Dual Powerlab 8 vs Icharger 4010 Duo

[Jdpb614]

The server supplies 2zo-rc can be used in series. If you check out this article you can see how many packs an I charger can do in on shot with correct power.

http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-power-supply.html

[kevinpratt823]

The server supplies 2zo-rc can be used in series. If you check out this article you can see how many packs an I charger can do in on shot with correct power.

http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-power-supply.html

I have actually been running a pair of those in series for over a year to power my current Hyperion charger, I already ordered another pair to set up in series. Each pair will run one side of the PL8x2 at 24v/47amps/1150Watts, and if I went with the Icharger 4010duo I would have just put all 4 in series for 48v/47amp/2300Watts. I get them on Ebay, this last pair was $32 for both, can't beat it. There are a few other models that work well also, but I already know how to mod/configure these ones so I stuck with the same.

[kevinpratt823]

Off and running. Just charged (8) 5s packs from 3.7v/cell up to 4.2 in under 24 minutes! I'll post up a more detailed thread when I have time, but this thing is badass! :) I just need to build up a safer charge area now.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[MarkF]

Kevin

You picked the right charger. If you talk to the company's who sell both chargers they will tell you the i chargers have a higher failure rate.

Mark

[Brushless55]

Sorry kevin.
In my first post, I did mean to say highest balancing "current", not voltage.
But I was referring to some of the chargers that only have a max of 200 or 300ma balancing current.
I'm sure you'll be glad you went with the Powerlab.
If Revolectrix bring out the 4.4 & 4.6V cells there will also be a firmware upgrade released unless they've already installed it up to those values in the newer chargers.

Do we know when these new Revo packs are coming out??
I need to get me a new charger for these HV packs that are out today

[785boats]

I'm not sure. You would have to ask John at Revolectrix. All I know is that he was working on them. Might be a year or so.

[kevinpratt823]

Kevin

You picked the right charger. If you talk to the company's who sell both chargers they will tell you the i chargers have a higher failure rate.

Mark

I actually did just that, and that is exactly what I was told. Thanks Mark.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[dasboata]

Off and running. Just charged (8) 5s packs from 3.7v/cell up to 4.2 in under 24 minutes! I'll post up a more detailed thread when I have time, but this thing is badass! :) I just need to build up a safer charge area now.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Hi Kevin are you really charging 8 pack there how do you keep track of the balancing on them ? thanks Chris

[kevinpratt823]

Hi Kevin are you really charging 8 pack there how do you keep track of the balancing on them ? thanks Chris

parallel balance harness on each set of 4.

[T.S.Davis]

Hi Kevin are you really charging 8 pack there how do you keep track of the balancing on them ? thanks Chris

Yeah me too. How's that work? Not questioning. Wanting to learn something. Your not the only one I've seen doing this.

Note on the iCharger.
My duo will balance two packs obviously. One of the gillion options on this thing is "regenerative discharge". If one cell is slightly high it discharges it a bit. With regenerative discharge on it pumps voltage back to the source. Sort of saving juice if you follow. So if charging form a battery it pumps power back into your car battery. Pretty slick.

You're supposed to turn it off if you are using a power supply as the voltage feed back to the supply will climb. Unfortunately, even though it's turned off, it still back feeds to the power supply until your power supply overvolts and shuts off or self destructs. I lost 4 power supplies before I figured out what it was doing. It's a horrible design flaw. My bulldogs will just reset themselves but charging stops as the charger shuts off and reboots. The computer type power supplies that are popular lately that go 75 amps don't have overvolt protection. They just die.

[roofintrash]

Hi Kevin are you really charging 8 pack there how do you keep track of the balancing on them ? thanks Chris

Thank you for asking the question that has made my bald spot bigger.

[T.S.Davis]

parallel balance harness on each set of 4.

I'm still confused by this.

So the charger is monitoring voltage for 4 cells for each one cell that it thinks it's monitoring. You could have one cell low and one high cell in the paralleled set but voltage reads to the charger like everything is golden.

Does this make anyone else's head hurt?

[roofintrash]

I'm still confused by this.

So the charger is monitoring voltage for 4 cells for each one cell that it thinks it's monitoring. You could have one cell low and one high cell in the paralleled set but voltage reads to the charger like everything is golden.

Does this make anyone else's head hurt?

That's exactly what I was thinking. How does it know which cell in which pack is low or high.

[T.S.Davis]

That's exactly what I was thinking. How does it know which cell in which pack is low or high.

I want to know this too. I know others are using this approach to charging so if someone knows how this works please share. I'm ignorant and want to understand it.

[kfxguy]

Yeah me too. How's that work? Not questioning. Wanting to learn something. Your not the only one I've seen doing this.

Note on the iCharger.
My duo will balance two packs obviously. One of the gillion options on this thing is "regenerative discharge". If one cell is slightly high it discharges it a bit. With regenerative discharge on it pumps voltage back to the source. Sort of saving juice if you follow. So if charging form a battery it pumps power back into your car battery. Pretty slick.

You're supposed to turn it off if you are using a power supply as the voltage feed back to the supply will climb. Unfortunately, even though it's turned off, it still back feeds to the power supply until your power supply overvolts and shuts off or self destructs. I lost 4 power supplies before I figured out what it was doing. It's a horrible design flaw. My bulldogs will just reset themselves but charging stops as the charger shuts off and reboots. The computer type power supplies that are popular lately that go 75 amps don't have overvolt protection. They just die.

Ahhhhh. This is why my power supplies were failing when using ichargers. When I switched to powerlab I didn't have any more issues.