badbanterer
03-08-2006, 11:44 AM
Hello,
I got a Duratrax Intellipeak ICE charger and found out that I still need to get a DC power supply to run the thing. Radio Shack has a 15 A DC supply for another $80 + tx, that will bring the total to about $220 or so for my charging set up. The hobby store where I got the Maxx also suggested that I get a charger that can charge 2 packs at once and suggested I have a "quick" charger as well.
All of the reviews I read on the ICE say it is pretty good but one of the cons is that it can only discharge at a max rate of 10 amps.
Here are my questions:
Why and when are 10 amps not enough?
How much faster does a quick charger work than the ICE will?
Are there self-contained AC/DC chargers that will do what the ICE will AND do multiple packs for about the $220 I will end up spending? [For those that do not know, it will charge/discharge Nicad, NiMH, Lithiums, break in motors, store 10 battery types and much more other stuff. I dunno when/if I am ever going to need to break in a motor but it sounds cool]. I believe the most important things are to charge/discharge all three types of batteries, mutliple batteries at once and higher discharge rate.
If there are not, how much more will they cost?
Or should I keep the ICE?
If I keep it, it was suggested I get a DC PS from a 'puter. How tough would that be? I'm an Ex EE but worked on electronics that use mA and microamps. Higher power stuff is not really my expertise although, of course, I do remember the basics!
I read about an MRC Super Brain 977 and it can do multiple packs but has a lower discharge current.
Whew! That's a mouthful.
Thanks,
Jorge
I got a Duratrax Intellipeak ICE charger and found out that I still need to get a DC power supply to run the thing. Radio Shack has a 15 A DC supply for another $80 + tx, that will bring the total to about $220 or so for my charging set up. The hobby store where I got the Maxx also suggested that I get a charger that can charge 2 packs at once and suggested I have a "quick" charger as well.
All of the reviews I read on the ICE say it is pretty good but one of the cons is that it can only discharge at a max rate of 10 amps.
Here are my questions:
Why and when are 10 amps not enough?
How much faster does a quick charger work than the ICE will?
Are there self-contained AC/DC chargers that will do what the ICE will AND do multiple packs for about the $220 I will end up spending? [For those that do not know, it will charge/discharge Nicad, NiMH, Lithiums, break in motors, store 10 battery types and much more other stuff. I dunno when/if I am ever going to need to break in a motor but it sounds cool]. I believe the most important things are to charge/discharge all three types of batteries, mutliple batteries at once and higher discharge rate.
If there are not, how much more will they cost?
Or should I keep the ICE?
If I keep it, it was suggested I get a DC PS from a 'puter. How tough would that be? I'm an Ex EE but worked on electronics that use mA and microamps. Higher power stuff is not really my expertise although, of course, I do remember the basics!
I read about an MRC Super Brain 977 and it can do multiple packs but has a lower discharge current.
Whew! That's a mouthful.
Thanks,
Jorge