preparing to take the plunge, charger comparison needed

[WayneBrown]

Everyone I know is using Shultze or the TP1010 chargers, I'm looking for something a bit more versatile as I still have other technology batts than LiPo and Li-Ions, and really don't want to have to tote multiple chargers.
I've been looking at the e station bc8 and 902 and would appreciate feedback on them as well as other chargers.
12S lipo charging at once is a big draw, being able to update software is another, so it appears to be a toss up.
Opinions?
Ease of operation of different chargers?
Connectivity to peripherals, ie: balancers, temp probes, etc.?

[WayneBrown]

ttt

[PaulH]

I have been thinking about the eStation BC5 or BC6 myself, just because they have the built-in balancer. It's one less thing to carry around. The BC5 is cheap enough that I could buy two and have more than one pack charging at a time.

You might consider buying two BC8 chargers instead of the 902 since you'd still have to buy balancers for the 902. Of course if you generally charge a single 12S pack instead of two 6S packs, this doesn't do you any good. :)

[Lammy1000]

I use the poly charge 4 f/electric flight and it may be the best $100 i've spent since falling in love with electric flight. This charger can charge 4 lipos concurrently. Unless you are flying bigger helis/planes this charger saves so much time you end up charging at<1C enabling packs to last longer.

[mudbogger2]

Orbit Microlader pro. Charges 12s lipos, nicad nimh. Very easy to use. Upgradable by prom chip. I have 2 and they work great. Little pricey but worth it IMO.

[RC Accessory]

Hi Wayne,

The BC-8 is a great all in one charger. It is my personal favorite. The BC-8 is 150 watts, 7 amp output, 8 cell limitation.

The 902 is 200 watts, 9.9 amps, 12S cell limitation.

One of the options is to do parallel charging. You can connect 2 6S packs and charge in parallel and still balance using 2 external balancers on the 902. The 902 has the power to handle large packs this way.

For smaller packs, the BC-5 and BC-6 are excellent chargers. Both are limited to 50 watts. While the BC-6 can do a 6S pack, but with the limitation of 50 watts, it would not charge quickly.

The advantage of the BC-6 over the BC-5 is that the BC-6 has the same programing of the BC-8 as well as built in AC. The BC-5 cannot do the A123 (Li-Fe) and cannot cycle.

All the e-Station chargers have safety features including auto cut off on time, capacity as well as temperature. Also they all have very nice adjustable LCD displays that can be seen in any light and at any angle.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Evan

[Trooper Sam]

Quoted from the Bishop Power Products website:

http://b-p-p.com/prodimages/1210_big.jpg

The EOS 1210i is an extremely powerful (180W, 10A max), versatile, easy-to-use charger with special features for speed charging lithium packs up to 12S! 2C rates are possible - in addition to Terminal Capacity Selection - allowing you to charge and fly lithium polymer packs* in as little as 27 minutes. NiCd and NiMH packs of up to 30 cells, and lead-acid batteries to 12V are also supported. Output Charge Cord/Connector set included

Monitor the individual cell voltages on the LCD screen of EOS1210i while you balance your lithium packs with LBA 10. Network two LBA 10 together and you can charge two packs of same cell type and capacity (such as 6S and 6S) at the same time, and every cell in both packs will be balanced to the other when charging is done, for packs from 7S to 12S!
All combos come with necessary Dataport and Network Cables
Input Voltage: 12-15V DC
Battery Types, # of cells: 1-30 Nickel-Cadmium cells (1.2-36.0V NiCd)
1-30 Nickel-Metal Hydride cells (1.2-36.0V NiMH)
1-12 Lithium-lon or Lithium-Polymer cells (3.7v-44.4V Li-lon/Li-Po)
Charge current: 0.1-10.0A (2C max for Li-lon/Poly)
Fast charge termination: Peak detection for NiCd and NiMH "constant current / constant voltage" for Li-lon / Li-Po optional thermal cutoff for all battery types
Discharge current: 0.1-5.0A adjustable
Cycle delay: 1-30 minutes adjustable
Battery memories: 10
Display type: 2 line, 16-character LCD with Blue Backlight
LCD monitoring of individual Li-poly cell voltage with optional LBA10 balancer
Output connectors: banana jacks ( adapter leads included)
Built-in Thermostat-Controlled Cooling Fan

[RC Accessory]

Wayne, if you are going to the SMS show in Perry a couple of weeks, please find me in the main building, Row B tables 1-4. I will have all the e-Station chargers on display.

[shails]

Hi Wayne,

The BC-8 is a great all in one charger. It is my personal favorite. The BC-8 is 150 watts, 7 amp output, 8 cell limitation.

The 902 is 200 watts, 9.9 amps, 12S cell limitation.

One of the options is to do parallel charging. You can connect 2 6S packs and charge in parallel and still balance using 2 external balancers on the 902. The 902 has the power to handle large packs this way.

For smaller packs, the BC-5 and BC-6 are excellent chargers. Both are limited to 50 watts. While the BC-6 can do a 6S pack, but with the limitation of 50 watts, it would not charge quickly.

The advantage of the BC-6 over the BC-5 is that the BC-6 has the same programing of the BC-8 as well as built in AC. The BC-5 cannot do the A123 (Li-Fe) and cannot cycle.

All the e-Station chargers have safety features including auto cut off on time, capacity as well as temperature. Also they all have very nice adjustable LCD displays that can be seen in any light and at any angle.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Evan

Evan I am planing to buy a multi facility charger like the BC-6 or the BC-8. I was on RC accessory website where i was supposed to select the option of Balance wiring. I am using 3cell (11.1V) FP battery pack. Now as i am new to electric I am unable to understand what option to select.

I am contemplating between BC-6, BC-8 and EOS1210i

Please help.

Shail

[RC Accessory]

Evan I am planing to buy a multi facility charger like the BC-6 or the BC-8. I was on RC accessory website where i was supposed to select the option of Balance wiring. I am using 3cell (11.1V) FP battery pack. Now as i am new to electric I am unable to understand what option to select.

I am contemplating between BC-6, BC-8 and EOS1210i

Please help.

Shail

FlightPower is also Thunderpower, they have the same taps unless it is an older Flightpower.

Main differences with the BC-6 and BC-8 is power output, and how many cells it can charge.

BC-6:
50 watts charge / 5 watts discharge
6S capable 5 amp max charge
up to 6S balancer built in
AC and DC powered
optional software / cable
optional temp probe

BC-8
150 watts charge / 25 watts discharge
8S capabale 7 amp max charge
up to 8S balancer built in
DC powered
Includes software / cable
optional temp probe

[shails]

I was on the Rc Accessory website and was looking at ordering BC-6 charger. I also needed a new battery pack for my heli.

I have come across the word LiFe batteries. I want to understand what is the difference between LiPo and LiFe and its advantage

I am using a 3S LiPo, can I substitute with an 4 cell 13.2V, 2300mah pack without needing to change the ESC or BEC?

If i order BC-6 with Thunder power/Apex wiring harness and 13.2V LiFe battery pack, will I have to select Thunder power balance tap to go with the LiFe?

Shail

[PaulH]

LiFe are the A123 batteries developed at MIT and introduced by DeWalt's latest cordless power tools. They have a lower operating voltage than LiPo and LiIon cells, hence the need for an extra cell in your packs. They are also considerably heavier than LiPo cells. I would not use them in a Trex (HDX) 450 if you intend to do any 3D flying.

The main advantages they have is that they can be discharged at very high rates without damaging the cells, and with an appropriate charger, like the BC-8, can be recharged at up to 4C with no ill side effects. The cells are encased in metal, not plastic, which makes them very durable. There is little or no danger of them "puffing" or exploding and burning your house down. LiPo packs are known to be rather volatile.

If you fly electric airplanes or larger (600-size) electric helicopters, the LiFe batteries may be just what you're looking for because of their durability, fast cycle time, and low price. But on a small 400-size electric helicopter, the weight is more than likely the deciding factor.

That being said, your BEC and your ESC should be fine going from a 3s LiPo to a 4s LiFe as long as you are using a separate switching BEC. The BEC that is built-in to most ESCs is not designed to handle more than 11 volts input.

[RC Accessory]

Hi Shail,

The Li-Fe are the new A123Systems (www.a123systems.com) lithium cells. You can search HF for A123 and find a lot of information.

The A123's are 2300 mah cells. They are 3.6V per cell compared to 4.2V per cell for Li-poly at full charge. The A123's settle down to 3.3V per cell quickly.

The 4S A123 would be the replacement for a 3S Li-Poly.

Advantages: The A123's are much safer. They don't explode, catch fire, ect... They handle very much like a nicad and can handle being over charged and over discharged. Life cycles will suffer but the pack will not be ruined. Do either to a li-poly and the pack is ruined.

The A123 cells have a very high "C" rating. Some say 70C, some say it a bit less, but in any case they are much higher than Li-poly's.

Disadvantges: Special charger should be used, size, capacity.

Read the posts about the A123's and you'll find what people are doing for the ESC. All depends on the ESC.

[shails]

Thanks for you input, however I still need to know what wiring connector to go for the A123, would it be TP or BC-8?

Can you supply 2 by 2 stick pack as i plan to put it on a HDX450 and the frame would not allow 2 on top of 2 pack as shown on the website

Shail

[RC Accessory]

Thanks for you input, however I still need to know what wiring connector to go for the A123, would it be TP or BC-8?

Can you supply 2 by 2 stick pack as i plan to put it on a HDX450 and the frame would not allow 2 on top of 2 pack as shown on the website

Shail

For the tap, that is up to you. If you go with the TP tap, you would need to buy the EAC139 wiring board. If you have the BC-8 tap installed, then it would plug right into the BC-8, no adapter needed.

We can do the A123 4S in flat 4 side by side or in the square brick. You need it to long?

Evan

[shails]

I would need a flat configuration. Sorry it is shown on you website, I did not notice it earlier. Just to know what would be the width and lenght of the finished pack.

I plan to get a BC-6. Would the connector be same on a BC-6?

Shail

[RC Accessory]

4 3/16" x 2 3/4" wide

The width could vary depending on the wiring as the wiring lays on the top of the cells under the shrink wrap.

Evan

[WayneBrown]

Evan at RC Accessory shipped out my new 902 and balancers, two afternoons later, the charger and stuff was at the house. I've still not looked at it as I'm in Nebraska.. I can't wait!

[RC Accessory]

I would need a flat configuration. Sorry it is shown on you website, I did not notice it earlier. Just to know what would be the width and lenght of the finished pack.

I plan to get a BC-6. Would the connector be same on a BC-6?

Shail

The BC-6 connector is the same connector, but 1 pin less, so it is a tad smaller in size (width). The BC-6 connector is also the same as the BC-5, PB-5, and PB-6.

Attached is a picture of the finshed A123 4S pack. The balance tap is the for the BC-6 charger. Leads are 6" long, 12 AWG or 14 AWG.

[shauntot]

Sorry to butt in here, but I'm also in the market for a 6s capable charger due to my new trex 600e.

I'm looking at a bc6 and a hyperion 1210i, here in Singapore, the price for both is almost the same, but the main difference (cost wise) is the bc6 has a built-in balance but for the hyperion, you'd have to buy the lba-10 balancer separately to balance a 6s pack.

Features-wise, they hyperion will outdo the bc6 by a lot, but I'm quite satisfied with the features a bc6 can offer, especially the AC power option.

Only drawback is though, I've been seeing some posts that the bc6 can only charge max of 5a at 50w.

Now for a flightpower 25c 4900mah for a trex600, since I never charge my lipos at 1c anyway (only 75% - so for this pack it's at 3.6 amps only) - looking at the bc6 features, it can take charge the pack with no problems I assume?

[HPSOV2]

Nope, the BC6 isn't up to what you want really. If it is 50W, you're looking at 2A max for a 6S packs.
Go the 1210i+LBA10 from Sky Hobby.
Jet Hobby have the TP1010c but its a bit pricey compared to the 1210i.
Where in Singapore stocks the E-Station chargers? The BC8 or 902+PB6 will do you as well.

[RC Accessory]

The BC-6 and Hyperion 1210i should not be compared. The BC-6 has more features, but much less power. Compare the 1210i to the e-Station BC-8.

The BC-6 should be compared to the Hyperion 5 series.

[shauntot]

hpsov - yes, i'm looking at the 1210 and lba10 from sky as well. im not considering the tp1010, it's just too much for me. rcehobby.com over here carries the complete line (i think) of e-station chargers.

the bc8 sounds nice, but just 2 expensive. so i guess its the 1210 for me..