COMMON CHARGER FEATURES
High-end chargers are full of useful features, some
of which may or may not
be pertinent to your needs.
Researching your specific
needs is critical. Just because a
charger is expensive does not
necessarily mean that it will
provide the intended functions:
BATTERY T YPES
Not all batteries may be charged with
the same charger, so depending on the
batteries used, the charger needs to be
selected accordingly. Popular batteries
on the market are LiPo, Ni-Cd, Ni MH,
Li Fe, and Pb. Make sure that the charger
is compatible with the batteries that
you intend to use.
POWER SOURCES
AC/DC chargers plug directly into the
wall, making the charger easy to use,
but many high-end chargers are DC
only and require an additional power
source to plug into the wall. When
attempting to charge at a high amp rate,
a power source is sometimes necessary.
Also, eliminating the power source from
the charger itself can help a charger
last a lifetime, since there is essentially
less to go wrong. Unless the charger is
AC/DC, buying an independent power
source is a must.
BALANCERS
Li Po battery packs require the use of
a pack balancer to balance the charge
rate among the individual cells. Some
chargers use an internal balancer, which
is a great feature. If the charger does not
contain a balancer, an external balancer
is a must-have.
Dynamite
Passport Ultra
Power DC Charger
;is small, but powerful package features 150 W of charging power,
allowing for a 7A charge, and up to an 8S LiPo and 5C. ;is charger
features adaptors for some of the industry’s most popular connectors,
making this charger e;ective right out of the box.
Item no. DYN4102; $135
dynamiterc.com
C;LEVELS
Charge rates for Li Pos are rated in
“C” levels. Charging a 5000m Ah at 1C
means that it should be charged at 5A.
;e same pack charged at 2C would be
charged at 10A, and 3C would charge at
15A. ;e battery itself determines the C
rate, so research what C level the pack
is rated at. If you want to maximize the
pack’s charge rate, make sure to choose
a charger that is capable of charging at
that rate.
ProTek
RC Prodigy 620
DUO Battery Charger
;e Prodigy 620 DUO is capable
of charging LiPo, LiFe, and NiMH
cells. ;anks to independent
400W channels, this DC charger
is capable of charging dual packs,
up to 6S, with a backlit LCD display
and white characters for great
visibility.
Item no. PTK8507; $190
protekrc.com
MULTIPLE CHANNELS
Some chargers are capable of charging
multiple batteries at the same time. ;is
is especially useful when the vehicle
uses more than one battery to operate.
Purchasing a multi-channel charger can
cut charging time drastically because
who wants to wait for two charging
cycles when multiple packs can be
charged simultaneously?
MAKE A MULTI;ADAP TOR In a perfect world, battery connectors would be standardized, but that is not the case. ;ere are a multitude of connectors on the market, and using an individual adaptor for every one is time consuming and clutters the pit bag.
;e solution is to create one adaptor
with many connectors—a one-stop
shop for all charging needs. Start with
an alligator clip to attach to the charger
leads, and branch out by attaching
di ;erent connectors to the same wires.
Soldering can be tricky since the same
solder joint is used to connect all of
them, but by using a hot soldering iron
( 40+ watts) and a soldering jig, the task
is achievable. It takes some time, but the
end result is extremely versatile.
Hitec X4 AC Plus Four-Channel AC/DC Multi-Charger
;e X4 AC Plus maximizes driving
time by charging an astounding
four batteries at a time, at 6A, up
to a 6S LiPo or 15 sub-C cells. Each
channel features an independent
balancing function and optimized
operating software. To keep
charging cool and e;cient, the X4
also sports two internal cooling
fans.
Item no. HRC44167; $219
hitecrcd.com
Hitec X2-400 2-Channel
DC Multi-Charger
When paired with an adequate
power supply, the X2-400 is
capable of extremely high charge
rates—up to 20A per channel. Each
channel is capable of charging up
to a 6S LiPo and 15 sub-C cells. A
USB PC link is available separately.
Item no. HRC44170; $190
hitecrcd.com
Hitec H4 Multi-Charger
With its sleek case and attractive
display, the H4 is Hitec’s newest
o;ering on the market. Capable of
charging from dual channels at 8A
a piece, charging times are quick,
e;cient, and powerful. A USB port
allows for upgradable firmware
to keep up with new battery
technologies for years to come.
Item no. 44186; $290
hitecrcd.com
