Originally Posted by 1heli
There is a guy in the UK building custom PSU for all kinds of RC uses and he as many satisfied customers...but I do not know how his or any of the Server PS stack up against the opposition Meanwell,Junsi s12oo Iota e.t.c.
Most likely they are used server supplies. These things are very high quality and although they are use still have quite a bit of life in them. The reported failure rate of used server supplies is very low. I have number of them and have been using them without an issue for several years now.
Only downside, if you can call it that, is that to get 24v two supplies need to be configured in series. While there is a lot of, sometimes scary, internet posts about doing this, its really quite trivial when done correctly by a knowledgeable individual. There are guys which are doing this work and providing them ready-to-go.
The other thing to be aware of is the inclusion of active power factor correction. This reduces the load on the AC supply for the same output. Iotas and some Meanwells do not have this. This feature adds about $100 to the cost. That feature is included in all server supplies.
Many folk love iCharger and just as many PL6 &8 can anyone see why I may need the PL8 in the future if I am only intending flying the 600?
If you never planning on going above 6s then the Powerlab6 may be a better fit. If you need more charging capacity, add a second Powelab6 and run it in expansion mode with the first.
The Powerlab8 will give you twice the discharge power, is little larger and using a 24v supply it will give you a little more output. Plus, if the hobby moves to 14s or 16s, you'll be ready to go.
I just want the best charger/PSU combo?
At this point I would focus the bulk of your budget on the charger. Power supplies come and go and if you can solder and are good with ebay, you can swap out or upgrade supplies with relative ease and low cost. Most chargers can be run on various size supplies. For instance, when I travel with my 450, I take single 12v 45 amp supply with my Powerlab8. With this setup I can get 40 amps of output and charge six 3s packs at 3c each. That particular supply cost me $9.45 shipped to my door. If you need to save money, you can start with a smaller supply that can meet todays charging needs and add a bigger one later.
Other threads of interest
Powerlab 6 or 306B?
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=385269
What is your charger of choice?
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=389676&
PL6 Maximum output with an inexpensive supply
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1525834&page=17#post20578347