Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

As long as you're charging 2S at 1C charge rates, the 50watt chargers are fine. Its when you try to do a 3S or 4S that your charge calls for more power than a 50watt charger can deleiver. The 50watt charger will reduce charge current to stay under its 50watt limit. It will still charge 3S or 4S, but it will take longer.

Take a 4S as example, thats 16.8v so the current a 50watt charger can deliver at 16.8v is 50/16.8 = ~3amps (2.976a). So if you're charging a 5000mah 4S it will take longer, about 40% longer (rough approx) since you can charge at 60% of ideal charge rate.

At 100watts - 100/16.8 = ~6amps (5.95), so you could charge with no current limiting.

They are both reliable, easy to use, full featured balancing chargers. The Dynamite Passport Ultra is relatively new. It will be popular too.

toejam

iTrader: (10)

The only reason why I even mentioned the Elite 6i is that it came recommended from a guy that has been building battery packs for years (and I have been buying various packs from cheapbatterypacks.com for about 4 years). In the last 4 years or so of dealing with him, he has never steered me wrong.

I have recommended the charger to 2 other friends and so far, they chargers have lived up to their promises at a price that is hard to beat.

At the end of the day, it is YOUR money. I know this hobby is a money eater...

jmauld

iTrader: (6)

I just got this charger in the mail, and it's soo cheaply made that I'm afraid to even plug it in to a wall outlet.

There's no 3rd party safety listing on the device and even the "deans" connectors are knock-offs. If I use this, I'll only be plugging it into a 12 V DC source so that there is no risk of the thing shocking me or anyone else in my family.

Have any of the lipo chargers been evaluated by UL, ETL or similar company?

Don't think that just because these things look similar on the outside, that they are the same inside. I seriously doubt that the trinity version comes with a knock-offs of the dean's connectors.

slotkarter77

iTrader: (24)

This is a good charger. other companies have sold the same exact charger. trinity, caster, and a few others. i just got one and it works great. a couple of buddies also have this charger and it has no problems. there is a few youtube videos about it(CHECK IT OUT)
I got mine through Nitroplanes.com. there is one for 54 bucks and the other is 59 bucks. the difference is the 54dollar has a plug in balance board. the other has balance ports on the side.
This is a great charger no matter is you are a new driver or a seasoned vet. cannot beat it for the price. and it does everything a expensive charger does, at a fraction of the cost. im buying another soon!

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

Thats curious - I have several chargers - Ice, Team Checkpoint 1030, Hyperion 0610iNet, Piranha digital, GT Power A-6-10, and a Turnigy Accucel-6. There is no mention on any of them of a UL, ETL or etc approval. The Hyperion mentions it is RoHS compliant, but nothing else is mentioned either on the case or in the instructions.

Like said, you've got a decent charger, yes its cheap. Its had good feedback here, no one is reporting the kind of probs you seem worried about.

nutz4rcyktw

iTrader: (67)

I have two of them and never any issues. I especially like the storage routine on these for Lipos. Nice feature and not available on many other chargers.

jmauld

iTrader: (6)

That's good to know, are those all AC chargers? If none of them have a certification mark, I'll just stick with my plan of purchasing a DC source that does have one and using it to power the charger.

jmauld

iTrader: (6)

How does this one compare?
http://www.venom-group.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VEN-0657

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

No, only the Piranha digital is a AC/DC. The others are DC and produce much more output power than a AC/DC charger. I checked my 1:1 AC auto battery charger (150amps) and its not listed. I also have a 2amp auto trickle charger and it is listed.

I have 2 power supplies that are manufactured as power supplies and the 25amp Radio Shack is UL listed, the 20Amp ProPeak is not. Both boxes say made in China.

The venom pro is another Chinese clone or knock off. There have been probs with that charger, Venom stands behind them and they get replaced, but you have teh hassle to the experience to deal with.

I think yoiu should look at the Hyperion 0606i or maybe the dynamite passport Ultra charger (both are AC/DC).

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

These chargers -

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...rger-6S-6A-50W


or

http://www.dynamiterc.com/Products/D...ProdID=DYN4064

jmauld

iTrader: (6)

Which one is the venom a knock-off of? They claim to be UL listed.

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

This one -

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...rger_1-6_Cells


Where are you seeing that its UL listed?? I don't see that on the venom pro ad on Tower. $200 is a pretty big bite for a 50watt AC/DC charger.

jmauld

iTrader: (6)

http://www.venom-group.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VEN-0657

Scroll down to the bottom. It's currently marked down to $140.

jmauld

iTrader: (6)

That imax looks similar to the one that I already have?

That dynamite passport looks nice.

Got any recommendations for a good DC Charger?

jmauld

iTrader: (6)

Got it. The venom link says "Pro Charger w/Power Supply".

Here's the power supply:
http://www.venom-group.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VEN-0658

They're just using a Laptop power supply and putting their label on it. Smart.