Meet the Flywoo A30, the first-ever 1S LiPo/LiHV battery charger that has been specifically engineered for GNB A30 battery connectors. Let’s delve into its features and performance in this review. Equipped with a 5V/3A USB power adapter, this charger can charge up to six batteries at the same time, making it an great option for those who require efficient and simultaneous charging capabilities.
This is a great charger for those who fly tiny whoops and 1S micro quads that uses A30 1S batteries.
Table of Contents
Where to Buy?
You can purchase the Flywoo A30 6-port charging board from:
- Flywoo: https://oscarliang.com/product-1czo
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmTelh7
Upon purchasing, you’ll receive the following components in the package:
- 1 x Flywoo 6-Port 1S Battery Charger: the main unit that charges your batteries.
- 1 x US/EU Power Adapter: a handy USB power supply that provides power for the charger
- 1 x USB to Type-C power cable
Specifications
The Flywoo A30 6-Port Charger Board has the following specs:
- Input: This charger operates on a 5V/3A power supply, using a Type-C USB input interface.
- Output: It delivers a default output of 4.35V 0.5A.
- Compatibility: It’s designed to cater to LiPo and LiHV batteries using either A30 or PH2.0 connectors, providing flexibility in your battery charging options.
- Simultaneous Charging: This unit allows you to charge up to six batteries simultaneously, increasing efficiency and saving valuable time.
The Flywoo A30 Charger is designed with durability in mind. Both its top and bottom are constructed from 3mm thick transparent acrylic panels. These panels are firmly held together by four CNC aluminium standoffs, ensuring a robust structure that aids in securing and safeguarding the charger against any physical impact.
Each charging port is equipped with both PH2.0 and A30 connectors for versatility. However, it’s essential to heed Flywoo’s warning and avoid using both ports for charging simultaneously to avoid potential damage to your batteries.
Further Reading: Is A30 better than BT2.0 and PH2.0?
How Does It Work?
The Flywoo A30 6-Port Charger is intuitive to use. Let’s delve into its working mechanics:
Powering the Charger: The charger utilizes a USB-C connector for its power input. However, it’s important to note that it doesn’t support fast charge inputs (PD and QC). The charger only works with the traditional 5V power supply – for instance, the power adapter that comes included in the package.
Charging Batteries: The process of charging batteries couldn’t be simpler. Just plug in the battery, and the charger will begin charging without any configurations or user inputs. It’s a completely automatic process. A red LED light illuminates during charging, which switches to green when it’s fully charged.
Independence of Ports: All six charging ports operate independently, allowing you to plug in and unplug any batteries at any given time, according to your convenience.
Voltage Adjustments: The charger is designed primarily for charging LiHV batteries, the most common type of batteries for 1S micro quads and tiny whoops. LiHV batteries have a maximum voltage of 4.35V. If you wish to charge normal LiPo which has a maximum voltage of 4.20V, you could modify the end voltage by bridging the “4.2V LiPo” solder pads located on the bottom of the PCB. While it’s rare for users to change the end voltage, it’s not a very convenient process if you do need to alter it. On the plus side, the design ensures that you don’t accidentally change the voltage by mistake, which can either lead to incomplete charging or overcharging which is dangerous.
How Fast Does It Charge?
The Flywoo A30 6-Port Charger, by default, charges each 1S battery to 4.35V at a rate of 0.5A.
To give you a better sense of the charging times:
- Charging an empty 1S 300mAh battery takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
- An empty 1S 450mAh battery would require 45 minutes to nearly an hour to fully charge.
For those who find the default charging speed of 0.5A too slow, you can double it to 1A by bridging the “1A” pads located on the bottom of the charger, cutting the charging time to half. Remember, however, that faster charging may generate more heat and potentially reduce the longevity of your batteries, so use this feature carefully.
Get the Flywoo A30 6-port charging board here:
- Flywoo: https://oscarliang.com/product-1czo
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmTelh7
Limitations
It’s essential to be aware that the Flywoo A30 6-Port Charger has a maximum input power limitation, which appears to peak at around 11W. This means, when charging five batteries simultaneously (given power required = 0.5A x 4.35V x 5 = 10.88W), the charger is already operating near its maximum capacity. Consequently, connecting a sixth battery will reduce the charging speed of the others because the charger has to distribute its available power among all batteries.
If you opt to increase the charging current to 1A, it will initially charge the first three batteries faster. However, once all six batteries are connected, the charging speed reverts back to the pace similar to charging at 0.5A. This is due to the charger’s overall power limit.
Another small but noteworthy point I discovered during my testing is a minor overcharging tendency of this charger. I found it to slightly exceed the intended 4.35V limit, typically reaching between 4.36-4.38V. The overcharge level varies from port to port, and while it’s not a significant problem, it’s worth being aware of. Overcharging can reduce the battery’s lifespan over time, it can even be dangerous. However, the overcharge of about 0.03V in my case is relatively small and should not pose any substantial risk or issue. To ensure the accuracy of your charging, you might want to verify the output with a multimeter when you get yours.
Unfortunately, it has no storage mode (doesn’t charge your batteries to 3.85V for storage), and it has no way to display voltage and the progress of the charging cycle.
The Best Combo in the Field
When I’m out in the field without access to AC power, I find the perfect partner for the Flywoo A30 6-Port Charger to be the Speedybee Adapter 3. This combination forms a highly efficient charging system that is easy to carry and use.
The Speedybee Adapter 3 is not only great for configuring your quads on the go using your smartphone but also serves as a USB power supply. It can convert any 4S or 6S LiPo to a 5V power source, perfect for driving the Flywoo A30 1S charging board. Its 30W rating means it has more than enough power to support your charging needs.
Grab your Speedybee Adapter 3 here:
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-bi7z
- RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-vhj7
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3F3T4gC
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkKLHOj
What to learn more about tiny whoops and accessories? Check out my buyer’s guide here.
Compatibility with BT2.0
Unfortunately you can’t use the Flywoo charger to charge batteries with BT2.0 due to the extrusion in the A30 connector. However, you can use a BT2.0 charger to charge your A30 batteries. At the moment my favourite is the Vifly BT2.0 serial charging board. If you want to be able to charge both A30 and BT2.0 batteries, this is the one I’d get.