Anyone Using The Duratrax Intellipeak Ice Charger

[Qball76]

I know it's got the duratrax name on it, but it seems I hear nothing but good things about these chargers. I just got done placing an order for two of them. If anyone here uses them please let me know your likes and dislikes. Thanks

[gixxer]

i have two of them. I like that it can do all battery types (even though i never seem to use the nihm anymore). It also has the motor break in feature (dont use that either but if you still have brushes motors it would be nice). The only thing I dont like on it is that its doesnt have a back light. Well that and I would prefer it to have a different name other then DURATRAX, but i have had it since they came out and no problems yet.

[RC-Monster Mike]

I have one too, but haven't used it. Glad it works better than the other "D" chargers.

[Qball76]

The reason I went ahead and ordered them is I'm considering going Lipo in the not to distant future and these things seem to charge them all.

Mike, you need a buy and sell forum now that I have a couple of Integy 16/4 Pro's to get rid of since they wont' be used!!!

[RC-Monster Mike]

Yeah, I bought it to supplement my astroflight. The only thing I don't like is that it can only charge 4 cells in series for LiPo. I run 5s packs mostly, although the pede and tc3 use 3s packs.

[Qball76]

I'm not real familiar with the Lipo's yet what kind of power and runtimes can you get out of the 4s as opposed to the 5's. I'm not looking to run all day on a pack just a good solid 10 minute run on the track.

[RC-Monster Mike]

4s = 14.8 volts. 5s = 18.5 volts. I use a slow motor (low amp draw) and up the voltage. No doubt in my mind I could get 10 minutes runtime with my truck.

[Qball76]

So what kind of runtime/power output could I expect from 4S packs with a 9L or would I be better of buying a different motor for this application.

[RC-Monster Mike]

It depends on the weight of the truck. My Lipo Maxx weighs barley 8 pounds (slightly under) in full race trim (RTR). I have run 4s on my xl2400 and find it to be quite nice in terms of power. The 5s turns the power up to the insane level, while 6s is downright retarded! The 9L is pretty similar performance wise to the xl2800. 4s 3200 Lipo packs will run lightly longer than nimhs packs (slight advantage because they have a lot less weight to drag around). The 5s, when used with a slow motor (xl2000, for example) can deliver the same power for 25% longer in theory.

[Qball76]

My truck is probably running right about 10lbs fully loaded so 9lbs probably wouldn't be to far off if I substituted Lipo's for NIMH are maybe even closer to 8.5lbs. Where do you get your Lipo packs Mike and could you give me a link to some 4s packs that will fit in the Gorilla chassis. Thanks Q

[RC-Monster Mike]

I use the Kokam Lipos. I got mine from Tower Hobbies and Horizon hobbies. My dealer price doesn't justify trying to sell them, as they are about the same as Tower or Horizon after member discounts. I use two 2s packs, wired in series (same wiring as the nimh setup). There are some other packs out there that will deliver a longer runtime, but none that deliver the punch per oz as the Kokams.

[Qball76]

Am I headed in the right direction here Mike? I'm assuming this one times 4.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHFG1&P=ML

Originally posted by Qball76
Mike, you need a buy and sell forum now that I have a couple of Integy 16/4 Pro's to get rid of since they wont' be used!!!

I relized that too, till I thought about it some more, that might cut into his sales (Which I totally understand him not making a buy and trade fourm).

[RC-Monster Mike]

Originally posted by Qball76
Am I headed in the right direction here Mike? I'm assuming this one times 4.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHFG1&P=ML

I use those little ones in parallel in my pede and tc3. For Maxx duty, you need these ones:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXJSJ1&P=ML

[Chase023]

I was thinking about getting Li-Polymer packs for my E-Maxx like how I use em for my XRAY M18 but I am still deciding on what config I need for the BigMaxximum. Also I need to consider the dimensions, especially the length.

Got any suggestions??

I want to run it like a 18 cell Nimh which is 21.6 volts which in lipoly cell count will be between 5-6 cells which will be between 18.5 and 22.2. I am wondering if I could run 6s config at 22.2 volts on my 18.97KWF (I know that fully charged they will be near 25.8volts). I really don't want to burn my controllers, for they are working great for me on 18 cells right now running the BigMaxximum.

By the way the Ice Charger looks nice but I would rather use my Astro Flight 109 for Li-poly and use my SuperTurbo & Alpha4 for my NiCD, Nimh, and gel cels and such.