LiPo & possible LiFe/LiMn Balance Charger ?

[SteveAndBelle]

Hi,

I'm about to buy myself a new charger but want a decent one for LiPo's & possibly LiFe's and LiMn's for whatever the future may hold. It has to have an inbuilt balancer and reasonable charge/discharge specs (similar to an ICE charger). I'm not a pro racer or anything, I just want a nice neat charger with an integrated balancer that will keep me going the next few cell configs. for both a buggy and a possible E-Maxx Brushless setup.

I've found two chargers that seem too similar to actually be different but the only info I can get is that one of the is a rip-off of the other one. The first is the Bantam E-Station BC8 and the second (the rip-off) is the iMax B8.

Both look fine and seem to do exactly what I want but from what I've seen of the B8 I kinda like it's LCD screen more as the text is larger and looks nicer but seriously I don't mind either of them. I'd prefer the one that's not going to die on me :)

Anyone know anything about either of these two or maybe even suggest an alternative ?

[terrible-t]

BC8 is impressive. But the BC6 may do less cell. BC8 you have to purchase a external PS, up to 18amps. BC6 limited to 5amp max, and use AC / DC power. Good enough for my use. Demension of it is small and easy to transsport.
Both carry the same features. Useing the USB port to laptop or tower computer, you can see the disCharge rate & charging rate on-time. Temp sensor can be used also.
Only had it for a short time, but I'm happy with it, for investing $170 on it.

[SteveAndBelle]

I bought a BC8 as I managed to find a local supplier and managed to get it cheaper than posting it from the US (which is very rare now the Aussie Dollar is so strong).

Awesome charger, highly recommended for all cell types !!

[terrible-t]

$1 USD To 1.06 AD either way. BC8 goes here for $269 Which is 285AD. Cool that you got at what ever price it is a good investment. Have fun with it. Did you get the USB kit with it? or Temp Gauge? Which PS did you purchase?

[SteveAndBelle]

Yep, it came with the USB kit and the distributor also told me it came with a temp sensor so I didn't bother buying one with it however when I opened it up of course it wasn't supplied (as I had originally thought). They don't have them in stock at the moment but they will give me one when they get them again. I've seen them on eBay for only about $5 anyway so it's not too bad. It tirns out that my ICE sensors work with it and I've got a few of those so it's no drama.

I blew up my old cheapie 15A switchmode supply by doing silly things with it so I recently purchased a new 23A supply from a well known electronics store here in Oz for only AU$99 (US$91). As well as being more powerful it's much better built in a full metal box, it's very slimline and it has a temperature controlled fan inside which didn't even turn on when I cycled an old NiMH pack a few times at a charge rate of 7A ! I'm sure I'll get it spinning when I get the LiPos though :)

The Aussie dollar has never been this high (or should I say the US dollar has never been this weak) so it's a novelty for us to see things priced in 'US' and not have to add over 25% to the price ;)

I've actually used this to my advantage and have already bought nearly all of my Christmas presents online and have literally saved over a thousand dollars ! I've bought three DF-03 Keen Hawks for US$99 each which turn out to be about AU$145 including postage & insurance and these things are still selling here in the hobby shops for $350 ! A gift I had lined up for my wife (I wont write it here in case she reads this somehow :) costs AU$1600 here which was too much so I wasn't planning on getting it however I managed to get the exact article online from a US distributor for only AU$600 including postage.

I've also recently bought a few more zones of SONOS audio system for myself, not for Christmas presents ... again much cheaper to get it from the US in US dollars ... in fact over half price ! One of the packs I got recently costs AU$2600 here but I got it from the US for just under AU$1600 including a whopping $170 in postage so that I didn't have to pay import duty etc. (I don't know how that is possible but it worked like a charm !)

Not sure what it means for global economies in the not too distant future but hey, I'm having a great time here ;)