ISDT P20 Unboxing and In-Depth Review. This thing is small and mighty!

[@stubanshuberi8793]

Very good and thorough review of the ISDT P20, loved the flight video at the end as well....I hope your videos get the views and likes 👍🏾 it deserves and maybe a sponsorship from ISDT 🔥

[@JoshMoenheli]

Thank you! This charger is not talked about a whole lot and it's really under-rated. It's a very capable little charger if your are on a budget.

[@qroadrunner1996]

Awesomeness Josh great video

[@koldo19]

Excelent video and review..! Keep going. I agree with you, ISDT devices are under-rated.

[@JoshMoenheli]

Thank you! Not too sure what I want to review next.

[@sokolum]

Awesome review, thank you.

[@trexn8]

Nice flying Josh!

[@JoshMoenheli]

Thanks Nate! When are we going to get out flying together again??

[@vaamorais]

Hi great review! Landed on the video for the charger and stayed hooked till the end just to watch those amazing stunt flying. Maybe you could help with a couple of queries My current need is to charge 2 batteries at the same time (2S 4400mah maximum at a maximum of 3C). 1- At home what power supply would you recommend? 2- In the field (without mains supply) what's the best way to charge these batteries say about 4 times? Would be great to have your take on this.

[@JoshMoenheli]

Hi Vitor, for 2s packs you can get by just fine with a 12v power supply. I use server power supplies like these: www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=HP+DPS1200-FB&_sacat=0&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=3000%7C2500 They typically cost around $50USD to as much as $100USD. I then trick them into turning on and outputting 12v. This mod is widely done and easy to do if only going 12v. To do 24v it's a little more work but not that bad. You can also get breakout boards that do the mod and give you terminal outputs. If you want a ready to go solution check these out: www.buddyrc.com/collections/power-supply/products/ep-buddy-900w-75a-12v-server-power-supply?variant=30274505506902. For a in the field solution I'd just charge off a 12v deep cycle battery or a vehicle battery. I hope this helps!

[@nickthenorse]

Just picked up a new P20 charger. I am new to ISDT, but I’ve got a PowerLab 8 and a couple of classic 4-button iChargers. Do you find that the "constant voltage" termination stage at the end of a LiPo charge seems too short? The charger stops charging not long after reaching 4.20 V, as if the CV stage is programmed to not last long enough (or rather, the termination current is set too high). The result is that the full expected capacity isn't being put back into the lipo, and as soon as I pull it off the charger it falls down to a voltage of 4.14-4.15 V. The exact same lipo is at 4.19 V resting after coming off my iChargers or PowerLab chargers. On both of those you can manually choose the CV termination current, be it C/5, C/10, or C/20.

[@zimscubasteve]

Hi Josh. Thanks for the great review. I might have missed you covering this part, but I'm trying to find out if this is able to charge a 24v battery bank, off of a 12v power supply? Drawing high amps from the 12v is not an issue for me, I have a 12v 100A power supply. I just want to make sure this can charge my new 6s packs, without having to get a 24v power supply. Basically, do you know if it is okay with "bucking" the voltage up from 12v to 24v? Thanks very much for your help and expertise. Cheers and keep up the good work, Steve.

[@macr88]

I’m not 100% sure about this charger but I would assume yes since it charges 6s batteries. My Q8 does this and so does my P30.

[@jozafax]

Great video!

[@techforeveryone6048]

you need higher volt power supply because amp input limit from the charger

[@bobadingo]

That's really too bad it doesn't have programmable memory slots for all your different battery types.. .

[@roberttruesdell6151]

Great review! Off topic question. What is the Ryobi Generator I seen in your truck?

[@JoshMoenheli]

Hi Robert. I'm glad you liked the review. I use the generator to run my charging power supplies at the field. By doing this, I can run 4 ports at 10a each and never be waiting for packs to charge to fly. I can fly back to back all day!

[@roberttruesdell6151]

@@JoshMoenheli yeah but which generator is it? I’m looking to get one for the same reason.

[@roberttruesdell6151]

Was looking at the Ryobi 2000watt/1600watt

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@roberttruesdell6151 I've had my 2300 for almost a year and it's been a solid performer! Can't go wrong.

[@stubanshuberi8793]

Now I can’t decide on the p30 or the p20 they are both good but probably will get the p30🤦🏾‍♂️ great video 👍🏾

[@JoshMoenheli]

That's understandable. What batteries are you planning on charging? 6s 5000? 4s 3300? Also do you want to charge at 2c, 3c? And do you want to parallel charge anything. With that info I can break it down and help you make a better, more informed and educated decision.

[@stubanshuberi8793]

@@JoshMoenheli well I have some 6s 5000mah HRB and a couple of 4s 5000mah HRB as well as some 1500mah and 1000mah HRB and some 850mah but for me mainly the balance capabilities and accuracy are more important then anything else...I have bought chargers that take forever to balance battery cell and I am willing to spend more for the best capabilities...I never charge more than 1C but I also charge many batteries 🔋 at one time....I just purchased the iCharger 4010 duo because I was told it is the best but my second charger I would like it to be the P30....right now I have 2 HTRC t240 duo touch screen charger and they have a max of 10amp per channel and 1 charger no longer can do the full 10amps....I purchased 2 1200watt power server supplies for the iCharger 4010 and I just finished installing a 30amp 240volt outlet to get the full 100amp 1200watts the power supplies can do I will be running them in series for 24volt....I also like the connectors you use they remind me of the xt150 being able to connect batteries in series parallel without having to use a y l-adapter

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@stubanshuberi8793 I had a 4010 for a little while then I downsized to the 308 duo and I've been using it for years. The P20 would be sufficient for what you're telling me but here is some theoretical math that may have you getting a P30. To charge 1 6s 5k at 1c(5a) you need 126w, to charge it at 2c(10a) you need 252w. Both of which the P20 is capable of doing whilst still having some overhead. However, if you ever wanted to charge 2 6s 5k packs in parallel, that is where the P20 will fall short and here's why. To charge 2 6s 5k packs at 1c(10a) you still only need 252w but if you go now to 2c(20a) you need 504w and while the P20 is capable of 500w max from a single port you can't do that from both because the charger is limited to 800w total output. In the video I did this test and when I did it as a "dual task" it limits the output to 400w per port. Now lets talk about the P30, taking the same 2 6s 5k packs in parallel from the last example, the P30 will limit out around 29.7 amps. Taking into account that the TOTAL output of the P30 is 1500w with a max of 1000w from the ports although not at the same time, I would guess that the charger will divide that power equally between the ports(750w for each) if you are doing a "dual task" charge. I would probably go with the P30 as it does a lot you more room to grow if you ever went up to 7s or 8s packs. Also, right now I can't find P20 chargers but the P30s are still available on Amazon. I hope this helps!

[@stubanshuberi8793]

@@JoshMoenheli yes very helpful thanks for your insight on this matter 👌🏾

[@TPA_JW]

Josh, GREAT in-depth video. I am getting back into RC after about a decade break. lol. Well, a lot has changed. I am going to mostly run 10th or 8th scale trucks/buggies out on our property. I am in the market to purchase a charger and based on this review, it looks like I am torn between the P20 and the P30. Because of the extra power you get from DC, I have purchased a 400W 24v PS (www.readymaderc.com/products/details/rmrc-400w-24v-power-supply-xt60). I can return it or buy another one if you think it will not work for what I am looking to do. My goals are as follows: I will be mostly running 2s and 3s 5200mAh batteries. I love the dual ports and the fact that both of the P20 and P30 are capable of syncro parallel charging the choice for me is hard. I also have purchased a balance board to speed up the charging time. I plan to have about 6 packs total. Will the PS I purchased provide enough power to parallel charge my packs on one port (matched type packs) and charge another on the other port, or would I have to always use the syncro parallel charging feature? Would a higher Watt rated PS be better to feed either the P20 or P30 charger for my needs? Thank you again...off to watch your review on the P30! I guess the biggest delimna I have is if the charger can NOT provide enough power to parallel charge (3) 5200mAh batters to get at least 1C, would it be better to charge at higher rate on 2 individual ports. Lots of questions....

[@JoshMoenheli]

I'll do my best to answer your questions. For your first question of if your power supply is large enough, for the batteries that you listed and what you want to achieve, your power supply will do it but it is running at about 80% depending on the efficiency of the supply. If it were me, I'd be looking into a 700-1000w server power supply like the HP 750w or an HP DPS1200. These are cheap and easily converted to run in series. Now I'll give you the numbers. A 2s pack is 8.4v and a 3s pack is 12.6v fully charged. With that in mind, here we go. First let's start with the packs individually, to charge a 2s 5200mAh pack at 1c you'll need about 44w of power. For the 3s 5200mAh pack you'll need around 66w of power. To charge 3 of the 2s packs in parallel you'll need roughly 131w and to charge 3 of the 3s packs you'll need about 197w. So running both channels with 3 packs each at 1c your power supply needs to put out 300-375w without fail. Now, here is why I suggest upgrading your power supply. If you wanted to charge any of your packs at 2c which is totally safe and doesn't harm the batteries, your 2s now needs 88w and the 3s needs 131w. Right there you're looking at 220w. To take this a step further if you wanted to charge 2c in parallel, 3 packs per port the 2s packs need a total of 262w and the 3s packs need 393w for a total of 655w. Now to answer the question of P20 or P30. If you wanted to charge 3 5200mAh packs at 2c in parallel which would be at 31.2a, neither charger will allow for it because of the 20 and 30 amp limits, however the P30 would be a better fit for what you wanted to do. With the higher output wattage the P30 will also give you more room to grow if you decided to get larger packs or higher cell count. ***Disclaimer time, all the above math is theoretical if we were in a perfect world.*** I hope this helps! Good Luck! Heli Direct has the P30 available: www.helidirect.com/products/isdt-p30-1000wx2-30ax2-dual-port-8s-battery-charger-discharger-high-power-snychronous-bluetooth-battgo

[@TPA_JW]

@@JoshMoenheli Thank you Josh! I ended up going with the P30 AND I have (2) HP 1200W PS's and plan to convert them to a single 24V 1200W PS. REALLY looking forward to the project

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@TPA_JW Very good! Let me know if you need help with the conversion. I can't tell you how many I've done! lol

[@TPA_JW]

@@JoshMoenheli I appreciate that! I have watched a few videos...seems pretty straightforward. I just don't want to get shocked by any of the capacitors. ;)

[@jamair31]

If I left the charger configured for dual port parallel charger (both sides linked), will it remember that as I hook up a battery again so I don’t have to go through the both button hold menu each time?

[@JoshMoenheli]

No it won’t. To access the parallel task menu you have to hold both buttons. Although it retains the charge info so you don’t have to enter that again, just hold both buttons, select the parallel task, select start and you’re off and running.

[@PiTeRtrs]

I'm fairly new to all of this. I recently received my ISDT P20, which has an XT60 port for input. How can I connect it to a power socket? What type of adapter should I purchase? Thank you!

[@JoshMoenheli]

It depends. What is your power source? Car battery or dc power supply or something else?

[@PiTeRtrs]

@@JoshMoenheli DC power. Just a regular socket

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@PiTeRtrs Then you need to make an adapter to go from XT60 to what your power supply uses.

[@ndubay]

Ayye man i just purchased this p20 and I’m looking to charge 2 4s lipo or 2 3s lipo and i was just wondering what you suggest to use as a power supply

[@JoshMoenheli]

@Ndubay, for 3s and 4s packs a normal 12v power supply will work just fine. Try the HP DPS1200-FB server supply. You can mod them VERY easily to work for hobby use. Stay tuned as I have a video coming out that goes over how to mod them for hobby use as well as how to safely connect them in series.

[@sten6537]

I'm thinking of getting a new charger (also for in the field, that's why the dual function is ideal). But I cant decide between P20 and K2, Do you have any adivce? They look so similar.

[@JoshMoenheli]

@Sten To answer this question properly I need to know a few things. 1. What cell count and capacity batteries are you charging? 2. Do you have a DC power source, if yes what is it? 2. What is your charging source in the field? Let's start there.

[@sten6537]

@@JoshMoenheli Hi, thanks for your reply. At home I have a AC power supply that delivers DC power. In the field I will use a DC field Lipo or Li-ion pack. I will charge 6S lipo's with around 1300MAH, nothing spectacular. I just can't find the big differences between those chargers. Hmmm.. What's your advice. Is one better then the other?

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@sten6537 Since you have DC power sources already figured out then I would go with the P20. It's a more powerful charger and will suit you well. The K2 can run either ac or dc but I never have liked the chargers that have this feature. They always end up running at about half to 2/3 capability when running on ac. They are good for the people that don't have DC power sources available to them. If I were in your shoes, I'd go with the P20. I hope this helps and good luck!!

[@sten6537]

@@JoshMoenheli Thanks!! One more question. Does this mean that you can plug a simple cable from the wall into the K2 since there is an build in PSU inside?

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@sten6537 that is correct. You can plug it directly to a wall outlet OR plug it into a power supply.

[@mohammedal-jifry5811]

I hope you can answer me on that cuz I can't decide.. Between "Q8 Max" and "P20" witch one you prefer? and why?

[@JoshMoenheli]

Good question as they are very different chargers. The Q8 Max is a single port 1000w monster and the P20 is a dual port 800w charger. If you're looking at charging a lot of high capacity 6s batteries in parallel then the Q8 Max would be the one to look at. I for one am not a fan of parallel charging so I opt for multiple charging ports and charge packs individually thus eliminating the potential of a batteries failing prematurely. If you're looking to charge multiple packs of different cell counts then the P20 would be a better option because it has dual ports. You can still parallel charge on each of the P20's ports but you are a little more limited by the lower output wattage. I was able to top out the P20 with two 6s 5000mAh packs per channel. I set the current to 20a on both channels and it topped out around 17.5a because the charger ran out of available wattage. To put that in comparison, with the Q8 Max I could theoretically charge four 6s packs at an amperage of 30a which is about 1.5c and be using about 750w. If we up the cell count to 7s, you'll be around 882w. More wattage ultimately means more horsepower. All of this also relies on the input power source. In order to get any of the charge rates I'm talking about the charger will need a 24vdc power supply that outputs 200+ watts over the charger rating. I'm not too sure what packs you want to charge or how fast but I hope this helps. If you tell me what you're charging and how fast you want to go I could help drill down the determining factors.

[@mohammedal-jifry5811]

@@JoshMoenheli man you are the best!! I'm actually most likely charge my batteries individually on 1C or 2C maximum cuz i believe it's the best way and I parallel only my old batteries.. I'm using mostly 3S and 4S batteries and just a couple of 6S that around 4 Amps capacity.. i believe from what i understand for individual charging method the P20 is the way to go right? And mostly I'm going to need a 600~700W DC power supply to get 500W on each port or 800W in parallel.. Or do i need around 1200W for the P20?

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@mohammedal-jifry5811 If you're charging individually then I would go for the P20. If you're charging 3-4s packs it will go a long way for you. To power the P20 you'll want something that is at least 900-1000w so that you have some overhead available. It's never a good idea to max out your power source as it can lead to premature failure over time. I power all my chargers with a pair of HP DPS-1200FB server power supplies in series. They provide 24vdc and 1200 watts of power! These are inexpensive and with a few simple mods they will provide years of trouble free service!

[@mohammedal-jifry5811]

@@JoshMoenheli I'm sorry i ask a lot of questions but i really appreciate your kindness for replies.. i have found HP power supply available but only 750W and another one 1200W which one should i use for the P20? But i saw that the power supply output is 12V 62A.. and the maximum input in the p20 should be less than 34V 35A so i got confused.. And one last thing let's say that i got less amount of wattage like 500w is it just gonna limit the charger power or it could do some damage to it? Cuz as i said i mostly using 3~4s batteries so i believe 500w power supply is enough to get 200w on each port right? And 200w is more than enough for 4S's?

[@JoshMoenheli]

@@mohammedal-jifry5811 No worries on asking questions. The more educated you can be on charging the more likely you are to no over-buy on a charger. I see this happen so much, someone decides to buy a 2000+ watt charger to charge the 3-4s drone racer batteries and they could've saved some money on the charger to put to more batteries or another bird. On the power supplies, I've only ever modded and used the 1200w supplies so I am not too sure if the 750w supplies would mod the same way so for that reason alone I would go for the 1200w. By doing so you will also put yourself in a little better position should you decide to add another charger to your kit. The "Max" input amperage of the P20 is really not a number to be that concerned about. The power supplies will only output what the charger is asking for. The fact that the charger only has a max input of 35a just means you can run of them off that power supply. Just remember to get the max output the charger is capable of you'll need 2 power supplies running in series to get yourself 25ish volts. I can't really answer the question of is 200w enough for 4s without knowing the pack capacities. However, you said earlier that you are charging 4ah packs so I will use that for my example. A fully charged Lipo cell is 4.2v per cell x 4 cells =16.8v for a fully charged 4s pack. If you want to charge this pack at 1c then you have a 4a charge rate, so we take 4a x 16.8v = 67.2watts and at 2c; 8a x 16.8v = 134 watts. Let's take this a step further and talk about the 6s 4ah packs. A fully charged 6s pack is 25.2v so if you want to charge a 4ah, 6s pack at 1c; 4 x 25.2v = 101watts and at 2c; 8a x 25.2v = 202watts. Take into account that this math is based on fully charged packs and the wattage needed will vary a little depending on the state of charge of the packs. But in reality if you are charging 4ah packs at 1-2c per port your looking at 200-400ish watts. So yes a 500w supply would probably cover you if this is what you are looking to do.

[@christophercarter3880]

Does this model support Bluetooth connectivity?

[@JoshMoenheli]

No it does not. The only charger that supports bluetooth is the P30.

[@hittingbricks6398]

Can u charge with a car battery?

[@JoshMoenheli]

Yes you can, however the lower input voltage won't allow the charge to work at it's full potential. Depending on what you are charging this may or may not be an issue.

[@Bill14886]

The music in the background is annoying ! You might want to make sure you dump that idea in the future videos. It’s like having a kid in the background screaming . Making me move on to another channel.