Review: LRP Quadra Pro 2 Charger

There are four major types of batteries in our industry right now; NiCds, NiMhs, LiPos and LiFes. Any charger worth the packaging it comes in will be able to at least charge these battery types. So what makes one charger different than the rest? I would suspect ease of use and overall appeal…and that brings me to LRP’s Quadra Pro 2.

The Quadra Pro 2 has similar features to all the other professional battery management systems out there. It can charge, discharge and cycle NiCd, NiMh, LiPo and LiFe batteries. It can handle up to a 14-cell NiMh/NiCd or a 5-cell Lipo/LiFe battery. Charge amperage rings in at 0.1 – 5.0 amps. It even has a built in power supply and 2S-5S balance port. What sets the Quadra Pro 2 is the two things I mentioned before; ease of use and overall appeal.

The Quadra Pro 2 is a good looking unit. The case is made of heavy duty blue and black plastic and feels solid. A small digital readout screen and 4 function buttons are mounted on top surrounded by a shiny aluminum faceplate. On the right side of the unit there is the built-in balance port and output sockets (the Quadra includes output leads with alligator clips). Plug it in and you are greeted with a short welcome tone and a cool looking blue-backlit display with the words P1 MENU Charge. Pressing the Menu button will cycle you through the different functions of the charger, ie, Charge, Discharge, Cycling, Balance and Settings. At any time you can press the Start/Stop button to edit or engage this mode, ie, press Menu to cycle to Balance and then press Start/Stop to start the process. Forward to the Settings mode and you can modify the Quadra’s settings, including Battery Type, Charge Current, LiPo Volt, and Discharge. At this point I modified the settings on the QP2 to what I needed to charge my 4S LiPo pack. Once completed, I clicked the Menu button over to the Charge mode and hit Start. In about five minutes of pulling it out of its box, the Quadra Pro 2 was peacefully humming its way to a charged pack…all without reading one word of the instructions.

So, are there any downsides to this excellent charger? Well, a small one. While the QP2 did top off my 4S pack in a reasonable time (at 4amps, about 45 minutes), I had to find the correct balance plug for it first. The Quadra’s balance port is set up for an EHR connector, something none of my batteries had. A quick call over to Team Associated and they had an external balance board in my hands and ready to go. As usual, AE’s Customer Service is among the best!

Among the chargers on the market today, the Quadra Pro 2 is by far one of the easiest to use. It’s simple menu system and lack of over-complicated options makes it a winner with bashers and racers alike.

The Facts
• Battery Type NiCd, NiMh, LiPo, LiFePo
• Cell Count 1-14 NiCd, NiMh, 1-5 LiPo, LiFePo
• Balancer Built-in
• Charge Rate 0.1 to 5.0A
• User Profile Memory 3
• LCD Display Backlit
• AC Power Supply Internal

Links
LRP (Distributed by Team Associated) www.RC10.com (949) 544-7500