On this evaluation I’ll try the VIFLY ToothStor 2S LiPo charger. This charger boasts user-friendly options, portability, and the reliability anticipated from VIFLY’s respected lineup. Excellent for FPV pilots largely flying 2S FPV drones, the ToothStor guarantees to make charging extra environment friendly.
What’s the ToothStor Charger?
The Vifly ToothStor is a specialised charger that caters completely to 2S LiPo batteries.
Its design is tailor-made primarily for batteries geared up with BT3.0 connectors – on the time of writing, solely BetaFPV affords these batteries. See my submit about what BT3.0 is: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-bt3-0-connector/. Be aware that the ToothStor additionally accommodates regular 2S batteries with commonplace stability leads (XH2.54), and conveniently eliminating the necessity to join the XT30 discharge lead.
Admittedly, its unique assist for 2S batteries could seem restrictive when in comparison with a standard good charger that usually helps 1S to 6S batteries. Nonetheless, the ToothStor’s capacity to cost 4 batteries concurrently makes up for this limitation by providing a extra environment friendly charging expertise. For drone pilots who primarily fly 2S, this charger could possibly be an enormous time-saver within the discipline.
Now, let’s get into the evaluation.
The place to Purchase?
The Vifly ToothStor charger is on the market for buy on AliExpress: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_DDvdcO1.
When you want to energy this charger by way of USB-C, it’s best to think about getting an influence adapter like this, Anker 65W: https://amzn.to/3VE3yro.
The bundle features a easy guide and a USB-C cable that powers the charger and in addition for firmware updates.
Function Highlights
- 4 Particular person Charging Ports: Concurrently stability cost as much as 4 2S batteries, not like parallel charging, there’s no have to match the voltages or capacities of the batteries.
- Colourful LCD Display screen with Intuitive Interface: Outfitted with colour LCD display screen, the ToothStor shows charging statuses with readability, providing a user-friendly expertise.
- Compatibility with XH2.54 and BT3.0 Batteries: Cater to a variety of 2S batteries, making certain broad compatibility.
- Environment friendly Warmth Dissipation: A mixture of a fan and a big warmth sink effectively dissipates warmth, enhancing the charger’s efficiency and pace.
- Versatile Energy Enter Choices: The charger helps a number of energy inputs, together with XT60 and Sort-C with PD3.0.
- Handy Reminiscence Perform: The ToothStor remembers your final used settings, streamlining the setup course of for subsequent charging classes.
- Buzzer Notifications: The built-in buzzer notifies you when a charging cycle is full, which you’ll disable for those who desire a quieter surroundings.
Specs
- Enter Connectors: XT60, DC (5.5 x 2.1 mm), USB-C (PD3.0)
- Enter Voltage Vary: 10V-26V
- Minimal Enter Energy: 65W
- Most Charging Present: 1.5A per port
- Supported Battery Connectors: XH2.54 3Pin & BT3.0
- Battery Sorts: LiHV / LiPo
- Storage Voltages: 3.80V/Cell & 3.85V/Cell
- Most Discharge Present: 0.2A per port
- Stability Present: 0.2A
- Dimensions: 109 x 56 x 30 mm
- Weight:
142g143.3g
Construct High quality
The ToothStor’s casing is strong, inheriting its construct high quality from the WhoopStor sequence. Having used VIFLY’s chargers for the previous few years, their reliability has been constant – they merely work with out fuss. And the ToothStor continues this custom, performing reliably throughout my assessments.
It affords compatibility with the generally used XH 2.45 3-pin connectors (stability lead), in addition to with the newer BT3.0 connectors from BetaFPV.
Versatility in Energy Choices
The place the ToothStor actually stands out is in its energy versatility. The inclusion of an XT60 connector permits for a broad enter vary, from a 2S to a 6S battery. For these with entry to a PD energy supply, the USB-C enter is a handy function carried over from the WhoopStor V3. The power to energy from a USB energy financial institution is a big plus, particularly for pilots who have to cost their batteries in varied places.
Consumer Expertise: Charging Made Easy
Utilizing the ToothStor was a breeze. The person interface, managed by simply two buttons, is intuitive, even for rookies. Right here’s the guide, however I didn’t even want it.
When connecting batteries, every port accepts both a BT3.0 or an XH2.54 connector (stability lead). To keep up security and keep away from the dangers related to parallel charging, just one sort of connector must be used per port.
The 4 charging channels function independently, which is a big benefit. This lets you cost batteries with totally different voltages and capacities concurrently, a function not usually potential with parallel charging. Whereas the channels share the identical finish voltage and cost present settings, which might’t be adjusted individually, this shared setting does streamline the charging course of.
Biking by means of the top voltage per cell is finished by urgent the best button, providing 4 choices:
Choosing the present is simply as easy, with choices biking from 0.2A as much as 1.5A. If you want to lower the present, it requires biking as much as the utmost first after which again all the way down to the minimal setting. If you want to cut back the cost present, I like to recommend stopping all 4 channels and restarting the method to set the specified present.
To begin or cease charging, lengthy press the left button. Upon beginning the cost, the cooling fan kicked in after a couple of minute or two, it’s comparatively quiet in comparison with good chargers this measurement.
A built-in buzzer alerts when the cost cycle begins and ends, however it may be turned off for those who desire a silent operation. To mute/unmute the charger, lengthy press the best button.
Limitations and Issues
When charging on the ToothStor’s most present of 1.5A throughout all channels, the charger attracts an enter energy of 56W, contemplating losses. To make sure security and optimum efficiency, Vifly recommends utilizing a 65W energy adapter. For these trying to make the most of the USB-C energy choice, a sturdy energy adapter, such because the Anker 65W, is advisable, get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VE3yro.
The charger additionally features a discharging function, which turns out to be useful for taking totally charged batteries to a storage cost. The discharging fee is considerably gradual at solely 0.2A, however provided that 2S batteries usually have a decrease capability, it’s not that dangerous. As an instance, discharging a 2S 450mAh battery to three.80V from a full cost would take beneath an hour, and you are able to do 4 batteries directly.
There’s, nonetheless, a minor discrepancy with the accuracy in reaching the focused finish voltage. In my expertise, when discharging to three.85V, the method stops with the cells at about 3.87V to three.88V. Equally, when charging to 4.20V, the charger tends to cease prematurely at roughly 4.19V. The identical occurs to all ports. Whereas it’s not essentially a security concern—because it doesn’t result in overcharging—the precision might sure profit from some enchancment.
Voltage Accuracy
I examined the charger’s accuracy with a calibrated multimeter. The outcomes have been passable, displaying nice consistency between the charger’s readings and the digital multimeter.
| Supply | Charger Report | DDM |
|---|---|---|
| Port1 Cell1 | 4.19 | 4.191 |
| Port1 Cell2 | 4.18 | 4.186 |
| Port2 Cell1 | 4.19 | 4.191 |
| Port2 Cell2 | 4.18 | 4.186 |
| Port3 Cell1 | 4.19 | 4.191 |
| Port3 Cell2 | 4.18 | 4.186 |
| Port4 Cell1 | 4.19 | 4.191 |
| Port4 Cell2 | 4.18 | 4.186 |
The slight discrepancies are negligible, reassuring me of the charger’s voltage accuracy.
Closing Ideas
The VIFLY ToothStor can be a useful device for many who fly 2S FPV drones, particularly for those who use BT3.0 batteries. Its capacity to cost a number of 2S batteries concurrently and individually, coupled with the benefit of use and a number of energy enter choices, makes it a standout product.
You should purchase the Vifly ToothStor charger by means of AliExpress: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_DDvdcO1.
Nonetheless it’s a distinct segment product – it doesn’t assist some other batteries besides 2S. It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer, however it doesn’t goal to be. Vifly isn’t attempting to reinvent the wheel with this product. As an alternative, they’re refining it, making certain that charging 2S batteries is as clean and environment friendly as potential.
