Anyone try the iCharger1010B ? [Archive]

kgfly

07-18-2008, 09:44 AM

I have been testing the 106B and 1010B for about two months now. They are amazing value in my opinion. Great features, great performance, great backup from the Mfr and great value.

I was so impressed with them that I partnered with a local eStore to bring a batch into Australia. Initially interest was low but now that a few folk have them and word is getting around they are moving more quickly.

I use them every day. I have owned and used quite a few chargers and done a lot of research into the rest. In addition to the iChargers I currently have on my bench a Bantam BC6 and a Hyperion EOS0610i. I love the BC6 and the convenience of the integrated ac/dc power supply is great, but it is only 6S and only 50W output. My needs have out grown it.

The 0610i is very capable but I don't like it and rarely use it. The LCD is crap and I find the use-model harder than all the other chargers I have had. It is not too bad once you get used to it, but as I am using several different chargers, it is always the one that I have to fumble around with before getting the settings I want.

I would take an iC106B or iC1010B over the 610i any day. The only things the 610i has to offer over the iChargers is PC-interface off the shelf (it requires a small modification on the iChargers) and 250W for the 0610iNET compared to 180W/200W for the 106B/1010B.

I would take a pair of iC106B's over a 610iDUO too. For one thing, the max discharge rate on the 610 is 300mA/7W (compared to 7A/20W and 7A/30W on the 106B/1010B respectively). That makes storage discharges *very* slow. The LCD on the iChargers is IMO far easier to read from all angles and in all lighting conditions.

There have been some teething and QC problems with the first batches but JunSi (the Mfr) have been amazing open about admitting to them and responding with fixes within 1 to 2 days. We have been pressuring Junsi to focus on the QC issues and I am optimistic that the next batches will show improvement.

When it comes to charging A123 packs as fast AND as well as possible, power is vital but so is an up to date A123 algorithm. The iChargers have been optimised through a lot of interaction with users and offer features and flexibility that is unique in their price bracket and quite rare at any price. I use two of the new features to optimise my A123 charging.

a) Adjustable termination voltage
The iChargers have the standard termination voltages for all LiXx chemisties (eg LiPo=4.20V, LiIo=4.10V, LiFe=3.6V). However, you can adjust those voltages. A great deal of user testing has shown that A123 packs not only tolerate overvoltage but will self-balance nicely if charged to somewhere in the range of 3.75-3.85V depending on charge rate. So I set mine to 3.75V and do most of may charging in-situ in the heli without balancing. This works very nicely and may packs stay nicely balanced.

b) Charge/Balance speed[/B
]The CV-phase is normally terminated when the charge current falls below 1/10th of the configured charge current. In Fast mode it terminates earlier, at 1/5th of the configured current. This has a significant effect in shortening charge times for LiPos in particular but for A123s as well. There are two Fast modes. One is Fast Charger which does not do any balancing. The other is the Balance Speed setting which applies whenever doing a Balance Charge.

[B]c) Balance mode
Almost all chargers will start balancing a pack as soon as a balance charge is started. This is largely pointless during the CC phase and can add a fair bit to the charge time. The iChargers allow the user to set one of three Balance modes which define when the balancer will be activated: Always, CV phase and Storage voltage.

Always means balance from the start of the charge cycle
CV phase means only balance once any cell has reached the CV threshold voltage (eg 4.20V for LiPo, 3.60V for LiFe)
Storage voltage means only balance once any cell has reached the Storage voltage (eg 3.85V for LiPo, 3.30V for LiFe)

I have test results on an A123 pack that shows about a 10% time reduction using CV-phase balance mode compared to the other two.

d) Performance when run off a Pb battery
With A123's you want maximum charge power available at the field. Most high power chargers cannot deliver their rated output from a 12V input, usually requiring around 15V to achieve that goal. When running off a Pb battery the input voltage to the charger will almost certainly be below 12V at load. I have tested both the 106B and the 1010B at 11.3V nominal (about 10.8V under load) and they deliver 100% of their rated output even at those low input voltages.

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For more info there is a very large thread about them on RCG, just do a search for 1010B or just ask, I can probably answer any questions you might have.