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Like you guys most of our rc stuff comes from China or other parts of Asia. The quality on a lot of it is pretty good and the prices seem reasonable as well. Here is an example, I bought this charger on a local auction site for US$72 and the battery for US$60, I normally buy my rc stuff off ebay or tower if I really have to. What I want to know is do you guys think that this is value for money....here are the specs:
Charger:
iMAX B6 PRO Digital multi charger, Li-Po balancer, cycle charger and discharger.

This iMax B6 Pro Charger comes in its original box with its cable's and manual and registration authentication serial card due to some manufacturers making fake imax chargers.

Specifications:

Operating voltage range C11~18 Volt

Power required (to operate) DC11.0 ~18.0V/5A

These have clips to attach to a 12V car battery or an additional power socket for a mains power adapter

Circuit power:
Max. charge power 5 Amps
Max. discharge power 1 Amps
Discharge current range:0.1-1.0A
Current drain for balancing Lipo:300mAh/cell
NiCd/ NiMH battery cell count:1-15cell
Ii-ion/ Polymer cell count:1-6 series
Pb battery voltage:2V-20V

These chargers are suitable for the align balance ports, jst-xh (1 to 6 Cell)

Will charge :-

NiCd, NiMH, Li-ion, LiPo, LiFe, Pb (Lead-acid) batteries.

And the battery specs:
Continuous discharge rate: 30C
Burst Rate : 40C
Capacity: 5200mah
Voltage: 7.4v
Cells : 2
Size : 137mm * 42mm * 22.5mm
Weight: 273g

I was looking into the lipo balance chargers a while back. The b-6 is a copy of another charger, there are actually several of the clones. The original charger was made by Bantam and is at least twice the price of what you paid. There are lots of reports of poor quality control with the made in China clones. but many people seem to be using them without a problem.

If you google imax and b6 you will find lots of forum threads about them and the clone issue.
edit, see here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=97bd35d75faebbe3281732e220cf0062&t=746574

and here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825183

for examples

I have an earlier blue alloy cased B6, had it for a year at least, charged heli lipos boat lipos, nimhs rx humps, and my 4100 lipos, never put a foot wrong, there are £7 mains adapters on ebay for them, I use one with no issues

In use

I have an earlier blue alloy cased B6, had it for a year at least, charged heli lipos boat lipos, nimhs rx humps, and my 4100 lipos, never put a foot wrong, there are £7 mains adapters on ebay for them, I use one with no issues

In use

(rubs eyes) a friend of mine has had one for 3 years now and he says it works fine..so for the money I thought it was worth a chance..thanks guys