Do I have to use Nicd w/ digital, ? on charger

[Maskale]

I have futaba digital servos and the package says to use only Nicd batteries, i have used Nimd with them and have not noticed any performance change. So do i have to use Nicd?

Also i have 6 hump packs some Nicd and some Nimh and i would like a charger that could charge all of them at the same time. Right now i have chargers hanging from the wall all over the house for my 6 hump packs and my Tx.
YES, RCNT STAFF i have used the search function here but i have not found just what i am looking for, or maybe i have and just dont know it.
I would really like a charger that can:

Charge multiple packs (about 6) at the same time (Nimh and Nicd)
different charge rates like trickle and quick charge.
AC and DC power supply would be nice.
Discharge function

Thanks for any help.

 

[SkyMaxx]

You do not need to use a particular battery with digital servos. You can use alkalines if you so choose. I recommend using any rechargeable battery as the digitals tend to run alkaline batteries down pretty quickly (or so I've been told).

I run this charger by Dynamite: Dynamite Twin Peak charger (model DYN4033). It can do most of what you are saying, but can only handle two packs at a time. You might be able to get a splitter and run more than two, but I'd suggest against that.

 

[Maskale]

Yes Sky Maxx my digital servos drain my 1100 hump packs very fast, when i take a dead hump pack out it is pretty warm from discharging so fast, and soon i will by buying more cause the 6 i have will not last for long days at the track.
And i agree with you about using a spliter, i dont want to do that either.

Correct me if I'm wrong but if I have a charger that puts out 100ma at 6v, then it should take about 11 hours to charge a 1100mah hump pack right?
Now if i use a spliter then only 50ma would be going to each battery and it would take 22 hours to charge them, is that right?
And if i use a spliter the voltage should stay the same right?

 

[mcvickj]

The charger I am currently using is the Hobbico Quick Field DC Charger MKII 12 Volt It has been a great investment. It takes care of all of my current charging needs.

To run this charger you will need a power supply. There are articles on how to mod a computer PSU. There is also a thread on this subject on the Member Projects section. I picked up a Cosel 12V power supply for $20 on eBay. Then I just cut the end off a computer power supply cord and wired it in.

Also if you can afford it I would suggest picking up the Hobbico Digital Voltmeter MK III

Before I go out for the day I check to make sure all of my packs have a good charge.

Both of my 1100 mAh packs can last a full day of bashing with no problems. Of course I am not running digital servos either.

 

[mattyk6]

Duratrax also makes an Intellipeak charger that will charge two packs at once. Some of the early units had shortage problems, but the newer ones don't seem to have that problem.

The MRC 969 will also charge two packs at once. Low amp rate though.

I have a Duratrax Digital Intellipeak that will charge at .5-6 amps. In theory, You could split it 6 times and charge each pack at 1 amp. But, I don't think I would want to be the guinea pig for that test!

 

[Maskale]

I have looked at the chargers mentioned thus far and some others and they look great, but i would like one that can charge about 6 packs at the same time.

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

I thought that too when I bought my set of Digi Futaba's recently. They just want you to use a higer capacity battery as the digi's eat the juice and Akalines won't last long at all. I use my Ni-Mh packs on them and they perform great. I will let you know if any problems arise.

Like I said I run 2 Futaba digi's on my MTX-3 ans because it has a small battery space it can only fit a 3-2 AAA hump pack. This pack is only 800 mah Ni-Mh and I have run it for about 3-4 hours non-stop with no signs or power loss.

 

[Maskale]

HumboldtBlazer what kind of charger do you use? I am just using standard 6v 100ma wall charger. There is no way that i could get that much run time. i only get about 30-45 min of run time on a 1100 Nimh. Maybe i need a good peak charger?
But that is what i am looking for and be able to charge multile packs.
Is your hump pack fairly warm when you finish using it?
I use S9350 and S9451 servos.

 

[PiErow]

Would it be worth it to buy a hump pack and rechargeable double a's? Or two battery packs (one for my truck and radio). Or all around rechargeable double a's?

 

[mcvickj]

Remember rechargables only have 1.2v instead of the normal 1.5v for alkalines.

I use them for my transmitter only. A hump pack for your receiver is the way to go.

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

Originally posted by Maskale
HumboldtBlazer what kind of charger do you use? I am just using standard 6v 100ma wall charger. There is no way that i could get that much run time. i only get about 30-45 min of run time on a 1100 Nimh. Maybe i need a good peak charger?
But that is what i am looking for and be able to charge multile packs.
Is your hump pack fairly warm when you finish using it?
I use S9350 and S9451 servos.

For my Ni-cd's and Ni-MH I use the MRC Superbrain pro wich is a really good peak charger (there are better out there) My $50-$60 charges always falsed peaked, it seems like when you get in the $100 range they start to be a lot better so shop around and ask people what they use. 30 minutes out of a 1100mah Ni-MH battery is like 1/8 it's capacity or at least in my experience so either the batt is bad or it is flase peaking. If the batt is new some times they false peak on any charger so charge it like 2-3 times then give it a try. Good luck.