Which charger for FM Battery Adapters

[vrocco]

I am going to be purchasing battery adapters from fivemega for 12AA - 4D and 9AA - 3D. I am wondering which charger is best for charging these packs? I know he provides a link in the thread to batteryspace chargers, but they range in price from $25 up to about $100 so I am looking for some guidance.

Being that the 12AA runs at 14.4v, I will need one rated at least that. Do I need to spend $100 on the fancy smart charger with lcd and everything?

Thanks!

 

[GLOCK18]

I bought a BC6 and found it to meet all my needs, from NIMH and all Lio-Ion. They were on sell but cant remember right now. It can charge up to 15 NIMH batteries and 6 Lio-ion.

 

[sygyzy]

You are complaining about the cost but as you stated, there's such a wide range. I bought one of the $25 he linked to and soldered on the male charging plug. $25 is not $100 and you don't need $100.

 

[vrocco]

No I was not complaining. Simply asking if it was necessary to spend the $100 for a charger. I have come to find that often spending more does not necessarily mean "better" and spending less is not necessarily "cheap".

I searched the charger that GLOCK said he had and found it to be in the $140-$180 range. Is that the right one?

If I have to spend that, I will. My question was: What chargers have people had good results with using these battery packs?

 

[GLOCK18]

I paid $140.00 for my BC6 from a RC Hobbie site, yes it cost a bit more but the way I look at it, its the last charger I will need to buy.

 

[elugelab]

Is soldering the only way to connect the male charging plug to the charger?

 

[sygyzy]

I don't know what the BC6 offers that makes it cost that much. Mine was like $25. It came with a variety of adapters and plugs but obviously none were the male plug. So yes, soldering is the only way. You need to cut off the existing plug and strip the wires and solder them into the male plug FiveMega provides.

I can post a picture if you'd like.

 

[rmteo]

This charger, for $16.50, will charge at up to 3A:
http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=B4035458&pid=V934214

You will still have to solder the appropriate connector though.

 

[elugelab]

t came with a variety of adapters and plugs but obviously none were the male plug. So yes, soldering is the only way. You need to cut off the existing plug and strip the wires and solder them into the male plug FiveMega provides.

I can post a picture if you'd like.

So I need to buy a soldering iron too. Will any cheap one do?
I haven't even soldered for over 12 years...

So yes please, for the picture.
I need all the help I can get.

 

[Illum]

This charger, for $16.50, will charge at up to 3A:
http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=B4035458&pid=V934214

You will still have to solder the appropriate connector though.

you don't want to charge NiMHs using a fast charger equaling or exceeding the capacity of the batteries, you'll produce excessive heat and shorten the life of your batteries:shakehead

I am going to be purchasing battery adapters from fivemega for 12AA - 4D and 9AA - 3D. I am wondering which charger is best for charging these packs? I know he provides a link in the thread to batteryspace chargers, but they range in price from $25 up to about $100 so I am looking for some guidance.

Being that the 12AA runs at 14.4v, I will need one rated at least that. Do I need to spend $100 on the fancy smart charger with lcd and everything?

Thanks!

heres what I would do...
get this: Multi-Current Universal Smart Charger for 9.6V - 18V NiMH Battery Packs (Tamiya Plug) CH-UN180
it'll come with an additional tamiya plug attachment along with the set of alligator clipper attachment. Depending on whether you have RC battery packs you'll need to charge them with you could sever either attachment then solder the included barrel adapter as included by FM on it. REMEMBER CENTER IS POSITIVE

I own two of them, works very well for 9AA-3D, dunno about 12AA-4D because I don't use that big of a holder, but given that 12AA = 14.4V, its within the range of the charger so I don't think why not.

The difference in price is that some chargers provide cell conditioning and balancing...which there are "poorman's options" like disassembling your cell pack and charge the cells individually to prevent an imbalance in remaining capacity giving you battery issues and hazards in the future, for that matter I'd seek assistance to find a decent charger that charges single cells only

 

[sygyzy]

heres what I would do...
get this: Multi-Current Universal Smart Charger for 9.6V - 18V NiMH Battery Packs (Tamiya Plug) CH-UN180
it'll come with an additional tamiya plug attachment along with the set of alligator clipper attachment. Depending on whether you have RC battery packs you'll need to charge them with you could sever either attachment then solder the included barrel adapter as included by FM on it. REMEMBER CENTER IS POSITIVE

I own two of them, works very well for 9AA-3D, dunno about 12AA-4D because I don't use that big of a holder, but given that 12AA = 14.4V, its within the range of the charger so I don't think why not.

The difference in price is that some chargers provide cell conditioning and balancing...which there are "poorman's options" like disassembling your cell pack and charge the cells individually to prevent an imbalance in remaining capacity giving you battery issues and hazards in the future, for that matter I'd seek assistance to find a decent charger that charges single cells only

This is the exact charger I have and I did the exact same thing as Illum. I cut off the aligator clips and soldered the male plug to them. One small problem is the wires are very thick and there's little space separating them after you solder. Also, you have to put the cap back on further making it a tighter fit. I worry about shorts.

Ilium - How can I determine how long it'll take to charge a pack?

 

[Illum]

Ilium - How can I determine how long it'll take to charge a pack?

Whenever it turns green...make sure you use the included thermo-probe.

Green means its at open circuit, which also means you can keep it on the charger for as long as you like without it overcharging anything

A quick math oughta help too...
Eneloops are 1200mah series configuration increases voltage but not capacity, charging 1200mah at a rate of 0.9A, or 900ma would yield 1.2/0.9=1.3hours, or about 1 hour and 20 minutes, but I usually give it 2 hours
WHOOPS! See post 19, Eneloops are rated around 2000mah, NOT 1200mag,
Note to self: Always reread your posts dofus

2000/900=2 hours, which goes to about 2 hours and 13 minutes minimum

 

[sygyzy]

Does it matter how many cells? Say I have a 9xAA and 6xAA. Does it take the same amount of time? Are you sure it's smart enough to cut off charging?

 

[Illum]

Are you sure it's smart enough to cut off charging?

I'm not sure whether it is smart enough to do anything, I'm not sure whether my house will collapse because of termites, I'm not sure when my 96 Nissan Quest will decide to quit, I'm not sure when my cells would give up and die.

As for the answer to your question, its just best left unanswered. If it works, then it should work for the life of your cells, if not...you'll just be reviewing the procedures to operate the fire extinguisher, but I have not ran into that and I've been using my Mag85s for a long time

 

[sygyzy]

Illum - Can you tell me if charging times are effected by number of cells or just the mah of each?

 

[Illum]

Illum - Can you tell me if charging times are effected by number of cells or just the mah of each?

I don't have sufficient evidence before me to give you a justifiable answer, but since the charger indicates that it supports a wide range of voltages, charging should be relatively close to the 9AA one. Remember that current regulated chargers deal only with charge rate and battery capacity, NOT of the collective voltage as long as its below the manufacturer's limit

 

[DM51]

This belongs in the Batteries forum. Moving it now.

 

[Illum]

This belongs in the Batteries forum. Moving it now.

I;m surprised you haven't posted your advice on this matter yet
When it comes to rechargeables, you, mdocod, et al are more knowledgeable than I am. I'm just a user

 

[Mr Happy]

This is the exact charger I have and I did the exact same thing as Illum. I cut off the aligator clips and soldered the male plug to them. One small problem is the wires are very thick and there's little space separating them after you solder. Also, you have to put the cap back on further making it a tighter fit. I worry about shorts.

You should really put some insulation between the bare connections, for instance wrap electrical tape around one of them.

Eneloops are 1200mah series configuration increases voltage but not capacity, charging 1200mah at a rate of 0.9A, or 900ma would yield 1.2/0.9=1.3hours, or about 1 hour and 20 minutes, but I usually give it 2 hours

On a point of detail, AA eneloops are 1900 mAh. So charging at 900 mA would take somewhat over 2 hours.

 

[skylar]

simple answer get a hobby charger. If you going to charge lith types.