Difference between these two battery checkers ?

[properchopper]

I need two get two battery checkers to go with my new Sky RC 400W X 2 charger. It's a nice charger, but lacks the essential % of charge readout like my Hyperions have (lets you know how close to full charge you are, so while a race heat is approaching you know when/if your batteries will be ready to go).

This:

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...rod=emp-Sentry

has the exact same wording in its description as this:

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...rod=ker-gt2-7s

The bottom one is less money but appears to be the exact same unit in different clothing (as do so many products coming from overseas ).

EDIT : and yet one more version (at a way higher price but quite obviously the same unit) http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCBUV

Any thoughts ? (Steven?)

Thanks,

Tony

[Chilli]

The expensive one goes to 11. .........sorry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrVCjnRdB_k

The second one looks like it does everything the Hyperion does. Pin spacing is the same. Have you seen the Futaba battery checker?? $45 Jeesh!!

[properchopper]

Here it is again. Scroll to the vids ; two different names + the one they're selling it as. Geez.....http://www.myrcmart.com/rcx-power-sm...mh-p-3926.html

And who can forget http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgViOqGJEvM

[properchopper]

I think, after a little investigating, the answer is that they're all the same unit, just logo'd differently. Am I right ?

[MIGMaster]

Yeah - I think you nailed it. All those units are probably made by GT Power.

[Fluid]

I too am looking for another cell checker. Knowing how the Chinese operate, I have no faith in the QA/QC of cheaper, off-branded items even if they look the same. We have seen the same thing with motors and ESCs for years - an identical outside appearance does not always mean identical innards. I want mine to look and operate as it should....looks alone mean nothing. My money goes to Steven's Hyperion product. A couple bucks is nothing compared to a better QA/QC'd product. Caveat Emptor.



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[MIGMaster]

I was just looking on the web and it appears the unit may be made by Megapower. It would make sense, because Megapower makes the chargers for Hyperion.

[properchopper]

I too am looking for another cell checker. Knowing how the Chinese operate, I have no faith in the QA/QC of cheaper, off-branded items even if they look the same. We have seen the same thing with motors and ESCs for years - an identical outside appearance does not always mean identical innards. I want mine to look and operate as it should....looks alone mean nothing. My money goes to Steven's Hyperion product. A couple bucks is nothing compared to a better QA/QC'd product. Caveat Emptor.


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Roger that.

FWIW this Cell Checker/Balancer displays all (1-6) cell voltages on one screen. If only it read out the "% of charge" figure (there's a bar graph, not as precise) then they'd be all I need. Come with a TP adaptor btw.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAEPR&P=ML

DSC03386.JPG DSC03385.JPG DSC03383.JPG

[dana]

I bought a cheap checker at one point, and it must have crapped out, because I went to check voltages, and found my 4s pack readings to be all over the place. So much so that cell 4 read 4.35v, which of course freaked me out, to which I immediately put it on discharge. Well further testing on other packs confirmed they all read crazy. My charger read normal... So I have to assume the cell checker is way off....

[Fluid]

Tony, I looked at those too, but I already have balancers. They're a bit less costly on eBay. I'm about 95% ready to pull the trigger on the Hyperion from OSE.

Dana, that is the reason I'm in need of a new one - the old one is freaking out on packs I know are balanced.



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[Steven Vaccaro]

they are close but not the same. the first ones read out slower than the Hyperion for some reason. thats the reason I kept both. But I havent check side by side in the last couple of batches.

[properchopper]

Just for the sake of conversation, BOTH of my Hyperion LBA-10's gave up the ghost in their first year, along with one balancing circuit in my 610i Duo a few years later - that started my quest for outboard balancers to begin with.

We'll see how long my new SkyRC Ultimate Duo 400W X 2 (at $115.70 shipped) lasts. It also appears under different brand names like Hitec for more $$.

[Doug Smock]

I've been using a EOS Sentry for a couple of years now. I like it.

[properchopper]

Thing is, all I'm looking for is an outboard "gas guage" to tell me how close and how soon my batt's are to full charge. It's a simple algorithm which divides actual voltage while charging by a theoretical 16.8 V. (at least that's what I surmise).

[dana]

A simple algorithm? I didn't know those existed lol j/k )