ChitownRC

Hey guys,

with bashing season here, I plan on getting out a little more this summer. One of the issues I'm looking to solve is how to charge batteries on the road. Where there is no plug to just plug in my Charger/Power Supply.

I have a 12v charger, and I 'think' I have the connections to hook it up to the car battery... but at the end of the day, if I charge a few batteries.. wont this trash/drain the car battery?

I normally don't worry about this in a normal day of bashing, but looking to bring out a few electric vehicles, and it would be nice to have a way to recharge.

How's everyone else do it?

Brian

What you can do is pick up a couple of gel cells used in starter boxes, some chargers like mine (Click) have a few clips coming out of it that you can hook up and run it off of. I've done it before and works fine.

I believe the ampacity of your car battery will far outsupply the needs of charging rc packs, but it couldn't hurt to run the car once in a while while charging.

I know the Revo recharges a pretty run down pack in about 15-20 minutes using the Traxxas charger and the cigar lighter adapter.

I'll plug in my 400watt inverter into my truck's 12V lighter jack and leave it all day. I'll charge receiver batteriers, transmitter batteries, etc, some times more than 1 at a time throughout the day.

For example, today at the dd race, I plugged in my inverter at 8am and didn't turn it off and unplug it until around 4:15pm when I was packing up. During this time I charged both vehicles at the same time first thing in the morning, then again after each heat. I also charged up the 3000 packs in my starterbox and my transmitter batteries (all 8, 4 at a time) too. Never once did I think I would drain the battery.

havnt you seen my radio box? power panel on the out side with a 12v bat on the inside. plug the charger in and go. i charge rx bats and stick packs with it.

I saw that case at LHR. Didn't know it was yours...slick. That's the same case I am selling/sold.

I've charged about 5-6 3300 packs from my car battery one right after the other. No problems.

I bought a cig lighter plug and made an adaptor cord so I can charge on the way to events in the car.

DAVEC-NITRO-RS4 Wrote:I saw that case at LHR. Didn't know it was yours...slick. That's the same case I am selling/sold.

thanks. newguy made one too.

How many charges do you get out of that setup? With just standard stick packs. I've been looking for something similar, as rock crawling spots are never near the car.

Thanks for all the info guys. Yep firespink.. I have seen your case, just waiting on you to make mine!


I might go get one of those cig converter thingies. Seems like it would make it easier.

I'll just make sure to bring some jumper cables. So if your heading to the Drag Race in a few weeks, make sure my truck starts before ya go home!

Brian

I've ruined my real van's battery charging RC batteries. Now what I do is use a deep cycle marine 12v battery that I charge overnight using a car charger. I run a starter box off of it and two chargers for six cell RC packs and receiver packs for the nitros.

Also...if you are just bashing Radio Shack is now stocking GP3300 six cell packs for 25 bucks a piece. Maybe get four of them. Those and the batteries you already have...charge them all up at home before you head out to bash and once you are at the bash spot you won't have to charge as many on the spot.

We have three electric vehicles and when we bash I take along about 20 battery packs. All charged before we head out. I've been buying A Main racer's batteries at various tracks the past year or so....they tend to sell them cheap and they are great for me. Now is great time to buy used 3300's used cause all those A main guys feel they need the newest and best 3800's....

Mnster Wrote:How many charges do you get out of that setup? With just standard stick packs. I've been looking for something similar, as rock crawling spots are never near the car.

i charge the bat once a month. i use the glo socket alot and i run a charger at least once an outing. i also have a radio shack meter in the case. when i get home each time i check the bat to see if it has to be charged.

In RCCA there was a tech article on how to build a car battery power Station. I can remember which issue it was in though.