What charger / power supply are you guys using for the TDR? [Archive]

okteister1

12-22-2010, 03:35 AM

Hi, looking to buy a decent charger and power supply for my (soon arriving) TDR. Which are the good chargers out there for charging 2 times 6s 5000 Mah lipos at 2C. Thanking you in advance and Happy Holidays to all.

Mercuriell

12-22-2010, 04:06 AM

jointer

12-22-2010, 04:34 AM

iCharger 3010B, i charge as 2x6S in parallel, without balancing (i found i do not need it).
Using 100Ah LiFeYPo4 for field charging (6-8 charges), so using about 550W from the charger, 22A charging current for parallel connected packs, charged in about 18 minutes.
It is simple enough and have logging, which you can download with LogView.
1kW power supply at home, max 16.2V/63A (Maas).
I want to buy later another iCharger, which will allow me to charge the packs separately and even faster (i have two 2x6S packs).
I have it for a while and would choose it again, mainly because it is very small charger, PL8 might be better (more power), but it is very big for me.

Heli G

12-22-2010, 05:53 AM

JUst received the Hyperion 1420i (http://www.hyperionaustralia.com.au/?stg=1103&view=1103)which has a single output but two separate balancers for either 2 6S packs in series (most of my charging) or a single 12S stick for TDR. It charges 12S at 2C (~8A) and seems very nicely made and ll the features you could use - needs a 26V PSU to get maximum perfromance.

This is the ONE. Just need a PS powerful enough for it!

4cyclic

12-22-2010, 06:50 AM

PL8 charger with a 24v ps can charge 2x 6s in paralell at 40 amps. That's about 15 minutes to charge a 12s 5000 pack . Nothing better on the market right now.

aussiemick

12-22-2010, 07:00 AM

Hyperion 1420i running off a 24V 30A Power Supply
and
Schulze next generation 10.36-12car running off a 15V 60A power supply.

The Schulze discharges much faster when using a car battery for cycling of new packs. the Hyperion has nearly twice the wattage.

I parallel charge most of my 12S stick packs 4 at a time on the hyperion. THe schulze gets one pack at a time (when it is not in Germany getting repaired as it is now for the second time).

Mick

g-bru

12-22-2010, 09:52 AM

JUst received the Hyperion 1420i (http://www.hyperionaustralia.com.au/?stg=1103&view=1103)which has a single output but two separate balancers for either 2 6S packs in series (most of my charging) or a single 12S stick for TDR. It charges 12S at 2C (~8A) and seems very nicely made and ll the features you could use - needs a 26V PSU to get maximum perfromance.

Another TDR owner using the 1420i with 15V 40A PSU, allows me to charge in series at just under 2C. :thumbup:
Like others here, a 24V PSU would be alot better of course!

G.

ZuvieleTeile

12-22-2010, 12:00 PM

I use a e-station 902 from Bantam.
It charges 12s sticks directly.
I use 2 PB6 balancers on my packs consisting of 2 6S 4000 mAh.
The balancers have a connection cable which allows for balancing between the packs.
A data cable from one balancer to the e-station lets you see the voltage of each cell.

KR
ZT

Vinger

12-22-2010, 09:52 PM

Fullonoob

12-22-2010, 09:59 PM

helicraze

12-23-2010, 02:40 AM

1420i rocks, 2.5C charge rate on 12S 4500MAH packs!

jointer

12-23-2010, 03:33 AM

How much power the 1420i will provide at 12V?
This is not in specs.
And how many battery packs you have?

Fullonoob

12-23-2010, 07:09 AM

My setup below is 24V @ 94A.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1373.snc4/164525_10150346623720112_550410111_16413976_798683 5_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs715.snc4/63559_10150346623745112_550410111_16413977_5934067 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs013.snc6/166372_10150346623815112_550410111_16413980_260747 9_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs002.snc6/165229_10150346623560112_550410111_16413972_983916 _n.jpg

jointer

12-23-2010, 07:28 AM

What supplies, HP/Dell server or Meanwell?

That might be nice, but i have no power lines at the fields where i fly, and at home, i do not need to charge the batteries fast.
If you do have electricity on your flying field, you are lucky.

helicraze

12-23-2010, 01:54 PM

How much power the 1420i will provide at 12V?
This is not in specs.
And how many battery packs you have?

Not 100% certain, but it would be reduced a lot. Maybe only 1.5C charge rate.

I have 9 12S packs, its too many, with 2 good chargers, no need for more than 4-6 lipos.

Vinger

12-23-2010, 02:16 PM

How much power the 1420i will provide at 12V?
This is not in specs.
And how many battery packs you have?
With 12V supply I could only get 3,5A of current into a 12S pack. You do need the 24-28v supply to get the full 2C max into a 12S 5000 pack. Forget about anything more than the rated 550W

jointer

12-23-2010, 03:42 PM

I have 2 packs and i am fine with about 550W from iCharger, one pack is flying, one charging, i now usually fly mostly alone at evenings, with small breaks between flights, to cool down both me and heli. :)
I can do 8-10 flights in about 2 hours, then the 100Ah battery is discharged.
I think for TDR 2011, i might get 3 pairs around 5000mAh, not sure which brand yet, XPS, Gens Ace maybe.
Or two pairs and another iCharger, will see what will be on market.

Johnda

12-23-2010, 04:53 PM

Jointer,

what's your power source at the field ?

jointer

12-23-2010, 05:07 PM

This:
http://www.i4wifi.cz/?cls=stoitem&stiid=1554
http://www.auto88.cz/_pdf/ts_2009/TS-LP12V100AH.pdf
- half weight of Pb battery (most important for me, 14kg)
- can deliver true capacity (so far maximum recharged 92Ah without reaching low voltage limit of 11V during 50A iCharger discharge at the field)
- can charge it fast, up to 50A (I am using that iCharger at 30A)
- holds higher voltage then Pb (good for squeezing bit more watts from charger).
Got it for about 400 Euro, you can get regular Pb much cheaper, but it will not last that long, will not deliver rated capacity and 100Ah Pb will be over 30kg (my friend have one like that).
There is one problem, these are not made any more, but they make yellow industrial ones 12V at 40/60/90Ah i think, which do not have integrated carry handles.
Could be also used as starting battery in car.

Johnda

12-24-2010, 04:32 AM

Thanks for the reply Jointer, That’s some seriously expensive battery, £500+. No one here in the UK stocks them of the Thunder sky ones, well not that I have found yet. What charger do you use to charge your power source?

jointer

12-24-2010, 04:42 AM

It is expensive (what is not when you have 90 class heli), but i need to move it for charging from car to 4th floor, so it is worth it for me.
I do not have a garage for the car, if i had one then i might have regular Pb and charge it in garage.
My friend with another TDR now have also one.
You mean what i use to charge that Thunder Sky?
It is in the previous post, that iCharger i use in the field, at 30A, charged back usually in 2-3 hours.

ZuvieleTeile

12-25-2010, 07:15 PM

Hyperion 1420i running off a 24V 30A Power Supply
and
Schulze next generation 10.36-12car running off a 15V 60A power supply.

Mick

Hey Mick,
hope you had a nice Christmas and everything is still flying. . .
(Remember, no heli flying while under the influence :))
Question to he 1420i.
Can you use this charger to charge a single 12s pack, or do you have to split it.
I read quickly through the ad of this charger, but I can't see the 12S charging possibility.

KR
ZT

aussiemick

12-25-2010, 07:43 PM

Up to 14S packs in series, the charger has only the one out put.

If you want to charge separate packs you will need a series adaptor.

Xmas was as ever a family thing with good food a fantastic wines from Dad's cellar

Mick

Vinger

12-25-2010, 10:00 PM

Hey Mick,
hope you had a nice Christmas and everything is still flying. . .
(Remember, no heli flying while under the influence :))
Question to he 1420i.
Can you use this charger to charge a single 12s pack, or do you have to split it.
I read quickly through the ad of this charger, but I can't see the 12S charging possibility.

KR
ZT
The 1420 can do any number of cells in series up to 14 cells. It can be networked to another 1420 to enable any number of cells in series up to 28 cells.It has two balance adapters for up to 7 cells, but only one output to the discharge leads of the pack.

With the correct parallel adapter board you can do two, up to 14S packs together in parallel. Not recommended as the current between such high voltage packs can damage the balancing circuit.

ZuvieleTeile

12-26-2010, 10:26 AM

Hyperion 1420 and a home build PSU consisting of two computer PSU's running in series giving me 24V and 1500W. Can charge up to 14S packs at 600W (12Amax, but only doing 2C to preserve cycles).

Also using the MegaPower Gemini 2014 Duo-Z to do parallel charging of packs up to 600W.

Hey Vinger,
how do you put 2 computer PSUs in series?
Not that I don't know what "in series" means, but how do you do it without damaging the circuits?
If you have a drawing or pic, you can also PM it to me, if you like.

KR
ZT