power source for charger

[simon1074]

Hi guys, just getting back into the RC world and am trying to learn what goes on today.

been looking at what charger i will be getting, and seem to be leaning towards the icharger 208, this seems to be powered via a laptop so i need to know how you guys are providing power for your chargers at races, especially if ur using laptops.

in the old days i used to have a quick charger for races powered by a car battery, then a separate slow charger at home, but things have come a long way since then.

if there are any better charger out there then please feel free to let me know.

I am planning on getting all my equipement by xmas including the car (CAT XS2), so i am trying to learn fast.

Thanks in advance

[simon1074]

cant anyone advise ??

[paulc]

if your racing outdoors most people use generators then just get a 12v power supply indoors plug straight into mains with a 12v supply i use the pro-peak power supply cost around 50 quid ish does the job just fine

like this


paul

[JonMack]

I have a maplin 5a/12v power supply, cost me about £30 and that runs my charger just fine, but I only use it for my charger.

As paulc said, if you're racing outdoors most people will be using a generator, if you're indoors you can just plug your laptop into the mains.

[paulc]

the one i pictured above is a 20 amp supply you can get 3 or 4 chargers on it and a soldering iron (obviously depends what amps your charging at )

[JCJC]

the icharger 208 looks like a pretty standard charger, I don't think a laptop will power it, looks like it needs approx 12volts in.

We still use big old leisure batteries when we need 12volts outside & in a leakproof box for inside racing, I also have a generator that I now use outside, for 12volts I have a hacked PC power supply (cheap).
Inside if mains is available I sometimes use the powersupply but our BC6 charger is mains or 12volts.

You only need one charger, home or away, the new lipo batteries that are used are easy to maintain & charge & tend not to discharge to much if stored.

Get down to the track you are planning to race at and have a look around, lipo, brushless, carbonfiber - fair bit to catch up on.

[blue_pinky]

Leisure batteries are still common enough if your racing outdoors...much quieter than generators trackside, and no petrol to handle either ...but only give you 12v...rather than a 240v mains supply that a genny will give you, which for me is perfectly good.

Most chargers run off 12vdc so need a 12v supply to run, so leisure battery or dc power supply as has been suggested already.

However, there are also chargers that have both a 240v supply and 12v built in...I use the etronix powerpal which has that feature, and charges all the current battery types.

[simon1074]

thanks guys, i really appreciate your advice !

i am trying to understand the power supply thingy, so i should get one charger which does everything i.e trickle charge , fast charge , discharge and peak. that then plugs into a power supply which plugs into mains or leisure battery, is that correct ?

[ianhaye]

if you go for a 12v you will be fine, as can use a lessure battery outside and a 12v convertor indoors. most peole run 12v. if you going lipo you would need to charge at trackside as long as you have enough batteyrs. are you going lipo or nimh?

[simon1074]

hi Ian, i will be getting the CAT XS2 and from what i read on here so far Lipo is the way forward, i think ? isnt Lipo more power, longer lasting power resulting in a faster car for a longer period of time ?

if all the above is true then i think i should go Lipo.

what do you think ?

[JCJC]

Lipo is the way, also a lot less weight, so if you like you can add weight low down anywhere to balance the car.

No discharge or peak with lipo, slap on charge at '1C' - 5000amhr battery at 5Amps, 3000 at 3 etc, and run the car, top the battery up after, now and again a 'balance charge'.

Lipo's must be charged on a lipo charger, the profile is different, I have seen lipos charged on the wrong cycle and its to be avoided.

[09 lex 250]

lrp power supply and a comp 3 charger