Its probably down to the total wattage limit of the cheaper B6 - cant recall now the exact figures, think its 50watt ? - therefore maximum current available at 22+ volts is ....around 2.2

50 / 22 = 2.2 

Makes sense, just wasnt sure! The AC supply is throwing 12V at a max of 5A so I thought this might be the root cause, but when we attatched the B6 to the same battery as the BC8 had been connected to it still onlly threw 2.1A out the other end.

Thanks Tim.

Ian 

Hi, timbo, I was very interested to read your report but could you tell from your tests whether when starting a balancing charge with one or more low cells, that these are charged more to start with so that their voltage is raised up to the same as the rest in a short time so that as the remainder of the charge cycle progresses, all cells rise up at an equal voltage . This would enable you to have a balanced battery after just  a short partial charge (say 70-80%).I think I read of this happening in one of the other balancing chargers(I think the mgm-compro AQCB-4FC)  but I cant find the article and I dont thik it could  do the    A123 cells that I want to use.

Thanks Ken

Hi Ken...there does seem to be some good activity on balancing individual cells when the pack is first connected, but having said so, it is a bit erratic, with other higher cells still receiving the odd short kick as it were !

This is remember, a fairly budget style balance /charger, and there have been some peeps who have decided to change some of the resistors for closer tolerance components -however they are all SMT and it is not something I have bothered to do - so I would not expect the m/processor to be quite as accurate as a top flight high end model....having said that, even on the "storage mode" which of course terminates the pack before fully charged, the cells end up pretty much in synch. HTH

Timbo,

 I noticed in another review http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=746574 (sorry for the link to another forum!) that the manufacturer was looking at the problems of 1% resistors with a possible future change.  Do you know if anything came of this?

Great review btw.

All I know is that some brave folk have decided to do their own mods, with better closer tolerance components.

Personally, I never bothered for 2 reasons

1) SMT is just too darn challenging my big fingers and fading closeup eyesight

2) never felt the need really....mine is close enough to accurate for comfort.

Can't say I know what the manufacturer has done, but somehow, at the price point these are being sold for, I doubt they will do anything.

As for those paranoid folk over the pond, well for me the final statement from the main complainent just about sums it all up really and  I quote...

"Overall, 0.03V overcharging does not seem to hurt the cells immediately. I guess it is still safe.

I will keep it for secondary charing -- meaning -- I use it only when my better chargers are charging other lipos.

For people who thinks the errors are acceptable, go ahead. It will work.

But, for me, I will not buy it again, I will invest 3 times the money for a charger with accurate reading."

Hmm, three times the money, just to solve a voltage readout which was out by 3/100ths of a volt.

As they would say....GO FIGURE!

Yeah, I'm of the same opinion, I think people like to rant and rave demanding greater accuracy just to try and look as if they are somehow better the rest of us!

Looking on Ebay these are going for £30 + £18 p&p from HK, looks like a good buy to me (unless anyone can do better?!!)

Hi Timbo,

 Thanks for a very useful review.  I have just moved on to LiPo's from NiCad/NiMh and bought some 3S 1700mAh packs from BRC Hobbies.  My excellent Propeak Supernova is pre-LiPo's so I needed another charger.  BRC recommended the Lipro.plus 5 at £49.99 as it included balancer sockets that matched their cells.  It is identical with your model apart from the name logo.  The instructions were scanty but understandable, and I plugged it in and off it went.  It seemed to do the business, but I didn't do your comprehensive checks of performance, so it's great to have confirmation that it is likely to be working well, and is good value.

All the best.

Chris

Ah...I am afraid it is NOT identical, it only does up to 5 Lipo cells ( the clue is in the name )

Furthermore I think you will find it lacks certain software programming such as storage mode and so on. I think I pointed out the shortfalls of this particular model to someone else here recently...I will try and find the post /link.

The rather better LiPro6 which I reviewed is actually available for even less than you paid for this inferior 5 cell version ...but I will not publish on the forum where to purchase ( its UK supplier too !! )

Email me for details. 

Ah, the comments I made to another member was actually on this very thread ....just a long time ago now, so I had forgotten

Check back to around page two or so...it was Doug Ireland - who has since bought the "real thing" EG a LiPro6.

Heres the extract of what I said to Doug earlier, and I think this is the same charger as you have just bought

I have found the manual for this version online, and I am not impressed.

( to make matters worse, you also paid more than I did for the "proper one " )

This earlier version is only 5 lipo cell maximum capable, and ONLY does LiPo not Ion or the the new LiFe types. Furthermore it is very linited as to other features which are on the IMAX. EG:

There is no discharge facility.

No cycling feature.

User cannot tweak peak detect voltage sensititvity.

NO storage mode for Lithium....and many more

I dont want this thread to turn into a legal debate, but seriously...... I dont know how they can describe it as - and I quote......

"Lipro-Plus 5, not just a charger but also a complete charging and maintenance centre for batteries!
We are proud to introduce our new compact, stylish and fully featured professional solution to charging and maintaining all types of batteries."

Personally I would return it as unfit for purpose based on that description.

To be a professional solution to charging and maintaining all types of batteries " requires that they can be cycled or at least discharged to an empty state in order to establish the complete charge put back in. Cycling of Nicads is particularly recommended, and even this feature is non existent.

I am afraid you have bought a bit of a lemon IMO.

In case you havent got this manual

Yeh - mine too, and what does "birds" end with....all over your car bonnet usually

Actually I think he got his from BRC hobbies...who are cool

Don't suppose you could pm me the name could you Timbo?

 Ta