:

MFJ Enterprises in Starkville, MS.
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/index.php


Here is Skippy's supply:
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-4245MV

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hey Skippy,

Is that the Orbit charger you are using, or is that another brand?

[skippy]

Schulze isl 6-636+ Chargers. A bit pricey, but worth the money. About $459.00 each. Also a few nice features of the MFJ Power supply. It is 120/220vac and also has a cigarette lighter adapter (use to charge my cell phone).

[Hotshot Charlie]

Thanks, yes... that is pricey, but it apparently does a great job.

MFJ has some good products, I use a Astron 35amp supply in my ham shack and our ham club has two MFJ 35 amp regulated supplies that do a great job.

I can highly recommend the Astron and the MFJ supplies.

[Shannon Davis]

Mongo- right now the chargers are at ThunderPower. They wanted to check them out-- But if they come back as OK I will sell them. If not OK I will send them to AstroFlight for repair --then sell them. Unless TP want them for some reason.

[misskimo]

hey hot shot , did I meet you in tupelo ?? bought a cub there at the Hobby shop ? son tore it up aready , huh? need a zaggi for him , but anyway , you got a Ion yet ? in starville , huh? didnt know they had anything going on in that little town but women , collage , he he ,
Im from columbus but in Alaska now


Tony

Here is a link to their website:

MFJ Enterprises in Starkville, MS.
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/index.php


Here is Skippy's supply:
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-4245MV

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hi Tony,

Not sure if we met. I work partime for Hobbytown, just a few hours a week. Not there much. Yes, MFJ is a big amateur radio supplier. They have about 5 companies running out of Starkville. (Hygain antennas, Ameritron amplifiers, MFJ products and others) Martin Jue is a MS State grad that stayed there and started his company while he was still in school.

If you are ever home let me know and we will go flying.

BTW, :( No Ion yet... heheheee I was hoping to be the lucky winner of one... :cry: but wasn't so lucky. heheheee

[Flying Arrow]

Schulze isl 6-636+ Chargers. A bit pricey, but worth the money. About $459.00 each. Also a few nice features of the MFJ Power supply. It is 120/220vac and also has a cigarette lighter adapter (use to charge my cell phone).

Skippy,
what are those round things on your wire. I 'v seen thing like these on servo extentions but not charging wires. Would you explaine why you use them? and where do you get them from.
Regards

[Flying Arrow]

Schulze isl 6-636+ Chargers. A bit pricey, but worth the money. About $459.00 each. Also a few nice features of the MFJ Power supply. It is 120/220vac and also has a cigarette lighter adapter (use to charge my cell phone).

Skippy,
what are those round things on your wire. I 'v seen thing like these on servo extentions but not charging wires. Would you explaine why you use them? and where do you get them from.
Regards

[misskimo]

hey , thats ferrit rings , helps keep the freq. toned down

[buster1]

I just got my first ION and astron 109 with thunder tiger 8000's,
per this thread, it is safe/unsafe to assume I will have problems charging with Astro 109
Can you charge two batteries in tandem with the Orbit???

[AndreMan]

Hotshot Charlie

Did a lot of research on power supplies and the MFJ was very clean compared to most others. Also this puppy can put out 45amps continuous. Not a ham guy my self just like the power supply.

Hi,

Pardon my ignorance but there's a great deal to learn when getting into this hobby but I'm getting there slowly.

If I buy a Microlader Pro, it looks like it needs 30 A as a power source, so does that mean I have to buy one that supplies at least that?

What's the difference between this type of supply

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-4035MV

and the one you have

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-4245MV

Switching vs. Regulated - I don't know the difference.

Also, can I just plug a power supply that supplies that much current into a regular residential outlet? Don't they usually only supply 15 A.

I know these are basic questions but any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Andre

[Hotshot Charlie]

The first is a Regulated Power Supply, great supply. I just like regulated supplies better than the Switching supplies. The second link is a Switching Power Supply, it will do everything you need and it's a lot lighter in weight.

Basically a regulated supply has a crowbar circuit that will shut down and prevent any damage to your downline products, in case the power supply gets a short circuit, etc.

A switching supply is just that, uses a high speed switching circuit. It will also shut down incase of a problem, but it isn't as "fast" at doing so as the regulated supply. It produces a very nice "light weight" unit.

Please take my info as "very generic", and my preference to the regulated supply is basically when I have it hooked to a $1000 ham radio.

I wouldn't be afraid of using either one of these supplies. Both will do the job.... even a little overkill ! :wink:

[freddyferris]

the lipo mode ov the Schulze sucks, better use a realy good balancer otherwise your packs wont last as long as they schould, or wont hold their power as many cycles as they sould...

you can get the orbit's here: www.orbitronic.de

Are made in germany :) please dont forget taking the balancers with.. :)

Fred

[Laurens]

Orbit ROCKS. I love mine (Orbit pro, version 6.0, an old one).

[mhn]

Feddyferris, I wasn't aware that the Schulzes have a problem on Lipo mode.
Could you please explain more. Thx.

Michel-Henri