rrTV-PHOTO   New HD TV
HOME   rrTV-PHOTO   GALLERIES   MY GALLERY   HELP-FAQ
myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 301 ONLINE 25 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER  START HERE
 
1 page854 viewsPOST REPLY
Century Helicopter . MTA Hobbies . Model Rectifier Corp

.
.
Radio - Servo - Gyro - Gov - Batt > Charger question
 
 
Greg McFadden
Key Veteran
Location: Spokane Valley, WA

Well I am looking for a fast field charger and have been browsing the past topics. So far I am looking at either the Sirius Pro, the Supernova, or the 109 dollar dymond (can't remember the designation). I have noticed in the other threads on this topic that there have really never been any problems with the Sirius (and few with the others). What I am interested in is any specific problems you have had with any of these chargers so I can sidestep any pit falls.


thanks

The silence often, of pure innocence persuades, when speaking fails
05-07-2002 Over year old.
 
 
EChapkis
Veteran
Location: Tampa, FL

Chargers

Super Nova:

Current version of the software does not properly peak detect nimh batteries. I heard that a new version of the software is coming out, but not out yet.

Sirius Chargers:
Limited charge rates, no cycle. The Pro Series has a 550 mah output and the Pro Plus has a 1 amp output. They use a system called Peak Prediction, not Peak Detection. The charger only charges the pack to about 80% capacity. You are limited in the number of cells that can be charged as well.

Super Turbo:
Only real limitation is 1 battery at a time. Properly peak detects Nimh and nicads and cycles them. 1-26 cells, 50 to 6000 mah size batteries. 100 mah to 5000 mah charge/cycle rate. Best buy in a charger on the market for what it does.

RC Accessory, www.rcaccessory.com carries both the Super Turbo and Sirius chargers.


Evan Chapkis
05-07-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Hooked
Senior Heliman
Location: Trenton OH

Super Nova get's my vote
05-07-2002 Over year old.
 
 
vapor
Heliman
Location: wi

chargers

Go the super turbo route. >>>Vapor<<<
05-07-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
MyStar
Senior Heliman
Location: Ocala, Florida

Version 2.0 software?

Evan,

Can you tell me where you heard about a version 2.0? Are you referring to the SuperNova that's sold by FMA Direct coming out with a version 2.0?

Tim Marks told me there is no version 2.0 software for the SuperNova. However, he said "it's possible" the SuperNova that's sold in the UK might have been upgraded to 2.0, but he can't confirm it as of yet.

Any feedback would be appreciated!


Don
05-08-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Rotary Flyer
Senior Heliman
Location: North UK

I have a Simprop charger that is exactly like the SupaNova, just a different name on it. Identical in every way except the colour of the front plate. Same screens, modes everything. Two friends have the SupaNova and they are identical to mine in their working, like I said, just the colour of the front panel.
Anyway, my charger has got the Version 2 software. I don`t know what is different between that and version 1, but it is certainly version 2. Check yours out on the screen when first connecting to your power supply.
Mine appears to peak NiMH batts ok. How can you tell appart from what it says at the end of the charge cycle with regards to capacity?

05-08-2002 Over year old.
 
 
z11355
rrMaster
Location: 10000 is enough time wasted.

That is because they are the same unit.

Old trick. Companies like FMA & Dymond
buy the unit and pay some fee for customization
of the front panel and the 'splash screen'.

The splash screen customization is burned
into the memory chip.

My hunch is that there is a V2.0 upgrade but
FMA doesn't offer it because they don't want to pay another fee to
customize it since the Turbo is now on the
market.
05-08-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
MyStar
Senior Heliman
Location: Ocala, Florida

Rotary Flyer,

Thanks for your feedback!

Yes, I'm well aware this particular charger is sold and distributed under several different names, but like you say, all of them are identical on the inside. Here's the ones I'm aware of, there could very well be more of them:

FMA Direct/"SuperNova 250S"
Dymond/"Super Smart Charger"
Simprop/"IntelliControl"
RCLine/"SuperNova"
RipMax/"Pro-Peak SuperNova"

The SuperNova that's sold in the US by FMA Direct (which is what I own) doesn't show a revision number on the boot up/spash screen. It just displays "SuperNova 250S" on boot up. There was no sheet of paper that came with my charger telling me what software revision I have like yours came with. However, I took the bezel off my SuperNova, and it says "revision 1.0" on the printed circuit board, but that could be a hardware revision number for the PCB, not a software revision number...

Who did you buy your Simprop/IntelliControl charger from? The sheet of paper that came with your charger, did it explain what new features or corrections the version 2 has? Can you e-mail me a picture of that sheet of paper that came with your charger saying version 2.0 so I can e-mail it to FMA Direct proving there IS a 2.0 revision? :-) Here's my e-mail address: MyStar@worldnet.att.net


Don
05-08-2002 Over year old.
 
 
z11355
rrMaster
Location: 10000 is enough time wasted.

Don,

Open the unit and see if you can locate a
small less-than-postage-stamp chip that appears
to be socketed and may in fact have a tiny paper
label.

If the 1.0 was silkscreened on the board itself,
that is the rev of the board, not the software.
05-08-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
MyStar
Senior Heliman
Location: Ocala, Florida

Hi z11355,

I've already done that Unfortunately, every chip is soldered; there are no socketed chips :-( That probably means I will have to buy a new SuperNova if I want the 2.0 revision as FMA Direct most likely can't do SMT level work and, at this time, it doesn't look like FMA Direct will offer the SuperNova with the 2.0 revision.

The "revision 1.0" is silkscreened on the PCB. You're probably right about that being a revision number for the PCB itself, not the software.

There is a tiny round red paper label that's on a rectangular size chip that's very thin (like SDRAM for your computer), but the label has no markings on it.

FWIW, two reliable sources told me the SuperNova is made in Korea. I can tell you I saw a sticker on the bottom of my PCB that said "Made in Taiwan"...

Update! Evan C. is reporting on RCO there IS a 2.0 revision for this charger being sold in the UK...but he didn't say under what label or who the distributor is. Also, he said he doesn't know what the new changes are. Evan, are you still with us? :-)


Don
05-08-2002 Over year old.
 
 
z11355
rrMaster
Location: 10000 is enough time wasted.

I've seen it under the Ripmax label in the UK.

I'd be willing to bet that chip, if you removed the
label is the ifrmware code.
05-08-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Greg McFadden
Key Veteran
Location: Spokane Valley, WA

where did you find your simprop charger?

The silence often, of pure innocence persuades, when speaking fails
05-08-2002 Over year old.
 
 
MyStar
Senior Heliman
Location: Ocala, Florida

Where to buy the Simprop/Intelli-Control charger from?

Greg,

Apparently, "Rotary Flyer" and Evan C. are not going to answer our questions as they have replied to other threads.

So far, to the best of my knowledge, the "Intelli-Control" charger imported by Simprop Electronic is the only one offered at this time with the upgraded 2.0 firmware. I was able to confirm the software has been fixed concerning errors when charging NiMH batteries. I don't know of any other changes with the 2.0 revision at this time.

As to where a person can buy the Simprop/Intelli-Control charger from, I have no idea, but hope to have an answer soon.


z11355,

I also found out the revision number before this 2.0 upgrade for the Simprop/Intelli-Control charger was version 1.2.


Don
05-10-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Rotary Flyer
Senior Heliman
Location: North UK

Sorry for the delay. I bought the SImprop charger through my local heli shop, only because my usual source could not get a SupaNova at the time. I paid a bit more for it and it is the same as the SupaNova.
The "V"" supplement that came with the charger reads........

"In the V2version the software has been altered in several points. .....
When switched on, the following text appears in the display "Simprop Intellicontrol V2"

When adjusting the charge current in menu "Battery-SET" it is now possible to set this current to 0A.
And some other rambling paragraph about " during manual charging a "B" is shown in the left hand side of the window. After the test function it changes to a "C" and starts the charge cycle. (or a "D" if you start the discharge cycle first. (old version says " battery check" in the window.
The setting of current in the charge mode has been further improved. "

It never mentions anything about battery type charging rates or anything to do with NiMH, NiCD or anything else. Maybe they just revised the software, ironed out the charging bugs and sent it out as version 2, not admitting any probs. whith V1.

Mine seems to peak NiMH packs OK in Manual mode. I charge a 1650Ma pack at 1.0A , also a 3000 NiMH pack at 1.5A with no probs. They show almost a full capacity when it stops charging. Go figure!
05-10-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Greg McFadden
Key Veteran
Location: Spokane Valley, WA

I think I have decided to bite the bullet and go with the schultze 6-330

The silence often, of pure innocence persuades, when speaking fails
05-11-2002 Over year old.
 
 
z11355
rrMaster
Location: 10000 is enough time wasted.

You should also check out the Orbit V6 if your in that price range.

IMO, it is a more flexible unit (that 2nd output on the 6-330 is
pretty useless if you read the spec (fixed 250mA, no peak detect))
05-11-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Greg McFadden
Key Veteran
Location: Spokane Valley, WA

Do you have a website with specs on it?

The silence often, of pure innocence persuades, when speaking fails
05-11-2002 Over year old.
 
 
z11355
rrMaster
Location: 10000 is enough time wasted.

orbitronic.de

You can d/l the manual in .pdf
05-12-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
1 page854 viewsPOST REPLY
PowerHelis . Heli Wholesaler . 3D Heli Depot

.
.
Radio - Servo - Gyro - Gov - Batt > Charger question
 PRINT TOPIC Advertisers 

Subscribe to This Topic

Friday, January 9 - 10:04 am - Copyright © 2000 - 2009 runryder.com | email | link to rr | runryder needs cookie