Bantam BC6 vs MaxproX6/KP100W6 vs EOS0606iAD/MP860DS vs TP610 vs iCharger 106B
kgfly, 21 May 2008
Quality/reliability
The BC6 is the oldest of the group and has an excellent track record for simplicity, performance, reliability and quality. It has many features. The rest are too new to know yet although I have not seen any bad comments about quality or performance issues for any of the newer chargers.
Input power:
BC6 and 0606iAD/MP860DS have integrated ac/dc power supplies which is very convenient and saves the cost of a separate DC power supply.
X6/610C/106B require an external DC power supply of at least 125W/100W/230W respectively.
Output power:
BC6 = 50W/5A, 0606iAD/MP860DS = 50W/6A, TP610C = 80W/10A, X6 = 100W/5A, iC106B = 180W/10A
If you are looking for higher power, the 100W/5A rating of the X6 is better for 5s/6s whereas the 80W/10A of the 610c is better for 4s and below but the 180W/10A of the iC106 eclipses them both. The following table reveals the relative utility of these different output power ratings.
Code : Tout sélectionner
Charger Output Current Estimates v1.1
======================================
LiPo CC charge voltage 3.75
LiFe CC charge voltage 3.4
Charger output rating (max Watts and max Amps)
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
LiPo 50 100 150 80 180 200 220 250 300
no. of cells 5 5 7 10 10 10 10 10 10
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2 5.0 5.0 7.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
3 4.4 5.0 7.0 7.1 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
4 3.3 5.0 7.0 5.3 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
5 2.7 5.0 7.0 4.3 9.6 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
6 2.2 4.4 6.7 3.6 8.0 8.9 9.8 10.0 10.0
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
7 1.9 3.8 5.7 3.0 6.9 7.6 8.4 9.5 10.0
8 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 6.0 6.7 7.3 8.3 10.0
9 1.5 3.0 4.4 2.4 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.4 8.9
10 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.1 4.8 5.3 5.9 6.7 8.0
11 1.2 2.4 3.6 1.9 4.4 4.8 5.3 6.1 7.3
12 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.9 4.0 4.4 4.9 5.6 6.7
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Charger output rating (max Watts and max Amps)
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
LiFe 50 100 150 80 180 200 220 250 300
no. of cells 5 5 7 10 10 10 10 10 10
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2 5.0 5.0 7.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
3 4.9 5.0 7.0 7.8 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
4 3.7 5.0 7.0 5.9 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
5 2.9 5.0 7.0 4.7 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
6 2.5 4.9 7.0 3.9 8.8 9.8 10.0 10.0 10.0
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
7 2.1 4.2 6.3 3.4 7.6 8.4 9.2 10.0 10.0
8 1.8 3.7 5.5 2.9 6.6 7.4 8.1 9.2 10.0
9 1.6 3.3 4.9 2.6 5.9 6.5 7.2 8.2 9.8
10 1.5 2.9 4.4 2.4 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.4 8.8
11 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.1 4.8 5.3 5.9 6.7 8.0
12 1.2 2.5 3.7 2.0 4.4 4.9 5.4 6.1 7.4
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
LCD:
BC6, Maxpro, iC106B = very clear from all angles
0606i (assuming it is the same as 0610i) = poor contrast and hard to read from off-perpendicular
Ease of learning/use
Of the ones I have tried, the BC6 and MaxproX6 are both very easy to learn and to use. The Hyperion is slightly harder to learn/remember but if it is your only charger you will get used to it quickly. I don't yet have hands-on experience with the TP610C or iC106B.
The BC6 lets you turn off the various beeps and tones which is a feature I really like and is missing from the Maxpro. It is present on the iC106B but not sure about beep/tone control on the others.
Feature summaries
FMA CellPro4S (~$75)
- Requires DC power
- LiXx only: LiPo/LiFe(aka A123)
- 2S to 4S integrated balance charger
- 50W/4A output (3s @ 4A, 4s @ 3A)
- Normal, Fast and Storage LiPo cycles
- No discharge feature
- optional PC interface (logging only)
- optional balance plug adapters
Bantam eStation BC6 (~$150)
- ac/dc input
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 50W/5A output
- Balance current 300mA
- Normal, Fast, Balance and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (7W)
- 5 memories
- optional temperature probe
- optional PC interface (logging only)
- wide range of balance plug adapters
Hyperion 0606iAD (~$140)
Mega Power Poseidon-860DS (~$110)
- ac/dc input
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 50W/6A output
- Balance current 300mA
- Normal, Balance LiXx cycles (NO Storage feature)
- Discharge features (5W)
- NO memories
- NO PC interface
- NO temperature probe
- wide range of balance plug adapters
ThunderPower 610C (~$130)
- Requires DC power
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- Integrated 2S-6S balancer
- 80W/10A output
- Balance current ???mA
- Normal(with/without balancing) and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (7W)
- 25 memories
- ?? PC interface ??
- ?? temperature probe ??
- TP/FP and JST-XH balance port adapter
Maxpro X6 (~$140)
KongPower 100W6 (~$130)
- Requires DC power
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 100W/5A output
- Balance current 400mA
- Normal, Fast, Balance and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (12W)
- No memories
- included temperature probe
- included PC interface (logging and firmware upgrades)
- some balance plug adapters (JST-XH, TP/FP)
iCharger 106B (~$100)
- Requires DC power
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 180W/10A output
- Balance current 300mA
- Normal, Fast, Slow, Balance and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (20W)
- 10 memories
- optional temperature probe
- hidden PC interface (at first release, being exposed in future builds, easy mod to add it)
- some balance plug adapters
Conclusion
If you want the convenience of an integrated ac/dc power supply then the BC6 is the top offering. The extra features, simpler use model and better LCD (at a guess) more than make up for the small price difference from the 0606iAD. The emergence of the MP 860DS, which appears to be the same as the 0606iAD but at a bargain price makes it the value leader in this ac/dc group.
If you want more than 50W output but don't want to spend more than $150 then the iC106B is the clear value leader. On features and performance it competes against other high-power chargers like the BC6-10 and EOS0610i but on price it is down in this group. A new model from a new brand, it is a bit of an unknown quantity, but initial user feedback is positive.
Otherwise it is a toss up between the MaxproX6/KP100W6 and the TP610. Both offer good value in terms of features and power. The ability for the user to install firmware updates on the Maxpro is very appealing . In most cases in the US though, it is probably easier to get backup and support for the TP610C and it is bound to be popular.