Battery charger suggestions

[scottm]

Ahh a classic thread like a fine wine. I still use my triton since the rc I use most is my foamy airplane. I flew it last weekend at an offroad race to entertain the crowd in the pits. I havent been following charger tech for probably 1.5 years so I'm suprized to hear the triton is still tits. The triton 2 probably fixes the minor gripes, but if you can't wait, the T1 will do the job. There will be a flood of t1's on ebay soon though...

 

[ImBroken]

What brand/Type of Power Supply is everyone using for these chargers? Any recommendations on a good PS?

 

[ZANDOR]

I use the Competition Electronics PS..
It gets the job done..
http://www.competitionelectronics.com/pwr supply.html

it will work for that charger..its small light weight.And packs a punch..

 

[joey]

I'm using a rivergate pitbull..

 

[FastEddy]

For the $99.00 Street price the CE unit Zandor mentioned is a good unit. Their chargers are the best available. Keep an eye out for the amps if your shopping. If your running just one charger 10 -12 will be fine no less. If you plan on running more then one or a lathe or sharing with a friend 20+ amp is a must.

 

[ImBroken]

Would this PS work?
http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=pyrps21kx

 

[Lessen]

I'd say that's a pretty good deal there.

 

[jetmechG550]

I'm using the LRP, the 43150:
http://www.lrp-electronic.de/e/lis/

 

[Plaidfish]

I'm still using the same Ice charger and I ended up bringing the 15Amp PS back and getting a 25AMP tripp-lite....the electronics supply shop near me had em on sale for 70 bucks back when this thread didn't have wrinkles on it..LOL.....but I run 2 starter boxes (not bumping simultaneously of course), glowbee & the Ice charger off it....

I've used the triton at the LHS and thought the Ice had a much easier to use setup and a better LCD readout too...but I may be biased by now to it.....

 

[Supralover72]

^^^Nice choice. I still like my quazar though. It may be overpriced, but to charge Nimh and NiCd's, it rocks. No fancy readouts to worry about, and I trust Reedy electronics. Just turn the amp knob and you know it'll peak right everytime. Plust, it's easy to dissasemble.

 

[ImBroken]

Well... I just ordered the Duratrax ICE. After doing some more research on the Electric forums, the ICE seems to be more geared towards the land R/C's, and has a few more options. I would really like to learn how to "USE" this charger to it's fullest.. In the past, I've just let the charger do its thing.. Anyone know of any good tutorials, or info that may help me get started? When it comes to batteries/charging, I am a big ole NOOB...

 

[Plaidfish]

if you are doing electric cars too get a novak smart tray or the integy discharge tray....from what I've been hearing the Integy discharge tray is the u;timate for 3300mah packs but the 30amp discharge will shorten the life of the higher capacity packs and you should use the duratrax discharger at 20amps (it's cheaper anyway)......I got the smart tray but haven't cycled enough packs to notice an advantage from one D/Chrger to the next.....

 

[Supralover72]

I think if you just do some full speed runs down the street for the first few packs, it cycles them fine. I bought an IB1400 pack for my 18t. After about five runs, you could see a noticeable difference in speed and acc.

 

[Plaidfish]

if you are doing 1/10 scale and dealing w/ battery packs costing over 80 bucks for a good matched set you really want to take good care of them.....I wouldn't go through all that for a 1/18th scale battery costing aroung 25 bucks though.....ImB, what are ya getting it for?? and what packs.....gonna race 1/10th scale this winter?

 

[ImBroken]

Right now, I will be using it for my 1/8th scale RX hump packs (Ballistic 5cell, 2600mah) and my venom stick packs in my crawler (Venom 3600mah). Like I said, I just want to get these batts charged the correct way, with a good charger..

 

[jetmechG550]

I've got the backlighting kit on the way, hopefully I don't f* it up. After racing the last couple weekends under the lights, the pits get a little dark and rather than fire up the big lighting so I could see the charger this will be a well needed addition to the Ice. I can't believe it doesn't already have it. Now if I could only find the firmware flash!

 

[ImBroken]

I've got the backlighting kit on the way, hopefully I don't f* it up. After racing the last couple weekends under the lights, the pits get a little dark and rather than fire up the big lighting so I could see the charger this will be a well needed addition to the Ice. I can't believe it doesn't already have it. Now if I could only find the firmware flash!

Let me know how you make out with that backlight kit...
I picked up a RadioShack 13.8VDC 15-Amp Regulated Power Supply this afternoon to run the Ice.
Hopefully I'll figure it out how to use the damn thing before the bash... lol

 

[Supralover72]

I have some matched 3300 packs for my T4 and I cycled them in the truck. They seem to have as much punch as everyone elses. I just never thought cycling was that important.

 

[jetmechG550]

Lighting kit arrived today, looks easy enough (one tough part is getting the backing off the screen without cracking it). I'll mess with it tonight and hopefully have some pics at some point tonight. If not I'll be buying a new charger tomorrow before I head off to Chicagoland for the RC Proseries race.

 

[ImBroken]

Lighting kit arrived today, looks easy enough (one tough part is getting the backing off the screen without cracking it). I'll mess with it tonight and hopefully have some pics at some point tonight. If not I'll be buying a new charger tomorrow before I head off to Chicagoland for the RC Proseries race.

How does the light kit get powered? Do you have to do any soldering on the board? Pics would be great man.. I'm interested in picking up a set..