DYMOND MODELSPORTS USA Ltd.
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a relatively new
supplier to the Radio Control modeler
compared to pioneers such as Goldberg
Models, Sig Manufacturing, Sullivan
Products, and those many other household
names to all longtime hobbyists. But in its
relatively short life, Dymond has
established itself as a supplier of highquality
model products, mostly of
European manufacture. They range from a
wide variety of Almost Ready-to-Fly
airplanes to small hardware items and
many products for the electric-flight
enthusiast.
One of the latter is the Super Turbo
Charger: a multifeatured, extremely
versatile Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery
charger. It’s versatile because it’s
microprocessor-based, using the latest
electronic design and construction
techniques, which result in a small unit but
with the features serious electric-power
fliers demand most.
All its functions are readily displayed
and programmable on a two-line 21⁄2 x 5⁄8-
inch LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). This is
a sophisticated charger; it has to be to
provide all the features that it brings. But
don’t be intimidated; it comes with an
easily understood instruction booklet with
an illustrated “window” for each function
and details about how to set it for your
requirements. Once the basics are done, all
you have to do is press the “Start/Stop”
button and wait for your batteries to be
safely and fully charged—every time!
The Super Turbo Charger has four basic
programs: Charge 1—26 cells; Discharge
1—26 cells; Cycle Mode 1—
Charge/Discharge; and Cycle Mode 2—
Discharge/Charge. Features include
66 MODEL AVIATION
Eloy Marez
P r o d u c t R e v i e w
2626 W. Northwood, Santa Ana CA 92704
Dymond Modelsports USA
Super Turbo Charger
Pros:
• Extremely versatile unit
• Easily understood instruction manual
• Small size but feature-packed
Cons:
• Difficult-to-decipher abbreviations
displayed
• Large battery clips hard to connect to
smaller battery terminals
The Super Turbo Charger is a full-function, fully programmable 12VDC-powered unit for one to 28 Ni-Cd or NiMH cells.
One recommendation for charging the
unit’s gel-cell battery is the Hughes RC
Battery Tender Jr., available for $39.95.
automatic mode, over-temperature
protection, overcharge protection, optional
battery-temperature probe, short-circuit
protection, programmable peak point for
Ni-Cds or NiMHs, trickle charge,
adjustable trickle-charge rate, on or off
audio signal, and automatic fan cooling.
The charger is 51⁄2 x 5 x 2 inches, and it
weighs 16 ounces. It comes in an all-metal
cabinet.
The Super Turbo Charger is DC (Direct
Current)-powered; that is, it requires
connection to a 10.5- to 15.0-volt battery
or regulated power supply. The
instructions warn not to use car-battery
chargers; their output is often not clean or
steady enough for the Super Turbo’s
electronics to function properly.
The charge and discharge rates are
user-adjustable for 0.1-5.0 amperes (A)—
100-5000 milliamperes (mA) if you prefer
those units. The delta peak point—at
which the charging current is
automatically switched off—can be set at
5-15 millivolts (mV:1⁄1000 volt) as suitable
for Ni-Cds, and 3-10 mV for NiMH
batteries. Recommendations are included
in the instructions.
The trickle-charge rate is adjustable
from 0 to 250 mA. The display provides
all the important battery information, such
as charge time, charge/discharge capacity,
delta peak voltage, average discharge
voltage under load, and, if something is
not kosher, an error message.
All rechargeable batteries are not
created equal, and the Super Turbo’s
instructions regarding charge rates are to
follow the battery-makers’
recommendations. A rule of thumb is
offered: two times capacity for Ni-Cds and
one time for NiMH. Recommendations are
to not exceed 1.3A for transmitter and
receiver batteries; their wiring is uncapable
of sustaining higher currents and may
overheat and melt the insulation.
Transmitters with diode protection in the
battery circuit cannot be discharged
directly through the charge connector;
connections directly to the battery are
necessary.
There is a caution against “no-name”
batteries; they are often of lower quality
than the branded ones, which are
recommended in all cases. Lower settings
and careful monitoring are recommended
until the battery’s characteristics are
May 2003 67
This schematic shows the author’s custom-designed and -built control panel. It’s a simple unit to make.
Eloy’s control panel eliminates troublesome and unreliable clip
connections and includes a source battery tester.
The author’s complete package, with the charger and control
panel in a compact, neatly built, homemade plywood carrier.
Photos/drawing by the author
known. The delta peak may not be as
pronounced, and charging may not cease.
The maximum charge or temperatureprobe
safety features should always be
exercised with these battery unknowns.
The only thing that will require some
brain work on your part is deciphering
some of the abbreviations on the display.
Something we run into with everything
that has these small displays is that there
simply isn’t enough room. However, as
stated, the instructions cover it all,
including a step-by-step description and
how to program each of the screens. Once
around and you will be an expert in
Turbospeak!
All settings are made with four
logically marked buttons: “Start/Stop,
“Add,” “Subtract,” and “Function.” To
stress the Super Turbo’s quality, those
buttons are the more costly push-button
switches that click when you press them; I
hate those wishy-washy ones with no feel!
Also on the topic of quality, there is a
small, gray cylinder roughly four inches
out on the input wires. It is a ferrite device
intended to suppress any RFI (Radio
Frequency Interference) electrical noises
that might be generated by the charger or
the power supply if one is used.
After putting this charger through its
paces in all possible combinations, I can
assure you that it will do everything it is
claimed to do; it covers all possibilities.
Output of the Super Turbo to your
batteries is via banana jacks. Because of
the many possibilities, you will have to
fabricate or purchase wiring harnesses to
mate with your choice of connectors. You
will have to worry out the battery end for
yourself; the required banana plugs are
readily available for the charger end.
In all cases except for transmitter and
receiver batteries, use heavy wiring—at
least 12-gauge—and solder on the banana
plugs. The solderless available are not
reliable enough and can even cause erratic
operation. Use high-quality plugs such as
RadioShack product number 278-321; they
are described as crimp-ons, but they can
and should be soldered.
This brings me to the one thing I don’t
like about the Super Turbo, though in all
fairness it is common with most such
devices: those giant battery clips for the
input! They are ideal if you are connecting
to a normal automotive battery with those
giant, round terminals, but few of us use
such batteries in the field. In most cases
they are the smaller gelled electrolyte
batteries, which are equipped with small,
quick-disconnect, push-on connectors. The
king-size clips don’t make perfect contact
with them and can lead to premature
termination of the charge cycle.
After considering how to assure myself
that I would always get the operational
quality built into the Super Turbo Charger,
I decided to marry it to the necessary
battery(s) with the proper secure
connectors—a complete, self-contained,
reliable package. The result, shown in the
photos, is an easily duplicated and
professional package that keeps it all
together and will keep your batteries at
peak charge at your beck and call.
You don’t need to be a cabinetmaker to
duplicate this project, but I recommend
using a better grade of plywood than that
available at your local lumberyard. Check
the ads for Balsa USA, Lone Star Models,
Sig Manufacturing Co., Superior Balsa &
Hobby Supply, and others.
The bottom and ends are 1⁄2-inch-thick
(could be 3⁄8 inch) material, and the sides
are 1⁄4 inch. There is a 1⁄4-inch shelf piece
over the batteries that the Super Turbo and
the control panel rest on. The handle is a
piece of 3⁄4-inch dowel supported on coathanger-
wire legs.
The dimensions are noncritical; mine is
10 x 61⁄2 x 5 inches outside—just large
enough for two 7A gel-cell batteries laying
on their sides with approximately an inch
between them for the necessary wiring.
The control panel evolved as the project
grew. It includes switching for the internal
batteries, placing them in parallel for those
high-current, high-cell-number
requirements, and making the necessary
connections to charge them one at a time.
68 MODEL AVIATION
Tell them you saw it in “Modeler’s Mall”
70 MODEL AVIATION
After going this far, I decided to
include a battery-condition indicator: a
simple, inexpensive ($7.95) light-emitting
diode (LED) voltage monitor available in
kit form from RadioShack (product
number 990-0083). The kit is relatively
simple to assemble and has decent
instructions, although it does require basic
soldering tools and skills. Get help if
you need it; an experienced person will
have it working in less than an hour.
The instructions include different
components for different voltage ranges;
you want 12 volts in 1-volt steps.
Calibration instructions are included;
you can use a freshly charged battery as
a standard. I installed the LEDs—two
red, two yellow, and four green—from
left to right. They indicate green down to
11 volts, at which the first yellow one
lights. Then it is 1 volt per, as the battery
is further discharged. The monitor is a
valuable aid in keeping track of your
batteries’ condition.
Switches on the control panel select
the gel-cell battery to be charged, as well
as the one being monitored. In all cases,
the switches selected are of the centeroff
type, so everything can be completed
switched out as required. This includes
the monitor, which would otherwise be
lit when the onboard batteries are being
charged. This is not a major concern,
although it might reduce the LED life
from 1,000,000 to maybe 999,990 hours.
All the necessary small hardware,
connectors, switches, etc. are available
from RadioShack. The connectors are
product number RS60-3039. If the
proper crimper is not available, slip off
the insulation, solder the wire, and
replace the insulator. The switches are
RadioShack product number 275-1533.
However, I also recommend Jameco
Visit the AMA Education Committee
Web site at www.buildandfly.com.
Electronics at (800) 831-4242; Web site:
www.jameco.com. This company has it all,
including the voltage-monitor kit (product
number 181833). A free catalog is available.
Properly charging the gel-cell batteries is
important to this project’s success. Forget
those wall-wart chargers that are often
available for them within the model
industry; those chargers are the cause of the
poor reputation (of short life) that gel-cell
batteries have acquired within the hobby.
Although these batteries appear to be as
rugged as a brick—and they are,
physically—they do not take kindly to
overcharging, lose capacity, and, if done
to them often enough, will die. Proper
charging calls for voltage sensing and
cutoff at the manufacturer’s recommended
points.
There are two chargers I recommend.
One is the CVC, or Constant Voltage
Charger, from Ace Hobby Distributors at
(949) 833-0088, www.acehobby.com, or
through its dealers. The CVC operates at a
400 mA rate, with automatic switching
down to a 5 mA trickle rate. It is
switchable for the 12-volt batteries used
here and any 6-volts you may use. The
CVC is $29.95.
The other charger is the Battery Tender
Jr. from Hughes RC at (800) 786-0802 or
www.hughesrc.com. It is self-contained in
a wall-wart type case, although it’s
slightly larger than the average system
charger. It includes a microprocessor
which senses the battery’s need, puts in
the proper current at 750 mA, then
switches to a trickle rate. The Battery
Tender Jr. comes with a two-year
warranty. It is $39.95, shipped!
I cannot overstress the importance of
using one of these chargers instead of the
simple battery-cooker types. They are
more expensive, but the payoff will be
dependability and no need to periodically
purchase replacement batteries. MA
Continued on page 74
74 MODEL AVIATION
(Manufacturer’s note: Batteries of at
least 18A capacity are necessary to make
use of all features. Our experience is that
the 7A gel or other batteries cannot stand
charge completed in the charger;
nevertheless, the battery to be charged
is charged or not.
This is a safety device in the Super
Turbo Charger which cuts off the charge
when it senses a substantial voltage
drop in the input battery. That means it
will protect the input [mostly car
battery] from full depletion. The
intention is to have the user safely crank
up his or her vehicle after a day of
flying.)
Suppliers:
Dymond Modelsports USA Ltd.
683 N. Main St.
Oshkosh WI 54901
(920) 303-1100
Fax: (920) 303-2021
www.rc-dymond.com
Dymond of San Diego
3904 Convoy St.
San Diego CA 92111
(858) 495-0092
Fax: (858) 495-0096
[email protected]
Price:
Super Turbo Charger: $109
Optional temperature probe: $14.95
Continued from page 72
Product Review a charge, especially with larger batteries.
Remember that with each charge there
will be a certain amount of charge taken
out of the battery. A 2400 mAh battery
with 12 cells takes approximately 4A in a
single charge, and the 7A gel battery
would drop voltage after the first charge
already finished, which would trigger a
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/05
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,70,72,74
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/05
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,70,72,74
DYMOND MODELSPORTS USA Ltd.
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a relatively new
supplier to the Radio Control modeler
compared to pioneers such as Goldberg
Models, Sig Manufacturing, Sullivan
Products, and those many other household
names to all longtime hobbyists. But in its
relatively short life, Dymond has
established itself as a supplier of highquality
model products, mostly of
European manufacture. They range from a
wide variety of Almost Ready-to-Fly
airplanes to small hardware items and
many products for the electric-flight
enthusiast.
One of the latter is the Super Turbo
Charger: a multifeatured, extremely
versatile Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery
charger. It’s versatile because it’s
microprocessor-based, using the latest
electronic design and construction
techniques, which result in a small unit but
with the features serious electric-power
fliers demand most.
All its functions are readily displayed
and programmable on a two-line 21⁄2 x 5⁄8-
inch LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). This is
a sophisticated charger; it has to be to
provide all the features that it brings. But
don’t be intimidated; it comes with an
easily understood instruction booklet with
an illustrated “window” for each function
and details about how to set it for your
requirements. Once the basics are done, all
you have to do is press the “Start/Stop”
button and wait for your batteries to be
safely and fully charged—every time!
The Super Turbo Charger has four basic
programs: Charge 1—26 cells; Discharge
1—26 cells; Cycle Mode 1—
Charge/Discharge; and Cycle Mode 2—
Discharge/Charge. Features include
66 MODEL AVIATION
Eloy Marez
P r o d u c t R e v i e w
2626 W. Northwood, Santa Ana CA 92704
Dymond Modelsports USA
Super Turbo Charger
Pros:
• Extremely versatile unit
• Easily understood instruction manual
• Small size but feature-packed
Cons:
• Difficult-to-decipher abbreviations
displayed
• Large battery clips hard to connect to
smaller battery terminals
The Super Turbo Charger is a full-function, fully programmable 12VDC-powered unit for one to 28 Ni-Cd or NiMH cells.
One recommendation for charging the
unit’s gel-cell battery is the Hughes RC
Battery Tender Jr., available for $39.95.
automatic mode, over-temperature
protection, overcharge protection, optional
battery-temperature probe, short-circuit
protection, programmable peak point for
Ni-Cds or NiMHs, trickle charge,
adjustable trickle-charge rate, on or off
audio signal, and automatic fan cooling.
The charger is 51⁄2 x 5 x 2 inches, and it
weighs 16 ounces. It comes in an all-metal
cabinet.
The Super Turbo Charger is DC (Direct
Current)-powered; that is, it requires
connection to a 10.5- to 15.0-volt battery
or regulated power supply. The
instructions warn not to use car-battery
chargers; their output is often not clean or
steady enough for the Super Turbo’s
electronics to function properly.
The charge and discharge rates are
user-adjustable for 0.1-5.0 amperes (A)—
100-5000 milliamperes (mA) if you prefer
those units. The delta peak point—at
which the charging current is
automatically switched off—can be set at
5-15 millivolts (mV:1⁄1000 volt) as suitable
for Ni-Cds, and 3-10 mV for NiMH
batteries. Recommendations are included
in the instructions.
The trickle-charge rate is adjustable
from 0 to 250 mA. The display provides
all the important battery information, such
as charge time, charge/discharge capacity,
delta peak voltage, average discharge
voltage under load, and, if something is
not kosher, an error message.
All rechargeable batteries are not
created equal, and the Super Turbo’s
instructions regarding charge rates are to
follow the battery-makers’
recommendations. A rule of thumb is
offered: two times capacity for Ni-Cds and
one time for NiMH. Recommendations are
to not exceed 1.3A for transmitter and
receiver batteries; their wiring is uncapable
of sustaining higher currents and may
overheat and melt the insulation.
Transmitters with diode protection in the
battery circuit cannot be discharged
directly through the charge connector;
connections directly to the battery are
necessary.
There is a caution against “no-name”
batteries; they are often of lower quality
than the branded ones, which are
recommended in all cases. Lower settings
and careful monitoring are recommended
until the battery’s characteristics are
May 2003 67
This schematic shows the author’s custom-designed and -built control panel. It’s a simple unit to make.
Eloy’s control panel eliminates troublesome and unreliable clip
connections and includes a source battery tester.
The author’s complete package, with the charger and control
panel in a compact, neatly built, homemade plywood carrier.
Photos/drawing by the author
known. The delta peak may not be as
pronounced, and charging may not cease.
The maximum charge or temperatureprobe
safety features should always be
exercised with these battery unknowns.
The only thing that will require some
brain work on your part is deciphering
some of the abbreviations on the display.
Something we run into with everything
that has these small displays is that there
simply isn’t enough room. However, as
stated, the instructions cover it all,
including a step-by-step description and
how to program each of the screens. Once
around and you will be an expert in
Turbospeak!
All settings are made with four
logically marked buttons: “Start/Stop,
“Add,” “Subtract,” and “Function.” To
stress the Super Turbo’s quality, those
buttons are the more costly push-button
switches that click when you press them; I
hate those wishy-washy ones with no feel!
Also on the topic of quality, there is a
small, gray cylinder roughly four inches
out on the input wires. It is a ferrite device
intended to suppress any RFI (Radio
Frequency Interference) electrical noises
that might be generated by the charger or
the power supply if one is used.
After putting this charger through its
paces in all possible combinations, I can
assure you that it will do everything it is
claimed to do; it covers all possibilities.
Output of the Super Turbo to your
batteries is via banana jacks. Because of
the many possibilities, you will have to
fabricate or purchase wiring harnesses to
mate with your choice of connectors. You
will have to worry out the battery end for
yourself; the required banana plugs are
readily available for the charger end.
In all cases except for transmitter and
receiver batteries, use heavy wiring—at
least 12-gauge—and solder on the banana
plugs. The solderless available are not
reliable enough and can even cause erratic
operation. Use high-quality plugs such as
RadioShack product number 278-321; they
are described as crimp-ons, but they can
and should be soldered.
This brings me to the one thing I don’t
like about the Super Turbo, though in all
fairness it is common with most such
devices: those giant battery clips for the
input! They are ideal if you are connecting
to a normal automotive battery with those
giant, round terminals, but few of us use
such batteries in the field. In most cases
they are the smaller gelled electrolyte
batteries, which are equipped with small,
quick-disconnect, push-on connectors. The
king-size clips don’t make perfect contact
with them and can lead to premature
termination of the charge cycle.
After considering how to assure myself
that I would always get the operational
quality built into the Super Turbo Charger,
I decided to marry it to the necessary
battery(s) with the proper secure
connectors—a complete, self-contained,
reliable package. The result, shown in the
photos, is an easily duplicated and
professional package that keeps it all
together and will keep your batteries at
peak charge at your beck and call.
You don’t need to be a cabinetmaker to
duplicate this project, but I recommend
using a better grade of plywood than that
available at your local lumberyard. Check
the ads for Balsa USA, Lone Star Models,
Sig Manufacturing Co., Superior Balsa &
Hobby Supply, and others.
The bottom and ends are 1⁄2-inch-thick
(could be 3⁄8 inch) material, and the sides
are 1⁄4 inch. There is a 1⁄4-inch shelf piece
over the batteries that the Super Turbo and
the control panel rest on. The handle is a
piece of 3⁄4-inch dowel supported on coathanger-
wire legs.
The dimensions are noncritical; mine is
10 x 61⁄2 x 5 inches outside—just large
enough for two 7A gel-cell batteries laying
on their sides with approximately an inch
between them for the necessary wiring.
The control panel evolved as the project
grew. It includes switching for the internal
batteries, placing them in parallel for those
high-current, high-cell-number
requirements, and making the necessary
connections to charge them one at a time.
68 MODEL AVIATION
Tell them you saw it in “Modeler’s Mall”
70 MODEL AVIATION
After going this far, I decided to
include a battery-condition indicator: a
simple, inexpensive ($7.95) light-emitting
diode (LED) voltage monitor available in
kit form from RadioShack (product
number 990-0083). The kit is relatively
simple to assemble and has decent
instructions, although it does require basic
soldering tools and skills. Get help if
you need it; an experienced person will
have it working in less than an hour.
The instructions include different
components for different voltage ranges;
you want 12 volts in 1-volt steps.
Calibration instructions are included;
you can use a freshly charged battery as
a standard. I installed the LEDs—two
red, two yellow, and four green—from
left to right. They indicate green down to
11 volts, at which the first yellow one
lights. Then it is 1 volt per, as the battery
is further discharged. The monitor is a
valuable aid in keeping track of your
batteries’ condition.
Switches on the control panel select
the gel-cell battery to be charged, as well
as the one being monitored. In all cases,
the switches selected are of the centeroff
type, so everything can be completed
switched out as required. This includes
the monitor, which would otherwise be
lit when the onboard batteries are being
charged. This is not a major concern,
although it might reduce the LED life
from 1,000,000 to maybe 999,990 hours.
All the necessary small hardware,
connectors, switches, etc. are available
from RadioShack. The connectors are
product number RS60-3039. If the
proper crimper is not available, slip off
the insulation, solder the wire, and
replace the insulator. The switches are
RadioShack product number 275-1533.
However, I also recommend Jameco
Visit the AMA Education Committee
Web site at www.buildandfly.com.
Electronics at (800) 831-4242; Web site:
www.jameco.com. This company has it all,
including the voltage-monitor kit (product
number 181833). A free catalog is available.
Properly charging the gel-cell batteries is
important to this project’s success. Forget
those wall-wart chargers that are often
available for them within the model
industry; those chargers are the cause of the
poor reputation (of short life) that gel-cell
batteries have acquired within the hobby.
Although these batteries appear to be as
rugged as a brick—and they are,
physically—they do not take kindly to
overcharging, lose capacity, and, if done
to them often enough, will die. Proper
charging calls for voltage sensing and
cutoff at the manufacturer’s recommended
points.
There are two chargers I recommend.
One is the CVC, or Constant Voltage
Charger, from Ace Hobby Distributors at
(949) 833-0088, www.acehobby.com, or
through its dealers. The CVC operates at a
400 mA rate, with automatic switching
down to a 5 mA trickle rate. It is
switchable for the 12-volt batteries used
here and any 6-volts you may use. The
CVC is $29.95.
The other charger is the Battery Tender
Jr. from Hughes RC at (800) 786-0802 or
www.hughesrc.com. It is self-contained in
a wall-wart type case, although it’s
slightly larger than the average system
charger. It includes a microprocessor
which senses the battery’s need, puts in
the proper current at 750 mA, then
switches to a trickle rate. The Battery
Tender Jr. comes with a two-year
warranty. It is $39.95, shipped!
I cannot overstress the importance of
using one of these chargers instead of the
simple battery-cooker types. They are
more expensive, but the payoff will be
dependability and no need to periodically
purchase replacement batteries. MA
Continued on page 74
74 MODEL AVIATION
(Manufacturer’s note: Batteries of at
least 18A capacity are necessary to make
use of all features. Our experience is that
the 7A gel or other batteries cannot stand
charge completed in the charger;
nevertheless, the battery to be charged
is charged or not.
This is a safety device in the Super
Turbo Charger which cuts off the charge
when it senses a substantial voltage
drop in the input battery. That means it
will protect the input [mostly car
battery] from full depletion. The
intention is to have the user safely crank
up his or her vehicle after a day of
flying.)
Suppliers:
Dymond Modelsports USA Ltd.
683 N. Main St.
Oshkosh WI 54901
(920) 303-1100
Fax: (920) 303-2021
www.rc-dymond.com
Dymond of San Diego
3904 Convoy St.
San Diego CA 92111
(858) 495-0092
Fax: (858) 495-0096
[email protected]
Price:
Super Turbo Charger: $109
Optional temperature probe: $14.95
Continued from page 72
Product Review a charge, especially with larger batteries.
Remember that with each charge there
will be a certain amount of charge taken
out of the battery. A 2400 mAh battery
with 12 cells takes approximately 4A in a
single charge, and the 7A gel battery
would drop voltage after the first charge
already finished, which would trigger a
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/05
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,70,72,74
DYMOND MODELSPORTS USA Ltd.
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a relatively new
supplier to the Radio Control modeler
compared to pioneers such as Goldberg
Models, Sig Manufacturing, Sullivan
Products, and those many other household
names to all longtime hobbyists. But in its
relatively short life, Dymond has
established itself as a supplier of highquality
model products, mostly of
European manufacture. They range from a
wide variety of Almost Ready-to-Fly
airplanes to small hardware items and
many products for the electric-flight
enthusiast.
One of the latter is the Super Turbo
Charger: a multifeatured, extremely
versatile Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery
charger. It’s versatile because it’s
microprocessor-based, using the latest
electronic design and construction
techniques, which result in a small unit but
with the features serious electric-power
fliers demand most.
All its functions are readily displayed
and programmable on a two-line 21⁄2 x 5⁄8-
inch LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). This is
a sophisticated charger; it has to be to
provide all the features that it brings. But
don’t be intimidated; it comes with an
easily understood instruction booklet with
an illustrated “window” for each function
and details about how to set it for your
requirements. Once the basics are done, all
you have to do is press the “Start/Stop”
button and wait for your batteries to be
safely and fully charged—every time!
The Super Turbo Charger has four basic
programs: Charge 1—26 cells; Discharge
1—26 cells; Cycle Mode 1—
Charge/Discharge; and Cycle Mode 2—
Discharge/Charge. Features include
66 MODEL AVIATION
Eloy Marez
P r o d u c t R e v i e w
2626 W. Northwood, Santa Ana CA 92704
Dymond Modelsports USA
Super Turbo Charger
Pros:
• Extremely versatile unit
• Easily understood instruction manual
• Small size but feature-packed
Cons:
• Difficult-to-decipher abbreviations
displayed
• Large battery clips hard to connect to
smaller battery terminals
The Super Turbo Charger is a full-function, fully programmable 12VDC-powered unit for one to 28 Ni-Cd or NiMH cells.
One recommendation for charging the
unit’s gel-cell battery is the Hughes RC
Battery Tender Jr., available for $39.95.
automatic mode, over-temperature
protection, overcharge protection, optional
battery-temperature probe, short-circuit
protection, programmable peak point for
Ni-Cds or NiMHs, trickle charge,
adjustable trickle-charge rate, on or off
audio signal, and automatic fan cooling.
The charger is 51⁄2 x 5 x 2 inches, and it
weighs 16 ounces. It comes in an all-metal
cabinet.
The Super Turbo Charger is DC (Direct
Current)-powered; that is, it requires
connection to a 10.5- to 15.0-volt battery
or regulated power supply. The
instructions warn not to use car-battery
chargers; their output is often not clean or
steady enough for the Super Turbo’s
electronics to function properly.
The charge and discharge rates are
user-adjustable for 0.1-5.0 amperes (A)—
100-5000 milliamperes (mA) if you prefer
those units. The delta peak point—at
which the charging current is
automatically switched off—can be set at
5-15 millivolts (mV:1⁄1000 volt) as suitable
for Ni-Cds, and 3-10 mV for NiMH
batteries. Recommendations are included
in the instructions.
The trickle-charge rate is adjustable
from 0 to 250 mA. The display provides
all the important battery information, such
as charge time, charge/discharge capacity,
delta peak voltage, average discharge
voltage under load, and, if something is
not kosher, an error message.
All rechargeable batteries are not
created equal, and the Super Turbo’s
instructions regarding charge rates are to
follow the battery-makers’
recommendations. A rule of thumb is
offered: two times capacity for Ni-Cds and
one time for NiMH. Recommendations are
to not exceed 1.3A for transmitter and
receiver batteries; their wiring is uncapable
of sustaining higher currents and may
overheat and melt the insulation.
Transmitters with diode protection in the
battery circuit cannot be discharged
directly through the charge connector;
connections directly to the battery are
necessary.
There is a caution against “no-name”
batteries; they are often of lower quality
than the branded ones, which are
recommended in all cases. Lower settings
and careful monitoring are recommended
until the battery’s characteristics are
May 2003 67
This schematic shows the author’s custom-designed and -built control panel. It’s a simple unit to make.
Eloy’s control panel eliminates troublesome and unreliable clip
connections and includes a source battery tester.
The author’s complete package, with the charger and control
panel in a compact, neatly built, homemade plywood carrier.
Photos/drawing by the author
known. The delta peak may not be as
pronounced, and charging may not cease.
The maximum charge or temperatureprobe
safety features should always be
exercised with these battery unknowns.
The only thing that will require some
brain work on your part is deciphering
some of the abbreviations on the display.
Something we run into with everything
that has these small displays is that there
simply isn’t enough room. However, as
stated, the instructions cover it all,
including a step-by-step description and
how to program each of the screens. Once
around and you will be an expert in
Turbospeak!
All settings are made with four
logically marked buttons: “Start/Stop,
“Add,” “Subtract,” and “Function.” To
stress the Super Turbo’s quality, those
buttons are the more costly push-button
switches that click when you press them; I
hate those wishy-washy ones with no feel!
Also on the topic of quality, there is a
small, gray cylinder roughly four inches
out on the input wires. It is a ferrite device
intended to suppress any RFI (Radio
Frequency Interference) electrical noises
that might be generated by the charger or
the power supply if one is used.
After putting this charger through its
paces in all possible combinations, I can
assure you that it will do everything it is
claimed to do; it covers all possibilities.
Output of the Super Turbo to your
batteries is via banana jacks. Because of
the many possibilities, you will have to
fabricate or purchase wiring harnesses to
mate with your choice of connectors. You
will have to worry out the battery end for
yourself; the required banana plugs are
readily available for the charger end.
In all cases except for transmitter and
receiver batteries, use heavy wiring—at
least 12-gauge—and solder on the banana
plugs. The solderless available are not
reliable enough and can even cause erratic
operation. Use high-quality plugs such as
RadioShack product number 278-321; they
are described as crimp-ons, but they can
and should be soldered.
This brings me to the one thing I don’t
like about the Super Turbo, though in all
fairness it is common with most such
devices: those giant battery clips for the
input! They are ideal if you are connecting
to a normal automotive battery with those
giant, round terminals, but few of us use
such batteries in the field. In most cases
they are the smaller gelled electrolyte
batteries, which are equipped with small,
quick-disconnect, push-on connectors. The
king-size clips don’t make perfect contact
with them and can lead to premature
termination of the charge cycle.
After considering how to assure myself
that I would always get the operational
quality built into the Super Turbo Charger,
I decided to marry it to the necessary
battery(s) with the proper secure
connectors—a complete, self-contained,
reliable package. The result, shown in the
photos, is an easily duplicated and
professional package that keeps it all
together and will keep your batteries at
peak charge at your beck and call.
You don’t need to be a cabinetmaker to
duplicate this project, but I recommend
using a better grade of plywood than that
available at your local lumberyard. Check
the ads for Balsa USA, Lone Star Models,
Sig Manufacturing Co., Superior Balsa &
Hobby Supply, and others.
The bottom and ends are 1⁄2-inch-thick
(could be 3⁄8 inch) material, and the sides
are 1⁄4 inch. There is a 1⁄4-inch shelf piece
over the batteries that the Super Turbo and
the control panel rest on. The handle is a
piece of 3⁄4-inch dowel supported on coathanger-
wire legs.
The dimensions are noncritical; mine is
10 x 61⁄2 x 5 inches outside—just large
enough for two 7A gel-cell batteries laying
on their sides with approximately an inch
between them for the necessary wiring.
The control panel evolved as the project
grew. It includes switching for the internal
batteries, placing them in parallel for those
high-current, high-cell-number
requirements, and making the necessary
connections to charge them one at a time.
68 MODEL AVIATION
Tell them you saw it in “Modeler’s Mall”
70 MODEL AVIATION
After going this far, I decided to
include a battery-condition indicator: a
simple, inexpensive ($7.95) light-emitting
diode (LED) voltage monitor available in
kit form from RadioShack (product
number 990-0083). The kit is relatively
simple to assemble and has decent
instructions, although it does require basic
soldering tools and skills. Get help if
you need it; an experienced person will
have it working in less than an hour.
The instructions include different
components for different voltage ranges;
you want 12 volts in 1-volt steps.
Calibration instructions are included;
you can use a freshly charged battery as
a standard. I installed the LEDs—two
red, two yellow, and four green—from
left to right. They indicate green down to
11 volts, at which the first yellow one
lights. Then it is 1 volt per, as the battery
is further discharged. The monitor is a
valuable aid in keeping track of your
batteries’ condition.
Switches on the control panel select
the gel-cell battery to be charged, as well
as the one being monitored. In all cases,
the switches selected are of the centeroff
type, so everything can be completed
switched out as required. This includes
the monitor, which would otherwise be
lit when the onboard batteries are being
charged. This is not a major concern,
although it might reduce the LED life
from 1,000,000 to maybe 999,990 hours.
All the necessary small hardware,
connectors, switches, etc. are available
from RadioShack. The connectors are
product number RS60-3039. If the
proper crimper is not available, slip off
the insulation, solder the wire, and
replace the insulator. The switches are
RadioShack product number 275-1533.
However, I also recommend Jameco
Visit the AMA Education Committee
Web site at www.buildandfly.com.
Electronics at (800) 831-4242; Web site:
www.jameco.com. This company has it all,
including the voltage-monitor kit (product
number 181833). A free catalog is available.
Properly charging the gel-cell batteries is
important to this project’s success. Forget
those wall-wart chargers that are often
available for them within the model
industry; those chargers are the cause of the
poor reputation (of short life) that gel-cell
batteries have acquired within the hobby.
Although these batteries appear to be as
rugged as a brick—and they are,
physically—they do not take kindly to
overcharging, lose capacity, and, if done
to them often enough, will die. Proper
charging calls for voltage sensing and
cutoff at the manufacturer’s recommended
points.
There are two chargers I recommend.
One is the CVC, or Constant Voltage
Charger, from Ace Hobby Distributors at
(949) 833-0088, www.acehobby.com, or
through its dealers. The CVC operates at a
400 mA rate, with automatic switching
down to a 5 mA trickle rate. It is
switchable for the 12-volt batteries used
here and any 6-volts you may use. The
CVC is $29.95.
The other charger is the Battery Tender
Jr. from Hughes RC at (800) 786-0802 or
www.hughesrc.com. It is self-contained in
a wall-wart type case, although it’s
slightly larger than the average system
charger. It includes a microprocessor
which senses the battery’s need, puts in
the proper current at 750 mA, then
switches to a trickle rate. The Battery
Tender Jr. comes with a two-year
warranty. It is $39.95, shipped!
I cannot overstress the importance of
using one of these chargers instead of the
simple battery-cooker types. They are
more expensive, but the payoff will be
dependability and no need to periodically
purchase replacement batteries. MA
Continued on page 74
74 MODEL AVIATION
(Manufacturer’s note: Batteries of at
least 18A capacity are necessary to make
use of all features. Our experience is that
the 7A gel or other batteries cannot stand
charge completed in the charger;
nevertheless, the battery to be charged
is charged or not.
This is a safety device in the Super
Turbo Charger which cuts off the charge
when it senses a substantial voltage
drop in the input battery. That means it
will protect the input [mostly car
battery] from full depletion. The
intention is to have the user safely crank
up his or her vehicle after a day of
flying.)
Suppliers:
Dymond Modelsports USA Ltd.
683 N. Main St.
Oshkosh WI 54901
(920) 303-1100
Fax: (920) 303-2021
www.rc-dymond.com
Dymond of San Diego
3904 Convoy St.
San Diego CA 92111
(858) 495-0092
Fax: (858) 495-0096
[email protected]
Price:
Super Turbo Charger: $109
Optional temperature probe: $14.95
Continued from page 72
Product Review a charge, especially with larger batteries.
Remember that with each charge there
will be a certain amount of charge taken
out of the battery. A 2400 mAh battery
with 12 cells takes approximately 4A in a
single charge, and the 7A gel battery
would drop voltage after the first charge
already finished, which would trigger a
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/05
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,70,72,74
DYMOND MODELSPORTS USA Ltd.
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a relatively new
supplier to the Radio Control modeler
compared to pioneers such as Goldberg
Models, Sig Manufacturing, Sullivan
Products, and those many other household
names to all longtime hobbyists. But in its
relatively short life, Dymond has
established itself as a supplier of highquality
model products, mostly of
European manufacture. They range from a
wide variety of Almost Ready-to-Fly
airplanes to small hardware items and
many products for the electric-flight
enthusiast.
One of the latter is the Super Turbo
Charger: a multifeatured, extremely
versatile Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery
charger. It’s versatile because it’s
microprocessor-based, using the latest
electronic design and construction
techniques, which result in a small unit but
with the features serious electric-power
fliers demand most.
All its functions are readily displayed
and programmable on a two-line 21⁄2 x 5⁄8-
inch LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). This is
a sophisticated charger; it has to be to
provide all the features that it brings. But
don’t be intimidated; it comes with an
easily understood instruction booklet with
an illustrated “window” for each function
and details about how to set it for your
requirements. Once the basics are done, all
you have to do is press the “Start/Stop”
button and wait for your batteries to be
safely and fully charged—every time!
The Super Turbo Charger has four basic
programs: Charge 1—26 cells; Discharge
1—26 cells; Cycle Mode 1—
Charge/Discharge; and Cycle Mode 2—
Discharge/Charge. Features include
66 MODEL AVIATION
Eloy Marez
P r o d u c t R e v i e w
2626 W. Northwood, Santa Ana CA 92704
Dymond Modelsports USA
Super Turbo Charger
Pros:
• Extremely versatile unit
• Easily understood instruction manual
• Small size but feature-packed
Cons:
• Difficult-to-decipher abbreviations
displayed
• Large battery clips hard to connect to
smaller battery terminals
The Super Turbo Charger is a full-function, fully programmable 12VDC-powered unit for one to 28 Ni-Cd or NiMH cells.
One recommendation for charging the
unit’s gel-cell battery is the Hughes RC
Battery Tender Jr., available for $39.95.
automatic mode, over-temperature
protection, overcharge protection, optional
battery-temperature probe, short-circuit
protection, programmable peak point for
Ni-Cds or NiMHs, trickle charge,
adjustable trickle-charge rate, on or off
audio signal, and automatic fan cooling.
The charger is 51⁄2 x 5 x 2 inches, and it
weighs 16 ounces. It comes in an all-metal
cabinet.
The Super Turbo Charger is DC (Direct
Current)-powered; that is, it requires
connection to a 10.5- to 15.0-volt battery
or regulated power supply. The
instructions warn not to use car-battery
chargers; their output is often not clean or
steady enough for the Super Turbo’s
electronics to function properly.
The charge and discharge rates are
user-adjustable for 0.1-5.0 amperes (A)—
100-5000 milliamperes (mA) if you prefer
those units. The delta peak point—at
which the charging current is
automatically switched off—can be set at
5-15 millivolts (mV:1⁄1000 volt) as suitable
for Ni-Cds, and 3-10 mV for NiMH
batteries. Recommendations are included
in the instructions.
The trickle-charge rate is adjustable
from 0 to 250 mA. The display provides
all the important battery information, such
as charge time, charge/discharge capacity,
delta peak voltage, average discharge
voltage under load, and, if something is
not kosher, an error message.
All rechargeable batteries are not
created equal, and the Super Turbo’s
instructions regarding charge rates are to
follow the battery-makers’
recommendations. A rule of thumb is
offered: two times capacity for Ni-Cds and
one time for NiMH. Recommendations are
to not exceed 1.3A for transmitter and
receiver batteries; their wiring is uncapable
of sustaining higher currents and may
overheat and melt the insulation.
Transmitters with diode protection in the
battery circuit cannot be discharged
directly through the charge connector;
connections directly to the battery are
necessary.
There is a caution against “no-name”
batteries; they are often of lower quality
than the branded ones, which are
recommended in all cases. Lower settings
and careful monitoring are recommended
until the battery’s characteristics are
May 2003 67
This schematic shows the author’s custom-designed and -built control panel. It’s a simple unit to make.
Eloy’s control panel eliminates troublesome and unreliable clip
connections and includes a source battery tester.
The author’s complete package, with the charger and control
panel in a compact, neatly built, homemade plywood carrier.
Photos/drawing by the author
known. The delta peak may not be as
pronounced, and charging may not cease.
The maximum charge or temperatureprobe
safety features should always be
exercised with these battery unknowns.
The only thing that will require some
brain work on your part is deciphering
some of the abbreviations on the display.
Something we run into with everything
that has these small displays is that there
simply isn’t enough room. However, as
stated, the instructions cover it all,
including a step-by-step description and
how to program each of the screens. Once
around and you will be an expert in
Turbospeak!
All settings are made with four
logically marked buttons: “Start/Stop,
“Add,” “Subtract,” and “Function.” To
stress the Super Turbo’s quality, those
buttons are the more costly push-button
switches that click when you press them; I
hate those wishy-washy ones with no feel!
Also on the topic of quality, there is a
small, gray cylinder roughly four inches
out on the input wires. It is a ferrite device
intended to suppress any RFI (Radio
Frequency Interference) electrical noises
that might be generated by the charger or
the power supply if one is used.
After putting this charger through its
paces in all possible combinations, I can
assure you that it will do everything it is
claimed to do; it covers all possibilities.
Output of the Super Turbo to your
batteries is via banana jacks. Because of
the many possibilities, you will have to
fabricate or purchase wiring harnesses to
mate with your choice of connectors. You
will have to worry out the battery end for
yourself; the required banana plugs are
readily available for the charger end.
In all cases except for transmitter and
receiver batteries, use heavy wiring—at
least 12-gauge—and solder on the banana
plugs. The solderless available are not
reliable enough and can even cause erratic
operation. Use high-quality plugs such as
RadioShack product number 278-321; they
are described as crimp-ons, but they can
and should be soldered.
This brings me to the one thing I don’t
like about the Super Turbo, though in all
fairness it is common with most such
devices: those giant battery clips for the
input! They are ideal if you are connecting
to a normal automotive battery with those
giant, round terminals, but few of us use
such batteries in the field. In most cases
they are the smaller gelled electrolyte
batteries, which are equipped with small,
quick-disconnect, push-on connectors. The
king-size clips don’t make perfect contact
with them and can lead to premature
termination of the charge cycle.
After considering how to assure myself
that I would always get the operational
quality built into the Super Turbo Charger,
I decided to marry it to the necessary
battery(s) with the proper secure
connectors—a complete, self-contained,
reliable package. The result, shown in the
photos, is an easily duplicated and
professional package that keeps it all
together and will keep your batteries at
peak charge at your beck and call.
You don’t need to be a cabinetmaker to
duplicate this project, but I recommend
using a better grade of plywood than that
available at your local lumberyard. Check
the ads for Balsa USA, Lone Star Models,
Sig Manufacturing Co., Superior Balsa &
Hobby Supply, and others.
The bottom and ends are 1⁄2-inch-thick
(could be 3⁄8 inch) material, and the sides
are 1⁄4 inch. There is a 1⁄4-inch shelf piece
over the batteries that the Super Turbo and
the control panel rest on. The handle is a
piece of 3⁄4-inch dowel supported on coathanger-
wire legs.
The dimensions are noncritical; mine is
10 x 61⁄2 x 5 inches outside—just large
enough for two 7A gel-cell batteries laying
on their sides with approximately an inch
between them for the necessary wiring.
The control panel evolved as the project
grew. It includes switching for the internal
batteries, placing them in parallel for those
high-current, high-cell-number
requirements, and making the necessary
connections to charge them one at a time.
68 MODEL AVIATION
Tell them you saw it in “Modeler’s Mall”
70 MODEL AVIATION
After going this far, I decided to
include a battery-condition indicator: a
simple, inexpensive ($7.95) light-emitting
diode (LED) voltage monitor available in
kit form from RadioShack (product
number 990-0083). The kit is relatively
simple to assemble and has decent
instructions, although it does require basic
soldering tools and skills. Get help if
you need it; an experienced person will
have it working in less than an hour.
The instructions include different
components for different voltage ranges;
you want 12 volts in 1-volt steps.
Calibration instructions are included;
you can use a freshly charged battery as
a standard. I installed the LEDs—two
red, two yellow, and four green—from
left to right. They indicate green down to
11 volts, at which the first yellow one
lights. Then it is 1 volt per, as the battery
is further discharged. The monitor is a
valuable aid in keeping track of your
batteries’ condition.
Switches on the control panel select
the gel-cell battery to be charged, as well
as the one being monitored. In all cases,
the switches selected are of the centeroff
type, so everything can be completed
switched out as required. This includes
the monitor, which would otherwise be
lit when the onboard batteries are being
charged. This is not a major concern,
although it might reduce the LED life
from 1,000,000 to maybe 999,990 hours.
All the necessary small hardware,
connectors, switches, etc. are available
from RadioShack. The connectors are
product number RS60-3039. If the
proper crimper is not available, slip off
the insulation, solder the wire, and
replace the insulator. The switches are
RadioShack product number 275-1533.
However, I also recommend Jameco
Visit the AMA Education Committee
Web site at www.buildandfly.com.
Electronics at (800) 831-4242; Web site:
www.jameco.com. This company has it all,
including the voltage-monitor kit (product
number 181833). A free catalog is available.
Properly charging the gel-cell batteries is
important to this project’s success. Forget
those wall-wart chargers that are often
available for them within the model
industry; those chargers are the cause of the
poor reputation (of short life) that gel-cell
batteries have acquired within the hobby.
Although these batteries appear to be as
rugged as a brick—and they are,
physically—they do not take kindly to
overcharging, lose capacity, and, if done
to them often enough, will die. Proper
charging calls for voltage sensing and
cutoff at the manufacturer’s recommended
points.
There are two chargers I recommend.
One is the CVC, or Constant Voltage
Charger, from Ace Hobby Distributors at
(949) 833-0088, www.acehobby.com, or
through its dealers. The CVC operates at a
400 mA rate, with automatic switching
down to a 5 mA trickle rate. It is
switchable for the 12-volt batteries used
here and any 6-volts you may use. The
CVC is $29.95.
The other charger is the Battery Tender
Jr. from Hughes RC at (800) 786-0802 or
www.hughesrc.com. It is self-contained in
a wall-wart type case, although it’s
slightly larger than the average system
charger. It includes a microprocessor
which senses the battery’s need, puts in
the proper current at 750 mA, then
switches to a trickle rate. The Battery
Tender Jr. comes with a two-year
warranty. It is $39.95, shipped!
I cannot overstress the importance of
using one of these chargers instead of the
simple battery-cooker types. They are
more expensive, but the payoff will be
dependability and no need to periodically
purchase replacement batteries. MA
Continued on page 74
74 MODEL AVIATION
(Manufacturer’s note: Batteries of at
least 18A capacity are necessary to make
use of all features. Our experience is that
the 7A gel or other batteries cannot stand
charge completed in the charger;
nevertheless, the battery to be charged
is charged or not.
This is a safety device in the Super
Turbo Charger which cuts off the charge
when it senses a substantial voltage
drop in the input battery. That means it
will protect the input [mostly car
battery] from full depletion. The
intention is to have the user safely crank
up his or her vehicle after a day of
flying.)
Suppliers:
Dymond Modelsports USA Ltd.
683 N. Main St.
Oshkosh WI 54901
(920) 303-1100
Fax: (920) 303-2021
www.rc-dymond.com
Dymond of San Diego
3904 Convoy St.
San Diego CA 92111
(858) 495-0092
Fax: (858) 495-0096
[email protected]
Price:
Super Turbo Charger: $109
Optional temperature probe: $14.95
Continued from page 72
Product Review a charge, especially with larger batteries.
Remember that with each charge there
will be a certain amount of charge taken
out of the battery. A 2400 mAh battery
with 12 cells takes approximately 4A in a
single charge, and the 7A gel battery
would drop voltage after the first charge
already finished, which would trigger a
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/05
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,70,72,74
DYMOND MODELSPORTS USA Ltd.
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a relatively new
supplier to the Radio Control modeler
compared to pioneers such as Goldberg
Models, Sig Manufacturing, Sullivan
Products, and those many other household
names to all longtime hobbyists. But in its
relatively short life, Dymond has
established itself as a supplier of highquality
model products, mostly of
European manufacture. They range from a
wide variety of Almost Ready-to-Fly
airplanes to small hardware items and
many products for the electric-flight
enthusiast.
One of the latter is the Super Turbo
Charger: a multifeatured, extremely
versatile Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery
charger. It’s versatile because it’s
microprocessor-based, using the latest
electronic design and construction
techniques, which result in a small unit but
with the features serious electric-power
fliers demand most.
All its functions are readily displayed
and programmable on a two-line 21⁄2 x 5⁄8-
inch LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). This is
a sophisticated charger; it has to be to
provide all the features that it brings. But
don’t be intimidated; it comes with an
easily understood instruction booklet with
an illustrated “window” for each function
and details about how to set it for your
requirements. Once the basics are done, all
you have to do is press the “Start/Stop”
button and wait for your batteries to be
safely and fully charged—every time!
The Super Turbo Charger has four basic
programs: Charge 1—26 cells; Discharge
1—26 cells; Cycle Mode 1—
Charge/Discharge; and Cycle Mode 2—
Discharge/Charge. Features include
66 MODEL AVIATION
Eloy Marez
P r o d u c t R e v i e w
2626 W. Northwood, Santa Ana CA 92704
Dymond Modelsports USA
Super Turbo Charger
Pros:
• Extremely versatile unit
• Easily understood instruction manual
• Small size but feature-packed
Cons:
• Difficult-to-decipher abbreviations
displayed
• Large battery clips hard to connect to
smaller battery terminals
The Super Turbo Charger is a full-function, fully programmable 12VDC-powered unit for one to 28 Ni-Cd or NiMH cells.
One recommendation for charging the
unit’s gel-cell battery is the Hughes RC
Battery Tender Jr., available for $39.95.
automatic mode, over-temperature
protection, overcharge protection, optional
battery-temperature probe, short-circuit
protection, programmable peak point for
Ni-Cds or NiMHs, trickle charge,
adjustable trickle-charge rate, on or off
audio signal, and automatic fan cooling.
The charger is 51⁄2 x 5 x 2 inches, and it
weighs 16 ounces. It comes in an all-metal
cabinet.
The Super Turbo Charger is DC (Direct
Current)-powered; that is, it requires
connection to a 10.5- to 15.0-volt battery
or regulated power supply. The
instructions warn not to use car-battery
chargers; their output is often not clean or
steady enough for the Super Turbo’s
electronics to function properly.
The charge and discharge rates are
user-adjustable for 0.1-5.0 amperes (A)—
100-5000 milliamperes (mA) if you prefer
those units. The delta peak point—at
which the charging current is
automatically switched off—can be set at
5-15 millivolts (mV:1⁄1000 volt) as suitable
for Ni-Cds, and 3-10 mV for NiMH
batteries. Recommendations are included
in the instructions.
The trickle-charge rate is adjustable
from 0 to 250 mA. The display provides
all the important battery information, such
as charge time, charge/discharge capacity,
delta peak voltage, average discharge
voltage under load, and, if something is
not kosher, an error message.
All rechargeable batteries are not
created equal, and the Super Turbo’s
instructions regarding charge rates are to
follow the battery-makers’
recommendations. A rule of thumb is
offered: two times capacity for Ni-Cds and
one time for NiMH. Recommendations are
to not exceed 1.3A for transmitter and
receiver batteries; their wiring is uncapable
of sustaining higher currents and may
overheat and melt the insulation.
Transmitters with diode protection in the
battery circuit cannot be discharged
directly through the charge connector;
connections directly to the battery are
necessary.
There is a caution against “no-name”
batteries; they are often of lower quality
than the branded ones, which are
recommended in all cases. Lower settings
and careful monitoring are recommended
until the battery’s characteristics are
May 2003 67
This schematic shows the author’s custom-designed and -built control panel. It’s a simple unit to make.
Eloy’s control panel eliminates troublesome and unreliable clip
connections and includes a source battery tester.
The author’s complete package, with the charger and control
panel in a compact, neatly built, homemade plywood carrier.
Photos/drawing by the author
known. The delta peak may not be as
pronounced, and charging may not cease.
The maximum charge or temperatureprobe
safety features should always be
exercised with these battery unknowns.
The only thing that will require some
brain work on your part is deciphering
some of the abbreviations on the display.
Something we run into with everything
that has these small displays is that there
simply isn’t enough room. However, as
stated, the instructions cover it all,
including a step-by-step description and
how to program each of the screens. Once
around and you will be an expert in
Turbospeak!
All settings are made with four
logically marked buttons: “Start/Stop,
“Add,” “Subtract,” and “Function.” To
stress the Super Turbo’s quality, those
buttons are the more costly push-button
switches that click when you press them; I
hate those wishy-washy ones with no feel!
Also on the topic of quality, there is a
small, gray cylinder roughly four inches
out on the input wires. It is a ferrite device
intended to suppress any RFI (Radio
Frequency Interference) electrical noises
that might be generated by the charger or
the power supply if one is used.
After putting this charger through its
paces in all possible combinations, I can
assure you that it will do everything it is
claimed to do; it covers all possibilities.
Output of the Super Turbo to your
batteries is via banana jacks. Because of
the many possibilities, you will have to
fabricate or purchase wiring harnesses to
mate with your choice of connectors. You
will have to worry out the battery end for
yourself; the required banana plugs are
readily available for the charger end.
In all cases except for transmitter and
receiver batteries, use heavy wiring—at
least 12-gauge—and solder on the banana
plugs. The solderless available are not
reliable enough and can even cause erratic
operation. Use high-quality plugs such as
RadioShack product number 278-321; they
are described as crimp-ons, but they can
and should be soldered.
This brings me to the one thing I don’t
like about the Super Turbo, though in all
fairness it is common with most such
devices: those giant battery clips for the
input! They are ideal if you are connecting
to a normal automotive battery with those
giant, round terminals, but few of us use
such batteries in the field. In most cases
they are the smaller gelled electrolyte
batteries, which are equipped with small,
quick-disconnect, push-on connectors. The
king-size clips don’t make perfect contact
with them and can lead to premature
termination of the charge cycle.
After considering how to assure myself
that I would always get the operational
quality built into the Super Turbo Charger,
I decided to marry it to the necessary
battery(s) with the proper secure
connectors—a complete, self-contained,
reliable package. The result, shown in the
photos, is an easily duplicated and
professional package that keeps it all
together and will keep your batteries at
peak charge at your beck and call.
You don’t need to be a cabinetmaker to
duplicate this project, but I recommend
using a better grade of plywood than that
available at your local lumberyard. Check
the ads for Balsa USA, Lone Star Models,
Sig Manufacturing Co., Superior Balsa &
Hobby Supply, and others.
The bottom and ends are 1⁄2-inch-thick
(could be 3⁄8 inch) material, and the sides
are 1⁄4 inch. There is a 1⁄4-inch shelf piece
over the batteries that the Super Turbo and
the control panel rest on. The handle is a
piece of 3⁄4-inch dowel supported on coathanger-
wire legs.
The dimensions are noncritical; mine is
10 x 61⁄2 x 5 inches outside—just large
enough for two 7A gel-cell batteries laying
on their sides with approximately an inch
between them for the necessary wiring.
The control panel evolved as the project
grew. It includes switching for the internal
batteries, placing them in parallel for those
high-current, high-cell-number
requirements, and making the necessary
connections to charge them one at a time.
68 MODEL AVIATION
Tell them you saw it in “Modeler’s Mall”
70 MODEL AVIATION
After going this far, I decided to
include a battery-condition indicator: a
simple, inexpensive ($7.95) light-emitting
diode (LED) voltage monitor available in
kit form from RadioShack (product
number 990-0083). The kit is relatively
simple to assemble and has decent
instructions, although it does require basic
soldering tools and skills. Get help if
you need it; an experienced person will
have it working in less than an hour.
The instructions include different
components for different voltage ranges;
you want 12 volts in 1-volt steps.
Calibration instructions are included;
you can use a freshly charged battery as
a standard. I installed the LEDs—two
red, two yellow, and four green—from
left to right. They indicate green down to
11 volts, at which the first yellow one
lights. Then it is 1 volt per, as the battery
is further discharged. The monitor is a
valuable aid in keeping track of your
batteries’ condition.
Switches on the control panel select
the gel-cell battery to be charged, as well
as the one being monitored. In all cases,
the switches selected are of the centeroff
type, so everything can be completed
switched out as required. This includes
the monitor, which would otherwise be
lit when the onboard batteries are being
charged. This is not a major concern,
although it might reduce the LED life
from 1,000,000 to maybe 999,990 hours.
All the necessary small hardware,
connectors, switches, etc. are available
from RadioShack. The connectors are
product number RS60-3039. If the
proper crimper is not available, slip off
the insulation, solder the wire, and
replace the insulator. The switches are
RadioShack product number 275-1533.
However, I also recommend Jameco
Visit the AMA Education Committee
Web site at www.buildandfly.com.
Electronics at (800) 831-4242; Web site:
www.jameco.com. This company has it all,
including the voltage-monitor kit (product
number 181833). A free catalog is available.
Properly charging the gel-cell batteries is
important to this project’s success. Forget
those wall-wart chargers that are often
available for them within the model
industry; those chargers are the cause of the
poor reputation (of short life) that gel-cell
batteries have acquired within the hobby.
Although these batteries appear to be as
rugged as a brick—and they are,
physically—they do not take kindly to
overcharging, lose capacity, and, if done
to them often enough, will die. Proper
charging calls for voltage sensing and
cutoff at the manufacturer’s recommended
points.
There are two chargers I recommend.
One is the CVC, or Constant Voltage
Charger, from Ace Hobby Distributors at
(949) 833-0088, www.acehobby.com, or
through its dealers. The CVC operates at a
400 mA rate, with automatic switching
down to a 5 mA trickle rate. It is
switchable for the 12-volt batteries used
here and any 6-volts you may use. The
CVC is $29.95.
The other charger is the Battery Tender
Jr. from Hughes RC at (800) 786-0802 or
www.hughesrc.com. It is self-contained in
a wall-wart type case, although it’s
slightly larger than the average system
charger. It includes a microprocessor
which senses the battery’s need, puts in
the proper current at 750 mA, then
switches to a trickle rate. The Battery
Tender Jr. comes with a two-year
warranty. It is $39.95, shipped!
I cannot overstress the importance of
using one of these chargers instead of the
simple battery-cooker types. They are
more expensive, but the payoff will be
dependability and no need to periodically
purchase replacement batteries. MA
Continued on page 74
74 MODEL AVIATION
(Manufacturer’s note: Batteries of at
least 18A capacity are necessary to make
use of all features. Our experience is that
the 7A gel or other batteries cannot stand
charge completed in the charger;
nevertheless, the battery to be charged
is charged or not.
This is a safety device in the Super
Turbo Charger which cuts off the charge
when it senses a substantial voltage
drop in the input battery. That means it
will protect the input [mostly car
battery] from full depletion. The
intention is to have the user safely crank
up his or her vehicle after a day of
flying.)
Suppliers:
Dymond Modelsports USA Ltd.
683 N. Main St.
Oshkosh WI 54901
(920) 303-1100
Fax: (920) 303-2021
www.rc-dymond.com
Dymond of San Diego
3904 Convoy St.
San Diego CA 92111
(858) 495-0092
Fax: (858) 495-0096
[email protected]
Price:
Super Turbo Charger: $109
Optional temperature probe: $14.95
Continued from page 72
Product Review a charge, especially with larger batteries.
Remember that with each charge there
will be a certain amount of charge taken
out of the battery. A 2400 mAh battery
with 12 cells takes approximately 4A in a
single charge, and the 7A gel battery
would drop voltage after the first charge
already finished, which would trigger a
