Chargers for Europe(UK)

[Rtsbasic]

Here's what to do. First you need to run off 12v, not 240v. To do this via mains, purchase a Pro-Peak Ripmax 20A power supply. Retails for £35 in the UK.

Then, pick a charger. Personally I'd recommend either a Novak Millenium (4-8 cells, adjustable amp rate, delta cut off, etc) or a Duratrax ICE (Lots more readouts, upto 10 cells, can do lipo's as well). The Millenium goes for around £40 on Ebay in the UK, the ICE can be had for around £70 if you shop wisely.

Edit, just seen your current chargers, BIN IT! Or better yet, get some ££ back for it on Ebay, because its gonna kill your good cells! Its a pulse charger with a very high delta cut off so overcharges NIMH cells. Either of the chargers I mentioned above can do a linear charge which is great for NIMH's.

so basically i plug the 20A power supply into my mains, it converts the 230V to 12V and theni can use some good chargers?

Ok lets say i didnt want to buy the new chargers, but just used the old ones in the pic, i would then need to buy 2 power supply converters wouldnt i....

[Rtsbasic]

You have two of them Ripmax things? You could run 2 off 1 of the power supplies I mentioned, and yes it gives you 13.8v (needed for 8 cell batteries) at 20 amps. So if you charged each battery at 5 amps, give or take the efficency of the charger, thats probably around 13 amp draw, so well within its capability.

You will be doing yourself a favor by buying a better charger though, unless you really don't care about the health of your batteries. I used mine on one of them yellow beeping things for several months, now my 3500's take in less than 2100mah, and peak at over 11v! (A 6 cell pack). They are useless for NIMH's.

Edit, just a thought, that one looks new, maybe you could take them back and ask for a refund, and put a bit more dosh in and get some more capable and NIMH friendly chargers..

[Nick]

Originally posted by Serum
that is crap...

it's 230VX3A=690 watts..

that way you are able to deliver 69A at 10 volts.. (69X10=690)

My theory is crap?

I havn't a clue Serum, why should more volts limit you to less amps?

wouldnt getting a car battery and overnight charger be cheaper than a power supply? plus with the car battery you can charge your batts when your out.

[Gustav]

Nick,3A at 230v is the same power (no of watts) as 69A at 10 volts.

So if you've got that much power available,that's how many amps you have at 10volts.

How could i run 2 chargers off of one supply?

Have two wires coming out of each output? Then as you mentioned it would be 13 amps*2=26 amps which is greater than 20 amps, or was 13 amps for both packs( i think this is the one)?


Oh and if i get a new charger ill prbly get 2 chargers since its a nagg to have to charge each battery seperately. The ICE looks good.

[Rtsbasic]

It would be around 13 amps for charging both batteries at 5 amps.

To wire 2 chargers in, you just twist the cables together and fit them, or fit one using exposed cables, and fit the 2nd one using 3.5mm banana lplugs which plug into it as well. This is how I have mine setup.

If you want 2 very good but fairly cheap chargers get 2 Novak Millenium's or CS Space Chargers. 2 ICE's would be sweet but expensive.

Btw a car battery costs more than the powers supply in the UK (Its only £35, a "leisure battery" designed for deep discharge is closer to £50). A semi decent car battery charger is another £10.

[Monkey]

here is what you need to do dunno why this is so confusing for every1 firstly find a large brick and place it with the needed force through your local hobby shops window then return home and plug your charges in turn it up to 4 or 5 A and charge from the wall

your charger can only draw 3A from the wall i assume thats what they ment but this shouldnt concern you at all it has a transformer allowing it to output higher amps at lower voltages the charges arnt the best quality but wil do fine for bashing

[Serum]

Is that brick part legal on the other side of the world?

[Monkey]

depends if its caught on camera ;)

[Serum]

Is the weight/size of the brick relevant too?

[nbcaznmaster]

or if ur a fast enough runner.