Orion Advantage IQ404 LiPo Charger

[wolfdogstinkus]

I bought this charger from modelsport uk in August, in the last couple of days it has not been charging properly, the green lights have been on to indicate a fully charged battery but after trying the pack in a car it becomes obvious that the battery is not charged.

Sometimes the lights were just flashing between 2red for the cell count and 2 green (as it should be when charging)

To all green for fully charged.

I was charging my mates battery today which is a 2s 6600mah, went to check on it as it was taking too long and the plastic on the charger had melted.

Just looked on modelsports site and in the reviews for this charger someone has said that theirs had melted as well!!!.

I believe the unit is faulty and I will be calling them tomorrow to see what they say.

I always use a lipo sack and never leave a charging battery unattended but I am paying extra special attention now.

Also the dial on the front to select charge rate in amps just spins round!!!, so I have no idea how many amps I have been charging my batteries at for the last few months.

I know it was a cheap charger but you dont expect it to got hot enough to start a fire 8months after purchase. That isn't right, is it?

[alfagta]

no mate that is not right at all!! ,all the orion stuff i have had and still have has always been of the best quality and never let me down despite some abusive treatment , TBH i would contact orion first off , let them know that the charger has melted under normal usage and has some serious issues that are not just disappointing but downright dangerous , if there has been more than one that has the same flaw chances are they will be aware of it,

TELL them in the nicest way poss that you are not willing to accept another of the same model as you no longer trust that model to operate safely and reliably , also add you are aware that its not the only one of these chargers that has melted and leave the ball in their court to examine the duff charger and see what they say .

or

call modelsport and get something else under warranty but dont accept the same model, if they say they can only do like for like then tell them you want your money back, again gently remind them that this is not just a dead product but 'potentially a lethal product and you aint happy at all' , while still being very nice (more flies with honey than vinegar).

good luck fella ,

[wolfdogstinkus]

Thanks alfagta, Thing is I don't have the box or receipt but I still have the record in my order history on modelsport so if modelsport want, they could refuse to accept it back, I think?

Good call contacting Orion, I will see what modelsport say tomorrow and get onto Orion as well.

Just charged a 2s, kept an eye on it the whole way and it behaved correctly, without getting too warm.

Also charged my 3s which took much longer than expected but seemed to take a charge(not tested it yet)

I was thinking that my mates battery may be too much for it?, the charger will charge a 2s @ 5amps so a 5000mah will be done in around an hour, but I don't see anywhere that it says it can't do more than 5000mah, so it shouldn't matter?

His battery was a 2s 6600mah, which charged fine last week, but I think the charger has been playing up since then.

Edit to add, this charger

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/orion-advantage-iq404-lipo-charger/rc-car-products/40118

[bromvw]

I have always found Modelsport a good company to deal with when it comes to standing by the products they sell . As said talk to them politely and point out your concerns . I think you will find them helpful and they will offer either your money back , a credit note or a replacement charger of equal value / spec . If as you say the charger has know quality issues then really they can't argue .

[bromvw]

Thanks alfagta, Thing is I don't have the box or receipt but I still have the record in my order history on modelsport so if modelsport want, they could refuse to accept it back, I think?

Good call contacting Orion, I will see what modelsport say tomorrow and get onto Orion as well.

Just charged a 2s, kept an eye on it the whole way and it behaved correctly, without getting too warm.

Also charged my 3s which took much longer than expected but seemed to take a charge(not tested it yet)

I was thinking that my mates battery may be too much for it?, the charger will charge a 2s @ 5amps so a 5000mah will be done in around an hour, but I don't see anywhere that it says it can't do more than 5000mah, so it shouldn't matter?

His battery was a 2s 6600mah, which charged fine last week, but I think the charger has been playing up since then.

Edit to add, this charger

http://www.modelspor...-products/40118

so long as you have the order history they can trace the order - so hopefully thats not a problem .

[wolfdogstinkus]

Thanks for the reply Bromvw, I was going to contact modelsport tomorrow anyway so will see what they say,

Here's the quote from the comments section on the charger on modelsports site.

does the job but it takes 1h45m to charge my gens ace 2S 5000mah pack with 5A settings. i guess it should be closer to one hour. also the charger gets really hot, even the plastic melted a little bit on one spot, but its not affecting the functionality so far. i would invest more money and buy a better quality product, or maybe keep this as a spare charger.

Might even post a pic tomorrow if the mrs lets me borrow her phone. it has melted plastic on both sides of the casing, just as well I spotted it and turned it off when I did.

Can anyone recommend a similar spec charger from modelsport in a simialr price bracket?

[bromvw]

Thanks for the reply Bromvw, I was going to contact modelsport tomorrow anyway so will see what they say,

Here's the quote from the comments section on the charger on modelsports site.

Might even post a pic tomorrow if the mrs lets me borrow her phone. it has melted plastic on both sides of the casing, just as well I spotted it and turned it off when I did.

Can anyone recommend a similar spec charger from modelsport in a simialr price bracket?

personally i would tell them you have lost faith in Orion . ask for a refund . Then buy something like a Imax B6 charger - around £30 on ebay with a mains adapter . I've had one for 14 months now and its 100% reliable .

[wolfdogstinkus]

I did buy an Imax b6 charger on ebay,( on advice from this forum) waited months for it and it never came, so i ended up buying this one as it was in the U.K and modelsport are really fast with delivery, in fact I think it came the very next day. I all ready had my first lipo and was desperate to try them.

Been looking at this, http://www.modelspor...-products/38399 it seems to be a much better charger for a few pounds more.

[berman]

I had an Imax b6ac and it lasted 6 weeks before it puffed the magic smoke,

but I read quite a few people have had a good run with them.

Hobbyking sell some pretty good chargers, I imported two turnigy acucell 6's for mates and they love them.

All the best with Modelsport and Orion

[dyahipfakta]

Don't buy an I max off eBay 90% are knock off junk I have a turnigy accucel 6 infact 2 of them an they are both great. Can,t fault them at all.

[alfagta]

Don't buy an I max off eBay 90% are knock off junk I have a turnigy accucel 6 infact 2 of them an they are both great. Can,t fault them at all.

too true sadly, there are videos on youtube showing the subtle but vital differences , unfortunately you have to take them apart to spot the under spec'd components , hobbying had some fake b6's but at least they are good enough to list them as fake . on a tight budget the accucel is the one to go for .

[bromvw]

too true sadly, there are videos on youtube showing the subtle but vital differences , unfortunately you have to take them apart to spot the under spec'd components , hobbying had some fake b6's but at least they are good enough to list them as fake . on a tight budget the accucel is the one to go for .

All i can say is that mine came from a UK stockist In Barnsley via ebay ( i forget exactly the name ) . Seems to be the real deal and for £30 ish i'am more than happy with it .

[wolfdogstinkus]

Modelsport sent me a new charger today :D. The AnnsmanxBase 2.0 SE, . :D They even sent me a pre-paid envelope to return my damaged one in.(I returned it the other day.)

That is good customer service

Still glad I checked the other charger when I did though.