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FaceDeAce · 04-21-2003, 11:53 PM

So ... just how much use do you get out of a field charger anyway?

I usually get about 6, 10 minute, flights in and that is a good outing. I find that my Rx still has more than half capacity (380 of 600) and my transmitter has barely used a third (225 of 650).

I was considering a field charger, but can't see my need for one. If I did go for it, which one would you recommend?

CP

Guest · 04-22-2003, 12:01 AM

Since I rarely ever take my plane out of my car, I fast charge on the way out to the field. If I am out of town at a contest they also come in real handy if taking the plane into the hotel room is not all that easy (my planes are 6.5 feet in length so transport around is a bit of an issue).

I use the Dymond Super Turbo

see http://www.rc-dymond.com/

the only problem with it is that it is limited to charging one pack at a time. Other than that it is super useful for just about all my charging needs. I can also charge up my starter and glow driver if needed.

I have a 12V power supply so that I can use the charger off a wall outlet.

There are a couple others that are very similar (FMA Super Nova, GP Triton) that will also work well. The new Hobbico MK2 field charger looks promising as well.

I never used to have a field charger, and I cant imagine not having one now

Nuker · 04-22-2003, 06:41 AM

I have the Hobbico Field Charge MK II (I got the new one to charge Lithium Ion cells in my IFO and my wife took my old one)

I don't use it all the time however between myself and my wife it has been seen charging a plane about every other weekend over the last 2 years. I check the cells after 3 flights but after a 4th, regardless of the reading, I prefer to "top it up".

My radio has a 1100 so it charges ... rarely

Yet another form of cheap insurance; for me anyway

Bob

ps my buddy, on the other hand, shows up, quick charges and then flies so his is in constant use

Sport Flyer · 05-31-2003, 11:23 PM

I have an Ace Fast Field charger. It works decently, and can charge both Tx and Rx at the same time, but its hard on the small 300 mah packs I use in my Lazy Bee and Diamond Dust. I just ordered a new Ace Super Smart Charge which is supposed to actually condition packs and remove memory.

JKovats · 06-17-2003, 03:06 PM

The new Hobbico field charger is super. I bought one a month ago. You can charge 2 things at a time, you can sellect the charging rate from .2 ma up to 2 amps, it figures out how many batteries you have and beeps when it's finished and goes to trickle. I put a couple banana jacks on my glow driver and top this up too. You can't hook it up wrong as it will set off an alarm. A no brainer / just the way I like it!! Some of the best money I have spent in a long time. I just bought an "electric slow flyer" and it will handle that battery pack without thinking too. Will charge ALL types of bateries "smart".

JKovats · 06-17-2003, 03:07 PM

The new Hobbico field charger is super. I bought one a month ago. You can charge 2 things at a time, you can sellect the charging rate from .2 ma up to 2 amps, it figures out how many batteries you have and beeps when it's finished and goes to trickle. I put a couple banana jacks on my glow driver and top this up too. You can't hook it up wrong as it will set off an alarm. A no brainer / just the way I like it!! Some of the best money I have spent in a long time. I just bought an "electric slow flyer" and it will handle that battery pack without thinking too. Will charge ALL types of bateries "smart".

Hughes500E · 06-17-2003, 08:34 PM

Hands down....... Sirius Smart Chargers running in at 129.00 US It is Goof Proof........................ Conditions as you charge, never have to cycle unless you want to determine the condition of the pack..........recommended

will do both RX and TX at the same time...... and has a lifetime warranty............
http://www.siriuselectronics.com/

JKovats · 06-17-2003, 09:39 PM

Hobbico is 79.95 CDN at HobbyHobby if you don't want to spend that much.

JKovats · 06-17-2003, 09:40 PM

Hobbico is 79.95 CDN at HobbyHobby if you don't want to spend that much.

Vulcan1 · 06-17-2003, 10:25 PM

I have an ACE fast charger and it burns up small batteries.Time it for 15 min. and shut it off.(emergency only)Also have ahobbico and use it consistantly. Along with these I use an ACE chargmaster(it charges C10and then I switch to low rate. This has 2 transmitter and 4 reciever outlets and 1 is 120ma. The rate out are C1 so they are just kept topped up. The religiously one I choose is an ACE Digipace and I cycle all of them once a month. I still use small batteries in a racer and fast charge after every run.
50ma.pack quickie 500 and 100 ma. pack in a formula 1. You have to save weight. Hope this helps from this end. John
Keep the shiny side up and the wheels down unless you are like Andrew.Looks to me like he makes a fairly often run to Walmart for garbage bags.Have a good day you guys

04-21-2003, 11:53 PM	#1
FaceDeAce RCC Supreme Contributor I am: Claude P. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Great Western Radio of choice: Futaba 7C and 9C, Prism 7x # of RCs: 20+ Feedback: 8 / 100% Posts: 2,092 Total Props: 1	Field Chargers - ??? Remove this ad - become a site supporter! So ... just how much use do you get out of a field charger anyway? I usually get about 6, 10 minute, flights in and that is a good outing. I find that my Rx still has more than half capacity (380 of 600) and my transmitter has barely used a third (225 of 650). I was considering a field charger, but can't see my need for one. If I did go for it, which one would you recommend? CP
	.

04-22-2003, 06:41 AM	#3
Nuker RCC Supreme Contributor I am: Bob D. Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whitby, Ontario Radio of choice: Futaba 12FG # of RCs: 1+ Feedback: 0 / 0% Posts: 3,312 Total Props: 0	I have the Hobbico Field Charge MK II (I got the new one to charge Lithium Ion cells in my IFO and my wife took my old one) I don't use it all the time however between myself and my wife it has been seen charging a plane about every other weekend over the last 2 years. I check the cells after 3 flights but after a 4th, regardless of the reading, I prefer to "top it up". My radio has a 1100 so it charges ... rarely Yet another form of cheap insurance; for me anyway Bob ps my buddy, on the other hand, shows up, quick charges and then flies so his is in constant use __________________ Bob D. Ajax RC Club Indoor Aero-Choppers Member of MAAC since I joined Lighten Up, Life is waaaaaayyyy too short
	.

05-31-2003, 11:23 PM	#4
Sport Flyer RCC Junior Contributor I am: Kelvin M Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Portage la Prairie MB Radio of choice: JR # of RCs: &#8 Feedback: 1 / 100% Posts: 136 Total Props: 0	I have an Ace Fast Field charger. It works decently, and can charge both Tx and Rx at the same time, but its hard on the small 300 mah packs I use in my Lazy Bee and Diamond Dust. I just ordered a new Ace Super Smart Charge which is supposed to actually condition packs and remove memory. __________________ Gravity -- Its the law!!
	.

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04-22-2003, 12:01 AM	#2
Guest Guest Join Date: Sep 2002 Feedback: 0 / 0% Posts: 0 Total Props: 57	Since I rarely ever take my plane out of my car, I fast charge on the way out to the field. If I am out of town at a contest they also come in real handy if taking the plane into the hotel room is not all that easy (my planes are 6.5 feet in length so transport around is a bit of an issue). I use the Dymond Super Turbo see http://www.rc-dymond.com/ the only problem with it is that it is limited to charging one pack at a time. Other than that it is super useful for just about all my charging needs. I can also charge up my starter and glow driver if needed. I have a 12V power supply so that I can use the charger off a wall outlet. There are a couple others that are very similar (FMA Super Nova, GP Triton) that will also work well. The new Hobbico MK2 field charger looks promising as well. I never used to have a field charger, and I cant imagine not having one now
	.

06-17-2003, 03:06 PM	#5
JKovats RCC Master Contributor I am: John R Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge Ontario Radio of choice: JR Feedback: 9 / 100% Posts: 1,286 Total Props: 20	The new Hobbico field charger is super. I bought one a month ago. You can charge 2 things at a time, you can sellect the charging rate from .2 ma up to 2 amps, it figures out how many batteries you have and beeps when it's finished and goes to trickle. I put a couple banana jacks on my glow driver and top this up too. You can't hook it up wrong as it will set off an alarm. A no brainer / just the way I like it!! Some of the best money I have spent in a long time. I just bought an "electric slow flyer" and it will handle that battery pack without thinking too. Will charge ALL types of bateries "smart".
	.

06-17-2003, 03:07 PM	#6
JKovats RCC Master Contributor I am: John R Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge Ontario Radio of choice: JR Feedback: 9 / 100% Posts: 1,286 Total Props: 20	The new Hobbico field charger is super. I bought one a month ago. You can charge 2 things at a time, you can sellect the charging rate from .2 ma up to 2 amps, it figures out how many batteries you have and beeps when it's finished and goes to trickle. I put a couple banana jacks on my glow driver and top this up too. You can't hook it up wrong as it will set off an alarm. A no brainer / just the way I like it!! Some of the best money I have spent in a long time. I just bought an "electric slow flyer" and it will handle that battery pack without thinking too. Will charge ALL types of bateries "smart".
	.

06-17-2003, 08:34 PM	#7
Hughes500E RCC Supreme Contributor I am: Steve H. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Armstrong BC Feedback: 34 / 100% Posts: 3,757 Total Props: 16	Hands down....... Sirius Smart Chargers running in at 129.00 US It is Goof Proof........................ Conditions as you charge, never have to cycle unless you want to determine the condition of the pack..........recommended will do both RX and TX at the same time...... and has a lifetime warranty............ http://www.siriuselectronics.com/
	.

06-17-2003, 09:39 PM	#8
JKovats RCC Master Contributor I am: John R Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge Ontario Radio of choice: JR Feedback: 9 / 100% Posts: 1,286 Total Props: 20	Hobbico is 79.95 CDN at HobbyHobby if you don't want to spend that much.
	.

06-17-2003, 09:40 PM	#9
JKovats RCC Master Contributor I am: John R Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge Ontario Radio of choice: JR Feedback: 9 / 100% Posts: 1,286 Total Props: 20	Hobbico is 79.95 CDN at HobbyHobby if you don't want to spend that much.
	.

06-17-2003, 10:25 PM	#10
Vulcan1 RCC Supreme Contributor I am: John Davidson Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Vulcan,Alberta Radio of choice: EVO(12), Futaba # of RCs: ? Feedback: 0 / 0% Posts: 2,927 Total Props: 0	I have an ACE fast charger and it burns up small batteries.Time it for 15 min. and shut it off.(emergency only)Also have ahobbico and use it consistantly. Along with these I use an ACE chargmaster(it charges C10and then I switch to low rate. This has 2 transmitter and 4 reciever outlets and 1 is 120ma. The rate out are C1 so they are just kept topped up. The religiously one I choose is an ACE Digipace and I cycle all of them once a month. I still use small batteries in a racer and fast charge after every run. 50ma.pack quickie 500 and 100 ma. pack in a formula 1. You have to save weight. Hope this helps from this end. John Keep the shiny side up and the wheels down unless you are like Andrew.Looks to me like he makes a fairly often run to Walmart for garbage bags.Have a good day you guys
	.

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