Chargers & LiPo Balancers

The Venom LiPo Balance Charger 2-Cell/3-Cell VEN-0653 is a handy little charger for your 2 and 3 cell lithium polymer batteries and at under $30 this little Venom LiPo charger has great value. The Venom balance charger has integrated balance connectors to charge your LiPo battery packs directly through the balance tabs. This means for use with Thunder Power LiPoly batteries you need to have a balance adapter cable to be compatible with the Venom 2s3s balance charger ports. Other brands of LiPo batteries may plug directly into the Venom balance ports with no cable needed.

Thunder Power RC lithium polymer batteries use a different type of balance connector than the type on the Venom charger. But don’t worry, we have a special adapter cable to attach your Thunder Power 2 and 3 cell Li Polymers to the Venom 2s3s balance charger. This Thunder Power Charging Cable for Venom Balance Charger plugs directly into the 3 cell balance port. Thunder Power 3 and 2 cell batteries are compatible with this one adapter. Don’t worry about charging a 2 Cell TP pack using the adapter connected to the 3 cell balance tab on the Venom charger because the two tabs on the Venom charger go to the same internal connections within the charger.

How to connect your Thunder Power LiPo to the Venom VEN-0653 Balance Charger

1. Power up your Venom Balance Charger by connecting the included power adapter.
2. Plug the male end of the Thunder Power to Venom Balance Cable adapter into the 3 cell balance port on the Venom Charger.
3. Make sure nothing is connected to the power/charge leads on your Thunder Power battery.
4. Place the battery on a fire resistant surface like a pail of sand or in a LipoSack.
5. Plug the balance tab on your 2 or 3 cell Thunder Power RC lithium polymer battery to the female end of the balance charger adapter cable.
6. The Venom Balance Charger will automatically start charging and balancing each cell of your Thunder Power Lithium Battery though the balance tab - not the charge/power leads on the battery.
7. The charge light on the Venom charger will blink while charging and turn on steady when the battery is fully charged.
8. A complete charge will require between 1.5 to 2 hours for a 3s1320 LiPo.

Draganfly Innovations Inc. sells the Venom 2-Cell/3-Cell Balance Charger, the Thunder Power balance charging cable adapter for the Venom Charger, LipoSack charging safety bag, as well as the complete line of Thunder Power RC lithium polymer batteries. Remember, you get FREE shipping on all Thunder Power products!

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Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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The new Thunder Power RC 1010C USB Programming Cable PGM-V2 is now here at RCToys.com!

The Thunder Power PGM-V2 cable is required if you want to update the firmware on your TP1010C battery charger. Updating the firmware on your TP-1010C charger allows this charger to charge/discharge not only lithium polymer batteries but now also NiCd, NiMH, Pb, and Lithium ion A123’s.

Read this related article all the new features your TP 1010C charger will acquire after updating it’s firmware to Version 2.3a. Thunder Power 1010C Charger with Version 2.3a Software Quick Reference and Setup Guide

The software used with the Thunder Power RC 1010C USB programming cable PGMV2 is a free download from the Thunder Power RC web site. www.thunderpowerrc.com/html/download.htm

Basic upgrading information for upgrading the firmware on your TP1010C charger using this Thunder Power PGMV2 USB programming cable:

1. Install the PL2303 USB driver file into your Windows operating PC. Download the driver from the Thunder Power RC Web site
2. Next, there are 2 ways to connect a power supply to your 1010C
   1. Connect your TP1010C charger input wires to a 12V power supply with the supplied 10 Ohm, 5 W resister in series, or
   2. Connect your TP1010C charger input wires to a standard 9V battery (sold separately)
3. Connect the 6 pin connector into your 1010C charger and the other end into the PGM-V2 programmer
4. Connect the USB cable into the PGM-V2 programmer and the other end into a USB port on your Windows PC
5. Now your TP1010C charger is powered up, connected to the PGM-V2 and the PGM-V2 is connected to your PC
6. Open the PGMV2 TP1010CVxx.exe software on your PC (download the latest program from Thunder Power’s Web site.
7. Click the Upgrade button in the software.

The firmware on your TP1010C charger will now be updated to the latest version.

Where to buy:
Order the Thunder Power PGMV2 USB programming cable for TP1010C chargers online or by phone at Draganfly Innovations www.RCToys.com. Remember, we have FREE shipping on all Thunder Power RC products.

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Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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Quick reference and setup guide for the Thunder Power TP-1010C charger with the V2.3a software update. Note: if you do not currently have V2.3a software installed in your TP 1010C charger, you can do so by downloading it from Thunder Power’s Downloads Page. Complete instructions are listed on that page. To program your TP-1010C charger you’ll need to purchase a 1010C USB programming cable.

Thunder Power 1010C Specifications:

The TP1010C is capable of charging/discharging:

• 1 to 10 Lithium Polymer cells
• 1 to 30 NiCd or NiMH cells
• 6V, 12V or 24V lead acid batteries
• 1 to 10 A123 Lithium Ion cells
• Maximum charging current: 10A
• Maximum discharging current: 2A

Note:

• The Thunder Power TP1010C is capable of 220 watts output which limits the max current a pack can be charged at, e.g. a 5S Lipo pack could be charged at 10 amps whereas a 10S pack could only be charged at 5 amps.
• The Thunder Power TP1010C is capable of dissipating up to 2 amps max current with a power limit of 22 watts, e.g. a 3S Lipo pack could be discharged at a maximum of 2 amps whereas a 5S pack could only be discharged at 1 amp.

Navigating the V2.3a Thunder Power 1010C Software:

There are two basic sets of information that will be displayed on the Thunder Power TP1010C screen:

• operational screen data, e.g. data that pertains to charging/discharging and
• setup screen data for the various kinds of charging/discharging that can be done with the unit.

Thunder Power 1010C Front Panel Button Functions

There are 4 buttons on the front panel of the Thunder Power TP-1010C. The buttons can be used in two ways, short presses (less than 1 second) and long presses (greater than 2 seconds). Generally, long presses are used to enter/exit setup menus and to commence charge/discharge. Short presses are used to change menu selections within the setup menus, change cell counts and currents and also to stop charging/discharging on the operational screen.

Thunder Power 1010C Startup Screen

When first powered on, the TP-1010 charger will immediately display its manufacturer (Thunder Power), model number (TP-1010C) and software revision (V2.3a). Following that it will display the operational screen it was last used for.

Thunder Power 1010C Startup Screen with Software Version 2.3a

Selecting the Battery Type on your Thunder Power 1010C

The Thunder Power 1010C with V2.3a Can Charge your NiMh Battery Packs

1. Select, using short presses, either charge or discharge using the “SEL/MOD” button
2. Then use the “CHARGE/ENT” button to select the cell count (displayed as “XsPACK”) or current (displayed as “C or D =X.XXA”
3. From here the “-/DEC” and “+/INC” buttons are used to alter the numerical value (the X’s) of these two parameters
4. To enter the Thunder Power 1010C setup menus, long press the SEL/MOD button
5. The TP-1010C display will show “Battery type” and a chemistry, most likely “LiPo”
6. To change the type of battery, push either the “-/DEC” or “+/INC” buttons to scroll through the 5 available chemistries
7. Once the proper type has been chosen, short pressing the “SEL/MOD” button will take you through the various parameters that can be changed for that type of battery
8. The following tables show these parameters along with a description of each and a range of adjustment.
9. Once you have dialed in all the specifics for the battery you want to charge or discharge, long press the “SEL/MOD” button again and you will be taken back to the operational screen.

Programming the Thunder Power 1010C for NiCd and NiMH Cells

Programming Thunder Power 1010C for Pb Cells (Lead Acid)

Programming Thunder Power 1010C For A123 Li-Ion Cells

Programming Thunder Power 1010C For LiPo Cells

Setting Up the Thunder Power 1010C To Start Charging/Discharging

1. From the operational screen, to select charging, discharging or cycling, you short press the “SEL/MOD” button.
2. To change the number of cells or charge/discharge current, you short press the “CHARGE/ENT” button which will initiate blinking of either the Pack size or charge/discharge current.
3. From here you use the “-/DEC” or “+/INC” buttons to alter the numbers.
4. Once the proper numbers have been set, long press the red “CHARGE/ENT” button to initiate charging, discharging or cycling. Note that short pressing the red “CHARGE/ENT” button also halts the current charging, discharging or cycling process.

Understanding the Thunder Power 1010C Display

As a battery charges or discharges, information is given on the main screen.

• In the upper left of the screen you will see two letters that change every two seconds, these are the battery type and function being performed.
• Just to the right of that you will see the current voltage across the pack.
• To the right of that you will see the charge current.
• Just to the right of that you will notice that there is another character that changes back and forth, this will show either A for amps, CC for constant current or CV for constant voltage depending on what kind of charging you are doing.
• The second row of the TP-1010C display shows the amount of charge placed back into the pack in mAhrs and overall charge time.

View Individual Cell Voltages on the Thunder Power 1010C (LiPo & A123)

If using a balancer in closed loop mode, you can at any time during a charge or discharge cycle (LiPo and A123 only) check to see any of the individual cell voltages.

1. Long press the “SEL/MOD” button until a screen with CH and CL are displayed on the far left end.
2. From here you can use the “-/DEC” and +/INC” buttons to scroll through the cells, two per screen.
3. To the far right of these screens you will also be shown the maximum deviation voltage between cells.
4. Leaving the unit alone for about 6 seconds will return it to the charge screen.

Using the Memory Settings on the Thunder Power 1010C

From the main charging screen, the one that you initiate charging from, there are three parameters that you can alter, the cell count, charge/discharge current and memory position.

1. At the far upper, right end of the display you see [M 1-10], this is the memory location. To access it short press the red “CHARGE/ENT” button quickly and the number in the brackets will begin to flash.
2. You can use the “-/DEC” and “+/INC” buttons to change the location. Note that each location will keep the cell count and charge current stored.
3. There are 10 memories per battery type for a total of 50 memories. Note that the memories cannot be named

How to Print This Article

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Where to Buy a Thunder Power 1010C

Draganfly Innovations Inc. is the best place to purchase a new Thunder Power 1010C charger. Draganfly Innovations offers FREE Shipping anywhere in the world on all Thunder Power 1010C chargers. Buy online 24 hours a day at www.rctoys.com or order by phone 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907 during business hours.

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Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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Thunder Power RC has released a new firmware version for the Thunder Power 1010C charger. Version V2.3A contains many great features that re-affirm this charger’s position as a market-leader in features and performance. Among these features are the ability to now charge NiCd, NiMH, Pb (lead-acid), and A123 batteries. It’s another free upgrade from Thunder Power RC. All you need is the Thunder Power 1010C USB Programming Cable to apply the update.

Most important of all is the new procedure for applying the firmware upgrade. This procedure protects the charger from damage, and failure to use it will negate the 1010C’s warranty. The procedure is detailed by Thunder Power in their pdf note. The firmware can be obtained from the Thunder Power RC download page.

Changing the firmware requires that you power the charger from a simple 9V battery while applying the update. Alternatively, you can use a 10-15 Ohm ceramic block resistor inline with one of the power cables if you power the charger from your usual charger power supply.

Use the new 1010C firmware upgrade procedure to enjoy the many new features of V2.3A while maintaining your warranty.

TP1010C V2.3A Upgrade Features:

1. Added NiCd/NiMh/PB(SLA)/A123 battery charge/discharge/cycler functions
2. Memory slots (10) are independently assigned to each battery type
3. A123 top off voltage adjusted to 3.65V/cell
4. Added System timeout(selectable to 2-10Hour)
5. The last cycle of charge and discharge data before an error interruption occurs can now be read by pressing the [Sel] button
6. Discharge power factor added
7. 1’s decimal digit added to the voltage display

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It isn’t just a charger. With its high power, balancer communication ability, and numerous safety features, it comes together with surprising synergy. The Thunder Power 1010C allows you to revolutionize your lithium polymer usage.

The 1010C can charge very fast. Credit for this goes to the new safety features. The charger can communicate with the Thunder Power 210V and 205V balancers. The 1010C charger is available separately, or as a bundle consisting of the 1010C and 205V balancer or 1010C and 210V balancer. The balancer, attached to the battery during the charge, automatically attempts to correct imbalance. It also communicates each cell’s voltage to the 1010C. The 1010C analyzes the cell voltages to determine if the battery is unsafe to charge. It will slow down or stop an unsafe charge.

With these features ensuring an unsafe battery can’t be charged and making 3C charge rates safe, the 1010C’s brawn takes center stage. The power limits are 5s @ 10A and 10s @ 5A. A 5s 2100mAh battery can easily and safely be charged at 3C (6.3A).

The 1010C also works great on the largest lithium polymer batteries, where it will likely be ran at full power. It is common for these large batteries to be used in series, and the 1010C offers the ability to charge them in series or separately. Series charging has the advantage of charging the pair of batteries in one charge with one charger. The other option is to separate them when charging and use two chargers simultaneously. Using two chargers requires a larger investment, but will enable the battery to be used again sooner due to the shorter charge time.

Small battery users and large battery users alike can re-think their charger and battery requirements. It may be wiser to own fewer batteries and charge them quickly at the field. This allows you to do the same amount of flying in one session and get more use out of your battery dollars.

The power going into the battery has to come from somewhere. At full power, the Thunder Power 1010 C from Advanced Energy will demand about 250W from its power source. Ensure your power supply can handle that. A 20A power supply is just barely enough to run a Thunder Power 1010 C at full power. To power two or three 1010Cs you’ll need an extreme power supply, like the Iota 55A. If you charge at the field from a lead acid battery, you may need to buy a larger one to meet the power demands.

It’s an impressive charger now, and can only get better as Thunder Power releases free firmware updates. Very safe, very fast, and very powerful: the Thunder Power 1010C charger. Please remember, never charge batteries unattended, and always follow standard safety procedures.

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Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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The Thunder Power TP-210V and TP-205V lithium polymer battery balancers are plug-and-play simple and are a very powerful tool to maximizing the life of your lithium polymer batteries. Both TP balancers have various connectors for your battery, charger and data cables and sport LED status lights to let you know exactly what’s happening during the charge. Although these two TP balancers seem simple there are a few tricks to using them correctly.

When should you use a Thunder Power 205/210 balancer?
Balancing once every ten charges is useful, but we recommend using a balancer every at charge. Using a TP balancer every time you charge your lipolys is a very good idea because the battery balancer will provide early audio and visual warnings if any cells fail while charging. The balancer will also protect li polymer cells from going over 4.2V/cell during the charge thus extending the life of your lipoly battery packs. For greater safety and peace of mind while charging lipolys always use a Thunder Power balancer.

What do the LED lights on my Thunder Power balancer mean?
The TP balancer displays one LED light for each lipoly cell, and two status LEDs (one yellow, one red). The meaning of the LED lights depends on the situation. The first situation is when the battery is first connected, and the second situation is during a charge. Be sure to read the manual: TP-205v Manual | TP-210v Manual

• Yellow Status LED ON, red LEDs ON for 5 seconds = imbalance under 0.03V
• Yellow Status LED flashes, red LEDs ON for 5 seconds = average voltage under 3.6V (over-discharged)
• Yellow Status LED OFF, red LEDs flash for 5 seconds = imbalance between 0.03 and 0.2V (high imbalance, charge slowly)
• Yellow Status LED OFF, red LEDs flash for 60 seconds = imbalance over 0.2V (high imbalance, don’t charge until corrected)
• Indefinite danger beeps = Error: a cell is over 4.3V (stop charging, use caution)

Battery to Balancer Data Connection
Both the Thunder Power TP-210V and TP-205V balancers can communicate cell voltage information to Thunder Power chargers. This enables the charger to stop charging if imbalance becomes dangerous; a revolutionary safety feature. If you have a Thunder Power charger and balancer, we strongly recommend using them together with the data connection cable every time.

Temperature
These two balancers operate by converting energy stored in high voltage lipoly cells into heat and the heat warms up the balancer when it is active. Feeling your TP balancer’s temperature is a good way of determining how busy it has been recently, especially when balancing large li polymer battery packs.

Balancing 6 to 10 Cells
The Thunder Power 210V balancer can balance up to 10 series cells. Because Thunder Power balance connectors top out at 6 pins, it is necessary to use two connectors. You have two packs (or just one 6-10s pack), two balance connectors coming from those packs, and two connectors on the 210V – labeled Group A and Group B. The first step is to connect the two lithium polymer batteries in series. This is done by connecting pack A’s red power wire to pack B’s black power wire. Now connect pack A’s balance connector to the 210V’s Group A connector, then B’s balance connector to the Group B connector. Finally, press the Start button on the 210V balancer. You should see the correct number of cell LEDs light up.

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Lithium polymer batteries are expensive. How you handle yours will have a big effect on how long they last. Therefore, it is worth taking the time to learn about proper charging procedures.

Lets say you just finished using your lithium polymer battery. It can be charged again without delay, as long as it isn’t hot. If it is hot, you will need to wait until it has cooled down; preferably to below 35° Celsius (95° Fahrenheit).

Your battery isn’t hot, so let the charging begin. The first steps are to power up your charger and connect your battery charge cable to the charger. You should plug in the charge cable before connecting it to the battery, because charge cables usually terminate in exposed bullet / banana connectors, which are easy to short to each other directly or via anything metal (i.e. the charger). Now you can connect the battery to the charger via the charge cable.

It’s time to set the charger’s settings. Whatever the input method, there are two important settings: charge voltage and current. The correct voltage setting is determined by the lithium polymer battery you are charging. Most batteries say their nominal voltage, with the common ones being 7.4V and 11.1V. This number is calculated as

Correct Voltage Setting = 3.7V * Number of Cells in Series

On small to medium sized lithium polymer batteries, the number of cells in series is simply the number of cells in the battery. However, on large batteries, some of the cells are wired in parallel and as such do not contribute to the correct voltage setting. The standard for writing the number of cells in series is Xs. For a small battery, like the Thunder Power Pro Lite 3s 1320mAh, we see that X=3. For this battery, correct voltage setting = 3.7V * 3 = 11.1 V.

Correct voltage setting now determined, all that remains is current setting. Current setting is largely up to the user. The most common and always correct setting is:

Standard Current Setting = Battery Capacity / 1h

Continuing with the above example, the battery capacity is 1320mAh. Therefore, standard current setting = 1320mAh / 1h = 1320mA = 1.32A. This is known as a 1C charge, because C is defined as 1 / 1h.

Some like to charge slower than 1C to be gentle with their batteries. However, there is no scientific evidence of slower charging leading to longer battery life. There are also a few chargers that charge faster than 1C to save time, such as the Thunder Power 1010C. These chargers are usually very specific about when this fast charging is safe; please follow the instructions and warnings they come with.

With those two settings set, you are ready to start the charge. Once the charging process has started, the charger takes care of everything. It will end the charge when the battery is full, at which time you can use it again. There is no need to wait between the end of a charge and the start of a discharge.

There are two ways of increasing the safety of your charges. One is to use a balancer, such as the Thunder Power 205V or 210V. The balancer will fight cell imbalance, and provide some a warning if the cells are dangerously imbalanced. The other is to place your battery somewhere nonflammable. Ask yourself, if this battery ignites, will anything nearby ignite as well? Leaving the battery on a wood counter or in a wood airplane is more risky than isolating it on a bare cement floor.

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