Imax B6 (charger): manual, reviews

Many modern electronic devices operate on rechargeable batteries. The most common source of power are NiMH batteries, for which special chargers like MAHA and La Crosse are purchased. Unfortunately, such devices have certain drawbacks: when charging batteries, they must be removed from the devices, do not charge other types of batteries, since they are suitable only for NiMH batteries. In this regard, many users are trying to purchase additional chargers or batteries of other types - Pb, Li-Pol, Li-Ion.

It is uncomfortable and inexpedient to use several chargers at the same time, so it is desirable to get one, but universal. The selected device must be suitable for all modern batteries. Their effective and long working capacity is provided by a controlled charge and discharge. Universal charger IMAX B6 is a microprocessor device capable of supporting the performance of different types of batteries.

Cost

The main drawback of the IMAX B6 charger is, unfortunately, its cost. In domestic markets, the price of the device is too high, when ordering from China it will be necessary to give about $ 34.

Equipment

The IMAX B6 charger is supplied in the original box. Inside are:

• Charger;
• Cables;
• Instructions for the charger IMAX B6 in English.

Appearance

The body of the device is made of high-quality anodized aluminum. The charger is equipped with a two-line screen with backlight and four programmable keys, through which all control is carried out. The sockets for connecting the battery, power supply and balancing circuits are located on the side faces. The battery charger for IMAX B6 batteries can be connected to a personal computer using a special cable through a connector located on one of the side panels. Next to it is a temperature sensor.

Advantages of IMAX B6: intelligent control

The IMAX charger has undeniable advantages, thanks to which the existing analogues in the market have considerably bypassed.

The charger sensors monitor each of the programs. Settings settings have certain limitations. Occurrence of any malfunction is accompanied by an automatic termination of the process of charging the battery and the appearance of a message on the device's fault. All settings can be changed by the user. Management is easy and intuitive, all the necessary information is displayed on the device's display.

Power

The maximum power of the charger IMAX B6 is 50 watts, which is a very good indicator. With this gadget, you can charge and discharge up to 15 NiCd / NiMH batteries and up to 6 lithium batteries at current up to 5 A.

Stress balancer

For lithium power supplies, a voltage balancer is built into the gadget. It is necessary for correct and efficient operation with batteries, including from 2 to 6 LiFe / LiIo / LiPo cells.

Balancing of each element at discharge

The lithium battery cells are tracked by the IMAX B6 charger and balanced during discharge. The process stops if the voltage of at least one of the elements changes incorrectly. An error message appears on the gadget's screen.

Support for lithium batteries

To date, there are three main types of lithium batteries: LiFe, LiIo and LiPo. Each of them can be charged with the IMAX B6 device.

Multiple modes of operation

Charging the power source in the Fast mode is much faster than in the Storage mode, since the latter is designed to prepare the battery for long-term storage.

Safety and reliability

After reaching 100% of the charge level, the charging process of the batteries is automatically terminated. The function of monitoring the voltage difference Delta Peak allows you to monitor the entire process. The current strength when charging nickel batteries is set automatically.

The user can set in the settings the maximum current that will be achieved during the charging of NiCd or NiMH batteries. This function is most useful for NiMH batteries with low capacitance and internal resistance.

Capacity limitation

The capacity of the battery can be limited in the charger settings. The charging process will automatically stop after reaching a certain value, which is calculated by multiplying the charge time and the current strength.

Temperature limits

The temperature sensor built into the IMAX B6 charger allows you to monitor the temperature. In the settings, you can also automatically turn off the charging process after reaching a certain temperature.

Charge time limitation

In the device settings, you can set the time during which the battery will be charged.

Input voltage monitoring

The microprocessor of the gadget regulates the input voltage of the device, which provides protection to the car battery, which is often used as a power source for the IMAX B6. Charging the batteries is stopped automatically when the input voltage drops below the set limit.

Loading and saving data

In the memory of the charger there are five separate cells, in each of which you can save data on the charge and discharge of certain types of batteries. The stored information can be viewed and corrected by the user at any time.

Cycler

NiCd / NiMH rechargeable batteries can be subsequently charged and discharged using an IMAX B6 battery charger. The maximum number of such cycles is 5, which allows to increase the capacity of the battery.

disadvantages

In addition to the advantages of the device IMAX B6 inherent and some disadvantages. One of them is an uneven charge-discharge of two or more NiCd / NiMH batteries when they are simultaneously connected. All connected items are perceived by the charger as a single rechargeable battery. A special role such a disadvantage does not play in the event that new batteries are charged from one batch. Otherwise, all batteries must be charged or discharged to the same level.

Users in their reviews of the IMAX B6 charger note the drawback, such as the need for an external power supply when working with a gadget at home. However, the disadvantage turns into an advantage when using the memory in the car. In the IMAX B6 AC model, the charger can be connected to a standard 220V network using an additional unit. In addition, the charger can be connected to the computer power supply.

Another drawback of the IMAX B6 charger is the English-language menu and, accordingly, the programming process. At the same time for each type of batteries there are separate user programs that are installed once.

Despite the fact that the IMAX B6 has certain drawbacks, it will give odds to many similar chargers designed to charge NiMH / NiCd drives. A huge advantage in how to charge the battery with the charger IMAX B6, is the lack of the need to extract it from the gadget. Additional plus - safety and automatic shutdown after reaching 100% level of charge. Using IMAX allows you to make forced charging and training of batteries, charging of car batteries. The gadget can be used in a car - it connects to the vehicle's on-board network and operates from its battery. The protection system protects the car battery from short circuits and overloads. The IMAX B6 battery charger is ideal for those who have to regularly charge different types of batteries.

Some other models of IMAX chargers - for example, B6 SKYRC - are equipped with USB-connectors for connection to a personal computer. This feature allows you to update the gadget software and track the charging process in real time.

The average cost of the IMAX B6 is $ 34 along with delivery, while the price of the original device is much higher. Despite the presence of some shortcomings, the gadget can make a significant competition to similar devices.