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| Issue 133 (December 2006) |
Words: Derek Buono |
Every so often we get "All-in-one"-type chargers that claim to do
everything: charge, discharge, cycle, power comm lathes, and so on for
all types of batteries. For this scope we'll be taking a look at MRC's
new Super Brain 989 Competition Elite. This multi-function unit claims
to do all of the above, for practically anything you may need to
charge. The feature list is long, so before testing let's take a look
at what the 989 offers.
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Features
• Charge/discharge 1-25 NiCd / NiMh cells, 1-8 LiPo cells, 1-4 Lead-acid or Gel cells
• 0.1-10amp charge/discharge rates
• Adjustable peak sensitivity / cutoff voltage per cell
• 24 battery profile memory storage
• Auto-cycle mode with adjustable cycle # and delay
• Adjustable trickle charge cutoff / temperature cutoff
• Motor break-in / power supply mode 1-30v/10a max
• AC/DC operation
• LCD digital display and audible confirmation beeps
The 989 is MRC's flagship charger in the "Super Brain" series and comes
as two separate enclosures. The charger (5.5" square x 3" tall)
connects to the power supply (about 6.5" x 3.25" x 2.5") through banana
plugs but can be used in the field with the included 12v alligator clip
attachments. On the output side, the charger has plugs that accept the
temperature probe, battery plug with Tamiya-style connector, or battery
plug with alligator clips. Both the charger and power supply have
automatic temperature-controlled cooling fans, and the 989's "power
supply" mode can be used to run other devices such as a comm lathe.
Both units have a good heft to them--nothing feels cheap or hacked
together.
Testing
With all the features listed, there are basically four modes to choose
from: charge, discharge, cycle, and power supply mode. Five soft-touch
buttons on the face of the unit provide user input, and a large LCD
screen provides visual feedback. The instruction manual was a little
sparse, but after a few seconds of pushing the buttons on the charger,
it was apparent that I wouldn't really need instructions. The LCD
screen walks you through any of the numerous functions, using easy to
read static text prompts. There's even a battery icon on the upper
right corner that shows battery capacity--great for checking the status
of your charge/discharge at a glance.
Within seconds I was cycling a NiMH pack (to test both charge and
discharge features) and the 989 did everything automatically. During
the 10A discharge portion, I noticed that the 989's case got up to
about 109-degrees, but the built-in fan was doing its job, pushing hot
air out of the vents on top of the charger case. I also charged up a
LiPo pack with ease, as basically all I had to do was tell the 989 what
type of battery it was, and the 989 did the rest. After the charging
tests, I switched to power supply mode and tried running a comm. lathe
off the 989's outputs. Output voltage can be adjusted on the fly, and
you can also set the 989 to turn the voltage off at a user-selected
time limit (great for motor break-in). The LCD screen showed output
voltage and amperage in real-time, and was accurate (as confirmed by a
separate voltmeter).
Conclusion
All in all, the MRC Super Brain 989 meets all expectations. It is
really easy to use, and the informative LCD display leaves no questions
when you're working with your batteries. I like how you can use it to
power comm. lathes and tire truers straight from the 989. The
quick-view battery icon is another plus. If you're looking to upgrade
to a reliable, feature-packed combo-unit, the 989 from MRC is hard to
pass on. |
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HITS
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• Excellent all-in-one battery unit
• Informative LCD is confusion-free
• AC Power supply stays home when
not needed
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MISSES
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• Doesn't look "high-tech" enough
• No profile naming
• A little bulky when transporting both units
MANUFACTURER: MRC
PART NUMBER(S): RB989
STREET PRICE: 170
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