I have a couple of the Alpha 4's and still use them almost daily. They will handle virtually everything I use with one box. Sure it is not the fastest when it comes to larger packs but there is nothing I own that needs to be charged that quickly anyway. The cyclers are great as well.
I use a Triton for my Lipos but am searching for a new Lipo charger with more capability. There is nothing wrong with the Alpha 4. Despite its older look it is still extremely functional. The A4 was ahead of its time when it came out and still is in many ways. Too bad they closed. BTW, I heard they closed because the owners wanted to retire and not from a lack of business. May or may not be fact. Darwin N. Barrie Chandler AZ ---- "D.O. Darnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I think all of you are right.... with exceptions. Im sure there are > several good chargers, but few which do it all. > > I have an Alpha 4 and have enjoyed it for its features for more than > ten years, during which it has worked flawlessly. > It does have limitations, but it puts a longer lasting charge than > say, the Sirius that I use for my quick (field) charger. I usually > use my ALPHA after a flying session for two planes and one > transmitter, and yes,, it does have a limitation of 1 amp total output > at any given time. This is not a problem, however in the application > I use it for. When I forget to charge, or it has been a while since, > or if I need to fly in the next 30 minutes, I use my Sirius, which > produces a "peaky" charge that is usually sufficient for 1 minute of > flying for each one minute of charge. (my rule). > The Alpha is great for recycling too. My Multiplex NC 5A is superior > however because of multiple charge/discharge cycling ability, plus, > its a good field charger for electric Nicads or NiMhs power packs > which are, however anachronistic. > > But neither the Alpha nor the Sirius is the answer for Lipos. I have > recently ordered a Pro Peak Prodigy which can charge 1-5 cell > Lithiums, 1-14 cell Ni-Cds and Ni-MHs, and 2-12V lead acid batteries > all at an adjustable rate of .1-5 amps output (Up to 50 watts total > charge output)! It can even cycle and slow-discharge from 0.1 to 1 amp > (5 watt maximum). The Prodigy is an affordable, reliable, versatile > charger available at Global Hobby.com and is $95. > > > d.o. > > > > > > > > > Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 08:23:12 -0500 > > From: Doug McLaren <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: JAMES EALY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Cc: Peter Schlitzkus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [RCSE] AC/DC > > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > On Mon, Jun 02, 2008 at 11:59:45AM -0400, JAMES EALY wrote: > > > > | You can not beat the ALPHA 4 (charger/discharger/maintainance) > > > > Of course you can. > > > > Other chargers can charge at higher rates. > > > > Other chargers can charge more cells (granted, not such a big issue > > for > > a charger that can only do one amp total between all it's outputs.) > > > > Other chargers can do more chemistries (i.e. LiPo.) > > > > Other chargers are a lot cheaper (Originally $300, then $259 right at > > the end.) > > > > Other chargers you can actually buy! (I don't think any Alpha 4s have > > been made since 2005, and even then you had to jump through hoops > > to get one.) > > > > Other chargers are supported! (I've no idea if the Alpha 4 still is > > or not. The fact that several of the pages on their web site have > > been blanked out, such as the home page, the ordering page and the > > `contact us' page, but not some others, is a very bad sign.) > > > > As of 2008, the only really special features that the Alpha 4 has is > > that 1) it can charge 4 packs at once and 2) it's got that 1970s retro > > look, if you're into that. And feature #1 isn't even that special > > any more. > > > > Perhaps in the past the Alpha 4 was king, but it hasn't been for > > years. > > > > Personally, when I need to charge multiple RX or TX packs slowly, I > > use my $30 Hobbico R/C mlti-charger (LXL331) with four outputs. No > > peak charging, granted, but occasional slow chargings without peak > > detection are a good thing. It beats four wall-warts anyways. And > > for fast charging and cycling and such, I use my GP Triton. > > > > -- > > Doug McLaren, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > A deep unwavering belief is a sure sign you're missing something ... > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > End of Soaring V1 #11258 > > ************************ > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send > > "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to soaring- > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe > > messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. > > Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are > > generally NOT in text format > > > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and > "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and > unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. > Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in > text format RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
