my new charger

[aballen]

I have only 1 helicopter a t-rex 450(ok i have a bunch of micros too), I will definately be buying a trex 500 when it comes out.

The top 1010 looks nice, but the best price I can find is $165 + $100 for the balancer. and then I will only be able to charge 1 additional battery.

For even less, I can get 2 cellpro4s from fmadirect with adapters. even if the 500 is 4s, I wold still be good with this one, and I will be able to charge 2 additional packs, rather than one/

I don't think I'll be moving up to a t-rex 600 for some time, my flying skill is just not there yet, and when I finally get good enough to be comfortable flying a 600, I can just get another charger, i figure thats some time out.

Is there really a reason for someone in my situation to buy a top end charger like the TP1010?

[b_vanfossen]

When I first started I bought a cellpro 4s. 2 months later I got a trex 600. I wasn't in the market but it was so cheap I couldn't pass it up. So I had to buy the 1010. Everyone told me to buy the better stuff first and I thought I new better and didn't buy it because of cost. But they were right & I ended up needing to buy the better stuff anyhow because circumstances change.

One good thing about the 4s charger and the 1010 is if you travel. The cellpro 4s is smaller and better for traveling.

I think that is really cheap for a 1010 ($165!)

just my opinion

Brian

[kamtsa]

I was in a similar situation few months ago, eventually I went with two Cellpro 4S, and do not regret it.

The Cellpros are small, very simple to operate (no need to connect balancer, charger/balancer link, etc), and are very safe (they charge through the balancing connector and KNOW for sure how many cells they charge).

I leave mine set to 1C charge rate (you can set in in A and in C units) and I switch between my Trex 450's 3S 2100mh and my fixed pitch's 2S 800ma cells without having to change any setting.

As for the cost of switching to 600. Considering the overall cost of switching from 450 and 600 (e.g. need a new set of more expensive batteries) and considering that I can recover some of the Cellpro cost by selling it used, I decided to buy a charger that is optimized to my *current* needs.

My 2C.

Kam

[csell]

Hello

Is there really a reason for someone in my situation to buy a top end charger like the TP1010?

I think no. I have a T-rex 600 and charge my batteries in 15 minutes. All the top chargers are to small to do it.

If you want to bay a charger you can use in the future, you can not look into what people use for their T-rex 600s today, but must consider wich kind of chargers and battery packs will be avaiable for the T-Rex 600 class heli in a couple of year.

To better understand my answer, se how I got a new ESC, motor and 2 pcs 12 cells a123 batteries for
my T-Rex 600 for around 500$ in post #137 here:

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=39527&page=14

To se pictures on how I glued two battery packs gogether to get a pack for my T-Rex 600 se post #140

And on the next page in post #141 you can se how I charge one of my two 12s a123 packs
in 15 minutes while flying on the other.

Regards Carsten

[aballen]

thanks guys, I'm thinking my next heli will be a 500, not a 600, I'm going to give it a few weeks to get more news on the 500, but ill probably be flying 3s2p on that. If I ever do go to a 600, it will likely be a123 and a balancepro hd, or maybe even something that can push 20 amps, and I think that is going to be a long time out... I'm just not that good, and I can't see wrecking a 600, when I can wreck my smaller helis for so much less.

yeah $165, is a good price fot the tp 1010, but then tack on a $100 balancer, and its $265. Personally I like charge balancers. If a pack goes a little out of balance on me, I would rather top it off for the extra flight time, then discharge the remaining cells before I fly.

so it look like I'll be grabbing 2 cellpros, with adapters, cheaper than the 1010, giving me 3 charges for the field.. no that should increase my flight time!