Choosing the Best LiPo Battery Charger and Power Supply for FPV Drones

In this comprehensive buyer’s guide, we’ll explore how to choose the ideal LiPo battery charger and an appropriate power supply for your FPV drones, highlighting key features and considerations. Our goal is to help you select the best LiPo charger for your specific needs and budget.

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If you’re new to FPV, we recommend starting with our guide on LiPo Battery Basics, which explains the essential terminology used throughout this article: https://oscarliang.com/lipo-battery-guide/

Top LiPo Charger Recommendations

We’ve compiled a list of the best LiPo chargers suitable for FPV drone pilots at all skill levels.

If you’re concerned about parallel charging, consider investing in a dual-channel or even four-channel charger to avoid slow, one-at-a-time charging. However, if you’re comfortable using a parallel charging board, a single-port charger can simultaneously charge multiple batteries. Before attempting parallel charging, ensure you familiarize yourself with the proper safety procedures: https://oscarliang.com/parallel-charging-multiple-lipo/

Opt for a Smart Charger

Smart chargers are the industry standard today, thanks to their powerful features and capabilities. Non-smart chargers (or non-programmable chargers) might be cheaper and straightforward to use, however, they only offer basic charging functionality, often lack important safety features. Investing in a high-quality modern charger will enhance your experience and likely last throughout most of your FPV career.

Example of an outdated, non-programmable LiPo Charger (NOT recommended)

A smart charger (or programmable charger) boasts numerous practical features. It can charge various battery types, including the popular LiPo and Li-ion used in drones, and allows you to customize charging parameters such as charging current, cell count, and end voltage. Additionally, smart chargers feature a display that provides essential information like charging progress, battery voltage, and charging current in real-time.

Example of a modern smart charger

Modern smart chargers also offer discharging and storage charging capabilities, addressing most of your battery management needs. Another advantage of smart chargers is their ability to measure internal resistance. Although not always highly precise, this feature is useful for monitoring battery health over time.

Ensure Cell Count Compatibility

It’s crucial to choose a charger that supports at least 6S LiPo batteries, meaning it can charge LiPo batteries with six cells or fewer. In 2023, 4S and 6S LiPo batteries are the most common cell counts used in 5-inch FPV drones, so a 6S-compatible charger should cater to the majority of your charging needs.

For those flying tiny whoops or other micro drones powered by 1S batteries, consider acquiring a charger specifically designed for these smaller batteries. Explore my recommendations for Tiny Whoop chargers here: https://oscarliang.com/best-tiny-whoop/#Best-Tiny-Whoop-Chargers

Understanding Charging Current Requirements

The charging current for LiPo batteries is determined by two factors:

1. The maximum charging current the LiPo battery can handle
2. The maximum charging current the charger can provide

It’s generally safe to charge LiPo batteries at 1C, which means the charging current is equal to the battery’s capacity. For instance, 1C for a 4S 1500mAh battery would be 1500mA (or 1.5A). Some LiPo batteries are advertised to handle fast charging at 2C or even higher. However, be aware that charging at higher rates increases the risk of battery overheating and related issues.

Each charger has a power rating (wattage) and a maximum charging current rating (amps). The maximum charging current a charger can provide is limited by either of these ratings, whichever is reached first. The current is limited by the charger’s power rating and the voltage of the battery being charged (P = V * I).

For example, a 100W charger charging a 4S LiPo battery at 16V would have a maximum charge current of 100W / 16V = 6.25A. Note that the current will decrease during the charging cycle as the voltage gradually increases.

Assessing Charger Power Requirements

A LiPo charger’s power is measured in watts, calculated by multiplying voltage (volts) and current (amps).

If you’re only charging one battery at a time, you don’t require much power. For instance, to charge a 4S 1500mAh battery, you’ll need a maximum of 1.5A x 16.8V = 25.2W (assuming you’re charging at 1C). However, if you want to parallel charge multiple packs simultaneously, the power requirement increases significantly. For example, to charge six 4S 1500mAh packs at once, a charger with over 150W of power is needed.

It’s important to note that you don’t always need to meet the exact power requirement. You can still charge the same number of batteries at once with a lower-power charger, but charging will be slower due to a reduced current.

Supported Battery Types

While it’s beneficial for a charger to support various battery types, FPV drone pilots don’t need an extensive range. Primarily, we require support for LiPo, Li-ion, and LiHV (same type of battery as LiPo but with a higher end voltage of 4.35V per cell) batteries. Having NiMH support can be useful for rescuing over-discharged LiPo batteries that cannot be recognized by the charger. However, some newer chargers come with a “trickle charge” feature, which serves the same purpose, making NiMH support less crucial in those models. We’ll discuss the trickle charge feature in more detail in the next section. While some chargers may support NiCad and PB batteries, these types are less relevant for pilots who only fly multirotors.

Understanding Charger Modes

In this section, we’ll discuss common modes in modern smart chargers. A decent charger should at least offer “Balance Charge Mode”, “Discharge Mode”, and “Storage Charge”. Other modes are nice to have but not as essential.

Balance Charge

This mode is the safest way to charge your LiPo batteries, and you’ll likely spend most of your charging time using it. You’ll need to plug in both the main connector and balance connector so the charger can read the voltages of all the cells. The charger will automatically balance the cells during the charge cycle to prevent issues.

Fast Charge

This mode charges batteries faster because it doesn’t monitor and balance individual cell voltages. Instead, it only looks at the overall voltage of the whole pack, which carries the risk of overcharging one or multiple cells. You may not see this mode in most chargers nowadays as it’s deemed unsafe for charging LiPo batteries. We don’t recommend this mode unless you’re experienced and know what you’re doing.

Discharge

In this mode, the charger reduces the LiPo battery voltage to its lowest allowed level (e.g., 3V or 3.3V, depending on the charger and settings).

Storage Charge

This mode charges or discharges the battery until the voltage of each cell reaches 3.85V, making it suitable for storage.

Trickle Charge

Batteries that sit for long periods may self-discharge, causing voltage levels to drop. If a cell’s voltage is too low, the charger may not be able to detect it or the entire battery. Trickle charge mode slowly pumps current into the battery to revive dead cells. Keep in mind that battery resurrection depends on cell health, and some batteries may be beyond recovery.

Considering the Number of Channels

When selecting a charger, it’s important to consider the number of outputs or channels it has. This will determine how many batteries you can charge simultaneously.

Single-output chargers can charge only one battery at a time. However, if you connect a parallel charging board, you can charge multiple batteries simultaneously too. This is a more cost-effective option, but it requires some knowledge on how to parallel charge safely.

Chargers with multiple channels or outputs allow you to charge several batteries at once without the need for a parallel charging board. Each output functions as an independent charger, enabling you to charge different batteries regardless of their battery type, capacity, voltage level, or cell count. Multi-channel chargers are more expensive but offer greater flexibility and faster charging.

Don’t Overlook Balance Current

What’s balance current in a charger?

The balance current of a LiPo charger refers to the current used by the charger to balance the voltage levels of individual cells within a multi-cell LiPo battery during the charging process. Balancing the cells ensures that they all have equal voltage levels, which is essential for maintaining the overall health, safety, and longevity of the battery.

LiPo chargers typically have a balance current rating, measured in milliamps (mA), which indicates the maximum current that the charger can use to balance the cells. Higher balance current ratings generally lead to faster balancing and shorter charging times, while lower ratings may result in longer charging times due to slower cell balancing.

Cheaper chargers tend to have lower balance current ratings, such as 0.2A/cell, while higher-end chargers may have higher balance current ratings, up to 1.6A/cell or even higher. It is important to choose a LiPo charger with a decent balance current rating to ensure efficient charging and minimize the time you spend waiting for your batteries to finish charging.

AC and DC Inputs: Which Is Better?

When selecting your first LiPo charger for an FPV drone, the type of power input—AC (Alternating Current) or DC (Direct Current)—is a crucial consideration. For those new to the hobby, opting for a charger with AC input might be more convenient since it can be powered directly from a wall socket. In contrast, chargers that only accept DC input requires a separate power supply unit (PSU) or a battery to operate. However, having a DC input could be beneficial if you need to charge batteries outdoors. Some chargers offer both inputs, adding to their versatility.

It’s important to note that AC chargers typically deliver lower power due to their built-in power supply, which is not always the most powerful, thus limiting the output power. Conversely, with a decent external power supply, DC chargers can generally surpass the performance of their AC counterparts. Using a separate PSU might sound complex and costly. Yet, the advantage of higher output power becomes apparent when needing to charge multiple batteries simultaneously via parallel charging—a method that, despite its efficiency, raises safety concerns.

The trend towards multi-channel chargers capable of charging several batteries concurrently is growing. These chargers often include a built-in power supply and support AC input, making them highly user-friendly and convenient.

For a secondary charger, consider a small, portable model that supports both XT60 and USB-C inputs. While perhaps not the most powerful for daily use, such chargers are exceedingly compact and convenient for travel and field charging. You could avoid the need to carry a charger by having a more charged LiPo batteries. However, consider the logistics: assuming each flight lasts approximately 5 minutes, flying for two hours would require 24 LiPo batteries—that’s a lot! Having a charger on hand allows for recharging empty batteries while flying, potentially saving money and reducing the need to bring so many LiPos.

Choosing the Right Power Supply for Your Charger

When selecting a charger, you may need to consider the power supply. Some chargers have a built-in power supply, allowing you to plug them directly into an AC wall socket. However, many LiPo chargers require an external power supply (PSU), which you may need to purchase separately.

You can buy PSUs specifically designed for LiPo chargers or modify computer/server PSUs for a more cost-effective solution if you have the necessary skills.

Consider the following when choosing a PSU:

1. Power: The PSU’s power should be higher than the power demand of your charger. An overpowered PSU won’t make your charger more powerful, but it will be more reliable and future-proof. An underpowered PSU may cause overheating and burnout issues. If needed, consider setting a power limit on your charger to protect the PSU.
2. Output Voltage: The PSU’s output voltage should be within the input voltage range of your charger.

Here are some PSU options based on their power ratings:

• 100W PSU:
  • AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_De20T6h
  • Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-2s1v
  • GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-4fl3
  • RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-riwd
• 240W PSU:
  • AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DC75qa9
  • Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-pf1z
• 360W PSU:
  • RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-rn8w
  • GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-mkbn
• 400-460W PSU:
  • AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DcRiAop
  • RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-kq49
  • GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-qf4k
• 600W PSU:
  • AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkCczYF
  • GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-n9e2
• 1200W PSU:
  • AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdIby9F
  • Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-lq1c

The ToolkitRC P200 PSU (review) is also worth considering. It’s a versatile 200W power supply you can use for various tasks. It features adjustable voltage output and current limit, is compact in size, and has a USB-C output for charging mobile devices and cameras.

How Much You Should Spend On a LiPo Charger

A LiPo charger is a long-term investment in the RC hobby, as it will likely last for years, much like your radio transmitter and FPV goggles. Therefore, it’s wise to allocate a reasonable budget for a quality charger instead of opting for the cheapest option.

The most expensive charger isn’t necessarily the best, but good quality chargers often come at a fair price. Before focusing on the cost, consider what you actually need from a charger. Write down your requirements and find chargers that meet your needs. If you don’t require certain “fancy features,” don’t include them in your list, and prioritize the essential features that will serve you best in the long run.

Conclusion

Choosing the right LiPo charger for your FPV drone may seem like a daunting task, but with the right guidance and understanding of your specific requirements, you’ll be able to make an informed decision. In this post, we’ve explored various charger options, power requirements, and essential features to help you find the charger that best suits your needs and budget. I will continue to keep this list of recommended LiPo chargers up to date. Please leave us a comment if you have any questions.

Happy flying and charging!

Edit History

• 2015 – Guide created
• 2017 – Smart charger became main stream, added charger’s modes
• 2022 – Updated guide and product links for power supply
• 2023 – Tutorial revised
• May 2024 – Recommendations updated