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Author Topic: Charger power sounce  (Read 1594 times)

Offline Harold Brewer

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Charger power sounce
« on: February 04, 2013, 11:09:18 PM »
     When I purchased the Arrowwind power package for use with the Super Clown, it included a charger               (GT-P4 Charger).  Specifications call for 9-15VDC input voltage.  Other than my car, what are my options for supplying voltage to the unit?

Brew

 D>K
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Offline John Rist

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2013, 01:09:09 AM »
I use the charger from an old lap top computer.  Any 9 to 15 v power supply with enough amps will do.

Hobby King has a 25 A for $40 + shipping

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9205__25A_14v_DC_Power_Supply_for_Chargers_350W_.html
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2013, 09:57:03 AM »
Radio Shack has 13.8V power supplies -- I can't remember the price.  The 3A one may limit the amount of current you can charge at, but the 20A one should be good for anything.

If your flying circle is a long way from your car, and you want to fly at the field, an RV battery on a cart would do -- but then you'd have to charge it.
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The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline William DeMauro

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2013, 03:31:32 PM »
Some of us are using re-purposed server power supplies. They are not very expensive and work well for our applications. They are much more powerful than you currently need but if you were to upgrade your charger in the future you would be set. There were a few postings on those a while back that you may want to read. I also have a few left over from builds that I have done for others. If you or anyone wants one, I can let them go for the going rates on the RC boards.
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2013, 05:24:09 PM »
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The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline Dean Pappas

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2013, 07:39:15 PM »
Lots of good stuff at Marlon P. Jones, right Tim?

take care,
   Dean
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2013, 08:52:52 PM »
:)  I love surplus places
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The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline Rudy Taube

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2013, 01:25:27 AM »
1. William's PC PS are a great choice if he has any left.

2. Tim is correct, the Radio Shack 20 amp PS works well for our ECL charging power needs. It is light, small/flat and around $75.

3. These links might help you find a good PS.

4. If William is out of his PC PS, then you can go here. I think they still sell them to the public?

              http://www.feathermerchantrc.com/

5. Below is one of my favorite sites for Chargers and PS, etc. I think you will find a solution on this site. They also sell great "Charging boxes" and many useful items (see their full menu at top).

6.    The PRC 250 or 350 PS is inexpensive and more than enough for ECL needs. I have the 350 and it works very well for our size batteries. They are small and light weight.  I use one of their other PS for my 10S batteries. They are both good quality units.

7.     Their iCharger 206B is excellent, inexpensive, and a very good value. It will do everything you ever wanted a charger to do for our size batteries. You can look at its manual on their web site to see the many features it has. I have been using one for years on my ECL and small RC batteries. Also look at their "balancing boards" that allow you to charge and balance multiple batteries at the same time. The chart at this link gives you a good idea of their wide selection of PS. The menu at the top will get you to all their other great products. :-) They are very knowledgable people and pleasant to do business with. They ship quickly from their company right here in the USA! :-)

8. RE: 12V batteries for at the field charging. As Tim said: " .... a 12V RV battery works well.....needs cart.....". I wanted to save my back from the 40+ lb. lift and got two light weight 12V 20 amp wheelchair batteries. These have lifting grips molded into the battery and are easily carried. I can get 2 to 3 charges on each battery. I don't use them much anymore, I am lazy so I just take five batteries to the field and that is about as many ECL flights as I want to (can?  n~?) make in one day!


                  https://www.progressiverc.com/index.php/charts

May the power of Tesla be with you.  H^^





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Offline William DeMauro

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2013, 05:50:25 AM »
I still have a few left and can make up 12 or 24V versions. As Rudy says the I Charger 206b is excellent I must have as least 1000 cycles on mine. For not much more you can get the I Charger 306b which is even more powerful and has a better discharge feature(a must have for proper lipo care) than the 206b. I also have one of those with at least 500 cycles on it and like it even more than the 206b. With the availability of faster charging lipo's these days a good charger is very important.

To directly answer your question this one http://www.mpja.com/12-Volt-Desktop-Power-Supply-416A/productinfo/19324%20PS/
or this one http://www.mpja.com/12-Volt-Desktop-Power-Supply-35A/productinfo/18504%20PS/  both from the site that Tim recomennded will more than serve you with the charger that you have.
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Offline Dan Bregar

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2013, 08:20:52 AM »
Ditto on the iChargers.  Here is another source.  http://epbuddy.com/

Dan
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Offline Bruce Thoms

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2013, 09:53:31 AM »
You can buy a power supply made from a server power unit as mentioned by Wm. De Mauro from www.radicalrc.com. They plug into 110V are all set to use with very nice terminals on them. I've had one for two years now and it's been trouble free. I have done business with Radical RC a bunch of times over the last 5  years or so. Dave Thacker is a stand up guy. Looke here: http://www.radicalrc.com/category/Power-Supplies-12V-from-110V-46
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Offline Harold Brewer

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2013, 12:51:44 PM »
Loads of information; thanks for all of the information.

Brew

 H^^
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Offline John Cralley

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2013, 02:25:11 PM »
Brew,

If you are at all comfortable with electronics, you can convert an old PC power supply for just a few of dollars. Those PC power supplies are quality power supplies. I did one in 2007 and have not had a bit of trouble from it. Search around and you can probably pick up one for free or just a few bucks.

Here is a how to: http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/POWERSUPPLY.HTM

Converted server power supplies are even better but unnecessary unless you are wanting to charge a bunch of batteries all at once or have a charger that will pull a lot of AMPs.
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2013, 01:15:09 PM »
I just ran across this product.  1.5A on the +12V is way wimpy; you could change it without too much trouble, though.

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/atx-breakout-board-bench-power-supply-p-1222.html?cPath=155

I've never, ever, used these people -- I just saw the thing recommended in an electronics newsgroup.
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The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline John Rist

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Re: Charger power sounce
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2013, 04:46:40 PM »
Quote from: Tim Wescott on February 18, 2013, 01:15:09 PM
I just ran across this product.  1.5A on the +12V is way wimpy; you could change it without too much trouble, though.

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/atx-breakout-board-bench-power-supply-p-1222.html?cPath=155

I've never, ever, used these people -- I just saw the thing recommended in an electronics newsgroup.

Most ATX power supplies have 10 to 20 amp 12V out.  It would be easy to replace the 1.5A 12V fuse with a bigger one or just bypass it.  Looks like a really nice peice of hardware for the price.
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