My new charging setup

[rctintin]

I thought I would share with you my new charging station for my TDR and Goblin packs

[jonbailie]

Oooh, that's nice

Are you able to take this to the field? I imagine that would fit in the trunk of a car, certainly the back of a pickup.

How about some specs for those of us who aren't as familiar with the equipment?

Very nice, clean looking setup

[mkovalcson]

Very impressive!

I think I would have trouble flying enough to keep up with that charging arrangement !

That looks great for a semi permenant installation.

Right now I like the portability of a simple tool case for lugging my charging kit to the airfield. The Meanwell 1000W PS sits under the tool tray and the PowerLab and power cord tuck in under there as well for transport. I have 4 balance boards since I took picture, but still only charge 2x 6S batteries at 20A each. I have rearranged this so my 12S batteries can sit at the bottom of the picture and I have 12" extenders for the TP balance cables so it is much easier to connect everything.

[acidla]

How the packs are connected in series and to the ESC when using EC5 connectors?

[jonbailie]

Is this what you're talking about?

[acidla]

Ah yes, this is it!

[rctintin]

My TDR uses a V5 Scorpion ESC, and I have an EC5 on each power lead, and a link wire between them. I can then just plug each lipo into each plug to connect up. That way, there is no 'Y' lead to forget to take to the field!!

This charging setup is easy to take to the field, but I dont need to. I live less than a mile from my field, and having my own business, and a young family, I dont spend all day there.

The set up is as you can see a PL8 charger, a 2600w PSU made by a forum member in the UK using 2 server PSU's inside, and 8 parallel safe FMA boards. The base was made from MDF sheet, and underneath is 12awg silicon wire and 16 40A fuses.

The lipo's are the truly awesome new Optipower packs, and are 6s 5000's. I then strapped them to a sheet of carbon (40x300x2mm) and then shrink wrap over then to keep them as 12s sticks.

[GMAURO]

WOW! This charging station give a power for run one ducati!!

[Costas]

Nice setups...

Coincidence - I just finished my own portable field charging solution the other night. A Honda 2KW portable generator provides the mains power.

[marcosp]

rctintin, that's a pretty small PS for 2600w!!! Nice! Love the amp meter too!

Costas, that's one neat case you've built!

I am using ProgressiveRC's case and ready to assemble cables and stuff. Only pain is the TP820 does not fit on a permanent fixture, so it's still a work in progress. PS and cabling on the inside is done with, I still have to figure out a way to lower the lid and fix the charger. I have to add outgoing ventilation too, it comes with double holes for the Meanwell PS I put there, but I learned the PS fans pull air instead of pushing it only after installing it, so it accumulates hot air inside. I have a broken Logo tail fin that holds the lid slightly open during operation, hardly a solution to be proud of. I've been so busy building and repairing my helis that I still haven't found the time to finish this work.

You know what they say, "there's nothing more permanent than a temporary solution"......

[jointer]

Maybe you can open the Meanwell (might void a warranty) and mechanically reverse the fan?
Should make no harm.

[marcosp]

Huh, hadn't thought of that... I am such a prude.....

[marcosp]

You kept me thinking. Wonder if there is any importance to fresh air from one side over the other. Maybe the electronics that are receiving cool air know won't like having warmer air that went through the unit first.

[jointer]

I would say it is still better then keeping the hot air in the box.
Its up to you, just what i would probably do.

[marcosp]

I was about to open the opposite side to allow the hot air to exit. It comes out of the PS pretty strongly, so most of it should go out. Others have made several small holes on the lid but that is more of a passive way to move heat out. I'll check how hard it is to invert the fans.