Charging for a newbie question

[Oceanminded]

Just got back into RC after a long hiatus. I bought a new Hitec X2 AC Plus Black Edition Charger and a Zee 5200 50C 22.2V 6S LiPo battery. Manual is quite complex. Is there a good YouTube video for dummies to explain the basics. I just want to charge correctly and know how to discharge and/or store.

 

[CrashBoom]

Do you not understand the semantics of charging, which "buttons to push" or both?

 

[fpvmiller]

4.2v x number of cells

Total cell voltage x amps = watts

6s 5200mah charging at 1C requires 5.2amps = 131 watts.

 

[Oceanminded]

It’s been about 30 years since I charged the old 6 cell NiMH batteries.

 

[Jerry-rigged]

Your biggest problem is that you have a huge battery, and a small-ish charger. That charger can only do 100w at a time, (either 100w on one battery, or 50w on two batteries) and as @fpvmiller said, you need more than that. I wrote a long article about charging basics over on RCTalk, let me see if I can still find a link...
https://www.rctalk.com/how-to-choose-an-rc-lipo-charger/

 

[Oceanminded]

Do you not understand the semantics of charging, which "buttons to push" or both?

Your biggest problem is that you have a huge battery, and a small-ish charger. That charger can only do 100w at a time, (either 100w on one battery, or 50w on two batteries) and as @fpvmiller said, you need more than that. I wrote a long article about charging basics over on RCTalk, let me see if I can still find a link...
https://www.rctalk.com/how-to-choose-an-rc-lipo-charger/

Good to know. I plan on using 6s for my new Kraton. I prefer to run a single battery. How long will it take to charge using the Hitec and do you recommend I return and get a different charger? I only have one car so what would be another good charger option for 6s?
Thanks

 

[CrashBoom]

Probably take around 1:15-1:30 to charge a 5200mah 6s with the X2.

Personally I use the HTRC C240 Duo. Works just fine and doesn't break the bank. 150W on AC or 240W on DC. The HOTA D6+ also seems to be popular.

The X2 will be a tad slow, but it will work. If you get into multiple batteries, a higher powered charger will save time - that's the primary reason you might want something more powerful.

 

[olds97_lss]

Good to know. I plan on using 6s for my new Kraton. I prefer to run a single battery. How long will it take to charge using the Hitec and do you recommend I return and get a different charger? I only have one car so what would be another good charger option for 6s?
Thanks

He mentioned here what you need as a bare minimum to charge at 1C (typical charging in an hour):
6s 5200mah charging at 1C requires 5.2amps = 131 watts.

So you need a charger that can at least do that. 6A/150W or more per port.
The hitec D7: https://www.rcplanet.com/chargers/c...0w-ac-dc-balance-charger-discharger-hrc44249/
Skyrc Duo 400W: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/skyrc-u...-charger-discharger-power-supply-us-plug.html
Hota d6 plus: https://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=447

There are others and a lot of DC options if you want to go that route.

 

[Oceanminded]

He mentioned here what you need as a bare minimum to charge at 1C (typical charging in an hour):
6s 5200mah charging at 1C requires 5.2amps = 131 watts.

So you need a charger that can at least do that. 6A/150W or more per port.
The hitec D7: https://www.rcplanet.com/chargers/c...0w-ac-dc-balance-charger-discharger-hrc44249/
Skyrc Duo 400W: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/skyrc-u...-charger-discharger-power-supply-us-plug.html
Hota d6 plus: https://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=447

There are others and a lot of DC options if you want to go that route.

Thanks for the input. I don't see myself charging multiple batteries at once but that could change if I want to run two 3S batteries. The Hota d6 is more in my price range. They also offer it with a balance board which I assume I need since my Zee battery has that 2nd plug coming out of it?

 

[fpvmiller]

Yes lipos should always be balance charged, balance stored.

If your charger can charge one 6s 5000mah lipo you should be able to charge two 3s lipos up to the same capacity.

So if you had a 2 channel charger that can handle 150 watts total between the two channels simultaneously then you could charge two 3s lipos (one on each channel) up to 5000mah at 1C.

 

[Oceanminded]

https://www.rcplanet.com/chargers/chargers-ac-dc/hitec-power-peak-e7-charger-hrc44265/
This Hitec one is rated at 200 W but only has one port. I guess this would be another option but the Hota D6 seems like the best value.

 

[olds97_lss]

Thanks for the input. I don't see myself charging multiple batteries at once but that could change if I want to run two 3S batteries. The Hota d6 is more in my price range. They also offer it with a balance board which I assume I need since my Zee battery has that 2nd plug coming out of it?

I didn't think I'd have that need much either... 3 years later, I'm charging up 8 packs before I go out to run and I have a dual charger as well as a 15A/300W single charger I parallel charge on in my car to keep me going throughout a bash.

When I started electric 3 years ago, it was a traxxas brushless revo, so I started with the traxxas dual charger as you had to use 2 packs. I was using 9000mah 2S packs at the time and I had to charge them twice on the traxxas charger because it would time out, since it was only capable of 5A per port, I was charging at a little over 1/2C. Then I got a 4x100W/4x10A charger and that has worked well for me so far as I run the same 2x3S packs in my savage flux hp, outcast 6s and new ERBEv2. But, since I usually take 2 trucks with me, I wanted to be able to charge up 8 packs before I leave and didn't want to take 2 hours to do it, as usually I'll run through all 8 at my first bashing spot, then charge as I drive to the next one.

So now I have the 2x200w/2x20A and 4x100w/4x10A charger in my house to charge all 8 at once and the 1x15A/1x300W and 2x12A/2x150W chargers in my car to keep me going throughout a day. On a dedicated bash day, I'll leave my house at 8am and get home at 8pm while driving 140 mile circle from bash spot to bash spot.

I learned if your going to stick with it, when buying a charger, buy for what you may need eventually vs what you need right now as it ends up being more cost effective in the future and time effective indefinitely.

 

[Oceanminded]

Tbone bumper seems to add weight to the front that makes the truck unbalanced in air during jumps .. think about that..

I didn't think I'd have that need much either... 3 years later, I'm charging up 8 packs before I go out to run and I have a dual charger as well as a 15A/300W single charger I parallel charge on in my car to keep me going throughout a bash.

When I started electric 3 years ago, it was a traxxas brushless revo, so I started with the traxxas dual charger as you had to use 2 packs. I was using 9000mah 2S packs at the time and I had to charge them twice on the traxxas charger because it would time out, since it was only capable of 5A per port, I was charging at a little over 1/2C. Then I got a 4x100W/4x10A charger and that has worked well for me so far as I run the same 2x3S packs in my savage flux hp, outcast 6s and new ERBEv2. But, since I usually take 2 trucks with me, I wanted to be able to charge up 8 packs before I leave and didn't want to take 2 hours to do it, as usually I'll run through all 8 at my first bashing spot, then charge as I drive to the next one.

So now I have the 2x200w/2x20A and 4x100w/4x10A charger in my house to charge all 8 at once and the 1x15A/1x300W and 2x12A/2x150W chargers in my car to keep me going throughout a day. On a dedicated bash day, I'll leave my house at 8am and get home at 8pm while driving 140 mile circle from bash spot to bash spot.

I learned if your going to stick with it, when buying a charger, buy for what you may need eventually vs what you need right now as it ends up being more cost effective in the future and time effective indefinitely.

As I'm just getting back into the hobby and relearning all the tech I would like to keep things simple and cost effective. Would the Hota 6 be worth replacing my Hitec with for the addition $25.00. I haven't used my Hitec yet so i would just return it.
https://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=541

 

[olds97_lss]

As I'm just getting back into the hobby and relearning all the tech I would like to keep things simple and cost effective. Would the Hota 6 be worth replacing my Hitec with for the addition $25.00. I haven't used my Hitec yet so i would just return it.
https://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=541

I would.

 

[Jerry-rigged]

I'll second that the Hota 6 plus would be a good charger for 6s. For a while, anyways. Having the DC big power option with that charger is nice too.

 

[olds97_lss]

I'll second that the Hota 6 plus would be a good charger for 6s. For a while, anyways. Having the DC big power option with that charger is nice too.

Forgot about that... not sure how it works, but can get a converted computer PSU to drive it for pretty cheap and double the capacity then parallel charge 4 6S packs down the line. Although, may need a 24V supply to get the most out of it.

Another $90:
http://lipoconnectionsolutions.com/Dell-24v-71A-1740w-Power-Supply-4mm-Bullet-Output-D2417404MM.htm