what chargers is everyone using to charge there t500 packs?

[lodi]

Jason, I pretty new to all of this, but I'm a bit of a research junkie. I just went through the paces of researching chargers. I wasn't really excited about spending $270 for my first charger then having to drop another $100 on a power supply, but after I checked out the Duo it really sounds like the best bet for the 500. They only thing it doesn't seem to do is discharge, but no one has really made a big deal about this feature. As one guy put it, "I like to discharge using my heli." :)

Here is another thread where the Duo discussed at length.

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=63307&highlight=hyperion+duo

I ordered mine from www.allerc.com (http://www.allerc.com) as Jesse suggested. Here are a couple more discount codes to try. Apparently they expire from time to time. All seem to be worth 10% off.

YAHOO10
GOOGLE10

As for a power supply, check this one out. At 500W, 13.8V and 36a it should be ideal. There is a 400W/33a version but it doesn't seem to be listed at this time. Its about $20 cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/500W-13-8V-36A-Switching-Power-Supply-For-RADIO-PA_W0QQitemZ190209347224QQihZ009QQcategoryZ296QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Enjoy,

Dave

[gww528]

Here is a very good review with pictures & instructional video. The following thread also answers of number of questions you my be thinking about ;)

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825005

[Finless]

Hmmmm charger looks interesting. For my 10S packs I guess I would have to use SYNC mode but I have a feeling I would need a balance adapter to split out the 10S TP pack balance plugs properly.

I might have to get this charger just to see how it compares.

I have a Hyperion EOS5 and my only comment is it is slower by 20 minutes charging a pack to 100% at 1C than my TP1010 is. But this is a newer model so that might not be the case with this.

Bob

[rupps5]

I made some adapters last night so that I could charge 4 3s packs at once. There was a lot of repining going on lol

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c303/rupps5/DSCN0101.jpg

[mk1spitfire]

I made some adapters last night so that I could charge 4 3s packs at once. There was a lot of repining going on lol

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c303/rupps5/DSCN0101.jpg


I'm not keen on your red and black connectors. Get some Deans or 4mm brass bullet connectors. I'm sure these will take higher currents through them with ease.IMO

[HELINHAWAII]

I use these and a series dean connector to charge two 450 packs at once:

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6544

Pretty sweet setup for 450 packs. You can fly almost indeffinately as long as their discharged equally.

[sgrim80]

I'm not keen on your red and black connectors. Get some Deans or 4mm brass bullet connectors. I'm sure these will take higher currents through them with ease.IMO

These red and black connectors are referred to as "powerpole" connectors and ARE a high current connector. Although they are a tad bigger than a deans they can be arranged in any shape to create custom connectors. They are the original "deans" connector.

[rupps5]

These red and black connectors are referred to as "powerpole" connectors and ARE a high current connector. Although they are a tad bigger than a deans they can be arranged in any shape to create custom connectors. They are the original "deans" connector.

I have been using this style connector since the late 80s or early 90s. They were called sermos connectors back then. There was an old RC Car Action article that tested a bunch of different connectors (deans among them) and the sermos came out on top. The had the lowest resistance and passed the most current. You are right you can make them into any configuration (stack em, side by side, groups of many of them) They also don't have male and female sides so you don't have to worry about having the right ones in your parts bin.

And for all the sh!# I get about those connectors I am not changing lol

[sgrim80]

I have been using this style connector since the late 80s or early 90s. They were called sermos connectors back then. There was an old RC Car Action article that tested a bunch of different connectors (deans among them) and the sermos came out on top. The had the lowest resistance and passed the most current. You are right you can make them into any configuration (stack em, side by side, groups of many of them) They also don't have male and female sides so you don't have to worry about having the right ones in your parts bin.

And for all the sh!# I get about those connectors I am not changing lol

I know I am right haha...I've been using them on my R/C cars since the late 80's as well lol. Thats why I defended them :)

They are also still currently used (albeit larger ones) to connect HUGE forklift batteries to electric powered forklifts.

Rupps...nice to see someone else that knows what they are talking about :)

[schwaggs]

Actually, these are the original Deans connector from the 80s... http://www.wsdeans.com/products/plugs/micro_plug.jpg but I digress... :)

[gww528]

Hmmmm charger looks interesting. For my 10S packs I guess I would have to use SYNC mode but I have a feeling I would need a balance adapter to split out the 10S TP pack balance plugs properly.

I might have to get this charger just to see how it compares.

I have a Hyperion EOS5 and my only comment is it is slower by 20 minutes charging a pack to 100% at 1C than my TP1010 is. But this is a newer model so that might not be the case with this.

Bob

Having both the TP 1010c & Hyperion Duo, the Hyperion is faster by 5 minutes or so.

[kmfisher]

I just placed my order for the Duo at allerc, should see it later in the week.

I also picked up this power supply, looks like it should be able to handle the duo pretty well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/540W-11-18V-30A-ADJ-Switching-Power-Supply-RADIO-CCTV_W0QQitemZ180215179875QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphoto hosting

[rupps5]

I don't know how long my 250 watt power supply will last doing this BUT. I used the hyperion duo charging 4 x 3s packs and my polycharge 4 charging 4 x 3s packs so thats 8 packs charging at once. I was charging at 1c and it did not shut down, so I will keep doing that for now. It was nice to get 8 flights out of the 500 in one day 8)

[Alan_Chow]

I use megapower 960SR with external balancer to charge my 6S

The best thing I like this charger is it can show battery resistance.

[HELINHAWAII]

The DUO does that too and there's no external balancer!

[jetpilot]

For the Duo

I got a 450W computer power supply OCZ it will work? i think yes!


Luc

[vicrc]

I just got my Cellpro 10s a few days ago, with a built in balancer its not bad for the price $189. Also it can charge 2x 1-5 cell packs at the same time or a 1-10 cell pack. Going to use it at the field as this unit is easier to carry not like my Hyperion 1210i with external balancers.

[Alan_Chow]

I use megapower 960SR with external balancer to charge my 6S

The best thing I like this charger is it can show battery resistance.

the 960SR also have a demonstration function penetrates 62mm x 34mm large-scale LCD surface version to be able to charge or in the electric discharge process data presents by the graph way immediate integrity (contains immediate sufficiently puts electrograph, voltage, electric current, capacity, temperature, time, input voltage, list cell voltage and so on), and immediate warm controls the function (to contain warm controls line).

It can also charge a lipo and a receiver battery(NiMh) at the same time.

http://www.century-rc.com/ecs/pi/MP12S02.jpg

http://www.century-rc.com/ecs/pi/MP12S03.jpg

http://www.century-rc.com/ecs/pi/MP12S01.jpg

[Alan_Chow]

I also own the Hyperion 1210i(The old version, can't charge A123 battery)

I have the say the megapower perform better than my Hyperion 1210i..

[JASON671]

where can i find info on this mega power charger? how much does it cost? thanks

[HELINHAWAII]

JASON671where can i find info on this mega power charger? how much does it cost? thanks

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6301