FMA CellPro 10s Recommendations

[Skylighter]

First, I highly recommend the FMA products. They are simple to use, inexpensive, and reliable. In addition, immediate technical support is available quickly during business hours.

I personally own the CellPro Multi4 and the 10s. FMA is also the dominate brand of charger at our flying club.

This article gives some pre-purchase money and time savings recommendations for those interested in the 10s.

When you buy the CellPro products, you will need to buy adapters matching the node connector of your batteries. If you want to charge two batteries simultaneously or charge 7s-10s packs, you will need two adapters.

I suggest you spend the money now and get both types of adapters. You are likely to buy the other type of battery later or someone at your club may need to use your charger. The extra adapters are cheap. So get them now and save the time and shipping costs later.

In addition to the adapters from FMA, you will also want to acquire 2 sets of banana plugs to Deans (or whatever connector you have on your discharge leads). The 10s works much faster if you connect both the node connector (aka balance connector) and the discharge connector for a typical charge. FMA does not sell these adapters, but they are readily available from most hobby supply stores.

For 110 volt AC usage, you are going to need a hefty power supply that can handle 26 amps. Modified computer power supplies are not that powerful. I personally purchased the FMA 28A power supply.

As with any charger, you will end up with a lot of wires, connectors, and adaptor boards. Keeping them tidy can be problematic, especially if you plug and disconnect them for every use. I spent $30 at harbor freight for a metal case that comes with internal foam. It is the perfect size, see picture below. During charge, I sit the charger on top of the power supply to keep the heat away from the foam. Note: The power supply is not in the foam, but sits on top. Also notice that all of the wires can stay connected when the top is closed.

My final suggestion is to learn how to set your charge rates manually in amps instead of the automatic 1C, 2C, 3C format. The charger is much more efficient that way. How do you do that? Take the mah rating and divide by 1000. That number corresponds to 1C. If your batteries are designed to handle higher current, you can multiply that number by 2 or 3.

For example, my Thunder Power 10s 5000 mah batteries should be set to 5.0 amps for a 1C charge. Side note, I actually charge these at 6.0 amps due to hitting the maximum wattage of the charger.

For 3s 2200 mah batteries, I use 6.6 amps for a 3C charge.

When in doubt, charge at the equivalent to 1C. However, most batteries can charge up to 3C when using a high end charger like the 10s. If you would like to be sure, contact the battery manufacturer. For legal reasons, I have found FMA does not like giving recommendations for charge rate.

As with any article on LIPO's, I must include a note that lipos can explode and start fires. Never charge them unattended. If you crash with a lipo, don't just toss it in your trunk. Let it sit for a few hours where it can do no damage.

Feel free to post questions to this thread.

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Danny Clark

[Socomon]

It is worth noting that with the latest firmware - charging is limited to 4 amps max when using an automatic charge mode - i.e. 1C, 2C, 3C, etc. To get over 4 amps - you have to set the charge rate manually. This was put into the firware because the charge-rate tables programmed into the 10s did not take into account todays higher C-rated lipos. Apparently there may not be enough memory in the 10s to accomodate a viable programming solution.

I was set to order the 10s, but pulled my order until they got this straightened out somehow. I can already charge at 4 amps on my 4s and I don't like having to set charge rates manually.

[jcg1112]

I'm running version 2.20 and it does not have the 4 amp autocharge limitation. Right now I'm charging some 3S 3200 FMA packs at 6+ amps. You do have to use the discharge connector for anything over 4 amps. I use them most of the time because it allows me to track the IR also.

[Socomon]

Yes, you can use an older firmware, but the charger will exceed the selected "C" charge rate when charging higher C-rated packs. That is what lead them to cripple the charger in the newer firmware.

[johnderby]

I took a reciently Genesis used. I am new to the electric model airplanes and size. I had an old charger 4S and really liked the way it works. I immediately went to the 10S charger, and I have only good things to say about it.

I use the A123 to power the receiver on my IMAC Daltons 40% and is astonished at the rapidity with which the charges. Yes, he will seek the death to the task on 10A for approximately 10 minutes. unreal.

[Socomon]

The firmware problem I noted in post #2 above appears to be corrected in the more recent firmware.

[Socomon]

Are all these posters pretending to know anything about this stuff just so they can post links to their websites?

[jimeshten]

Now , I am useing version 2.2 and It does not have the 4 amp Auto charge limitation. Right now and I also used another charger. You have to use the charger connector for anything over 5 amps. I use them most of the time but it allows me to go beyond the IR alsoand I like new found version.!!