Evaluation: 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 pace issues up considerably. You get management over charging settings, and you can even use them to place batteries into storage cost. BetaFPV has made plenty of nice whoops, however by no means an important 1S charger till now – introducing the HexaCharger! On this assessment I’ll check the professional model, and see the way it stacks up towards established fashions just like the Vifly WhoopStor V3 and GEPRC WooPower.

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Questioning the way to deal with LiPo batteries correctly? Take a look at my newbie’s information: https://oscarliang.com/lipo-battery-guide/

The place to Purchase

Get the HexaCharger from:

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

Professional vs Non-Professional Model

There are two variations: Professional and non-Professional. They appear nearly similar (other than the colour). The principle distinction is most energy output and charging present.

Though the Professional model might be overkill for most individuals flying 65mm and 75mm whoops, the value distinction is just $5 and also you recover from 3 occasions 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 can be ample.

I’m reviewing the Professional model right here.

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

You may also use a high-output, PD succesful energy financial institution, which is what I used throughout testing. It’s extra transportable. My advice is the Anker:

Specs

Design and Person Expertise

The charger contains a good shade LCD display screen with good decision, a clear format, and well-designed graphics. All of the important data 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 (may be helpful for present sensor calibration too in Betaflight).

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

I additionally like that every 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 prime. That mentioned, for most individuals this received’t matter a lot, because the interest has largely moved away from PH2.0 and towards BT2.0 connectors.

Ports & Battery Compatibility

There are 6 ports, that means you may cost as much as 6 batteries concurrently.

Nevertheless, you can’t 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 positive for most individuals. However if you wish to independently management every port, your solely choice proper now could be the GEPRC WooPower.

Every port contains two connectors: BT2.0 and PH2.0 — that is fairly commonplace these days as a result of these are the 2 most typical 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, based mostly on my testing.

Batteries with BT2 & A30 Connectors.

Batteries with PH2 and NX69 connectors.

So many alternative connectors huh? Yow will discover out their variations on this assessment:

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 lots. However because the Professional model prices solely $5 greater than the bottom mannequin, I believe it’s value getting.

One limitation although, present adjustment is in 0.5A increments, and the bottom setting is 0.5A. In case you religiously comply with the “1C cost fee rule”, this might not be the appropriate charger for you. For instance, charging a 300mAh battery at 1C can be 0.3A — which isn’t doable right here.

That mentioned, many pilots within the interest usually cost 1S whoop batteries at increased currents. Charging a 300mAh pack at 0.5A is sort of frequent (truly 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 easier.

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

Enter Energy

The HexaCharger can solely be powered by way of 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.

Person Expertise

The HexaCharger could be very simple to make use of, and similar to the Vifly charger. Every part is managed with simply two buttons.

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

Charging pace 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 affordable. For a completely charged 1S 300mAh pack, it takes roughly 20 minutes to achieve 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 need to end. I normally simply unplug the battery manually at that time. It’s shut sufficient to storage voltage and probably not a deal breaker in observe.

Find out how to Use It

Energy the charger utilizing a USB-C PD 3.0 energy supply, equivalent 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 via:

• LiPo Cost – stops at 4.20V
• LiHV Cost – stops at 4.35V
• Storage Cost – stops at 3.85V
  • If the battery voltage is increased 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 may plug in batteries at any time and they’re going to start charging robotically. You may also 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 linked, 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

Total, voltage accuracy is superb.

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 interest use.

Storage Cost (3.85V)

Repeating the identical check 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 contemplate 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 nearly 2V in comparison with the determine on the ability provide. Not a significant concern for many customers, however value noting.

Most Energy Check

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

Outcome: it dealt with it with out problem. The charger efficiently delivered 72W – 3A on all 6 ports concurrently. The cooling fan kicked in inside a few minute. You possibly can hear it, but it surely’s not excessively loud or annoying.

Problem: No Reverse Polarity Safety?

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

Whereas 1S connectors are usually designed to forestall reverse insertion, they don’t seem to be foolproof. It’s nonetheless doable to power them within the flawed means should you’re not cautious. Sadly, this charger seems to haven’t any reverse polarity safety on the output.

I actually hope BetaFPV considers including reverse polarity safety sooner or later, as this can be a primary security function that might forestall everlasting injury.

In case you plan to get this charger, ensure you test battery polarity earlier than plugging it in. A small mistake can completely injury a port.

Last Ideas: Do I Suggest 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 totally in your wants.

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

If You Need Most Management

The GEPRC WooPower is well probably the most superior 1S charger at present accessible. It lets you:

• Management every port individually
  • Select totally different mode per port
  • Set totally different present per port
• Modify cost present in smaller increments
• You possibly can even alter finish voltage!

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

If You Need Versatile Energy Enter Choices

Each the GEPRC WooPower and Vifly Whoopstor V3 help:

This implies you may 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 Suits

The BetaFPV HexaCharger Professional focuses on simplicity:

• Clear and easy-to-read display screen
• Very easy operation
• Inexpensive value
• Robust charging efficiency

It’s a stable different to the Whoopstor V3 should you want 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’t energy it straight from a LiPo battery. In case you don’t already personal a succesful USB-C PD charger, anticipate to spend a further $20–$30 on a correct energy adapter.

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

Take a look at my evaluations for: