[Canadiank-9]

I want to have a cycler that will cycle my Tx and Rx batteries. I want some opinions on what would be the best. Not necessarily the most expensive, but would serve my purposes for a good price. I currently have an older Futaba and new Airtronics. Any ideas, thoughts.. please provide lots.

[Noin]

I don't know if you think a Triton is expensive but thats what I use and I like it. It works very well in regards to the tasks you requested and more. It will likely be the last cycler you need to buy. However with futaba radios I think you need to run a direct line from the tx battery to discharge or cycle it as the tx has circuitry that does not allow you to discharge through the charging jack. This is how my basic 4 channel Futaba tx is anyways.

My only beef with the Triton is that in can only do 1 battery at a time where as the Hobbico can do 2 I think.

[Ramz-to-tha-Z]

Right now I believe that Great Hobbies has the Triton charger/cydler on for about 130$. I've got one and i cycle my ni-cad's and charge my lithiums. So far it's worked great. It seems to be the charger of choice right now.

[Kevin McGrath]

I like Ace products myself and have a six battery charger and a charger/cycler which have given me great performance.
Hobbico sell units at somewhat less $ but my impression is that they dont have the quality that some others have.
Mine lasted four seasons until it burned out.
Go here for more info than you probably want on the subject"
WWW.radicalrc.com

You can jump the diodes in any TX to allow in situ cycling of the batteries and the Radical site will tell you how.

I have no doubt the Triton or any other quality "cycler of the week" will be as much as you want in quality.........

[CanajunFlyBoy]

If you are working with standard NiCads I have an Hobbico Accucycle Plus which I would be willing to sell for $100 (cost $250) but now replaced by the Elite. I have used it for three years and it works great. The only reason I would be willing to part with it is because I would like to get a more sophisticated charger that can handle Li poly, etc.

Let me know if you're interested. You can PM me.

Cheers,

CFB

I have a Hobbico Accu Cycler which is great for any nicads or Nihm up to about 1600 mah. I have had one for a few years and like it very much. Right now Great Hobbies has them on sale for $69.00 - great deal.

[scaleguy]

Originally Posted by Don M.

I have a Hobbico Accu Cycler which is great for any nicads or Nihm up to about 1600 mah. I have had one for a few years and like it very much. Right now Great Hobbies has them on sale for $69.00 - great deal.

Don,

Why the statment about only good upto 1600 mAh? I regularly cycle a couple of 2200 and a 2800 niMh 5 cell 6 volt packs on mine and it has never been a problem. I am pulling close to 2600 mAh on the 2800 pack.. that's pretty good.

I'd say go with the Hobbico standard if you intend to use niMh or if you think you might go Lithium at any point buy the Elite now, will savre you money in the long run. A;ll three of the Hobico chargers will do you Tx and Rx at the same time. As stated above the Triton will only do one battery at a time.

Ace make good products to but they are sometimes hard to find.

JMHO

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Canadiank-9

I want to have a cycler that will cycle my Tx and Rx batteries. I want some opinions on what would be the best. Not necessarily the most expensive, but would serve my purposes for a good price. I currently have an older Futaba and new Airtronics. Any ideas, thoughts.. please provide lots.

If its simply to cycle you TX and RX packs, then get a Triton. They work really well and are easy to use.

If you have in a remote thought in the back of your mind of doing any electric RC (larger than park flyers), get a Shulze isl 6 - 330d. Not only can you charge two batteries at once, but you can now charge more than 3S lithium packs which none of the basic chargers will do. They will still do all your regular packs as well. About $70 US more than the Triton though....

[quote="scaleguy"]

Originally Posted by Don M.

Why the statment about only good upto 1600 mAh? I regularly cycle a couple of 2200 and a 2800 niMh 5 cell 6 volt packs on mine and it has never been a problem. I am pulling close to 2600 mAh on the 2800 pack.. that's pretty good.
JMHO

Actually I was refering to the charge rate not the discharge rate. If I am not mistaken it will charge up to 140 mah. I too dischage my packs up to 3600 mah on it but use a charger capable of up to 500 mah to charge any packs over 1400 mah or so. I know you can charge larger packs by leaving them on longer but I get more capacity if I charge at C10. IMHO.