Most versatile charger

[windbender]

Would any one know , which brand of LiPo charger might be concidered the most supported for charging different brands of batteries? In other words, which charger has the most adapters for the balancing connectors for different battery manufacturers . thanks in advance for your help

[WillJames]

Thunder Power 1010 with 210V Balancer.

[xircom]

I think the Hyperion LBA10 has also many, most even available to order

[RC Accessory]

The Hyperion only supports their own connectors at the moment which is the Polyquest. The Hyperion, Polyquest, E-tec, and Max Amps all use the same balance tap.

Thunderpower has only taps for their batteries. Apex also uses the Thunderpower tap and I hear that some EVO packs have the Thunderpower tap.

The Bantam e-Station PB-5 and PB-6 support all the major brands.

Polyquest, Hyperion, E-Tec, Max Amps
ThunderPower, Apex
Kokam (not FMA Cell Pro)
Align, Dualsky, 3e Models
Plus they have an open ended harness so you can make your own.

The PB-5 and PB-6 come with which ever harness you need and you can also buy other harnesses as well.

Go www.bantam301.20m.com for more information or email me back at Evan-Chapkis@rcaccessory.com

[WillJames]

http://www.bantam301.20m.com/902.htm

This looks very much like a re-branded version of the 1010 that can do 12s. (little different firmware)

Personallly I would stick witht he mainstream 1010/210V.

[windbender]

Thank you all for taking the time to answer.

RcA:
As I understand it, balancing connections on the battery are basically one configuration off of the battery, so, is it that they use different pinout to the connector, and they use different types of connectors for the balancing plug? I would think that the charging algorithms are based on the type of chemistries( Nicad, niMH, LiPo) so the difference may only be the wiring. It's dificult to find such information; i guess an approach of simply trying an idea to see if it works is not encouraged with this type of unknown.

[RC Accessory]

http://www.bantam301.20m.com/902.htm

This looks very much like a re-branded version of the 1010 that can do 12s. (little different firmware)

Personallly I would stick witht he mainstream 1010/210V.

Not at all. Bantam is the manufacturer, TP is not. Bantam makes chargers for Kokam, K&S, and has made TP chargers in the past.

The PB-6 has more in common with the LBA10 than the TP balancer.

[windbender]

http://www.bantam301.20m.com/902.htm

This looks very much like a re-branded version of the 1010 that can do 12s. (little different firmware)

Personallly I would stick witht he mainstream 1010/210V.


Hi Will,
From what you are saying , it really the balancer that matters, so what I'm looking for is the most versatile balancer. Is this correct?

[RC Accessory]

Thank you all for taking the time to answer.

RcA:
As I understand it, balancing connections on the battery are basically one configuration off of the battery, so, is it that they use different pinout to the connector, and they use different types of connectors for the balancing plug?.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. The balance connector is wired so there is a common pos and common neg, then each wire connects to the individual cells. The wiring harness from the balance tap to the balancer makes the pinout order compatible with the balancer. Each balancer more than likely pins out their differently.


I would think that the charging algorithms are based on the type of chemistries( Nicad, niMH, LiPo) so the difference may only be the wiring. It's dificult to find such information; i guess an approach of simply trying an idea to see if it works is not encouraged with this type of unknown.

The only cells that usually are balanced are Lithiums. No reason you cannot balance nicad and nimh, but you would have to add the balance tap.

[RC Accessory]

Hi Will,
From what you are saying , it really the balancer that matters, so what I'm looking for is the most versatile balancer. Is this correct?

Balancers for the most part do the same function. The variants for example, is the # of cells that it can balance, the various types of support wiring harnesses for various lipoly brands, and any other special fucntionality.

Here are some differences:

Astro Blinky. Plain old pcb board, just has pins to connect to bal tap. Up to you to make your own wiring. Low discharge rate, accuracy has been questioned.

Hyperion LBA10. Power from charger runs through balancer. Can link 2 together for 12S balancing. No support for anything else but Polyquest/Hyperion cells. 300 mah discharge rate, .10mV accuracy.

e-Station Pb-5. Charger connects to battery and battery to balancer. Accuracy less than 10mV, 500 mah discharge. Cell voltage displays on e-Station 501DX, 701, and 902 chargers. Can self balance without charger. Supports premade factory wiring for Tp, Polyquest, Align, Kokam, ect

e-Station Pb-6. Charger connects to battery and battery to balancer. Accuracy less than 10mV, 500 mah discharge. Cell voltage displays on e-Station 501DX, 701, and 902 chargers. Can self balance without charger. Up to 6S packs. 2 can be strung together for 12S balancing. Supports premade factory wiring for Tp, Polyquest, Align, Kokam, ect

Hope that helps.

[windbender]

Thank you all for taking the time to answer.

RcA:
As I understand it, balancing connections on the battery are basically one configuration off of the battery, so, is it that they use different pinout to the connector, and they use different types of connectors for the balancing plug?.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. The balance connector is wired so there is a common pos and common neg, then each wire connects to the individual cells. The wiring harness from the balance tap to the balancer makes the pinout order compatible with the balancer. Each balancer more than likely pins out their differently.


I would think that the charging algorithms are based on the type of chemistries( Nicad, niMH, LiPo) so the difference may only be the wiring. It's dificult to find such information; i guess an approach of simply trying an idea to see if it works is not encouraged with this type of unknown.

The only cells that usually are balanced are Lithiums. No reason you cannot balance nicad and nimh, but you would have to add the balance tap.

RcA:
Yes you understood correctly. thanks The PB-5 looks promising, especially the open ended balancing connector .
WB

[robl]

For the bantam chargers. If you use the TP adapter board, what amount of amps can flow through that board? can you do 10amps?

[RC Accessory]

Good question. The wiring is heavier than what I have seen Hyperion using what they call their "Heavy Duty" wire.

The PB-5 and PB-6, only discharge the packs @ 500 mah, no current is actually flowing into the battery through the balancer.

On the BC-5, power does flow through the balance port, up to 5 Amps. The old PB-5 V1 which the power did flow through the balancer was good up to 5 amps.

The BC-8 splits the power between the main power leads and the balance port. Bantam rates the boards for the BC-8 at the 7 amps for which the charger is capable of.

[robl]

I thought the Bc8 charges at 8amps? Also, if you hook the pb-6 up to a charger, then it could flow like 10 amps through it. So will it hold up or will the circuit board fry?

[RC Accessory]

I thought the Bc8 charges at 8amps? Also, if you hook the pb-6 up to a charger, then it could flow like 10 amps through it. So will it hold up or will the circuit board fry?

The BC-8 charges at 7 amps, and has a built in 8 cell balancer. You would not use an external balancer with it.

The PB-6 only connects to the balance tap on the battery, it does not connect to the charger that way. Charging is done via the batteries main power leads.

[Pinecone]

The other thin is, there are various people making various adapter harnesses, so you can pretty much match any battery with any balancer.