Batam eStation BC-6 Charger/Balancer Questions?

[TheBillMan]

I’m currently in the process of looking for a new Charger/Balancer for my Align TREX 450SE-V2 bird. I’m currently using Align’s New Li-ion Battery Balance Charger model# RCC-3CX which takes about two and one half hours to charge a complete full pack. This seems to take forever!!! The packs that I have are made by ProTek and Align (3S 11.1v 2100mAh). My question is that I’m looking at the Bantam eStation BC-6 Charger/Balancer and I want to know how long it will take to fully charge a S3 pack with the setting on the charger set to “FAST” mode? Also, I would like to know if anybody has successfully charged/balanced two S3 packs at once on this unit and if so, what type of cabling setup would I need to purchase in-order to accomplish this task?

Thank you kindly in advance for any helpful information that you can share on this subject!

-Bill

[HeliSmith]

I just recently started a thread on what battery charger to buy. I am already charging in around 45 minutes on my Triton2 but I need a couple more chargers.

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=61231

[iwasaseabee]

It takes about 40 min to charge a 2170 on fast charge and put back around 1600 mah. They sell an adaptor board for this for charging 2 3s packs on a BC6 I use it and it works . RC ACCESSORY has it all in stock. Thats were I got mine and they are very knowledgable and helpfull.

[jeffros1805]

It takes about 40 min to charge a 2170 on fast charge and put back around 1600 mah. They sell an adaptor board for this for charging 2 3s packs on a BC6 I use it and it works . RC ACCESSORY has it all in stock. Thats were I got mine and they are very knowledgable and helpfull.


X2 :thumbup:

I agree about the charge time and RC Accessory.. The BC6 is a great charger!

[felborn]

Oh oh oh, anyone got a link to this adapter making it possible to charge 2x3S packs at a time?

[danjoy25]

Only downside to the BC6 is you can only charge upto 2.3amps when charging 6s 2500-5000mah packs. I found out as I was trying to charge my 2 x 3s 2500mah and was only pumping out 2.3amps and I then tried a friends 6s 5000mah pack and still same result. I then ask another friend that has a BC6 and same result.

[crazyerick]

on my bantam BC-5 about 40-45min depending how many mah I am putting back. I'm charging balance charge at 2.1amps.

[RC Accessory]

Oh oh oh, anyone got a link to this adapter making it possible to charge 2x3S packs at a time?

Here you go:

http://www.rcaccessory.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=eac14&Page=1

[kgfly]

Only downside to the BC6 is you can only charge upto 2.3amps when charging 6s 2500-5000mah packs. I found out as I was trying to charge my 2 x 3s 2500mah and was only pumping out 2.3amps and I then tried a friends 6s 5000mah pack and still same result. I then ask another friend that has a BC6 and same result.
That is because it is a 50W/5A output charger. That means 5A max or 50W max, whichever comes first. For 6s you get approximately 50/(6 * 3.8) = 2.2A. If you want to charge larger packs at 1C or above you need a more powerful charger. The Bantam BC610 has been announced, same as the BC6 but no internal AC supply and 200W/10A output.

This table gives you an idea of what different charger output ratings mean in terms of max charge current:
Charger Output Current Estimates v1.1
======================================

LiPo CC charge voltage 3.75
LiFe CC charge voltage 3.4

Charger output rating (max Watts and max Amps)
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
LiPo 50 100 150 80 180 200 220 250 300
no. of cells 5 5 7 10 10 10 10 10 10
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2 5.0 5.0 7.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
3 4.4 5.0 7.0 7.1 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
4 3.3 5.0 7.0 5.3 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
5 2.7 5.0 7.0 4.3 9.6 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
6 2.2 4.4 6.7 3.6 8.0 8.9 9.8 10.0 10.0
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
7 1.9 3.8 5.7 3.0 6.9 7.6 8.4 9.5 10.0
8 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 6.0 6.7 7.3 8.3 10.0
9 1.5 3.0 4.4 2.4 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.4 8.9
10 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.1 4.8 5.3 5.9 6.7 8.0
11 1.2 2.4 3.6 1.9 4.4 4.8 5.3 6.1 7.3
12 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.9 4.0 4.4 4.9 5.6 6.7
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----


Charger output rating (max Watts and max Amps)
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
LiFe 50 100 150 80 180 200 220 250 300
no. of cells 5 5 7 10 10 10 10 10 10
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2 5.0 5.0 7.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
3 4.9 5.0 7.0 7.8 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
4 3.7 5.0 7.0 5.9 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
5 2.9 5.0 7.0 4.7 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
6 2.5 4.9 7.0 3.9 8.8 9.8 10.0 10.0 10.0
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
7 2.1 4.2 6.3 3.4 7.6 8.4 9.2 10.0 10.0
8 1.8 3.7 5.5 2.9 6.6 7.4 8.1 9.2 10.0
9 1.6 3.3 4.9 2.6 5.9 6.5 7.2 8.2 9.8
10 1.5 2.9 4.4 2.4 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.4 8.8
11 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.1 4.8 5.3 5.9 6.7 8.0
12 1.2 2.5 3.7 2.0 4.4 4.9 5.4 6.1 7.4
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

[TGibe]

Only downside to the BC6 is you can only charge upto 2.3amps when charging 6s 2500-5000mah packs. I found out as I was trying to charge my 2 x 3s 2500mah and was only pumping out 2.3amps and I then tried a friends 6s 5000mah pack and still same result. I then ask another friend that has a BC6 and same result.

Just curious - How long does it take to put back 75-80% into both of 2 X 3S 2500mAH batteries?

Thanks,
Allen

[TheBillMan]

Thanks again for all your helpful replies. I’ve placed an order for a Bantam eStation BC-6 Charger with all the correct connectors and adapters to charge two 3S packs at one time from RC Accessory out of Florida.

Here’s what I’ve ordered from them!

Ultra Deans Charge Cable
Part#: Chrg Ultra Plug
(Qty: 1 x $8.00)

e-Station EAC144 for Align / Dualksy BC-6 & PB-6 Only
Add Serial Ultra Plug Cable
Part#: EAC144-Ultra Ser
(Qty: 1 x $22.90)

e-Station BC-6 AC/DC Balancing Charger
Align/Dualsky
US AC Power Cord
Optional Charge Cables
Add 1 Lipo Sack
No Temperature Probe
Part#: Ban BC-6-US-LS1
(Qty: 1 x $196.90)

-Bill :thumbup:

[istandalone]

i just jumped on the bantam bandwagon too, after much debate. there are just too many good chargers out there, and too many shit ones too. the bc-6 seems to be the best bang for the buck. also i doubt i'll ever be charging anything bigger then a 6 cell anyhow. got the bc6, an extra balance lead, the estation mixer board to charge two 3s1p packs simultainiously, and the estation usb cable/cdrom programing kit. also from hobby city i ordered two of the zippy-r packs. i got the 4500mah 3s1p packs. the reviews were good, and they have a 90 no puff/no fault warranty i think. it also says in bold letters "the zippy-r packs are not made in taiwan" well i think it was taiwan buy anyway they claim to not be the cheap and easily damaged crappy cells. and $150 for two packs of that size is too good to not try, and if they are shit i'll know not to do that in the future. i'll be sure to make a thread on how they work out, but with my minimal flying skills i can't abuse them too much. if these work out good, i might even try the cheapy blue zippy packs. i've heard good things about them too, but the price on those is really low. too low to be good maybe.

[dafran123]

Hi there.

Thank you for the info this was something that I wanted to know why only 2.3 amps on a 6s lipo.
But what solution can we have for the t-rex 600 6s lipo, perhaps using an external power supply?

Thank you friends

[RC Accessory]

Hi there.

Thank you for the info this was something that I wanted to know why only 2.3 amps on a 6s lipo.
But what solution can we have for the t-rex 600 6s lipo, perhaps using an external power supply?

Thank you friends

The BC-6 is only a 50 watt charger. Look at the BC6-10. 200 watts, 10 amp charge rate, DC powered only.

http://www.rcaccessory.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=354

http://www.rcaccessory.com/ProductImages/BC-6-10.jpg

[dhoff002]

What about the BC-8? What amps can it charge a 6 cell battery at? I am using evolites 6 cell 2500 mah batteries, and my BC-6 gets pretty warm after charging one, even at 2.2 amps.

The BC-6 works great on my trex 450 tp 2100 3 cell batteries.

Thanks,

Dan

[RC Accessory]

What about the BC-8? What amps can it charge a 6 cell battery at? I am using evolites 6 cell 2500 mah batteries, and my BC-6 gets pretty warm after charging one, even at 2.2 amps.

The BC-6 works great on my trex 450 tp 2100 3 cell batteries.

Thanks,

Dan

The BC-8 can charge a 6S pack at 6.6 amps max.

The BC-6 on 6S pack will get warm as you are maxing out the unit. But that is why all the Bantam chargers (except LP-6) all have metal cases. The BC6-10 and BC-8 have fans built in as well as a large heat sink on the back of the charger.