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Old 05-07-2012, 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by samuelsonmark71
Not to hijack or anything, but is the Thunder AC6 and its rebranded bretheren going to be alright for 5000+ 2S lipos? I plan on running 2 VICs and plan on snaging 2 of them. Just wanna make sure Im not screwing myself in the long run

http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Balanc...6455267&sr=8-1
It will do you packs fine at 1C (5.0 amps) Anything more than that and the chager wont be able to handle it just like Cody said
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by cody161
It only has 50 watts of output power, which in the ever evolving world of higher charge rates isn't very much. Say you have a 2S 6000mah lipo that you can charge at 3C...You would need

7.4v X 3(6.0)= 133 watts

Also if at all possible buy from a RC specific shop that hopefully puts money back in to the hobby and isn't just a large corporation that has low prices because they buy 198,034,239,393 widgets at once.
Why is everybody so worried about charging at >1C? Does it give you more punch like NiMH batteries? NO! Does it GREATLY reduce the life of the pack? Yes! Does it charge faster? Yes! Is that little amount of time wort the monetary investment in charger and batteries worth it to the average club racer? In my case, no!

I remember back in the day, the pros charging their NiMH packs at 10-12 amps, a cell would explode and then they would chuck the pack in the trash and grab a fresh pack out of the full CASE they had laying there that they got from their sponsor for free... I don't have a case of batteries laying anywhere... I have 4 lipos and I consider that more than enough for the 2-3 classes I run on any given weekend...
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by thecman26
Perhaps but if your like most that buy their own packs... I wouldn't ever charge a pack at 10C unless you got a firesuit handy OR some enourmous balls! The packs charged fast enough even when I was charging 4S packs...
I had 2 so it wasn't really a rush to get one charged. I had 2 chargers also...
I would be worried about charging at 10C as well but I have read of a guy doing it, and I don't think that the manufacturer would advertise it if it wasn't safe. I do agree though that I would probably test in a spot where it wouldn't matter if the lipo did explode, combust, or shoot flames 30 feet in the air lol. I would however not have a problem with charging at 3C on any battery that advertised it.
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted by thecman26
Why is everybody so worried about charging at >1C? Does it give you more punch like NiMH batteries? NO! Does it GREATLY reduce the life of the pack? Yes! Does it charge faster? Yes! Is that little amount of time wort the monetary investment in charger and batteries worth it to the average club racer? In my case, no!

I remember back in the day, the pros charging their NiMH packs at 10-12 amps, a cell would explode and then they would chuck the pack in the trash and grab a fresh pack out of the full CASE they had laying there that they got from their sponsor for free... I don't have a case of batteries laying anywhere... I have 4 lipos and I consider that more than enough for the 2-3 classes I run on any given weekend...
I agree with you to a point. I actually never chager anything over 1.5C, But I DO need a charger that can do a 5000mah 4s pack at 1C.... and a 50W charger cant do it.
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:14 PM
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Originally Posted by pyro18t
It will do you packs fine at 1C (5.0 amps) Anything more than that and the chager wont be able to handle it just like Cody said
^ what he said...
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by pyro18t
I agree with you to a point. I actually never chager anything over 1.5C, But I DO need a charger that can do a 5000mah 4s pack at 1C.... and a 50W charger cant do it.
That is 50w... on the line but a 50W charger will charge a 5000mah 4S pack all day long and not break a sweat.
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by cody161
I would be worried about charging at 10C as well but I have read of a guy doing it, and I don't think that the manufacturer would advertise it if it wasn't safe. I do agree though that I would probably test in a spot where it wouldn't matter if the lipo did explode, combust, or shoot flames 30 feet in the air lol. I would however not have a problem with charging at 3C on any battery that advertised it.
I charge at 1C, never had a single lipo failure. I did but that was a maxamps pack and I got it used = a whole other story...

Just because a MFG says so, I still don't believe that is a good thing...
Maybe one guy had good enough luck, but I buy my packs and I am not risking anything...
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by thecman26
Why is everybody so worried about charging at >1C? Does it give you more punch like NiMH batteries? NO! Does it GREATLY reduce the life of the pack? Yes! Does it charge faster? Yes! Is that little amount of time wort the monetary investment in charger and batteries worth it to the average club racer? In my case, no!

I remember back in the day, the pros charging their NiMH packs at 10-12 amps, a cell would explode and then they would chuck the pack in the trash and grab a fresh pack out of the full CASE they had laying there that they got from their sponsor for free... I don't have a case of batteries laying anywhere... I have 4 lipos and I consider that more than enough for the 2-3 classes I run on any given weekend...
I wish I could find the link/thread that told about effects of charging over 1C, and it boldly stated that shortening the amount of cycles the battery had in it was not a downside to charging over 1C. I have not done any testing of this but I have been charging at 2C for a little over one month now with zero issues, so we shall see.

Are you 100% sure that it does GREATLY reduce pack life, or are just going by what other people have said?
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by thecman26
That is 50w... on the line but a 50W charger will charge a 5000mah 4S pack all day long and not break a sweat.
My math says that for the battery to be charged at a 1C rate it needs 74 watts of power.

14.8v X 1(5.0 amps)= 74 watts

So a charger with 50 watts of output power would not be able to charge at 1C, instead it would only be charging at .67C.
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:36 PM
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So in the same train of thought, if running 2s, 5100 packs, it would be fine at 6.5 amps easy. 7.4v X 1.3(5.1 amps) = <50 watts
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by cody161
Are you 100% sure that it does GREATLY reduce pack life, or are just going by what other people have said?
I am not willing to test that theory, I have a family to support on top of my hobby. I do what I can to not have to buy what I don't need.

I charge at 1C and never had an issue so I don't see a need to change my current philosophy? Are ther any benefits of charging >1C? I don't see a single one. Really...
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:40 PM
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Originally Posted by samuelsonmark71
So in the same train of thought, if running 2s, 5100 packs, it would be fine at 6.5 amps easy. 7.4v X 1.3(5.1 amps) = <50 watts
5.1amps = >50w so in that instance it would max out at 5 amps. Does the 0.1amps bother anybody? Will that add a minute to the charge time? Perhaps... Is that an issue? Not for me... I charge my 6000mah lipos at 5 amps and they get done when they get done, that is <1C, I am not in a hurry...
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by thecman26
That is 50w... on the line but a 50W charger will charge a 5000mah 4S pack all day long and not break a sweat.
Your right, a 50W charger will charge a 5000Mah 4S ALL DAY LONG

Jay
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by cody161
My math says that for the battery to be charged at a 1C rate it needs 74 watts of power.

14.8v X 1(5.0 amps)= 74 watts

So a charger with 50 watts of output power would not be able to charge at 1C, instead it would only be charging at .67C.
I could have sworn my chargers charged my 4S packs at 5 amps...
BUT i has been a while since I charged a 4S pack though...

This is what I got x2
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...rger-6S-6A-50W
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:45 PM
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Originally Posted by pyro18t
Your right, a 50W charger will charge a 5000Mah 4S ALL DAY LONG

Jay
WOW, this discussion is like the one I am having with my GF, going nowhere....

So, I would recommend, get whatever charger these guys say to get, don't listen to me... IDK a single thing.... Good luck! OUT!
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