VE6AB Technical
Battery Juicer
Years ago I took up building and flying radio controlled gas-powered model airplanes (also radio controlled gas powered model boats), and over the years with other hobbies taking center stage, the model airplanes were collecting dust.
About three years ago I rekindled my interest in flying model airplanes again, and in particular electric powered sailplanes (gliders).
The model sailplane I aquired has an electric motor to get the sailplane to altitude, and at that point you shut the motor off causing the propeller to fold back against the fuselage out of the way for true soaring on the wind.
Now even with the electric motor shut off, the on-board flight battery continues to provide power for the on-board electronics consisting of the receiver that controls the servos for the rudder, elevator, and ailerons, the on-board variometer which is a telemetry sensor for sailplanes that indicates the rate of ascent and descent via an audible tone heard at the transmitter.
I am getting off track here while describing my sailplane when in actuality I will describe the battery charger used for charging the flight batteries as seen in the photo.
This HiTec X2AC battery charger is a very impressive charger that can be powered from a 110 volt AC source, or if being used at the flying field it can be powered by a 12 volt source like the battery in your vehicle.
It is capable of charging LiPo, LiPo HV, LiFe, Lilon, NiCd, NiMH, and Pb battery types.
The charger has dual 10 amp variable output charging circuits which allows for two batteries to be charged simultaneously as is being done in the photo. In the photo you'll notice the charging rate is set at 1.3 amps, a rate I set as there was reason to set the charge rate higher being I was not at the flying field, and in a hurry for the batteries to charge faster.
It features an auto feature function that sets the feeding current during charging or discharging. This charger can store up to 10 unique charge/discharge profiles for each channel. The charger may also be operated from a personal computer, or from your phone with an app via the Wi-Fi module.
The charger also employs an individual cell-voltage balancer.
It can peak charge the battery once, twice, or three times in a row automatically, useful for ensuring a full charge.
You can set the upper limit of the charging current when charging your NiMH or NiCd batteries.
It has a LiPo battery meter for checking the battery's total voltage, the highest voltage, the lowest voltage, and the voltage of each cell.
You can also check the battery's total internal resistance and the internal resistance of each cell.
The charging capacity is always calculated as the charging current multiplied by time. If the charging capacity exceeds the limit, the process will automatically terminate according to the maximum value previously set.
You can protect the batteries by setting a maximum time limit for charging and discharging.
The charger has dual cooling fans built in on either side of the housing that will automatically come on when required.
The charger has many more features, but you get it, its up to the task of maintaining and charging the many batteries I use in my many devices. Well the batteries are charged let's go flying.
More on the sailplane here.....
https://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Technical/i-dNbNh5v
