Would a wall charger charge a 5 cell pack?

[Kez]

I switched to 5 cell receiver pack. Would the wall charger that came with the radio (designed for 4 cell) adaquately charge a 5 cell pack?

Thanks,

kez

 

[hugh hargett]

I switched to 5 cell receiver pack. Would the wall charger that came with the radio (designed for 4 cell) adaquately charge a 5 cell pack?

Thanks,

kez

I doubt it if the charger only puts out 4.8 volts thats all you will get out of it towards your 6.25 assuming you are using nicads

 

[Hydro Junkie]

Buy yourself a 12VDC power panel or an AC charger that will kick out the 6+ volts the pack requires. You're not going to make the wall charger ever fill the battery pack to a useful level and, more than likely, you'll end up frying something.

 

[Tom Foley]

The Futaba stock wall chargers work just fine . These are the only chargers I have ever used in over 30 years and they work great . They do take time though and planning for an overnite charge is best . I use many 5 cell 6 volt reciever batteries of many different sizes and they all deliver 6 + volts after charging .

 

[Michael Costanzo]

The Futaba stock wall chargers work just fine . These are the only chargers I have ever used in over 30 years and they work great . They do take time though and planning for an overnite charge is best . I use many 5 cell 6 volt reciever batteries of many different sizes and they all deliver 6 + volts after charging .

DITTO,I guess only the NY guy's get it.

 

[Kez]

I finally checked the output voltage of the wall charger (Futaba and Airtronics) and they put out about 7.5V, which is higher than a fully charged 5 cell pack. So yes, it should be able to charge a 5 cell pack although the current would be lower so I would think it takes longer to charge. If I have time I will try to measure the charging current and report back here.

Thanks,

 

[Hydro Junkie]

You guys might want to explain how a wall charger that pushed 100 miliamps at 4.8 volts can charge a 5 cell battery pack to a full 6+ volt charge. I've worked with electronics for years, both in the military and as a civilian, and according to known and documented electrical theory, that is not possible. If you're pushing in 4.8 VDC, you cannot exceed that charge level as the batteries cannot charge to a voltage higher than the input voltage regardless how long you charge the pack.

 

[Tom Foley]

Not doubting your credentials , just try it . I'll check one with my digital VOM now and charge it while I'm at work and show you the results later with a pic .

 

[RaceCraftBearings]

Not doubting your credentials , just try it . I'll check one with my digital VOM now and charge it while I'm at work and show you the results later with a pic .

I have been charging 6 volt packs with my Futaba wall chargers for years and check each one with a Fluke Multi Meter. Never had a reciever pack fail me.

The reason being is that wall pack output is 7.7 volts even though its rated at 4.8 volts for the receiver. The rating will always be less than the actual output.

 

[FloridaScaleBoater]

You guys might want to explain how a wall charger that pushed 100 miliamps at 4.8 volts can charge a 5 cell battery pack to a full 6+ volt charge. I've worked with electronics for years, both in the military and as a civilian, and according to known and documented electrical theory, that is not possible. If you're pushing in 4.8 VDC, you cannot exceed that charge level as the batteries cannot charge to a voltage higher than the input voltage regardless how long you charge the pack.

Must be P.F.M.

Either that or a east coast, west coast thing,, Been using Futaba wall chargers for years also.

Nope,,,,, can't be a east/west coast thing either,,,,, Charged them that way while I lived in Santa Barbara??????

Must just be a Hydro Junk-in-the-Trunk thing

 

[Hydro Junkie]

7.7 volts expalins it. I have to agree, almost every charger I've dealt with had the output rating lower than the actual rating, but never by almost 50%. I had expected the rating to be more like 10 to 15% lower, not enough to charge a 6 volt pack but plenty to charge a 4.8 pack.

As for Rick's unneccessary "junk in the trunk" comment, I was asking for an explanation so EVERYONE would be able to understand why it works. Your slam against me was unwarranted and takes away from this thread.

 

[moparbarn]

7.7 volts expalins it. I have to agree, almost every charger I've dealt with had the output rating lower than the actual rating, but never by almost 50%. I had expected the rating to be more like 10 to 15% lower, not enough to charge a 6 volt pack but plenty to charge a 4.8 pack.

As for Rick's unneccessary "junk in the trunk" comment, I was asking for an explanation so EVERYONE would be able to understand why it works. Your slam against me was unwarranted and takes away from this thread.

my my, touchy aren't we.... just smile at the light hearted jab & go on with your day .

 

[FloridaScaleBoater]

7.7 volts expalins it. I have to agree, almost every charger I've dealt with had the output rating lower than the actual rating, but never by almost 50%. I had expected the rating to be more like 10 to 15% lower, not enough to charge a 6 volt pack but plenty to charge a 4.8 pack.

As for Rick's unneccessary "junk in the trunk" comment, I was asking for an explanation so EVERYONE would be able to understand why it works. Your slam against me was unwarranted and takes away from this thread.

my my, touchy aren't we.... just smile at the light hearted jab & go on with your day .

Hey Robin,,, Been awhile since I've been able to abuse Andy, So I had to "jab" someone,, Just happened to be Hydro Junkie this morning.....

Been quite some time since the 3-R's have tag teamed anybody,,, have you & Ray taken a dose of "warm & Fuzzy"????

 

[Michael Costanzo]

7.7 volts expalins it. I have to agree, almost every charger I've dealt with had the output rating lower than the actual rating, but never by almost 50%. I had expected the rating to be more like 10 to 15% lower, not enough to charge a 6 volt pack but plenty to charge a 4.8 pack.

As for Rick's unneccessary "junk in the trunk" comment, I was asking for an explanation so EVERYONE would be able to understand why it works. Your slam against me was unwarranted and takes away from this thread.

my my, touchy aren't we.... just smile at the light hearted jab & go on with your day .

Hey Robin,,, Been awhile since I've been able to abuse Andy, So I had to "jab" someone,, Just happened to be Hydro Junkie this morning.....

Been quite some time since the 3-R's have tag teamed anybody,,, have you & Ray taken a dose of "warm & Fuzzy"????

hey rick, we are just a little thicker skined on the east coast.

 

[robertpickard]

Ya Rick use to abuse me all the time i was his whipping boy in Florida :lol: :lol:

 

[Dasboatman]

Hey Kez,

The answer to your question about charging 5 cell battery packs is not only the output voltage of the charger, but rather the output amperage. All of the Futaba chargers are for charging NICAD batteries only. Normally NICADS are charged at a rate of 10% of their rated capacity. Most of the Receiver packs I have purchased over the years are 4.8 Volts DC and have an amperage rating of 500 - 600 milli amp hour . The other side of the Futaba charger is for the 9.6 VDC transmiter packs. You can charge 4.8 or 6.0 VDC NICAD receiver packs with the Futaba chargers. Their 4.8 VDC output is nominally in the 50 mAh range, so a 1000mAH 5 cell pack NICAD pack will require 20 hours to charge completely. CHEERS !!! Bob

 

[Tom Foley]

Hey Kez,

The answer to your question about charging 5 cell battery packs is not only the output voltage of the charger, but rather the output amperage. All of the Futaba chargers are for charging NICAD batteries only. Normally NICADS are charged at a rate of 10% of their rated capacity. Most of the Receiver packs I have purchased over the years are 4.8 Volts DC and have an amperage rating of 500 - 600 milli amp hour . The other side of the Futaba charger is for the 9.6 VDC transmiter packs. You can charge 4.8 or 6.0 VDC NICAD receiver packs with the Futaba chargers. Their 4.8 VDC output is nominally in the 50 mAh range, so a 1000mAH 5 cell pack NICAD pack will require 20 hours to charge completely. CHEERS !!! Bob

From a completely discharged state !

 

[Tom Foley]

7.7 volts expalins it. I have to agree, almost every charger I've dealt with had the output rating lower than the actual rating, but never by almost 50%. I had expected the rating to be more like 10 to 15% lower, not enough to charge a 6 volt pack but plenty to charge a 4.8 pack.

As for Rick's unneccessary "junk in the trunk" comment, I was asking for an explanation so EVERYONE would be able to understand why it works. Your slam against me was unwarranted and takes away from this thread.

my my, touchy aren't we.... just smile at the light hearted jab & go on with your day .

Hey Robin,,, Been awhile since I've been able to abuse Andy, So I had to "jab" someone,, Just happened to be Hydro Junkie this morning.....

Been quite some time since the 3-R's have tag teamed anybody,,, have you & Ray taken a dose of "warm & Fuzzy"????

Well slam me now as I have NEVER ...EVER cycled a NiCad or NIMH battery in over 30 years of boats , cars and planes !!!Never had a battery failure that i can document , Fire when ready !!! :lol:

 

[Joe Warren]

Not doubting your credentials , just try it . I'll check one with my digital VOM now and charge it while I'm at work and show you the results later with a pic .

I have been charging 6 volt packs with my Futaba wall chargers for years and check each one with a Fluke Multi Meter. Never had a reciever pack fail me.

The reason being is that wall pack output is 7.7 volts even though its rated at 4.8 volts for the receiver. The rating will always be less than the actual output.

A 6 volt 1200 1400 Mah pak peaks @ 8.40 on a hobbico charger & has a charge rate of 10% of the total rated Mah. If your not cycling them there is NO way to well what you have. You getting buy with it cause you have low drain servos. If you move to Higher working oz servo`s you would for sure have a problem with the batteries crashing early. Hi Tech servos with high working pressure Need High output batteries that will stay with you.

 

[Blackout]

I'm with HJ.

All you guys and your expensive engines and hulls and you are using a "4.8v" wall charger to charge your 6 volts packs.... Do you have a 110 source at the pond? I use a 12v/120v charger for my packs and it works at home and at the pond.