Help Choosing DC Power Supply

[Greywolf74]

Combining Chargers Needs

I'm not an electrician/electronics guru, but is it as simple as adding up my multiple charger's maximum wattage/amperage needs
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to figure out how powerful of a power supply that I need?

Edit: The above pic is my charger's I am currently using off of one 24v 1200w 50A power supply. As long as I don't exceed "the numbers", I should be okay. Right?

You need to figure out the max wattage each of yor chargers can consume, (Wattage = Voltage from PSU x input current) then add the 3 wattages together and multiply it by 1.3 to get the maximum wattage draw. As long as that number is less than 1200W then you're good to go.

I'm sure this will make me sound like a noob but this thread seemed like a good place to ask this question. Why run your chargers on 12v supply instead of AC?

I'm not sure if your question was specific to Rusy or if you were asking why would anyone run on DC power vs AC power. If the later was your intended question, The reason is because DC chargers are more powerful than AC chargers typically speaking. In order to make something like a 1200W AC youd have to make the charger much much bigger than they currently are to house all of the electronics for converting AC to DC. If modern AC chargers are powerful enough for your needs then theres no reason to run DC PSUs/Chargers.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

You need to figure out the max wattage each of yor chargers can consume, (Wattage = Voltage from PSU x input current) then add the 3 wattages together and multiply it by 1.3 to get the maximum wattage draw. As long as that number is less than 1200W then you're good to go.


I'm not sure if your question was specific to Rusy or if you were asking why would anyone run on DC power vs AC power. If the later was your intended question, The reason is because DC chargers are more powerful than AC chargers typically speaking. In order to make something like a 1200W AC youd have to make the charger much much bigger than they currently are to house all of the electronics for converting AC to DC. If modern AC chargers are powerful enough for your needs then theres no reason to run DC PSUs/Chargers.

My question was pretty general. I understand it's more work for an ac charger to create DC, just didn't understand the need for more power. The biggest batteries I charge are 4s 8000ma and my Hota does 2 of those properly. I have charged on DC before but just on a car battery as I was doing so in the field. I guess I just don't have a need for it.

 

[RustyUs]

Reason For More Power

My question was pretty general. I understand it's more work for an ac charger to create DC, just didn't understand the need for more power. The biggest batteries I charge are 4s 8000ma and my Hota does 2 of those properly. I have charged on DC before but just on a car battery as I was doing so in the field. I guess I just don't have a need for it.

The reason that I needed more power is simple, because I charge my packs at 2C charge rates. I come home from work; open garage door; throw a pack on the charger; grab a bite to eat; play with dog... I want to be kicking up dirt with my RCs in about 20~25 minutes. I don't fart around . Not only that, but there are times friends and family come over to play with my toys.

 

[WickedFog]

My question was pretty general. I understand it's more work for an ac charger to create DC, just didn't understand the need for more power. The biggest batteries I charge are 4s 8000ma and my Hota does 2 of those properly. I have charged on DC before but just on a car battery as I was doing so in the field. I guess I just don't have a need for it.

Some people charge at higher charge rates, like 2C or even higher, like 5 or 6C. I have seen it discussed on here that racers charge at higher charge rates to lower the IR of their battery cells for better performance. I rarely go above 1C because I am never in a hurry.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

That would explain the need for more power. I never charge any faster than 1C. I thought that was dangerous.

 

[WickedFog]

That would explain the need for more power. I never charge any faster than 1C. I thought that was dangerous.

On some batteries, it can be. A lot of LiPo's will say what they are capable of handling. It's not much more dangerous unless you exceed the battery's ability to accept the power you're pumping into it. If your battery has decent internal IR's, you should be fine charging at 2C on nearly all of them. It will degrade your battery faster, charging at a higher rate, but you likely wouldn't notice any difference charging at 2C when it comes to the life of your battery.

 

[Greywolf74]

That would explain the need for more power. I never charge any faster than 1C. I thought that was dangerous.

Nearly all LiPos these days are capable of 5C charge rates. Not all of them but the vast majority I believe are at this point. Always check the manufacturer ratings obviously, but most of the ones I have are labeled as 5C charge capable.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Nearly all LiPos these days are capable of 5C charge rates. Not all of them but the vast majority I believe are at this point. Always check the manufacturer ratings obviously, but most of the ones I have are labeled as 5C charge capable.

I've been using mainly liperior with some CNHL. I've never looked at their suggested charge rates. I just go with the 1C rule. At 5c I could charge stuff in 15 min. That's Jimmy Johns fast.

 

[Greywolf74]

I've been using mainly liperior with some CNHL. I've never looked at their suggested charge rates. I just go with the 1C rule. At 5c I could charge stuff in 15 min. That's Jimmy Johns fast.

The faster you charge the harder it is on the battery. Not in a dangerous way necessarily but it will shorten the life span of the lipo a bit so you have to find a balance between longevity and how long you want to wait for a lipo to charge. If you're balance charging though, that stage still takes a while, depending on what the balance charge rate on the charger is.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

I primarily use a hota D6 pro. I don't think i have an option other than to balance charge.

 

[Greywolf74]

I primarily use a hota D6 pro. I don't think i have an option other than to balance charge.

I dont own one so maybe WF or one of the other owners can confirm but most all modern chargers have a fast charge mode of some sort that doesn't balance. Either way though the D6 Pro has a good balance current rating so balance charging will be fairly quick, relatively speaking.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

For as small as it is, it charges great! I can balance charge dual 4s batts at 6amp and wirelessly charge my cell phone at the same time.

It was someone on here that recommended it to me. Solid advice.

 

[Greywolf74]

For as small as it is, it charges great! I can balance charge dual 4s batts at 6amp and wirelessly charge my cell phone at the same time.

It was someone on here that recommended it to me. Solid advice.

It was probably WF. Hes talked about 172 people in to buyign one so far

 

[RustyUs]

I dont own one so maybe WF or one of the other owners can confirm but most all modern chargers have a fast charge mode of some sort that doesn't balance. Either way though the D6 Pro has a good balance current rating so balance charging will be fairly quick, relatively speaking.

I primarily use a hota D6 pro. I don't think i have an option other than to balance charge.

The Hota chargers incorporate the "fast charge" (green screen vs. blue screen) into their charging operation and is explained in the manual.