Help a newbie pick a battery and good charger

[Raptorcize]

Hi, I'm brand new to electric R/C and new to R/C boats as well. I am planning to buy a Pro Boat Impulse 31 Deep Vee RTR. The manufacturer recommends (2) Dynamite 7.4V 4200 mAh 2S 30C Li-Po batteries.

What does the 2S mean?

Others on the Pro Boat forum here have recommended (2) 5300 mAh 2S 30C+ batteries with 5.5 bullet connectors; not Deans due to the large current draw on boats. This battery was specifically recommended by another member for general operation (non racing)

http://www.hobbypartz.com/98p-30c-5300-2s1p.html

Is this a good battery selection for my application? What difference will the 5300 vs 4200 mAh make?

What charger should I get? I would like to use my 12V car battery to power the charger, and plan to use a computer power supply for 110V home use if the charger isn't set up for it. I would like to charge at least 4 of the above batteries at the same time and charge as fast as reasonable with safety in mind. I don't want or need the best charger, but I don't want a piece of cr_p either. There are so many choices; I am totally lost and it's delaying my entry into electric R/C.

Your guidance would be much appreciated.

[BHChieftain]

For the charger, look at a Hyperion Duo 3. It has dual charging ports so you can charge 2 lipos at once, and if you run parallel charging cables you can charge 8 lipos at once. They are expensive chargers but well worth it. The charger also has "store" mode which puts the correct charge in the packs for storage. That comes in real handy as after I run, I use Store to partially charge the packs-- then when it is time to run again I use my // harness to charge 6-8 packs in 30min or less at 1C.

Chief

[Smoothops]

I guess it really depends on how much you want to charge. I have boats, cars heli and planes so I need multiple charging options. I bought this http://www.hobbypartz.com/77p-g350-powersupply.html and http://www.hobbypartz.com/75p-t6-multi-charger.html I have had for 2 years running strong. for 130.00 you can be set for the future, its not quality but has been strong for 2 years and has not let me down...

[wade7575]

Go with the Charger that Smoothhops is suggesting it's not worth spending big money on a charger if you are not racing and not going to use all of it's feature's,also if you want to save some money build your own PowerSupply from an old PC PowerSupply,for around 5 to 10 buck's you can make your own if you have an old PC laying around or get a used PowerSupply from a PC Shop,also just at the Sticker on ther side of the PowerSupply and see what amp's it put's out on the 12 Rail and make sure it can put out enough.

Take a look at this Video and also do a search on youtube to find out more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8GoFUwDM4M

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5680951/tm.htm

[Raptorcize]

Thank you both for your help!

[siberianhusky]

The main difference in your setup between the batteries is about a minute of runtime, your amp draw with the stock setup wont be an issue with either.
I would call the Gens ACe the better quality cheap battery, mine have lasted less than 2 years before one cell has started to have an issue balancing, the poly quests I bought at the same time that have about the same number of runs are still running fine.
The Gens Ace also drop 1 volt more than the better quality batteries under load, but are still better than the Turnigy's I got when I was first starting out.
Batteries are the heart of the boat, while cheap ones work they do not last as long and put more stress on the equipment because the can't hold their voltage under load.
Now I'd rather have fewer packs that are higher quality than a bunch of cheapies, I have a decent charging setup, not the best by a long shot but 3 sets of good batteries can keep me running non stop for as long as I want. By the time you finish a run, get the boat out and un-taped let things cool for a few minutes, a set of batteries will be charged and ready to be swapped for the used set.
I also don't charge in parallal, I charge in series, I have an adapter that connects the balance taps. Takes far less time to put 4000mah back into a 4s pack than 8000mah into 2s pack. I think this is also safer as each cell is being monitored, not a pair being monitored as one.
A 200 watt 6s charger with a 15 amp computer PSU will be a good setup that will give you some good charge times and will still provide full amperage with higher cell counts for future bigger boats! There are 3 of them being used around here with various brands on the same charger and nobody has had any problems with them at all.
Check out Hyperion or Revolectrix for some high quality high power but pricey chargers. Need a good power supply to run them though. Revolectrix has some rebadged chargers available from HK now, as well as Poly Quest batteries. Still SOL as far as warranty goes from HK though.

[runzwithsizorz]

The main difference in your setup between the batteries is about a minute of runtime, your amp draw with the stock setup wont be an issue with either.
I would call the Gens ACe the better quality cheap battery, mine have lasted less than 2 years before one cell has started to have an issue balancing, the poly quests I bought at the same time that have about the same number of runs are still running fine.
The Gens Ace also drop 1 volt more than the better quality batteries under load, but are still better than the Turnigy's I got when I was first starting out.
Batteries are the heart of the boat, while cheap ones work they do not last as long and put more stress on the equipment because the can't hold their voltage under load.
Now I'd rather have fewer packs that are higher quality than a bunch of cheapies, I have a decent charging setup, not the best by a long shot but 3 sets of good batteries can keep me running non stop for as long as I want. By the time you finish a run, get the boat out and un-taped let things cool for a few minutes, a set of batteries will be charged and ready to be swapped for the used set.
I also don't charge in parallal, I charge in series, I have an adapter that connects the balance taps. Takes far less time to put 4000mah back into a 4s pack than 8000mah into 2s pack. I think this is also safer as each cell is being monitored, not a pair being monitored as one.
A 200 watt 6s charger with a 15 amp computer PSU will be a good setup that will give you some good charge times and will still provide full amperage with higher cell counts for future bigger boats! There are 3 of them being used around here with various brands on the same charger and nobody has had any problems with them at all.
Check out Hyperion or Revolectrix for some high quality high power but pricey chargers. Need a good power supply to run them though. Revolectrix has some rebadged chargers available from HK now, as well as Poly Quest batteries. Still SOL as far as warranty goes from HK though.

Dear Sir, could you please explain, or show me a bit more on this? I failed to find any over the counter adapter that connects the balance taps, -- http://www.hyperion-world.com/products/type/18
Did you, or do I, simply make a power, and balance tap harness wire splitter? Do you up the charging amps to compensate?
Also, my charger, the Hyperion 0720i will only go up to 7s, so how could I possibly monitor each cell charging 2 4s batteries?
Thankz Todd
Check back later, wife says dishes need to be done, trash needs to go out, and the lawn needs mowing, Happy Birthday to me
Isn't it funny how, on your wife's birthday you gotta take her out to a nice dinner, and on your birthday,----- you gotta take her out to a nice dinner.

[egneg]

Here is a good link for PSU's

http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/powersupply.htm

[Chilli]

Chuck, I've done an ATX but this one is even easier to do. You only open up the unit to remove the pull handle and catch.

https://sites.google.com/site/tjinguytech/my-projects/HP47A

You can get these off ebay for under $20 shipped. I connected pin 4-6-8-10 with three servo plugs which turns on the unit and keeps the fan noise down untill a large load is placed on it. 47 amps in a reliable compact unit. I can run both my Hyperion Duo's at the same time.

[egneg]

Thanks for that Mike - if the one I have goes south I will get one like yours.

[LiPo Power]

Or get one ready from here:

http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...-HP&highlight=