Power supply for ImaxB6 (normal versions, original + clones, but not high power versions)

[Hans Schmitd]

What rating of power supply are most people using with their ImaxB6 - i.e. most importantly what voltage?

This question is specifically directed at basic ImaxB6 chargers that are not in the boosted power range.

I am a bit puzzled because it is supposed to be able to charge 6 LiIon cells (i.e. 25.2V) and some voltage would be lost on the power regulation, so the input power supply probably should be about 28V.

Yet the (paper) handbook which came with the B6 quotes under Specifications:

"Operating voltage range: DC11.0-18.0Volt; AC to DC adaptor (DC 11.0 - 18.0V / 5S) ...
Li-ion/Polymer cell count: 1-6 series;
Pb voltage: 2V - 20V"

I didn't believe the specifications because I have a crappy clone, but I was surprised to see exactly the same nonsense in the online manual posted by Pawel:

http://hobby.i-drone.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Imax-B6-manual.pdf

What do people make of this, and what do people use? For those who received a power supply with their charger, how is it rated?

The manual clearly specifies a maximum input voltage of 18V / 5S - but for 5S you nead at least 21V plus power supply overhead (maybe 24V); Li-ion 1 - 6 series; and Pb up to 20V.

I got my charger without power supply, and have used a 16.8V 2A power supply (meant for charging 4 series, but as power supply for the B6 it has to go through the power stage of the B6,
and therefore will charge a maximum of 3 LiIon cells). I don't have any 18V supply.  I have a 24V 1.4A supply for my scanner, but haven't dared use it for the B6 yet. I also have a 20V 6A supply
for my laptop which I have connected to the charger, but I haven't risked drawing current for charging yet - in any case I need it for my laptop.

How many people have used a power supply greater than 18V for charging, and have they had any problems?

My 470 microFarad electrolytic capacitor is rated 25V (but upgrading it would obviously not be difficult).
I also have a 680 microFarad rated 35V acros the Vin-Gnd of the 5V regulator, though on the screen print it is marked 1000 microFarad/35V.

How much voltage do people think could be safely used with this charger?
Do most people have their 470 microFarad capacitor (C12) rated at 35V? That is the elactrolytic capacitor nearest to the power supply socket.

I definitely would like to be able to charge 4-series LiIon, that is important to me. However if I could safely plug in 28V (after upgrading C12 of course) then it would certainly be worthwhile being ready for 6-series.
Either way I have to order a new power supply, so I have to decide what rating to go for.

Also what is the highest charging current currently used on the Cheali for un-boosted chargers? Probably dependent on number of cells, at the 50W rating?

I was also thinking of upgrading the R50 and maybe R53/R54 resistors - not to the extreme of Chalus Bo, but more modest without a drastic heatsink on VT9.

[KaV KaV]

Hans Schmitd :

What rating of power supply are most people using with their ImaxB6 - i.e. most importantly what voltage?

 

My clone comes with 12V 5A PSU. 

Hans Schmitd :

I am a bit puzzled because it is supposed to be able to charge 6 LiIon cells (i.e. 25.2V) and some voltage would be lost on the power regulation, so the input power supply probably should be about 28V.

Look at the schematics ,  ImaxB6 has a dual-type power converter (L1 and corresponding MOSFETs and diodes), which can operate as step-down or step-up converter - depending on required output voltage.

I.e. the output voltage can be both larger and smaller than the input voltage.

[ducky...@gmail.com]

在 2013年12月21日星期六UTC+8上午2时28分46秒，Hans Schmitd写道：

I am using the openfirmware,and using a laptop power supply with 19V,and the charger work well.

[Jim McPherson]

I use a Dell server 12v 70amp power supply. The B6 is able to boost the voltage to charge my 16.8 volt 4 cell batteries with no problems. What makes you think your charger is only working in buck mode?

-Jim

[Hans Schmitd]

On Saturday, March 15, 2014 3:31:01 AM UTC, Jim McPherson wrote:

What makes you think your charger is only working in buck mode?

-Jim

That was a misunderstanding on my part, but that was cleared up in another thread back in December. I've had a lot of trouble with my charger all along and have still not got it working. Its not looking too optimistic at present. It's mostly a case of approx. 3 steps forward and approx. 3 steps backward, but never more than 3 or 4 steps from Go.