Which Charger?

[nitro_junkie]

I am getting ready to buy an E-Maxx and was looking for a good cheap charger that would charge the batteries rather quickly but effeciantly. I was thinking about getting the Duratrax IntelliPeak Deluxe Pulse Charger. Any help would be appreciated.

[gizmoguy303]

I would look for two used Pulsar Competitions or Novak Millennium Pros on eBay or on these forums. You will need a good power supply as well.

[nitro_junkie]

thanks for the advice. i am really trying to stay under 60 dollars for the charger. because i need to buy the truck and the batteries which i want at least 4 batteries.

[teenflon5]

I am getting ready to buy an E-Maxx and was looking for a good cheap charger that would charge the batteries rather quickly but effeciantly. I was thinking about getting the Duratrax IntelliPeak Deluxe Pulse Charger. Any help would be appreciated.

That one looks pretty cool. It looks a bit old fassioned (colour) but the ones which you plug in the cable to you'r battery (from the charger) as you can also get cables to go into some controllers to charge the batteries (rechargable batteries only) and many other batteries and electrical devices (9v batteries, ect.) I have one like that but red but I havent got any other cables. saying 'cables' their really the red/black plastick covered wires that go into the posative & negative terminals on you'r charger and have different adapters on the other end. like the usual RC Battery Charger, a 9V head, (can be bourght from many RC/Electrical shops.)

Hope I am any help (if you havent already bourght it!!!)

[guver]

Try the twin pulse by duratrax, it is very simple and just slightly over your budget, you can find them used for $50

[novakman5800]

i got the twin pulse for my E-maxx. it is over your budget new, but not much. works great, charges my epic3000s in about 45 min.

[nitro_junkie]

Thanks for the info. I bought the ultimate combo from tower so I could get the easy pay option. It came with a cheap charger but I will be saving money for a good one so I should be able to get a good one. Hopefully the E-Maxx will be here today. Any suggestions on what should change or not change. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[DanteXIII]

I just got a Duratrax IntelliPeak Deluxe Pulse Charger, and I love the thing. It does what I want it to do, and doesn't screw up.

[nitro_junkie]

how long does it take to charge your batteries and what size of batteries are you using.

[nitro_junkie]

I just got my E-Maxx and was wondering which way to charge the batteries is faster or is there a differance. I have the piranha peak power charger.

[guver]

this works for all chargers: time x rate = total mah

example 1/2 hr x 4 amps = 2000 mah
example 1/2 hr x 5 amps = 2500 mah
example 1 hr x 3 amps = 3000 mah

[nitro_junkie]

thanks for the info. have been playing with the E-Maxx all day and it is awesome!!!

[ArmyMaxx]

I changed my name because I am so much happier with my E-Maxx than I was with my nitro touring car. Just wandering if you charge Nicd and then let them set over night will they loose their power?

[guver]

they will lose some, you could just quickly repeak them if you want max performance.

[ArmyMaxx]

because i charged them last night and when i put them in this morning about 0800 i only got about 2 minutes out of them and would only go about 3mph.

[guver]

sounds like a charger malfunction almost as if they really weren't chargeing?

[ArmyMaxx]

well the charger is brand new too. just got it yesterday. i have already charged the batterries before and used them right after they were done charging and they worked really well. i was just driving the maxx and couldn't get it to steer straight. i tried using the steering trim on the radio but i can't get it to go straight. it either veers off to the right or the left. have any ideas?

[guver]

Hmm, possibly a weak servo saver or servo. If toe specs are decent it shoukld track very true. Mine is old and has a weak servo and saver is weak and sloppy. It tracks pretty good . Possible binding pivot balls or something else in steering .?

[ArmyMaxx]

thanks for the info. the truck is brand new. just got it yesterday. was tracking pretty straight then but today not so much.

[ArmyMaxx]

just took it out for a run and took a small jump. it landed on it's roof(guess i need some practice) and broke both of the rear bulkheads where the shock tower screws in

[stpede]

Hey this might be off topic but does anybody know if my hobico 900 charger will charge nimh batteries?? It says nicad in the book but was wondering bout nimh they seem to be cheaper

[guver]

Yes, it will but you are guessing on how much to charge them. Same way with nicads too. If it usually is normal to charge a 1500 nicad with one cycle and you happen to be chargeing a dead nimh 3000 then simply run it thru twice keeping an eye on battery temp towards the end of the second time.

[nomad1]

On your selection of which charger to get. I'll tell that the Durtrax twin pulse will charge the packs, but over time will damage the cells of the batteries. That is because of the type of charge the twin pulse produces. Pulse that is, a on/off charge. NiMh's require a straight linear charge. So my suggestion is the Dynomite Twin Peak charger. It ofers Liner charge and 2 pack charging. I have 2 for my kids, they work excellent, and run about $70.00. Just check Horizon Hobby website. As for charging Nicd's any charger will work, providing they charge for the right amount of time. A good way to tell if they are charged all the way or not is to feel the pack, it's temparture should feel warm to the palm of the hand. Not hot, just warm. As for leaving them charged over night, bad idea a stale charge is not a great way to run packs. And repeaking them if they are Nicd's isn't the greatest idea either. If they are NiMh's you want to keep some charge in them for storage, so repeaking them is ok. Plus NiMh's don't develope memory, as do Nicd's. Just my 4-1/2 cents worth. But this info is all available through car action back articles.

[guver]

the intellipeak line of chargers do not pulse or reverse pulse as far as I can tell. I don't know why they are called "intellipulse"?? They use the same cut-off for nicad and nickle batts just like any other charger that does not have adjustable cut-off.

[gizmoguy303]

I agree with Nomad, which is why I recommended the chargers I did. There is a reason they are named "IntelliPeak Pulse" chargers. A linear charge is the best thing to use with NiMH's.

Look for a linear charger. If your budget only allows the Dynamite charger Nomad suggested, I would go with that. If you have more to spend, I would go with two used (or new) high-end chargers and a good PS.

As far as battery care, this is would I would recommend for your applications: Charge at 4-5 amps. After running the batteries until you feel the car slowing down, use an external discharger such as the Integy Reactor 30 to bring each pack down to 5.4v. Do not run the car until it comes to a dead stop - this is harmful to the batteries as it brings them to a dangerously low voltage.

After this, either A) Let them completely cool (1-2 hours) before recharging. B) Store them afterwards, if they are being stored for under a week. C) Let them cool, and put a partial charge in them if they will be stored for an extended period of time.

If you are using packs which are assembled in a side-by-side configuration, like when you buy matched packs, it is beneficial to use an equalizing tray to discharge the individual cells to the same voltage BEFORE charging. This cannot be done to stick packs because of their different cell config. and shrinkwrap/packaging.

[guver]

What is the reason they are called "pulse" ?

sorry, I can't resist backing you into a corner (freindlily of course)

[nomad1]

Well gee, let's see. :)

[guver]

I guess it depends what one means by "pulse"

the intellipeaks are as smooth as I can detect getting a sample every second. I think I understand reverse pulse, constant current or impulse as it is explained in some manuels, but it may be an interesting thread that defined linear and pulse, ect.

Here's one I don't know if it is a pulse or not, but it definetly charges high the low every second. It is the 969 super brain.

[ArmyMaxx]

I've decided for now just to stick with the cheap charger I have. It charges two batts in about 45 to 60 minutes.

[nomad1]

If you go to some of the manufactuers websites, some define what it charge is. And how it works. I do believe that the MRC's all offer a Linear. But I think the new 977 has more then one charge type.

[nomad1]

:D :D :D :D

[nomad1]

I posted a charge typr for all to see in the electronics forum. This is info available from the net.