Replacement charger

[nastety92]

So I've been updating my electronics in all of my trucks and also upgrading batteries. I have a MRC Superbrain 989 charger and I'm looking to replace it with something that has an internal balancer, is able to charger two batteries at a time and comes with it's own power source.

Right now I have just a hand full of lipo's, all 2s and 3s. I plan on getting a truggy one day and would like to be able to charger a 5/6s. I'd also like and try to spend under $200 with everything.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks for the help,
Nick

Here is a link to what I have now.
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=6863

[What's_nitro?]

I don't think you'll find a charger like that for under $200. One of the Hyperion Duo units and an external PSU would be a good choice. If you duct tape them together it might count as an internal PSU....

[What's_nitro?]

This charger-

http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...S720DUO&cat=19

and a good 40A PSU would work very well together.





Time to start saving up the $$$ I guess!

[brainanator]

I really enjoy this charger. You'll have to get an auxiliary power supply, but that is pretty cheap and easy, there is a nice thread on how to make a great one around here somewhere.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=15167

might help if I add the link...
edit: also might help if I read the whole first post....can't help you there I guess, but you'll probably be paying more than $200 for it. Built in power supplies aren't that great anyway.
Make sure you watch the charging power of the charger if you want to charge much above 3S otherwise the charge current will drop to super slow levels as the voltage increases.

[nastety92]

Originally Posted by What's_nitro?

This charger-

http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...S720DUO&cat=19

and a good 40A PSU would work very well together.


Time to start saving up the $$$ I guess!

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.

At least that chargers prices starts with a 2, thats a plus.

How about if I only wanted to charge one battery at a time would that make my search cheaper?

Nick

[What's_nitro?]

Originally Posted by nastety92

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.

At least that chargers prices starts with a 2, thats a plus.

How about if I only wanted to charge one battery at a time would that make my search cheaper?

Nick

Then this one-

http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...OS1420I&cat=19

It's basically the same charger but has only one output.

[nastety92]

Originally Posted by brainanator

I really enjoy this charger. You'll have to get an auxiliary power supply, but that is pretty cheap and easy, there is a nice thread on how to make a great one around here somewhere.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=15167

might help if I add the link...
edit: also might help if I read the whole first post....can't help you there I guess, but you'll probably be paying more than $200 for it. Built in power supplies aren't that great anyway.
Make sure you watch the charging power of the charger if you want to charge much above 3S otherwise the charge current will drop to super slow levels as the voltage increases.

How long have you been using this charger? What did you use for a power supply? I wonder if I could use the one from my MRC charger?

Thanks for the help,
Nick

[brainanator]

I have had it since about August, charges 2s/3s very well, and has a 25W discharge circuit and lipo storage mode. I use an old converted computer power supply, instructions here: http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.bat...owersupply.htm

or you can go one better and maybe cheaper (if you don't have the computer power supply laying around like I did) and convert a server power supply. Instructions here: http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27554

I've had a different hobbyking charger for about a year and a half now and it still works fine as well. It's only 50W though, with a 5W discharge circuit. This 200W is much more powerful. Only problem for you would be catching it in stock at hobbyking in the USA....demand is pretty dang high! I caught it a few days after it was added the USA warehouse.

edit: you might be able to take the superbrain apart and steal the power supply from it if you wanted to. Never seen one myself though, maybe someone else will chime in. But I'm pretty sure you could if you wanted to.

[lincpimp]

Hyperion have a 7 series charger with a built in PS.

I would go with a used 610i or 720i if I was in your position. That and a modded server PS. I got my PS off ebay for 20 bucks, soldered the leads and have used it for over a year with no issues.

I even bought a backup but have never used it.

Rchippie on this forum has a used 610i for sale, pm him if intereted.

You cannot go wrong with the higher power hyperion chargers. I have had many chargers, including a superbrain like yours, and the hyperion are the best I have tried.

[scarletboa]

Originally Posted by brainanator

I really enjoy this charger. You'll have to get an auxiliary power supply, but that is pretty cheap and easy, there is a nice thread on how to make a great one around here somewhere.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=15167

might help if I add the link...
edit: also might help if I read the whole first post....can't help you there I guess, but you'll probably be paying more than $200 for it. Built in power supplies aren't that great anyway.
Make sure you watch the charging power of the charger if you want to charge much above 3S otherwise the charge current will drop to super slow levels as the voltage increases.

i have this same charger and i strongly recommend it. it is very accurate and does everything it is supposed to very well. i've had mine since october and i haven't looked back. i am very impressed with it, especially for the price.

btw, i've seen the power supply that goes with the superbrain and i can confirm that it will work just fine.

[nastety92]

Originally Posted by scarletboa

i have this same charger and i strongly recommend it. it is very accurate and does everything it is supposed to very well. i've had mine since october and i haven't looked back. i am very impressed with it, especially for the price.

btw, i've seen the power supply that goes with the superbrain and i can confirm that it will work just fine.

This is great news. For $35 I'm going to give it a shot.

Thanks for all of the help,
Nick

[brainanator]

of course it goes without saying that there is always an inherent risk when buying cheap hong kong electronics. I've had pretty good luck with hobbyking warranty, but I know many others haven't. Consider it to have almost no warranty (or it does have one, but it'll take 4 months to get it replaced)

[E-Revonut]

Go with a Hyperion, they're worth the money. the 720i or whatever it is has a built in PS and is pretty powerful, yet can be hooked up to an external PS for even more power, and the price is under $200

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by brainanator

edit: you might be able to take the superbrain apart and steal the power supply from it if you wanted to. Never seen one myself though, maybe someone else will chime in. But I'm pretty sure you could if you wanted to.

That may work, but I doubt it. Most chargers I've seen don't have a static output PS, but rather a "tracking output" that is just a little higher than the battery needs. This boosts efficiency a great deal, but involves a lot more modding than just popping it in there.

ichargers much more power all the facilities - brilliant