What's easier to use...PL6 or 306b?

[Scott1115]

As the title says, what is easier to use? Which one is more intuitive?

[Slyster]

As one who used both I definitely say the 306b is 'easier' to use. It is simply straight forward... Hit start.. set rate.. hold start to go. The PL6 can be setup that way too (with PC programmer) but it does a lot more for you.. like the math... but I never cared for that. When it came time to sell one of them (to get a 4010) I chose to keep the 306b. Although it seems the quality of the FMA's are higher than the iChargers. But I love my 306! But really both are easy once you practice a bit and learn the features. Both are harder than the 4010 Duo

[Scott1115]

Thanks S-

[racerjeffrc]

This is a realy hot topic!! Wow lol

[Gregor99]

The UI that is easiest to use is the one you learn on. The problem is that if a user is presented with a better UI, then its naturally more complicated.

The iCharger interface on the 306b and below reminds me of the Tekin I used back in the 80s and 90s. Yes it is very simple. But that also means that its very limited. While the iChargers have more advanced features than my old Tekin, if you want to use them it very cumbersome and not very intuitive. The Powerlab UI does a nice job of balancing simplicity with a high degree of flexibility. If you stick with electric flight, eventually you start to see the usefulness of some of the Powerlab's features.

[racerjeffrc]

What if i were to be switching from flight to rc touring car racing inside? As far as that goes i do bowth

[Gregor99]

What the packs are used in won't make a difference. I use my Powerlabs to charge large packs for my 700 electric, small packs for my mCPX and planes, as well as hard case packs for my sons truck and my electric on-road car.

[racerjeffrc]

Originally Posted by Gregor99

What the packs are used in won't make a difference. I use my Powerlabs to charge large packs for my 700 electric, small packs for my mCPX and planes, as well as hard case packs for my sons truck and my electric on-road car.

Soo pritty much the best way is to do a computer session and create all the programs for the battery's u have and be good to go with a few presses of a button ehh

[Gregor99]

The presets can be configured on the console. I still do that from time to time when I don't want to grab the laptop or I'm at the field. But yes, operation can get extremely simple if you want it to. Lay out your charging scenarios then setup the presets to match. You can configure charge rate, discharge rate, packs in parallel, termination current (for fast charging) and tons more.

At the charger the main menu IS the list of presets. Find the one that you want, press and hold start to quickly start the charge. Or press start once, and make changes to the number of packs in parallel or charge rate (if desired) then start the charge.

You can also save the presets for restoring later. Or you can edit them offline in the comfort of your armchair then load them up the next time you connect up to the charger.

[racerjeffrc]

Originally Posted by Gregor99

The presets can be configured on the console. I still do that from time to time when I don't want to grab the laptop or I'm at the field. But yes, operation can get extremely simple if you want it to. Lay out your charging scenarios then setup the presets to match. You can configure charge rate, discharge rate, packs in parallel, termination current (for fast charging) and tons more.

At the charger the main menu IS the list of presets. Find the one that you want, press and hold start to quickly start the charge. Or press start once, and make changes to the number of packs in parallel or charge rate (if desired) then start the charge.

You can also save the presets for restoring later. Or you can edit them offline in the comfort of your armchair then load them up the next time you connect up to the charger.

I like what i hear! Very handy

[Gregor99]

I was recently reminded of another example. Suppose you purchase a new GensAce or Turnigy pack and one cell is considerably lower than the rest. While I would file and RMA, it has now become a common practice to cycle the packs which usually helps. Here's how this experience would be different between these two chargers.

The 306b would charge the pack fully until the first cell reaches 4.2v. Then it would start to bypass the current in the high cell (or high cells) at rate of 500ma. The overall charge rate may be slowed allowing the lower cell to catch up. If this is large pack that will take several hours.

Usually the charge cycle times out well before balancing is done. The operator can build a 1s adapter and charge the low cell up to 4.2v. Or the operator can restart the charge, perform a few cycles, set the charge rate to 500, modify the 306b defaults to start charging sooner. Alone, none of these steps is terribly difficult. But not exactly simple for a lot of modelers, as evidenced by the regular threads where a user is trying to figure out how to handle this situation.

Here's how the Powerlab would handle this. If the lowest cell is within 150mv of the highest cell, the charger start balancing at 1 amp as soon as any one cell reaches 3.8v. Because there is twice the balancing power and the balancing starts sooner, the charger does not have to throttle back. The charge cycle may take bit longer than normal and the user might not even notice there is an issue unless they are monitoring the charger closely.

If the lowest cell is 150mv lower than the highest cell and the highest cell is above 3.8v. the charger will detect this as a potentially unsafe condition and trigger safety charge mode. In safety charge mode, the total charge rate is reduced to 500ma to help protect a pack that is in an unknown and unusual state. Once the gap between the lowest and highest cells is 150mv or below, the charge cycle can be restarted at the full charge rate. Balancing will be at 1amp and start at 3.8v.

[racerjeffrc]

the powerlabs are deffinately the more advanced charger, and safer. id probably trust the pl6/8 more that an icharger.

i just have to choose weather the pl8 is worth that much more(70$) more than pl6 at rotorquest.com

[Lottomunch]

306b uses the same logic as 75% of the chargers out there. I love it.

I've got both. FMA is very nice and probablly safer like they said but Iicharger is definitely easier.

[Tesla]

I mulled this question over for the past couple of days, I even considered getting 2x 106 iChargers. I just put in my order for a PowerLab 6 as it seems to be the new hotness. It looks very impressive as far as features goes. I have no experience with either but the 306 seemed to be the trident and true charger while the PL6/8 seems to be cutting edge. Just my $0.02

[racerjeffrc]

Originally Posted by Tesla

I mulled this question over for the past couple of days, I even considered getting 2x 106 iChargers. I just put in my order for a PowerLab 6 as it seems to be the new hotness. It looks very impressive as far as features goes. I have no experience with either but the 306 seemed to be the trident and true charger while the PL6/8 seems to be cutting edge. Just my $0.02

what made you choose the 6 and not 8? just wondering

[Slyster]

Originally Posted by racerjeffrc

what made you choose the 6 and not 8? just wondering

The relatively small difference in price. But he will regret it as I did. Since 24V is the 'standard' easy to achieve voltage these days.. with either a power supply or two deep cycles.. the PL6 is not going to get the full 40A output. I am glad I sold mine and got the iCharger 4010 Duo.. so much more versatile and future proof.

[racerjeffrc]

Originally Posted by Slyster

The relatively small difference in price. But he will regret it as I did. Since 24V is the 'standard' easy to achieve voltage these days.. with either a power supply or two deep cycles.. the PL6 is not going to get the full 40A output. I am glad I sold mine and got the iCharger 4010 Duo.. so much more versatile and future proof.

Slyster are you working for iCharger?...
did they sponsor you in any way? lol

[Gregor99]

Originally Posted by Slyster

the iCharger 4010 Duo.. so much more versatile and future proof.

For the things that are important to me in a charger, the 4010 would be step big backwards from the Powerlab6.

[Gregor99]

Originally Posted by Slyster

Since 24V is the 'standard' easy to achieve voltage these days.. with either a power supply or two deep cycles.. the PL6 is not going to get the full 40A output. I am glad I sold mine and got the iCharger 4010 Duo.. so

A more fair comparison. On 24v and two Powerlab6s you'll be able to output 1700 watts to 6s packs. On 24v the 4010 is only able to output 1400 watts on 6s.

[Slyster]

LOL no I have nothing to do with iCharger. And yes the FMA's are top notch... better than iChargers in the big picture (condensing everything I've read) and I really liked my PL6.. it's just with two deep cycles I couldn't get 40A out and kicked myself that I didn't get the PL8.

When I got the Duo (my main charger running deep cycles) I had to decide which charger to keep (PL6 or 306B) for my home charging setup (24v dual PSU) and since on 24V the PL6 couldn't get 40A anyway.. I decided to sell that one and keep the simpler 306B.

In hindsight I should have kept the PL6.. but anyways.. very happy with my 4010 as my main charger now. I'll be the first to tell you if I have any problems with it.