TLDR – This article went on long than I planned. If all you want is a short rule of thumb here is it – You need 25W of charge power for each LiPo cell, for a 5amp charge rate. One 2s = 50w, one 3s = 75w, two 3s at the same time (or one 6s) needs 150w, and if you want to charge 2 6s at the same time, plan on at least 300w. Why 25w per cell, and why 5amp charge rates? Read on to find out!
So, you just got your first RTR RC car! It had everything you needed in the Box including a basic charger, but now three days later, you are sick of waiting all day to recharge the battery. Or maybe you bought an RTR that did not come with a charger, and now you are searching for that “just right charger” to go with your new RC. Either way, all the available choices can leave your head spinning, if you don’t know what is important.
In this article, I am going to look at some important factors to take into consideration when choosing a new charger. Primary, I will be addressing the New Guy, but if you have been in the hobby for a few years and are looking to upgrade your charging station, there will be some good info in here for you too. Also, I’ll take a quick look at a few Chargers on the market, to show in which situations they would be useful in real life.