Reedy 1416-C2L Dual AC/DC Competition Balance Charger
FEATURES
Reedy’s 1416-C2L Balance charger is designed and optimized for use with all modern lithium battery chemistries including Lipo, LIHV, Li-ion, and Life from
1S to 6S sizes. The 1416-C2L features dual 130W channels with a max charge output of
14A and discharge of up to 2A. The charger can be powered by either 100-240V AC or 11-18V DC power sources. A bright backlit LCD screen is accompanied by easy-to-read control buttons on the face of the charger.
The 1416-C2L’S case is made from aluminum with highstrength plastic sides for durability and comes with antislip rubber feet on the bottom. The 1416-C2L comes preprogrammed with a 1S balance mode and features a handy 1-cell NIMH igniter mode for Nitro enthusiasts. Other notable features include a DC power supply function, a heavy-duty cooling fan, and a convenient 5V/2.1A USB charge port on the side. Charge cables and balance plug boards are included along with an AC power cord and an XT60 to 4mm bullet lead DC power cable.
TESTING
My initial impression of the Reedy 1416-C2L was that it feels well-built.
The aluminum chassis is solid, yet lightweight, and I appreciate the addition of the plastic sides for the sake of comfort when handling the charger. The little rubber feet on the bottom are a nice additional touch that not only keep it in place on my table, but also elevate the charger a bit from the table surface, which helps with cooling. The charge and balance ports are easily accessible at the front, along with a micro-usb port for firmware updates.
I found the backlit LCD screen easy to read, and the menus intuitive and simple to navigate. It’s worth noting that the 1416-C2L is designed specifically for lithium chemistry batteries, so aside from its 1-cell NIMH igniter mode the charger is only meant for use with lithium chemistry types. Truth be told, I use lithium batteries almost exclusively these days so not having the NIMH function is perfectly acceptable, especially if it means the charger performs better and is more streamlined. I should also mention that for a 2-channel charger the 1416-C2L is relatively compact, measuring about 6 inches long by 6 inches wide and standing a little less than 3 inches high, the perfect size for my pit box.
Charging a battery was quick to set up and start. I appreciate that all the options including End Voltage are right on the screen when inputting charge settings, rather than being buried deep inside a settings menu that may be harder to access. There are also 10 customizable profiles, so I was able to store my settings for different batteries and access them as needed, a very handy function for charging all the different size lithium batteries in my collection.
This attention to the small details and the overall user experience are what really helps the Reedy 1416-C2L stand above the rest of the chargers on the market. It has a very streamlined menu system, and its optimized processor and software make it very precise. Combined with the updatable firmware, the 1416-C2L is both userfriendly and future-proof. It’s also worth noting that the charger never reached any type of crazy temperature when back-to-back charging and discharging batteries, so the heavyduty cooling fan is definitely doing its job.
Beyond the standard charger functions, the 1416-C2L comes with some nice creature comforts that can make long days at the track even nicer. The DC Power Supply mode is a great feature for powering pit lights and other small accessories when at the track and the handy 5V/2.1A USB port on the side was great for charging my phone. I also like that the DC input port on the 1416-C2L is set up for an XT60 to 4mm bullet lead cable, so you can easily tap into an external power supply if you have one set up. This solid list of features along with the excellent user experience make the Reedy 1416-C2L a great charger option for both casual RC hobbyists and performance racers alike.