Is the Duratrax ICE recharger any good?

[bcane98]

I have a friend that uses this recharger for his RC's, but more for his NiMH and NiCAD batteries... How does this hold up for the LiPo's? One of my concerns is that I have not seen anything about a balancer on it.

I have asked this question on another Heli site, but no one has any input. I hope someone can help me with some info.

[cbflys]

Function wise this charger is on par with the Great Planes Trition2 - but with a larger display that can show charge and discharge curves. The Great Planes Triton2 however can also charge lead-acid / gel (pb) batteries which the ICE does not support. The Triton2 also has a back-lit display.

Neither the ICE or the Triton2 perform LiPo balancing, but you can add that functionality to either one of them with an external balancer for prices starting at under $30.00.

The Tower Hobbies web-site is a good source for the technical specifications for both these chargers. I personally use the Great Planes Triton charger with the Hyperion external balancer and think the combination works quite well. If your currently or ever intend to go to higher cell count LiPo packs (like those used in the TRex 600) - then I would recommend looking at an alternative to the ICE.

[bcane98]

Right after I posted this question I found this charger on EBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200059198089&rd=1&rd=1), X-Power 601AD Digital charger. Looks like it could be a good alternative.

I probably won't ever go as high as the TRex 600. I hear that is a flying brick (for lack of a better term) weight wise. I figure when I master the Trex 450 I might move onto nitro... but who knows that is some time down the line :D

[cbflys]

Read this ...

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14424

Word on the street is that it isn't a very good charger.

[bcane98]

That's a bummer... I guess the E Stations were not good products either by the sounds of it...

Can you suggest a decent balancer? TH suggested the Electrify Equinox...

[CLM]

The equinox (one of which I own) is made by hyperion for electrifly so it is a quality balancer for a great price, it however does not have the ability to interface with a second balancer for bigger packs like the newer hyperion balancers.

Here ia a trex-tuning link to the review of the hyperion version http://www.trextuning.com/lba6.php

Chris

[bcane98]

So the Hyperion LBA10 would be a good one to get... it has the networking capability and it is the newest one according to the add... It looks like the Hyperion EOS 5i Lithium Polymer Charger would probably compliment it well too...

The balancer says it comes with harness for the 2S and 3S... What does that mean? Is that the kind of balance connector plug from the battery?

[heliry2]

if you want a lba10 i will sell you one used 1 time
it was a gift but i have thunder power cross the board
batt,charger,balancer. i don't need a second balancer
20 dollars plus ship

[bcane98]

if you want a lba10 i will sell you one used 1 time
it was a gift but i have thunder power cross the board
batt,charger,balancer. i don't need a second balancer
20 dollars plus ship

If it looks like this one (http://www.3dhobbyshop.com/detail.aspx?ID=1620), you have no problem sending to an APO address (basically a USPS address in NYC for US military stationed overseas; zip code 09012) and take PayPal I will take it.