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QUADIFYRC Quadcopter reviews

ISDT 608AC operation and Review: The very best charger to start out with

9/12/2019

34 Comments

 
Introduction
The ISDT 608AC Smart Charger with Detachable Power Supply is a new entry-level LiPo battery charger from ISDT, the most consistently high quality charger manufacturer in the business. It has the capability of taking power supply from both AC (mains) and DC (battery) power which is usually a feature of the more expensive chargers and also offers a first in that the AC adaptor is a modular detachable unit. This is a full review and operation overview of the ISDT 608AC charger as it relates to use for quadcopters.
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Lipo charging background
Charging is perhaps the least exciting topic in the world of quads but very important; safe, reliable chargers are hugely under-appreciated... until you have an accident. If you are new to the hobby you'll probably want to spend the minimum on the charger possible which tends to point you in the direction of DC chargers that require an additional power adaptor. I remember there being a bit of a minefield of choosing the charger but more so the adaptor that you needed to use; do you run it of mains power? What voltage? What power rating? What plug size? After all this you still don't know the quality of the power pack and I have certainly seen some dodgy ones. When you have a dodgy power pack pulling upwards of 5 amps (and often a lot more) it is a distinct risk.

Until now, if you wanted a charger with a built in AC power supply you have needed to spend more, Like the Hota/Hobbymate D6 Pro Duo (reviewed here) or the ISDT D2 which are both well upwards of $100. The new ISDT 608AC is a DC charger at heart with a very nice slide on modular DC adapter that comes included. Since ISDT is perhaps the best charger manufacturer out there, the implication is that this power supply is of the same high quality and just as importantly you can guarantee it is correctly rated.
What's included?, build and dimensions
Captioned pictures do the best job here. As usual, click to embiggen.
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Just the basics here - charger, AC adaptor (attached), figure 8 power lead and rubber feet
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Clean, minimalistic packaging that is almost apple-like in quality
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If the included power cable is wrong for your country, figure 8 power cables are cheap and widely available
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Power adaptor is on a slide mechanism and has a very sure feel. It is easy to remove if needed
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Adaptor mates to the charger with an XT60 connector meaning you can power the charger directly of a (large) flight battery if needed
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Here is the adaptor plug on the charger side
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This is what it looks like if you want to power the charger from a flight battery.
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Connectors are simple - XT60 with battgo support, 2-6s balance port and micro USB for firmware upgrades
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Approx 100mm wide
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Approx. 110mm deep with adaptor attached
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Approx 30mm high
Interface
ISDT quite simply have the best interfaces about - a basic click wheel allows you to easily navigate through the well laid out bright and colourful menus. All adjustments are available and firmware can be upgraded through the USB port if needed.
Charger operation
Pictures to the best talking here - see below for all of the key screens and captions that discuss what's going on in each
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Start screen when battery plugged in shows individual cell voltage
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Scroll down for system details including temp
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Here is the main function menu
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Charge, discharge and storage are you key options. Destroy sounds exciting
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Practically every battery chemistry is available meaning you can charge practically anything with this.
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For each battery chemistry type you have a wide range of end voltages to choose
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You can manually set the number of cells but for Lipos the balance port automatically detects the correct number
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Up to 8 amps charging is available but bear in mind the included adaptor can only do 60W (see what this means in Limitations below)
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This is what the main charging screen looks like - instantaneous cell voltage, current supplied and drawn as well as timer are all clearly visible
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Scroll down and see system status again...
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Scroll down once more and see individual cell internal resistances. This is key information for battery health. Make sure you read at the end of charging.
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Different colours mark different functions e.g. purple here is for storage charging/discharging
Limitations
The included AC adaptor is limited to 60W meaning  you can charge at a maximum of about 3.5A for 4s or 2A for 6s. Personally I believe this is plenty for packs that are used on 2-6 inch quads. The only time you are likely to find this inconvenient is for very rapid parallel charging and rapid charging of large packs for 7" and larger long-range rigs. Even then you can get a larger power supply (up to 200W) that will allow you to charge at 10A+ for 4a and 7A+ for 6s. In summary - more than enough power to start on and easy upgradability if you are doing some fairly high-level charging.

Like pretty much every other charger under $100 this charger has only one channel. My daily charger is the ISDT D2 which has 2 channels meaning I can be charging larger batteries on one side and small on another but then again I have a fairly unique set of requirements as a reviewer. Probably not fair to call this a limitation at this price point (especially when most charger have only one channel) but something you should be aware of. Don't forget you can still parallel charge if you want using a board like this one that can do both XT60 and XT30.
Summary and Recommendations
I'll keep this short. The ISDT 608AC reviewed here is simply the best complete charge for a beginner and intermediate user. The whole system is of very high quality and the user interface is the best available. Now, with the AC adaptor included this is the most simple yet versatile system out. Only those who need multiple channels or extremely high charging currents will look elsewhere but if you buy this as your first (or second or third charger) it is highly unlikely you'll sell it because it is that good. If you are considering buying a charger at any level, you must AT LEAST consider this one, it is a real gem and can typically be had for $50-$60.
​Thanks for reading, if you found this article useful please feel free to like or share, the facebook links below directly link/like this article. Links are affiliated and help me buy the bits I need to produce this type of content. If you are looking for quads or parts check out my coupons and discounts page which I keep updated with only the parts and quads I like at a proper discount
34 Comments
Guest
10/1/2020 08:45:31 am

Hey, but right on the box the AC limit is 50W, and on the one of promotional images on the official page 50W/150W

Reply
Quadify RC
14/1/2020 04:09:44 pm

If it's not clear, the included modular ac adaptor can do 50W maximum however the charger itself can do up to 150W meaning if you get a bigger AC adaptor, you can charge at higher current.

Reply
Neo
9/3/2020 12:40:07 pm

I have 2 luminear battery Do you have to plug the other end of the battery to the charger. On The luminear battery the plug is smaller than what the charger comes with ?

Reply
Quadify RC
9/3/2020 01:24:40 pm

I'm not entirely sure the question you are answering but the charger uses XT60 battery connectors which is the standard for quadcopters. Not sure what lumineer battery you are using but most of these would be XT60 considering that Lumineer is a quadcopter brand. The AC adaptor takes care of the input and you plug the battery into the output - same as any other charger.

Reply
Brandon
21/4/2020 07:44:31 am

PLEASE HELP! I just received this charger in the mail and attempting to charge my 1500mah 4s batteries. When I plug in the balance lead, I'm getting voltage reading on 6 cells, with the 3rd and 4th being much lower. (3.5v, 4.6v, 1.3v, 1.3v, 5.2v, 5.4v). After plugging in the main lead, only the first two cells give voltage reading (now 4.9V and 5.5V). For reference, I checked this battery on a capacity checker and it's reading just about 3.8 V per cell, says 58% charged. I am hesitant to try and start the charging process, given the charger is only identifying the 4s as 6s with only the balance lead in, and then 2s with the balance and main lead. I am so confused and just want to get the batteries charged so I can start flying fpv :(

Reply
Quadify RC
21/4/2020 08:39:24 am

Something weird is going on if you are getting reading for 6 cells when you are plugging in a 4 cell battery. Do not try to charge until it is reading correctly (it probably won't let you anyway)

When you plug in the white balance lead make sure it is all the way to the left. If you still have an issue try another battery. Also try the same battery on another charger - borrow charger and batteries as needed. With this information you should be able to troubleshoot an issue with the battery or charger.

Reply
Jodybon Coronel
1/5/2020 11:38:48 am

I just bought this recently and got it delivered today.. I wanted to charge my stock LiPo battery that came with the Heng Long tanks.. I have one LiPo battery that has a balancer and tamiya plug connector and one with just the tamiya plug..
The tamiya plug doesn't fit in the battery charger.. do I need to buy a separate connector for it? I would really appreciate it if I get a reply from you. Thanks

Reply
Quadify RC
29/5/2020 05:13:39 pm

Sorry thought I'd already responded. You'll need an XT60 to tamiya converter, same as you'd need for any other charger other than the outdated NIMH only chargers

Reply
Paul Adamson
24/6/2020 07:09:11 am

I just picked up this charger for my 7.2 and 8.4 NiMH batteries. I can't figure out how to use it properly. The manual is incredibly sparse.

When I charge, it stops after a few hundred mAh. Then I start it again, and it goes for a few hundred more. Nothing's overheating, so I don't know what's up.

I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I can't figure out how to set it correctly. The equation mentioned in the manual doesn't make sense to me, and I haven't been able to find any sort of support line for it.

Any tips for a noob?

Thanks in advance.

Reply
Quadify RC
24/6/2020 09:21:15 am

Hi Paul

I don't regularly use NIMH but if you do plug you battery into the main charge port (yellow XT60 connector) using the relevant adaptor if needed. Then choose battery type as NiMH/CD as in the 5th image directly above. Lastly choose the current which I would match to your battery's capacity (ie 1c charging). Then it should peak charge i.e. provide a standard power supply until your battery pack reaches a peak voltage and drops back a little. This is slightly academic for me as I've only charged on NiMH.

Reply
Stephen Leach
21/10/2020 07:00:18 pm

Hi,
your website is great, you've already answered some questions of mine so thanks. I've ordered and yet to receive this charger. I also am getting the 144001 with extra battery (the larger one) and a xt60 plug adaptor you linked on another page. If I want to charge more than one battery at a time should I change all the plugs on the car and batteries to the xt60 so I can used the parrallel board you have above or is there another option. also, in your opinion for two cars currently stock motors is it worth it or just charge one at a time? many thanks Stephen

Reply
QuadifyRC
21/10/2020 10:58:53 pm

Cheers Stephen! I'd stick with the deans/t-plug connectors to be honest, xt60 are a little too big. This one will work perfectly https://bit.ly/2TbnvrN. Please read up on parallel boards before using one though, cells need to be within about 0.1v before plugged into the same board. With that said they are very handy.

Definitely change one at a time. If you run into trouble and need to order parts you want to have one running and refer back to.

Reply
Stephen Leach
22/10/2020 03:21:55 pm

Thanks for the advice.

Mark
9/12/2020 04:42:16 am

NOOB Question. I'm looking for a charger to replace the small USB charger that came with RC kit. The battery(s) are SF1865ONRH 15, 7.4 1500mAH LiION. The batts have 2 connectors, one is a small 3 pin connector used by the USB charger, the second is a large T connector used to power the RC. My question is, if I buy the ISDT 608AC , I would need to also purchase an adapter to mate the T connector to the charger XT60 for charging, and then do I simply NOT connect anything to the small 3 pin connector ? Thanks

Reply
QuadifyRC
9/12/2020 09:39:06 am

Turns out you're not such a noob after all, you are dead right. The little 3 pin plug is called the balance connector. They are a common standard and will plug in directly to the charger.

The bigger (discharge) lead is where there is variation. Chargers commonly use XT60 and that batteries we use have a t-plug (also called Deans connector). You'll need this adaptor: https://bit.ly/3a1ofd1

Reply
Mark
10/12/2020 10:18:07 am

First of all thanks for the quick reply. I climbed the learning curve "after" I posted the question, what was confusing me was the balance connector and how its used on the larger multi cell batt packs. Very cool connector style in that one multi-pin receptacle can accept mating connectors of different pin counts, yet still keep it indexed in terms pin1, pin2, etc.....

QuadifyRC
10/12/2020 10:41:37 am

Hey Mark

Yep, The ISDT chargers are seriously smart. The D2 is my daily and I've done some stupid things trying to connect batteries when sleep deprived and the charger has warned me and told me off each time! So much useful information is easy to access with the clickwheel

Reply
Stephen Leach
16/12/2020 11:40:13 am

Hi Quadify,
Regarding Lipo batteries, common advice is to put it on a storage charge if you are not going to use them for a while. My question is how long can I keep them fully charged? if I am going to drive the next day can I charge them up and leave them over night? or is a week ok?

Thanks

Reply
QuadifyRC
9/3/2021 12:42:40 am

Sorry I missed this question but a week is fine @ storage charge

Reply
Hans
7/3/2021 05:26:54 am

Hi, unfortunately it is not possible to charge via the balanceplug only. I am asking my self why. I have a small battery for a plane and the small usb charger that came with it only charges via balance plug.
The connector for the main leads is some small connector i've never seen.
So right now i can not charge this battery with this charger :(

Reply
QuadifyRC
9/3/2021 12:46:11 am

This is typical of all decent lipo charges as a safety feature as the amount of current you can pass through as JST balance plug is very limited.

My recommendation would be to buy/make a a discharge adaptor otherwise you could modify a balance board to connect the discharge lead to the out balance plug leads. You'd need to know your stuff though as you are getting outside of the recommended operating parameters.

Reply
Eduardo
24/3/2021 10:27:02 am

Hi! After reading your review, went and bought it. My question is, how do I set it up to charge de WL 124109 battery? I keep getting an error message.

Reply
QuadifyRC
24/3/2021 10:58:02 am

Great, I think you'll live it. You need to plug the balance connector into the balance port and the battery into the xt60 discharge port via tplug to xt60 adaptor.

Reply
Eduardo
21/4/2021 11:41:11 am

I got the adaptor and once I try to start charging I get a "Abormal Battery Connection" message. Don't know what to do next. Hope you can help me figure it out. Thanks!

QuadifyRC
21/4/2021 01:38:11 pm

Unfortunately this is hard to tell without images. First I'd start with the instruction but if you are still confused you can put a post up on my facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/quadifyrc

Reply
Shahar
29/8/2021 06:29:57 am

Hi, I like the review, thank you. Would you consider the isdt D1 a better choice than the 608ac for a noob with only HBX 16889a Pro and currently 3 batteries which might grow to 5 , considering it cost only 10$ more?

Reply
QuadifyRC
31/8/2021 12:14:18 am

Hi Shahar

I'd go with the 608ac to be honest. The D1 can put more current through but this is only useful for really big batteries 1/8 scale and up. I was thinking the ISDT D2 is a good option for more batteries but even then I'd recommend 2 of these chargers over that

Reply
Shahar
30/8/2021 04:00:51 pm

There is another cheaper option - the isdt Q6 nano with toolkitrc power supply ADP100, this bundle cost about 10$ less than the 608, how do they compare?

Reply
QuadifyRC
31/8/2021 12:14:49 am

This over the Q6 nano, the integrated power supply makes it much tidier.

Reply
James
26/11/2021 02:20:52 pm

I have a 142018 ready for Christmas(first RC car) and i am now looking for a charger
I am trying to decide between the ISDT 608AC and a skyrc imax b6ac V2, neither of which need a power supply.
Which would you recommend?
Most chargers out there seem to cost more then i paid for the car.

Reply
QuadifyRC
29/11/2021 04:38:59 pm

I strongly recommend this one of the IMAX - the IMAX is very old technology. This one has a vastly better interface and safety features.

Reply
James
29/11/2021 04:47:09 pm

I went with the ISDT,
Both do 50W on AC, but the difference for me was the ability to go to 200W with a DC power supply on the 608AC.
If i ever want to get more serious i just need a new power supply, rather then a new changer.
The hard part is you cannot buy them in Australia. I have had to get it through Banggood. I am hoping all i have to do is salvage an old computer cable to get it working, because i have not seen the plug yet.

Iain Langley
23/2/2022 09:39:49 am

Hi,
Great review, thanks.

What about this one?
https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/product/skyrc-imax-b6-v2-charger/

Thanks
Iain

Mark
6/1/2022 07:01:30 am

Love your website !

I bought the ISDT 608AC on your recommendation.

Was working great. This morning plugged it in and nothing. I have tried switching the AC cord and nothing. Any suggestions ?


Thank you !

Reply



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