BC8DP vs BC8DX

[stealle]

I'm new to the hobby and forum so bear with me please.

While I am trying to learn about the hobby, I am putting together a "wishlist" to get an idea of what I can afford. Hopefully I'll be up and flying by spring

I think I have narrowed by battery charger down to the Bantam brand. I've been trying to learn about chargers and batteries and to be honest it's all making my head swim. I've also looked around RC Accessories and the Bantam website. Some of my questions are total noob. Anyway here goes...

For now, I'm looking at the BC8DP and BC8DX.

1. Can the BC8DP charge two 11.1V 3S 2300mAh LiPo batteries at the same time on AC Power?

2. BC8DP vs. BC8DX - Approx. how long would it take to charge one 11.1V 3S 2300mAh LiPo battery. Approx. how long would it take to charge two 11.1V 3S 2300mAh LiPo batteries.
(Please provide answers for AC vs DC power if that makes a difference.)

3. Why does the BC8DX cost $40 more than the BC8DP? At a glance, it appears to me that the BC8DP has the same specs as the BC8DX only to also has a built in AC/DC power supply. Further, it seems as though you could hook up an external AC/DC power supply to the BC8DP and get the same 200W Circuit Power as the BC8DX. Based on that, it seems the DP should cost more than the DX. I'm sure I'm missing something. Please explain.

[RC Accessory]

Originally Posted by stealle

I'm new to the hobby and forum so bear with me please.

While I am trying to learn about the hobby, I am putting together a "wishlist" to get an idea of what I can afford. Hopefully I'll be up and flying by spring

I think I have narrowed by battery charger down to the Bantam brand. I've been trying to learn about chargers and batteries and to be honest it's all making my head swim. I've also looked around RC Accessories and the Bantam website. Some of my questions are total noob. Anyway here goes...

For now, I'm looking at the BC8DP and BC8DX.

1. Can the BC8DP charge two 11.1V 3S 2300mAh LiPo batteries at the same time on AC Power?.

Yes, if you parallel or series connect the batteries. The BC8DP is a single port charger, so if the batteries are different from each other, then the answer is no.

2. BC8DP vs. BC8DX - Approx. how long would it take to charge one 11.1V 3S 2300mAh LiPo battery. Approx. how long would it take to charge two 11.1V 3S 2300mAh LiPo batteries.
(Please provide answers for AC vs DC power if that makes a difference.)

The BC8DP is 100 watts on AC power, 200 watts on DC power. A 3S battery is 11.1V nominal. Volts x amps = watts. 11.1V x 2.3 Amps = 25.53 watts. This is called 1C, 1 x capacity of the battery. If the battery is 80% discharged, then the charger time is about an hour. If you charge at 2C, then the charge time is dropped to about 50 minutes. At 1C, you are only requiring 25.53 watts, well below either chargers limitations.


3. Why does the BC8DX cost $40 more than the BC8DP? At a glance, it appears to me that the BC8DP has the same specs as the BC8DX only to also has a built in AC/DC power supply. Further, it seems as though you could hook up an external AC/DC power supply to the BC8DP and get the same 200W Circuit Power as the BC8DX. Based on that, it seems the DP should cost more than the DX. I'm sure I'm missing something. Please explain.

The BC8DP is a single port, AC and DC powered charger. The BC8DX is a true 2 port, DC only charger.

[/QUOTE]