Any experience out there with the imax B6 charger? - RC-Monster Forums

Gee · **Any experience out there with the imax B6 charger? -** 12.11.2009, 12:20 AM

I have gotten a few question from a fellow just getting in the RC scene and lipos in general. I've given him some tips but the different chargers and thier abilities are not my strongest side. I've been using the old school charger until yesterday I got the Turnigy 8s chager from HC. Anyway I recommended the Turnigy 6a balance/charger and he will be starting oiut using 2s lipos in his Redcat BRushless Volcano. As far asI can tell the specs are about the same as teh Turnigy 6s balance/charger. Anyone know anything about hte B6 chargers. Any problem , etc.? Thanks for the help fellows.

This is the one

270498522452

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

_paralyzed_ · 12.11.2009, 12:53 AM

can't help with the charger, but I would kindly steer him away from redcat and learn him about the big manufacturers and parts support. My buddy has a 2 year old redcat and cannot find parts. His buggy is slowly becoming an ofna....

simplechamp · 01:44 AM

I bought the Imax B6 when I first started. It was good for my Mini and Micro Losi vehicles, but that's about it. It just doesn't have enough power to charge bigger packs at 1C. I would suggest going for at least a 200-300W capable charger, you won't regret it. Hyperions are popular, and I can vouch that the iCharger line are very good as well. Even if you only need to charge smaller packs right now, you never know when you might move up in the future, invest in a good charger that can keep up with the bigger packs.

shaunjohnson · 12.11.2009, 03:36 AM

have it, love it, but no good for charging at the bash site/track, not fast enough for big lipo's.
the balancer is a little inaccurate but for only $30 i paid for mine well...

SunnyHouTX · 12.11.2009, 11:41 AM

Anybody seen/have the B6 Quattro?

Seems like it has the same inadeqaute power issues as the regular B6. Maybe even the inaccurate balancing?

http://www.himodel.com/electric/iMAX...UATTRO_B6.html

I still love my FMA Direct 10S coupled with a 26A@12V converted ATX power supply.

whitrzac · 12.11.2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunnyHouTX

Anybody seen/have the B6 Quattro?

Seems like it has the same inadeqaute power issues as the regular B6. Maybe even the inaccurate balancing?

http://www.himodel.com/electric/iMAX...UATTRO_B6.html

I still love my FMA Direct 10S coupled with a 26A@12V converted ATX power supply.

that thing is HUGE its larger than a HS calculus textbook...

Gee · 06:10 PM

Thanks for the input fellows. Could someone tell me (again) how the watts of the chargers retates to the amps it says it can charge at. I did not pay attention to the watts adverstised only looked at the amps it lists. I must of tired to simplify it to much by thinking that if it is capable of 7amp maxx then it should be able to charge a lipo pack of 7000mah or less at 1c.

Harold, I think we are too late about the Volcano this time. We might be able to save the next victim if I act in time though. lol I thought it was odd that I couldn't find any specs on thier brushless setup on thier web site or the manual. Only that it is 2s ready.

I just looked at BrianG charger section. It has more info in it since the last time I was there. He always seems to be one step ahead of us when knowing what to add to it. At least one step a head of me anyways. It looks real helpful so I might be able to understand the watts and amps a little better after look at it.

After doing a little more looking. It looks like the Turnigy 8s and 6s chargers are updated and rebadged IMAX B6 and B8 chagers. That probably no suprise to alot of people. The Turnigy version has the newer charging tecnoligy (ie, allowing what they call a lipo fast charge now), extra storage (10 vs 5)(, and a couple more bells and whistles like larged LED desplay, nice variety of charging adapters included using deans instead of Tamiya. The power input/charging specs are the same as far as current, watts, and amps that are listed.

Okay, last edit to this post, maybe.

Anyways, BrainG web page help me out. So you can disregard the please help with amp and watts I broadcasted earlier. Especially if it sounded like a little girls scream for help. I realized I didn't want to know the why and how comes of the watts and amps. Just wanted the bottom line for the chargers. It was once again found at Brians place. Thanks agiain Brain.

simplechamp · 06:27 PM

You will find that the B6 50W charger has about 100 different clones that look exactly the same. Even some of the more expensive ones like Losi and Venom are the same hardware.

The thing that is deceiving about those 50W chargers is that they say they can charge up to 6s, and they say they can charge up to 10A, so it looks pretty capable. The problem is based on the 50W rating they can't do both at the same time.

So your lower voltage packs you might be able to charge at 1C, but get into 4-6s packs and you won't be able to. I = P/E, so you can only charge a 4s (16.8v) pack at 3A on a 50W charger, and that is the max theoretical value. Taking into account efficiency and losses you might only be able to charge at 2.5A or less without overheating. Go up to 5-6s packs and your available current will be even less.

shaunjohnson · 12.12.2009, 07:23 AM

yep...6s = 1.8A max in practice, my Power supply suffers ripple effect from this charger under heavy load so i cant charge higher than 1.7 at home.

Gee · 11:24 AM

I've charged a couple pack with the Turnigy 8 and well I now feel like I was blindly charging packs previously. Even though I had the LBA10 external balancer connected while charging. I didn't now what each pack and cells was doing or checked them indivually. The balancing also seem to take a long time using the LBA10. It is nice to know what is happening with the pack now by pressing a button and see the same voltage for each cell.

I've seen the light now fellows.

suicideneil · 12.12.2009, 01:28 PM

Wattage of charger / voltage of pack = maximum charge current possible, EG:

50 / 25.2v (6s pack, fully charged voltage) = 1.98 amps.

Doesnt bother ne personally as I only do one session lasting a few hours - once all the batts are flat, thats the end of that days fun. For other people (racers?), then a 150-250 watt charger is needed to quickly recharge packs at a 1c or higher rate.

For a cheap and accurate 50watt charger, the Thunder Ac6 is getting good reviews

http://www.hobbypartz.com/thac6smbachw.html

Gee · 12.12.2009, 05:56 PM

The fine print on the Turnigy 6 and 8 chargers at HC.

*This unit has the same functions (except PC-USB) and features as the iMAX B6, except that it comes with an internal cooling fan