Battery Chargers

[dsheller]

Ok... now I know you're all probably thinking (argh, not one of these again)... but I've already done my research and in this case just want some thoughts on a couple chargers I'm looking at:

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/0-INTE2053.html
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/0-DYN4053.html

One thing I haven't looked up is what one "cell" counts as... I'm assuming a "cell" is any number of individual packs in parallel. I want to a buy a charger that will be well suited for larger robots in the future... what's the highest Voltage pack any of you have come across in your experiments in robotics?

[Webbot]

I'm assuming a "cell" is any number of individual packs in parallel

A cell is normally an individual battery. So if you had a 4 x 'AA' battery holder then it is actually 4 cells.

[dsheller]

That's assuming the batteries are in series correct? I am uncertain if the cell count on these battery chargers refers to the number of physical packs, or rather the packs in series... for example say I have 6 individual batteries. I put 3 pairs of them in parallel, and connect those pairs in series. Would the charger consider this 3 cells or 6?

[ALZ]

It says:
" Compatible with:
NiCad/NiMh packs 1-14 cells (1.2 - 16.8V) from 0.1 to 5.0 Amps.
LiPoly packs 1-6 cells (3.6 - 21.6v) from 0.1 to 5.0 amps."

I don't know of any NiCad that would hold 5 amps so you would have to parallel the cells to get 5 amps.  I don't see anything that says it test the battery temp. I think $90 is over price.

http://robotics.scienceontheweb.net

That's assuming the batteries are in series correct? I am uncertain if the cell count on these battery chargers refers to the number of physical packs, or rather the packs in series... for example say I have 6 individual batteries. I put 3 pairs of them in parallel, and connect those pairs in series. Would the charger consider this 3 cells or 6?

[dsheller]

I found a charger capable of charging 9 LiPo cells on e-bay, goes for 120 something new and I am bidding at around 70 now, so hopefully I'll win that =)