MRC 977 Super Brain Question....
 

I have the MRC 977 Super Brain and have a question with lipo charging.
If i understand correct it charges LIPOs, then all i need to charge a 2cell 20c to 30c 5000 lipo would be an external balancer correct? Would i have any capacity limits?
Could i charge a 8000ma battery(2-cell of course). And since the MRC does 2 batteries at a time, could I use two balancers and charge 2 lipos?
Thanks for the help folks..

977 is listed as a lipo capable charger -

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXLCJ6&P=ML



Using 2 balancers would work and it would be simple if using something like a Astro Blinky. Ideally you want to balance while charging and a Blinky would do that simply without a lot of additional wiring since it plugs straight into the balance connection of the lipo -


http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXMRZ9&P=ML

Good deal...im getting a trakpower v-balancer and my first lipo(30c 5000 7.4 volt). Thanks for the help.

Trakpower V-Balancer is going to be more involved getting it hooked up, but its just a matter of having the right connectors. It should let you 'charge thru' so you balance charge. It should hook up to your charger and then the lipo will connect to it (both main power leads and balance connector).


http://www.rctube.eu/download/rc/ins...(UK)%20web.pdf

I would check the battery manufacturer's specs before using a 977. Many companies state on their packaging not to use any MRC charger. MRC uses a different algorithm in their chargers that can (and have) damaged lipos.

I have personally owned a 977. Great NiMH charger...but buy something else for lipo. Just my .02

PS I just checked AMain and they have removed lipo as a capability of the 977.

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...rger-NiCD-NiMH

I've read about voltage measurement accuracy probs with the 969 and 977 chargers. Tower's listing that says its lipo capable is dated 12/05. There is an warning not to use the 977 (or 969) to charge Orion lipos that's dated 10/08 so there may be something to the concern about using 977 to charge lipo.


http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXVHA3&P=7

MRCs advertisement for the charger does say its lipo capable - see 5th bullet point -

http://www.modelrec.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=1908

But where ever I'ver seen this issue raised, there have been 977 users that check in and post they've been charging lipos with their 977s with no issues. Maybe the best thing would be to contact MRC and ask them about charging lipo with a 977.

Ive got a decent 4000 2celll and a trakpower v-balancer coming soon. Im going to contact MRC about it. But from what i can see the inline balancer should stop any damage the charger could do. Thanks for the help guys, ill
let you know what happens...

So far ive had good luck charging my SMC 4000 2 cell on my mrc 977 with a trakpower v-balancer. When i start the charge, the charger says LIPO on the screen and it seems to work fine...just to let everyone know....

The concern about 977 was whether it could measure voltage accurately enough to not overcharge. You might want to check voltage after charging with a DVM/MM and see what voltage your lipos getting charged to.

the trakpower v-balancer takes care of that for me. It will stop the charge if there under/over voltage..and of course balances...