hello all!

i have an IMAX B6AC V2 charger which has been serving me well the past two years flying mostly 2S toothpick lipo packs. its convenient for home use due to the compact form factor with its AC power source as seen in pics below:

BUT, now that i am flying with 6S packs this thing can only dish out max 2.2amps despite the paper spec of 6amps. see pic below:

am i doing something wrong here? i plan to charge at least 4pc 1300mah lipo packs which at 1C rating will need at least 5.2amps of output. now i am grossly limited to charge only 2pc 1300mah lipo packs since the IMAX can only deliver 2.2amps. 

do i need a beefier DC source for the IMAX to generate a higher output? if so then this defeats the purpose of its convenient form factor.

my other option is leave it as it is and buy another more capable charger that can easily parallel charge 4-6pcs of 1300-1500mah lipo packs! preferrably having AC source, DC option being a bonus. does anyone have any recommendations? i see a multitude of brands, Toolkit being one of them to which i just saw a thread on its so-so QA fiasco! 

looking forward to user experience and inputs! cheers!

When I got back into the hobby a few years ago with 6s monster trucks I got a 100 watt charger. It wasn't until the first few uses that I realized that with a 5000mah 6s battery, 1c was over 125 watts. So that charger I wouldn't be able to hit 1c for those batteries. Same goes for x4 6s 1300mah batteries (5.2 amps) in parallel at 1c is over 130 watts.

According to a google search that charger is 50 watts max. So if volts x amps that means that at 50 watts that means you're under 2amps at max 6s voltage. (25.2 x 2 = 50.4 watts). Perfectly fine as a single battery charger but not as a multi battery parallel charger.

Hota makes some good chargers, one spec that is often overlooked is a higher "balance current" this is what will make batteries finish quicker when they start hitting close to 4.2v per cell. My Hotas will finish closer to 40-45 minutes rather than 1hr like some chargers.

i think the B6 is fine for 1-4S (I mainly use cheap SkyRC E3 chargers for 2-3S), but once you get past that level, it's time to buy a charger that caters for 5-6S. Or if not, buy 2-3 more B6's and charge 3-4 Lipos singley on 3-4 different B6 chargers.

My B6 Evo also says 6A max, but I don't think it produces anywhere near that. I also run mine direct from DC and I don't think input voltage makes a lot of difference. It's more about efficiency.

(27-Mar-2023, 01:50 AM)sevro Wrote: When I got back into the hobby a few years ago with 6s monster trucks I got a 100 watt charger. It wasn't until the first few uses that I realized that with a 5000mah 6s battery, 1c was over 125 watts. So that charger I wouldn't be able to hit 1c for those batteries. Same goes for x4 6s 1300mah batteries (5.2 amps) in parallel at 1c is over 130 watts.

According to a google search that charger is 50 watts max. So if volts x amps that means that at 50 watts that means you're under 2amps at max 6s voltage. (25.2 x 2 = 50.4 watts). Perfectly fine as a single battery charger but not as a multi battery parallel charger.

Hota makes some good chargers, one spec that is often overlooked is a higher "balance current" this is what will make batteries finish quicker when they start hitting close to 4.2v per cell. My Hotas will finish closer to 40-45 minutes rather than 1hr like some chargers.

so based on your math above, should i at least get +200w in order to charge the 4pc 1300mah packs? or at least +300w to charge 6pc 1300mah? these are uber powerful already from the tiny packs i used to fly! oh well, lesson learned.

(27-Mar-2023, 10:09 AM)hawk01 Wrote: so based on your math above, should i at least get +200w in order to charge the 4pc 1300mah packs? or at least +300w to charge 6pc 1300mah? these are uber powerful already from the tiny packs i used to fly! oh well, lesson learned.

I've got two different Hota chargers the D6 pro which is capable on AC of 200watts between the two channels. The larger Hota I have a D6+ (which seems to be discontinued) can do a little over 200watts per channel on AC. They also have a newer S6 model that I don't recall the specs for but it was closer to 200watts per channel. Now if you're using DC as an input all of them are capable of much more wattage per channel. But that would be a pretty massive 24v power supply. 

So when I need to charge a big pack or do 1300mah x4 = 5.2 amps I use the D6+. I usually don't storage charge my packs so when I fly I've got packs with various voltages left on them. When you parallel charge you want to have the packs at nearly the same voltage for safety. So it's not uncommon to have only 2 or 3 packs that are nearly the same so if each charger has a 4way parallel board on them I should be covered. Plus I've always got my 2s goggle pack so that usually goes on one channel of the small charger. 

HGLRC makes a parallel board with xt60 and xt30 plugs on them. I know Getfpv has 6way boards but unless you've storaged charged the batteries so they're the same voltage, not sure that's very handy.

(27-Mar-2023, 03:17 PM)sevro Wrote: But that would be a pretty massive 24v power supply.

Or two leisure batteries in series.

That's the way I would do it anyway.  It leaves the possibility in some cases of using solar to recharge them.  

The same would work in a car, truck or van.  Two 12v batteries in the boot in series and a 12V to 24V dc dc charger connected to the starter battery.

(27-Mar-2023, 03:17 PM)sevro Wrote: I've got two different Hota chargers the D6 pro which is capable on AC of 200watts between the two channels. The larger Hota I have a D6+ (which seems to be discontinued) can do a little over 200watts per channel on AC. They also have a newer S6 model that I don't recall the specs for but it was closer to 200watts per channel. Now if you're using DC as an input all of them are capable of much more wattage per channel. But that would be a pretty massive 24v power supply. 

So when I need to charge a big pack or do 1300mah x4 = 5.2 amps I use the D6+. I usually don't storage charge my packs so when I fly I've got packs with various voltages left on them. When you parallel charge you want to have the packs at nearly the same voltage for safety. So it's not uncommon to have only 2 or 3 packs that are nearly the same so if each charger has a 4way parallel board on them I should be covered. Plus I've always got my 2s goggle pack so that usually goes on one channel of the small charger. 

HGLRC makes a parallel board with xt60 and xt30 plugs on them. I know Getfpv has 6way boards but unless you've storaged charged the batteries so they're the same voltage, not sure that's very handy.

much appreciated inputs!

i would prefer if there is a single channel charger with AC source capable of charging 4pcs 6S 1300mah lipos at 1C rating or does it even exist? coz i already have the HGLRC balance board with 6 ports! i also have a prudent habit of landing at 3.7V~ so my packs will have voltages close to each other all the time so parallel charging 4 packs would be a realistic option for me. 

BUT if this were wishful thinking then the HOTA D6 pro may fit the bill since its readily avail locally. seems to be a nice brand as even iflight sells these on their site. just to clarify on AC source it can output 100W per channel? i assume this can easily parallel charge 2ea 6S 1300mah lipo packs at 1C rating?

(28-Mar-2023, 12:46 AM)hawk01 Wrote: much appreciated inputs!

i would prefer if there is a single channel charger with AC source capable of charging 4pcs 6S 1300mah lipos at 1C rating or does it even exist? coz i already have the HGLRC balance board with 6 ports! i also have a prudent habit of landing at 3.7V~ so my packs will have voltages close to each other all the time so parallel charging 4 packs would be a realistic option for me. 

BUT if this were wishful thinking then the HOTA D6 pro may fit the bill since its readily avail locally. seems to be a nice brand as even iflight sells these on their site. just to clarify on AC source it can output 100W per channel? i assume this can easily parallel charge 2ea 6S 1300mah lipo packs at 1C rating?

The D6 pro will do that for that matter at 200watts it could parallel charge x6 6s 1300mah. In that case there would be nothing left available for the second channel but you can ignore that. But at some point you'll find the second channel handy if you need to charge a battery with a different cell count you could do that while your x4 1300mah are charging. Like my 2s 2500mah goggle battery. At 8.4v x 2.5 =  21watts 

Your 6s 1300mah batteries would max out at 25.2v x 5.2a = 131.04w
That leaves you with under 69watts 2 more 6s 1300mahs in parallel would be approx 66watts

Or like I said, ignore the second channel if you like.

(28-Mar-2023, 01:02 AM)sevro Wrote: The D6 pro will do that for that matter at 200watts it could parallel charge x6 6s 1300mah. In that case there would be nothing left available for the second channel but you can ignore that. But at some point you'll find the second channel handy if you need to charge a battery with a different cell count you could do that while your x4 1300mah are charging. Like my 2s 2500mah goggle battery. At 8.4v x 2.5 =  21watts 

Your 6s 1300mah batteries would max out at 25.2v x 5.2a = 131.04w
That leaves you with under 69watts 2 more 6s 1300mahs in parallel would be approx 66watts

Or like I said, ignore the second channel if you like.

oh good to know! so the D6 pro can be used in single channel mode where it outputs the entire 200W to a single channel? i was under the impression the two channels had separate PSUs. if so then this firs my use case and future need for the extra channel is avail. i really want to put my 6-port parallel charging board to good use and it does not make any sense buying another board just to use the other channel.

SkyRC PC1080 would also work, but it's insane money and it only charges 6S Lipos.

https://www.skyrc.com/PC1080_Charger

With their parallel charging boards you could, as the site states, charge 12 6S Lipos at once.

Honestly this level is for me, so far beyond recreational use. It pushes into the professional level. Although I do wonder how long one of your 6S Lipos would take to charge on a 540w charger.

Sevro's suggestion is probably better suited and cheaper.

(28-Mar-2023, 02:56 AM)Pathfinder075 Wrote: SkyRC PC1080 would also work, but it's insane money and it only charges 6S Lipos.

https://www.skyrc.com/PC1080_Charger

With their parallel charging boards you could, as the site states, charge 12 6S Lipos at once.

Honestly this level is for me, so far beyond recreational use.  It pushes into the professional level.  Although I do wonder how long one of your 6S Lipos would take to charge on a 540w charger.

Sevro's suggestion is probably better suited and cheaper.

OMG! this charger is half a quad more expensive than my premium bnf! i do not have 6S packs huge enough to justify the need for this. i think the humble HOTA D6 pro will suffice especially now that i discovered these dual channel chargers are capable of proper load sharing between channels use case.

(28-Mar-2023, 01:02 AM)sevro Wrote: The D6 pro will do that for that matter at 200watts it could parallel charge x6 6s 1300mah. In that case there would be nothing left available for the second channel but you can ignore that. But at some point you'll find the second channel handy if you need to charge a battery with a different cell count you could do that while your x4 1300mah are charging. Like my 2s 2500mah goggle battery. At 8.4v x 2.5 =  21watts 

Your 6s 1300mah batteries would max out at 25.2v x 5.2a = 131.04w
That leaves you with under 69watts 2 more 6s 1300mahs in parallel would be approx 66watts

Or like I said, ignore the second channel if you like.

hi sevro!

please see page screenshot of HOTA D6 pro manual below. highlighted in PINK is the spec for AC 200W indicating support for power distribution. i suppose this is an automatic feature where the charger distributes the necessary output to the first channel being used, the remaining output to the second channel as you mentioned. in my use case, i will use this to parallel charge at least 4pcs (or even 6pcs!) of 6S 1300mah using one channel only! 

more importantly highlighted in GREEN is the balance current 1600mA which greatly helps in balance charging the pack faster. other charges have a rate <1mA which slows the balancing process. i saw a JB video emphasizing the importance of this feature. guess i’m good to go with the HOTA D6 pro!?

(28-Mar-2023, 04:55 AM)hawk01 Wrote: OMG! this charger is half a quad more expensive than my premium bnf! i do not have 6S packs huge enough to justify the need for this. i think the humble HOTA D6 pro will suffice especially now that i discovered these dual channel chargers are capable of proper load sharing between channels use case.

Yeah it's more Mr Steele or professional drone user, than hobbyist level.

I think the Hota will be fine for what you need.

(28-Mar-2023, 01:20 PM)hawk01 Wrote: hi sevro!

please see page screenshot of HOTA D6 pro manual below. highlighted in PINK is the spec for AC 200W indicating support for power distribution. i suppose this is an automatic feature where the charger distributes the necessary output to the first channel being used, the remaining output to the second channel as you mentioned. in my use case, i will use this to parallel charge at least 4pcs (or even 6pcs!) of 6S 1300mah using one channel only! 

more importantly highlighted in GREEN is the balance current 1600mA which greatly helps in balance charging the pack faster. other charges have a rate <1mA which slows the balancing process. i saw a JB video emphasizing the importance of this feature. guess i’m good to go with the HOTA D6 pro!?

That's one of those specs that's probably best served with a little more explanation but that could further get lost in translation I guess. Your assumption is correct, see the image I just tried a test with x4 of my 6s 1300mah in parallel on the 2nd channel with a single 6s 1300mah on the 1st channel. Note the wattage listed on the second channel, clearly the charger was not designed to max out at 100watt per channel.



Balance current is one of those specs that's overlooked but probably one of the most important. Those 4 button chargers like you had would spend half the time to hit just under 4.2v per cell and the rest of the time trying to balance them. So even for someone that doesn't really need a charger with 200watts capable on AC and are only charging small cell packs will take advantage of the overall quicker charge times. Which saves A LOT of time overall if you're only charging onc pack per channel. 

Enough of me shilling for Hota for now. 

(28-Mar-2023, 11:08 PM)sevro Wrote: That's one of those specs that's probably best served with a little more explanation but that could further get lost in translation I guess. Your assumption is correct, see the image I just tried a test with x4 of my 6s 1300mah in parallel on the 2nd channel with a single 6s 1300mah on the 1st channel. Note the wattage listed on the second channel, clearly the charger was not designed to max out at 100watt per channel.



Balance current is one of those specs that's overlooked but probably one of the most important. Those 4 button chargers like you had would spend half the time to hit just under 4.2v per cell and the rest of the time trying to balance them. So even for someone that doesn't really need a charger with 200watts capable on AC and are only charging small cell packs will take advantage of the overall quicker charge times. Which saves A LOT of time overall if you're only charging onc pack per channel. 

Enough of me shilling for Hota for now. 

haha, nah its not shilling at all sir! it helps us geriatric newbies into this hobby make a well informed buying decision. had i known any better back then i would not have bought the lower spec’d imax. although it cost almost half, it also performed half! or slightly even less than half that of the HOTA.??