Dead ultrapower charger???

[Mike'sGN-Kraton]

Hey all, I bought an ultrapower up240ac used a while back. Has been all good until today when it just shut down, blank screen like I pulled the plug.... not hot, but warm as usual.. they were on for about 25 minutes and I heard the fans kick off one after another, went to check and it was just a blank screen... any thoughts???Mike

 

[Hammer Down]

Does it have a fuse?

 

[Mike'sGN-Kraton]

Nothing external, I didn't open it up yet either...Mike

 

[RCbuzz]

Sounds like the internal AC power supply died. Can you use the XT60 DC input and see if it fires up?

 

[Mike'sGN-Kraton]

I'll try tomorrow!!!! Mike

 

[RCbuzz]

DC Input is 11-18volts from what I see.

If you have a 3s or 4s Lipo with an XT60 plug you could plug it in just to test. If it fires up I would just find a nice external power supply and solder up an XT60 and run it that way.

 

[Mike'sGN-Kraton]

Here you have it!!! Power supply must have taken a ... Anyone have a link to a decent Power supply for this kind of application??? TIA!!!! Mike

Or should I just replace the charger completely? I'd like a decent one comparable to this one....Mike

 

[RCbuzz]

Those are great chargers I would just get a power supply for it.

If you do a search for RC charger power supplies you are going to find tons of them. I bet most are not the best quality though.

Some people recycle old computer/server power supplies that seem to work well.

 

[Mike'sGN-Kraton]

Amazon has a boat load LOL.... looking @ something like these?

https://www.amazon.com/BOSYTRO-Adju...2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

And

https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-E...mzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685
And it figures I just thew out an old desktop

 

[Mike'sGN-Kraton]

Any thoughts on those? If not, who recommends what??? ...thanks Mike

 

[RCbuzz]

I would stay away from a bench power supply for your application (although they are super handy to have for other reasons).

The first unit linked is an interesting design and I see all kinds of them on Amazon. I like that one because you could kick up the voltage a little bit, say 15-16volts?(yours I believe tops out at 18V), and/or use it on a new style DC Charger (Hota, etc) that may need a higher voltage (~24V) to run more efficiently. I have never heard of that brand though..

Looks like some people on Ebay have converted server power supplies. Another option but fixed 12V voltage:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/354535986813
https://www.ebay.com/itm/354682931525

I was surprised to see a modded PS on Amain as well:
https://www.amainhobbies.com/motiv-power-brick-power-supply-12v-60a-720w-mov3360/p791878

Cheaper option that showed up on google, have any of you heard of readymaderc.com? Legit?
https://www.readymaderc.com/products/details/rmrc-400w-12v-power-supply-xt60

Another brand that comes to mind is Mean Well, I know "higher" model 3D printers have boasted this brand, I have one in my Ender 3 Pro and it seems good. @Tex Koder and @Camaroboy383 might be able to comment further on that.

I would be cautious around the units that are of unknown brand and do not have a UL or ETL listing.

EDIT: The more I search the more I find, cheaper Server PS Conversions: https://www.ebay.com/itm/225043230401

 

[SrC]

I use a clone of the ReadymadeRC one. Outlived 3 chargers so far, and still going. 400watt/24 volts, with my ISDT dual channel K2 Air now. I would make sure to find what is the highest Voltage and watts your Charger can handle. It is a great charger. Just need an Aux PSU for it now. One that can power all 4 channels and the capacity of Lipos you charge. The higher the volts and watts, the better. Not to exceed specs. Volts matters much. Not just wattage output.

 

[LipoShirly]

Another brand that comes to mind is Mean Well

The Mean Well supplies would be my choice, the price is fair and quality is very good. Have used these in multiple projects without any problems. One warning, be careful where you buy them from, I haven't heard of fakes out there, but have heard of some places selling refurbed, or recovered units as new. My go-to distributor is DigiKey..
DigiKey.com

The bench supply would save you from having to put something in a chassis ( fuse, switch, connectors, etc...)

MSC

 

[Custnam]

Hey sorry to hear the charger I sold you went bad. Hope you get it fixed!