Chargers
Popular Chargers
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Get back to racing in no time with our high-quality RC chargers. We stock a vast range of RC chargers to suit various battery types such as LiPo, NiMH, Li-Ion and more. Browse our selection and order a reliable charger for your RC car, boat or plane. Fast delivery for minimum downtime.
Are there differenttypes of RC chargers?
Yes, there are varioustypes of battery chargers available on the market compatible withdifferent battery chemistries. At Hobbies Direct, you can shop forthe highest quality chargers on the market, including advanced smartchargers and multi-charging stations.
How long does ittake to charge an RC battery?
It depends on the typeof battery and charger.
Can I chargedifferent batteries with the same charger?
You should never chargea battery with an incompatible charger as this can lead tooverheating and/or explosion.
- Identify your connector from the connector list below
- Then, on the prodcut page choose the desired connector before adding it to your cart
Connector list:
Deans
Traxxas (Non iD)This connector works with newer iD connectors but disables the iD functionality
Tamiya
Mini Tamiya
XT90
XT60
XT30
EC5
EC3
EC2
JST
Futaba J
Still unsure? Contact us.
To work this out, divide the battery's mAh by the charger's mA.
For example a 3500mAh (3Ah) battery charging on
a 800mA (0.8A) charger will take 4.375 hours (3500/800 = 4.375).
If you charger has a higher mA output than the battery's mAh then adjust them to match. For exmaple, If I had a 6.0A charger but only a 3500mAh battery I'd adjust the output of the charger to 3.5A to ensure it doesn't charge faster than 1 hour.
To see if a charger is compatible with your battery there are just 2 main things to check.
- Can the charger charge your battery's chemistry type (eg. NiMH or LiPo)
- Can the charger charge at your battery's voltage (eg. the charger might only be able to charge up to 11.1v but your battery is 14.8v)
If you've checked both of these things then all you need to do is ensure you select the correct connector and charge it on the correct setting (if the charger is adjustable)
When you're starting out there are basically two main options to choose between. You will either get a fairly basic non-adjustable charger or a smart (also known as a 4-button charger).
Basic chargers
These are a great option as they are cheap and don't require any adjusting/programming to charge. The downside is they are limited to a specific battery type and are generally pretty slow to charge (2+ hours).
If you have a NiMH battery with a basic charger to suit, and then upgrade to a LiPo, you'll need a new charger that is compatible with LiPo batteries to charge it safely.
Smart chargers
The smart chargers are very versatile and basically every hobby enthusiast has one of these as they can virtually charge any battery this hobby throws at us and charge it as quickly as possible (about an hour). However, of course, they require the user to select the battery they are wanting to charge (it's pretty easy once you know how).