I will put links in this entry to some other threads that I have started and which contain some useful data. It's hard to find stuff on RCGroups as it gets older and buried!
This is a work in progress and will get updated from time to time.

CONTENTS:

• The LiPo tool for calculating a safe continuous C rating from Internal Resistance of a LiPo.
• Adapting computer SERVER power supplies as battery charger supplies.
• Lemon Instructions and support threads.
• LiPo technical stuff.
  Internal Resistance variation with temperature of Bolt and Graphene LiPos.
  Internal Temperature of a LiPo – hotter than you think.
  An Introduction to Lithium Polymer Battery Technology - English version.
  Safe Lipo Disposal Instructions.
• Other useful data
  "JST" connector confusion - the real story
• DIY gadgets
  An effective variable load automatic LiPo discharger.
  1 or 2S DSM2 Brick with servos
  A 1S cell "quality" tester.

The LiPo tool for calculating a safe continuous C rating from Internal Resistance of a LiPo
The online version of the LipoTool which was at domain jj604 is no longer available. Thanks to the guys at ProgressiveRC it is now at https://www.progressiverc.com/pages/...lculation-tool. The downloadable Excel version that can be used on your computers/tablets/phones is still available. Here's the direct link: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...3&d=1375066313

The background threads for the LiPoTool
A simple way to estimate the true C rating of a LiPo battery
...Continue Reading

iSDT are the innovative kid on the block as far as Chinese charger manufacturers go. Their extremely compact and well thought out range with excellent UI and very clear colour screen are setting a new benchmark. I have a couple of SC-608s and a Q6 Plus which live in my field battery box and transmitter cases as they take up almost no room and run direct off any large LiPo with an XT60 plug. Great for charging smaller packs at the field.

The DC2 is their only AC/DC charger and is a powerful (for its size) genuine 6S duo charger with 12Amps per side up to a total max load of 200Watts. It's a pleasure to use.

http://www.isdt.co/d2.html

There have been a few reports on the RCGroups thread of a Channel 2 failure on these chargers and sure enough after months of flawless performance mine suddenly announced a "Configuration error" on that channel and refused to charge.

So I pulled it apart to see if it was something simple like a fuse - it wasn't of course and this charger is now an ex-parrot.

Thought people might be interested in what's in it however as this device is deliberately designed not to be serviced or disassembled.

The only way into it is to remove the inset top screen which is a rigid plastic and very firmly stuck down with double sided tape. Only then can you get access to the 6 screws that hold the case together. The mouldings are of very high quality and precise fit.

UPDATE: The easiest way to remove the iSDT faceplates is to heat them uniformly...Continue Reading

UPDATE2: As of 2023 Lemon have a new range of stabilisers and receivers that combine many of the best elements of their earlier ones. The Instructions for the "Gen 2" range are here: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...ad-2022-onward

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Lemon have been working for some time on upgrading their LM0041 DSMX® Compatible 7-Channel Full-Range Telemetry Rx and the first production samples have just arrived with the test pilots today (3 Nov 2017).

Here are my first impressions. Note that I have not done any performance or range testing. The results of performance testing from the testers will probably appear on the Lemon Telemetry thread fairly soon.

UPDATE: The LM0052 as well as the lower price LM0051 without barometer are now available (Dec 2017) and there are complete instructions in the Lemon Instructions thread here.

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...03&postcount=6

Follow progress here:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...-system-thread

1) The LM0052 is identical physically to the LM0041 and functionally virtually identical except that it adds a barometer and lacks the PPM out function (despite what the label says - Lemon designed the label before deciding to remove PPM to improve the Telemetry performance). It can be distinguished by the black label and the DSMP protocol indication.

2) It is supplied either with or without a calibrated Pack Voltage/Current sensor (XT60 or T-Plug variants are available). The...Continue Reading

A new Chinese company called iSDT has started producing chargers which are a bit different than the usual run-of-the-mill 4 button jobs. I bought one of their very compact 150W SC-608 chargers to keep in my LiPo box at the field as it is particularly neat and convenient.

You can charge up the 1300-1500mAh size packs off an older 6S 4000-5000 which is not up to high currents but perfectly OK to run the charger without any additional cables. I have got into the practice of taking just 3x Graphene packs to the field and fly one, charge one, have one ready to go, since they can be recharged without any stress at 5C (10C if you really want to).

I noticed that iSDT had produced a particularly neat parallel charge board to go with this charger, so I bought one to see how it compared with my usual Paraboards. Then Banggood sent me one to review as well.

The iSDT balance board is expensive compared to the cheap HobbyKing parallel charge boards but it is particularly well designed and neat if you have an SC-608. It is called the iSDT PC-4860. It is explicitly designed to work with XT60 connectors.

It comes in a tiny box exactly the same size as the charger with a well made XT60 power and 6S balance connector. The balance board actually does up to 8S if you want to use it with another charger and supply your own 8S connector lead.

Bottom line? I'm very impressed with this unit and despite the higher cost, I think it is worth it.

First thing you notice is that it...Continue Reading

Big thanks to Jim from Banggood who sent me an Eachine Gemini 2100 battery charger for review.

http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-GEMI...p-1020038.html



This charger is also sold under the Venom brand with slightly different cosmetics.

http://www.venompower.com/collection...alance-charger

See picture 2

I normally only review stuff I have bought but this was a potentially attractive charger and I was interested to see how good it was. Most of my charging is done with higher powered units with separate power supplies but an AC charger is handy for those occasions when you don’t want all the hassle and size of the larger unit. A while back, I bought a Hitec X1 (made by SkyRC) just for the convenience and use it a lot, particularly for smaller packs.

There are plenty of dual and even quad chargers around that can charge two or 4 totally different packs at one time, and there are plenty of AC chargers around that do a single pack but there are not many that combine AC input and dual charging and decent power. The obvious one that comes to mind is the Graupner Polaron AC/DC Sports 240W made by SJ Electronics. The Polaron is a very nicely thought out quality charger with a unique vertical form factor, excellent color touch screen and menu system and dual 120W chargers when used with a separate DC supply. It drops to a total of 120Watt on AC however with that power shared over the two channels. The most powerful dual AC/DC charger I have found is the Ultrapower...Continue Reading

I started a thread here describing my measurements of LiPo cell IR on some common packs as the temperature varies from 50˚C down to around -20˚C.

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=2620273