Lipo charger/balancer project for the handy

[Wattnot]

This came out great! I took a very old (20+years?) universal nicad charger and used it as an adjustable battery holder and hooked it to my lipo charger/balancer. Now I can charge 1 thru 4 cells and balance them at the same time! Slick, eh? It takes up to 18650's but I believe I'll need spacers for RCR123's.

 

[jayb79]

Looks very nice, more info please. I have an old rayovac that looks like that.

 

[Wattnot]

You're basically just gutting and using the old charger as a battery holder. The lipo charger is doing all of the work. My charger, from FMA, happens to balance and charge simultaniously. I bought a battery pigtail and that is what I wired to the old charger. It came with a wiring diagram which made it easy. The charger just sees a battery pack of X number of cells. The little jumper on the right is needed to complete the circuit when there are less than 4 cells (which is all of the time in my case but I wanted it to be capable of 4 to match the charger).

It's made for RC aircraft but can charge lipos and lithiums of all chemistries.

 

[Wattnot]

Resurrecting this old thread because it's still relevant . . . . and I'm getting ready to put this kit up for sale in the marketplace.