Overview: BetaFPV HexaCharger Professional 1S LiPo/LiHV Battery Charger – Good Choice for Whoops?

I like multi-channel 1S sensible chargers for my tiny whoops. Not solely are they easy to make use of, in addition they allow you to cost a number of batteries directly and velocity issues up considerably. You get management over charging settings, and it’s also possible to use them to place batteries into storage cost. BetaFPV has made numerous nice whoops, however by no means an important 1S charger till now – introducing the HexaCharger! On this overview I’ll take a look at the professional model, and see the way it stacks up in opposition to established fashions just like the Vifly WhoopStor V3 and GEPRC WooPower.

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The place to Purchase

Get the HexaCharger from:

It doesn’t include any equipment or a guide — simply the charger itself.

Professional vs Non-Professional Model

There are two variations: Professional and non-Professional. They give the impression of being virtually equivalent (aside from the colour). The primary distinction is most energy output and charging present.

Though the Professional model might be overkill for most individuals flying 65mm and 75mm whoops, the worth distinction is barely $5 and also you recover from 3 instances extra energy, so I believe the Professional model makes a number of sense. Nevertheless, you’ll want a extra highly effective energy supply for charging at max present (for instance, a 100W USB-C charger). For the non-Professional model, a 30W energy adapter could be enough.

I’m reviewing the Professional model right here.

To energy the HexaCharger Professional through USB-C, you’ll want an appropriate energy adapter, such because the Anker 100W charger: https://amzn.to/46js6yc.

You too can use a high-output, PD succesful energy financial institution, which is what I used throughout testing. It’s extra moveable. My suggestion is the Anker:

Specs

Design and Consumer Expertise

The charger contains a good shade LCD display screen with good decision, a clear format, and well-designed graphics. All of the important info is displayed clearly on one display screen — enter voltage, battery voltage, charging present, and charging standing.

Nevertheless, it’s not as detailed because the GEPRC WooPower, which additionally reveals what number of mAh have been put into every battery — one thing that may be helpful for monitoring charging progress extra exactly (could be helpful for present sensor calibration too in Betaflight).

The display screen viewing angle is great, barely higher than the GEPRC in my view.

I additionally like that each one the output ports are upward-facing. In contrast to the GEPRC charger, the place PH2.0 ports are on the perimeters, all the things right here is neatly positioned on high. That mentioned, for most individuals this received’t matter a lot, because the pastime has largely moved away from PH2.0 and towards BT2.0 connectors.

Ports & Battery Compatibility

There are 6 ports, that means you’ll be able to cost as much as 6 batteries concurrently.

Nevertheless, you can not management every port individually. All 6 ports share the identical settings (i.e. cost mode and present). When you begin charging, the chosen settings apply to all ports. That is precisely how the Vifly WhoopStor V3 works as properly, and might be superb for most individuals. However if you wish to independently management every port, your solely choice proper now’s the GEPRC WooPower.

Every port consists of two connectors: BT2.0 and PH2.0 — that is fairly commonplace these days as a result of these are the 2 commonest 1S battery connectors available on the market.

When it comes to compatibility, I can affirm the BT2.0 connector works flawlessly with batteries utilizing A30 connectors. The PH2.0 ports additionally work completely with batteries utilizing NX69 connectors, primarily based on my testing.

Batteries with BT2 & A30 Connectors.

Batteries with PH2 and NX69 connectors.

So many various connectors huh? You’ll find out their variations on this overview:

Cost Present

For the Professional model, the cost present goes as much as 3.0A per port — extraordinarily highly effective for a 1S charger and greater than sufficient for many customers.

For these flying 65mm or 75mm whoops, that is arguably overkill, as non-pro model’s 1A is already loads. However because the Professional model prices solely $5 greater than the bottom mannequin, I believe it’s price getting.

One limitation although, present adjustment is in 0.5A increments, and the bottom setting is 0.5A. If you happen to religiously comply with the “1C cost charge rule”, this will not be the best charger for you. For instance, charging a 300mAh battery at 1C could be 0.3A — which isn’t attainable right here.

That mentioned, many pilots within the pastime usually cost 1S whoop batteries at larger currents. Charging a 300mAh pack at 0.5A is kind of frequent (really really helpful by BetaFPV), and a few even go as much as 1A. I assume BetaFPV selected 0.5A increments to make changes faster and less complicated.

I’m not suggesting what present you need to use — do no matter you’re comfy with. However when you completely have to cost under 0.5A, otherwise you require finer changes, this charger isn’t otherwise you.

Enter Energy

The HexaCharger can solely be powered through USB-C. It doesn’t have an XT60 or barrel connector enter, so it’s much less versatile in comparison with the Vifly or GEPRC chargers.

Consumer Expertise

The HexaCharger could be very straightforward to make use of, and similar to the Vifly charger. The whole lot is managed with simply two buttons.

As soon as charging has began, you’ll be able to plug in or take away batteries at any time with out urgent buttons. That is glorious when you’re flying whoops in the home for hours — you’ll be able to maintain swapping batteries repeatedly with out interrupting the charging cycle.

Charging velocity is first rate and constant. Charging a 1S 300mAh LiHV battery from 3.3V to 4.35V at 1A takes round 20 minutes on common in my testing.

The charger additionally helps discharging, however solely in storage mode when battery voltage is above 3.85V. Discharge present is 0.4A (not adjustable), which is cheap. For a totally charged 1S 300mAh pack, it takes roughly 20 minutes to succeed in storage voltage.

One small quirk with storage mode: typically the charger seems to get “caught” at round 3.84V–3.85V for a really very long time and doesn’t wish to end. I often simply unplug the battery manually at that time. It’s shut sufficient to storage voltage and not likely a deal breaker in observe.

The way to Use It

Energy the charger utilizing a USB-C PD 3.0 energy supply, comparable to a 100W USB-C charger (for instance, an Anker 100W adapter), or a succesful energy financial institution.

Step 1: Choose Cost Mode

Press the Mode button to cycle by way of:

• LiPo Cost – stops at 4.20V
• LiHV Cost – stops at 4.35V
• Storage Cost – stops at 3.85V
  • If the battery voltage is larger than 3.85V, the charger will discharge it at 0.4A.

Step 2: Set Cost Present

Press the Present button to regulate the charging present.

• Adjustable from 0.5A to three.0A
• In 0.5A increments
• To mute the charger beeping, maintain down the Present button for 3 seconds.

Step 3: Begin/Cease Charging

Lengthy press the Mode button for 3 seconds to enter Charging Mode.

You are able to do this even with none batteries plugged in. As soon as the charger is in Charging Mode, you’ll be able to plug in batteries at any time and they’re going to start charging robotically. You too can unplug batteries at any time with out urgent any extra buttons.

Every port adjustments shade relying on standing:

• Blue – Charging
• Purple – Discharging
• Inexperienced – Charging Full

The charger additionally makes a beep when charging is completed.

To cease charging, both:

• Lengthy press the Mode button for 3 seconds once more, or
• Merely unplug the USB-C energy cable.

Efficiency Testing

Voltage Studying Accuracy

Observe that each connectors in every port (BT2.0 and PH2.0) are electrically related, that means they learn the identical voltage.

I took a random battery, and measured its voltage utilizing a multimeter: 3.848V

I then plugged this battery into every port to check readings on the display screen:

• Port #1: 3.85V
• Port #2: 3.85V
• Port #3: 3.85V
• Port #4: 3.85V
• Port #5: 3.85V
• Port #6: 3.85V

General, voltage accuracy is great.

Charging LiHV (4.35V)

Subsequent, I charged LiHV batteries in all 6 ports, and measured the ultimate voltage of those batteries utilizing a multimeter. Ideally, it ought to cease at 4.350V.

Outcomes:

• Port #1: 4.354V
• Port #2: 4.357V
• Port #3: 4.357V
• Port #4: 4.340V
• Port #5: 4.348V
• Port #6: 4.354V

The deviation is inside ±0.01V, which is greater than acceptable for pastime use.

Storage Cost (3.85V)

Repeating the identical take a look at in Storage Mode (goal: 3.850V):

• Port #1: 3.855V
• Port #2: 3.848V
• Port #3: 3.845V
• Port #4: 3.841V
• Port #5: 3.847V
• Port #6: 3.847V

Once more, accuracy is inside ±0.01V. I’d think about this very exact for a 1S charger.

Enter Voltage & Energy Accuracy

I measured how correct enter voltage and energy readings are.

Outcomes: Energy measurement seems to be correct, however the enter voltage displayed on the charger appears to be overestimated by virtually 2V in comparison with the determine on the facility provide. Not a serious concern for many customers, however price noting.

Most Energy Check

I set all 6 ports to the utmost 3.0A cost present to see if it may really ship the marketed most output.

Outcome: it dealt with it with out concern. The charger efficiently delivered 72W – 3A on all 6 ports concurrently. The cooling fan kicked in inside a couple of minute. You’ll be able to hear it, however it’s not excessively loud or annoying.

Subject: No Reverse Polarity Safety?

Throughout testing, I plugged a 1S battery into one of many ports backward. Instantly, I seen a burnt odor — and that port stopped working correctly. It nonetheless detects voltage after I plug in a battery, however it not costs and stays caught at 0.0A. See CH5 on this picture.

Whereas 1S connectors are sometimes designed to stop reverse insertion, they don’t seem to be foolproof. It’s nonetheless attainable to pressure them within the mistaken method when you’re not cautious. Sadly, this charger seems to don’t have any reverse polarity safety on the output.

I actually hope BetaFPV considers including reverse polarity safety sooner or later, as it is a primary security function that might stop everlasting injury.

If you happen to plan to get this charger, be sure you examine battery polarity earlier than plugging it in. A small mistake can completely injury a port.

Closing Ideas: Do I Advocate It?

I genuinely like all 3 1S chargers I’ve examined: Vifly Whoopstor V3, GEPRC WooPower and HexaCharger. However which one you need to get relies upon fully in your wants.

High: GEPRC WooPower; Mid: HexaCharger; Backside: Whoopstor V3

If You Need Most Management

The GEPRC WooPower is well essentially the most superior 1S charger at present accessible. It permits you to:

• Management every port individually
  • Select completely different mode per port
  • Set completely different present per port
• Regulate cost present in smaller increments
• You’ll be able to even modify finish voltage!

That degree of flexibility is unmatched, that’s why it’s at present my every day driver.

If You Need Versatile Energy Enter Choices

Each the GEPRC WooPower and Vifly Whoopstor V3 assist:

This implies you’ll be able to energy them utilizing:

• A USB-C wall adapter
• An influence financial institution
• A 6S LiPo or Li-ion battery

That versatility is extremely helpful. Personally, I usually energy my 1S charger with a big Li-ion pack (for my lengthy vary drone), which lets me cost anyplace in the home or out within the park with out being tied to a wall outlet.

The place the HexaCharger Matches

The BetaFPV HexaCharger Professional focuses on simplicity:

• Clear and easy-to-read display screen
• Very simple operation
• Reasonably priced value
• Robust charging efficiency

It’s a strong various to the Whoopstor V3 when you choose a contemporary UI and easy workflow.

Get the HexaCharger from:

Nevertheless, the most important limitation is that it solely helps USB-C energy enter. There’s no XT60 enter, so you can not energy it straight from a LiPo battery. If you happen to don’t already personal a succesful USB-C PD charger, anticipate to spend an extra $20–$30 on a correct energy adapter.

If you happen to worth portability and already depend on LiPo-powered charging setups, the USB-only enter could really feel restrictive. In that case, investing in a great PD energy financial institution or a LiPo-to-USB-C PD set off adapter could be a great choice.

Try my critiques for: