For an "after flight" voltage read out. A lot of us use the Hitec 1s micro lipo charger. It shows you a voltage read out for each battery you charge, and also shows you how much capacity (mah) you put back into the battery. While it doesn't help for in flight voltages, it does help you to judge how long to set your timer for.
Stop using that cheapo charger and pick up a hitec x4.
Maybe it's just the image quality, but some of those batteries already look puffy.
I use this http://www.amazon.com/Hitec-RCD-Micro-1-Cell-Charger/dp/B00FYL2INM and it is amazing.
Charges a 4 batteries at once, at different rates, and reports back their voltage. Also great if you want to check what voltage your batteries are currently at.
The 'best' way is a charger made for it, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Hitec-RCD-Micro-1-Cell-Charger/dp/B00FYL2INM
Serial/Parallel charging chords do well enough in a pinch, and can be faster. You need to be careful about leveling all the voltages out before you charge them, though. I usually storage charge them to 3.82, takes a few minutes each, then hook them all up on a parallel charge at 1c. So with 5x500mah, 2.5a. It only takes an hour after that.
The clear hubsan props seem to be the most durable and best performing.
USB charging is what's included because it's cheap for them to produce, but those chargers have no intelligence and rely on the overcharge protection circuit built into the battery if I'm not mistaken. If you see more micros in your future, the Hitec X4 charger is really tough to beat.
You'll be glad you got it. Grab a couple spare batteries because flight time is short. I'd also look into a decent charger so you get more play time. This one is my favorite for the 1S micros.
You may find range a bit short on the stock radio. When the money starts to burn a hole in your wallet, go for a pro radio next. If you can afford it, go for the Taranis. Slap an OrangeRX module in it so it can talk DSM2 and you'll find that your Nano has suddenly become a whole new quad. Also gives you the time to tinker and get over the hump of learning a programmable radio before you build. :)
And that is how the addiction starts...
EDIT: Just saw you got the Lectrons. They claim 180mah but it's BS as they are exactly the same size and weight as the stock 150. You get what you pay for with those. BUT, they do fly and have similar flight times as the stock batt. They'll be fine for just giving you more time in the air, but upgrade your motors and you'll wish you'd gotten some good batteries.
Hey, I purchased a Taranis X9D today with the intent of buying a micro as my first decent quad (I've trashed a few cheap ones learning how to fly). Once the radio arrives I plan on practicing with a sim while the (unpurchased yet) quad is in the mail.
I realise it's expensive, but the MOSKITO 70 is the frontrunner on my my micro shopping list right now. If my understanding is correct, the brushed motors on the three linked quads will wear out after a while, unlike the MOSKITO, correct?
On the Multicopter sidebar, the sidebars Batteries and Charging has some great info, however I'm still a little unclear on:
I use the "Newbie Drone" parallel charger. It gives you 12 ports to parallel charge on. It is designed for the smaller connectors, but you could easily make a cable. $20, maybe another $5-$10 to make adapters. I use an iMax b6 charger with this board (about $30-$40) and it works pretty well.
For a lot less ($4) you can get a 6 port parallel charger from RMRC. This would also need an adapter cable similar to above.
Other non-parallel options: 4 port Hitec Serial Charger. Works well, lets you charge up to 1A, and has the connector you need.
RMRC also just announced a 6 port, individual charging, for $19. It requires an XT60 cable to power it, which you could use a 3S or 4S battery, or plug in a 12v DC charger. You'd also need to make a cable for this one.
I have this and it's awesome.
You can easily make a harness if you have several charging leads. When connecting source to output, it's a simple one-to-many connection. All the positives go together, and all the negatives go together.
HOWEVER
All of your batteries should be within 0.1 volts of each other BEFORE you connect them together. Failing to follow this will result in the battery with the higher charge dumping current into a lower charge battery at it's full discharge rate. As this can be anywhere between 20-50C, and these guys typically can't accept a charge at more than 1-2C, this can cause damage, swelling, or bursting batteries and fire. ALWAYS check voltages before connecting parallel batteries.
You won't really save any time unless you are using a charger with decent wattage and you're doing a lot of cells, and most 1S chargers don't push high wattages anyway.
If you have a multicell charger, you can also build a serial rig. In this case it's not as critical (but is still strongly advised) to have all the cells reading the same as it will balance them. A 3S to 1S serial rig would look like this. (final form)
If you do lots of 1S stuff, save yourself a lot of hassle and invest in one of these Hitech chargers. It's worth every penny!! Let's you do 4 batteries at once, at independent charge rates, and tells you exactly what's going on with each. Only downside is if you're using JST, you'll have to build or buy a few more adapters. Again, well worth it.
Can't go wrong with the Hitech X4. One of the best purchases I've made in the micros.
Lucky, my chinacharger ramped my batteries to 4.40,
I got this guy. 4 batteries charged with adjustable amperage.
Thanks for replying :) I was thinking / hoping for something a lot cheaper actually, but I've seen that product name tossed around before. Which one of these should I buy?
or
http://www.amazon.com/Hitec-RCD-Micro-1-Cell-Charger/dp/B00FYL2INM
Do you know if there any notable difference bwtween them?
My preference is still to use my Hitec X4 for dedicated individual charging of up to 4 cells at a time. Aside from the fact that it lets me charge dissimilar batteries at different rates with different start and stop times, it's going to be done quicker with less potential stress on any individual cell. There's a fantastic explanation of why that's true here.
My main goal for this adapter was being able to use my larger charger's "storage voltage" feature. Having the extra charging capacity on hand in a pinch was just a bonus, but a dedicated 1S charger will always be the better option if available.
You can do what you're talking about with a serial adapter. /u/Bened1kt explains it pretty well here.
I'd ditch the USB charger at your earliest opportunity. Most have zero overcharge protection or intelligence of any kind and rely on the overcharge circuit that's built into many (but not all) 1S lipos to prevent burning it up. If you're planning to experiment with or use different size batteries, I'd go ahead and invest in something like this fantastic little charger.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FYL2INM/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1431531016&sr=1&keywords=hitec
I have one of these and its awesome.
Some seller on amazon has them for $70 shipped, a bit too much.
No. I own that charger it is for 2S+