TEST BENCH – GensAce IMARS III PRO Smart Battery Charger

Features

The GensAce IMARS III PRO is a smart battery charger designed as an efficient and portable solution for charging many different types of RC batteries. The IMARS III PRO supports charging of LiPo, LiHV, LiFe and NiMH chemistries, with programmable charge and discharge settings and 12 individual saved profiles, allowing access to your most recent and regularly used settings with the touch of a button. The IMARS III PRO outputs up to a 10A charge at 100W and is capable of charging 1S to 6S LiPo packs and up to 26.4V 22S NiMH packs.

The IMARS III PRO also features a built-in discharger with a max discharge current of 1.5A. The housing is made from a high-strength, lightweight plastic material with a clean, glossy finish. The IMARS III PRO measures 146mm wide by 87mm deep and sits at a compact 40mm in height, or roughly 5.75 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches.

A folding stand sits underneath the charger and stows securely in place until needed. Rubber feet sit on the bottom corners of the charger, keeping the unit from slipping around. The control panel features a bright blue LCD screen and four touch-sensitive buttons. A USB power port at the charger’s side outputs up to 2.4A at 5V. The charger includes a Balance Adapter Board along with a few different charging leads with various connectors.

WHY PINK?

GensAce offers special wraps for the IMARS III PRO charger. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, we chose ours especially for this month’s issue. This one hit close to home for me personally, as I had an aunt who unfortunately is no longer with us due to complications from breast cancer. Though a simple wrap may not be helping to find the cure, it certainly helps to show solidarity with your fellow RC enthusiasts who have or may be going through similar struggles.

TESTING

GensAce designed the IMARS III PRO to be simple and easy to use, while outputting impressive charge performance. The unit itself is very lightweight while remaining sturdy, with a feeling of great quality. The rounded edges and sleek design are a nice break from the usual anodized aluminum cases you see on other chargers. The menu is simple and easy to navigate and only requires pressing a couple of buttons to set it up and start charging. We particularly like how easy it is to scroll through the 12 different presets, making it simple to queue the exact settings you need without having to dial them in every time.

Since the charger is fairly compact and weighs less than a pound, it’s very easy to handle and fits nicely into a pit box. It also sits perfectly on the home workbench without taking up too much space. The added hidden stand underneath is a nice extra feature that’s perfect for getting the bottom of the charger away from the surface of the table, giving it plenty of room for cooling.

Speaking of cooling, the internal micro fan is extremely quiet and does a great job of managing the charger’s internal temperature. Charging and discharging batteries is easy, with very little input required from the user. That being said, the IMARS III PRO still features plenty of capability to fine-tune settings so you can charge your batteries exactly how you’d like to. Overall, the GensAce IMARS III PRO is a great option for anyone looking for a new RC smart battery charger.

GensAce IMARS III PRO
Smart Battery Charger
SKU: GEA100WMPRO
MSRP: $59.99
genstattu.com

---

RC Products Tested & Evaluated
Text and Images by Lauren Short