8S provides a performance boost over 6S, even though 8S technology is still in early stages due to limited supporting hardware as discussed in my post. With only a few 8S compatible chargers on the market, we’ll look at the cheapest option, the HOTA T8 in this review, to see whether it’s an ideal choice for FPV pilots seeking affordability and high functionality in an 8S charger.
Learn more about choosing an FPV LiPo charger here: https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/
Where to Buy
You can get the HOTA T8 from:
In the box comes with the T8 charger, a USB cable for firmware updates, and a user manual.
Specifications
Input Voltage: DC 7.0V to 35.0V @ MAX 27A
Max Charge Power: 22A
Discharge Power
- Normal Mode (Internal Discharger): 0.13A at 20W
- Recycle Mode (External Discharger): 0.1–22A at 650W
Balance Current: 1000mA @ 4.2V
Screen: Color 2.8″ IPS, 320×240 resolution
USB-A Output: 5V @ 2.1A
Supported Battery Types
- Lithium Batteries: Smart Battery / LiHV / LiPo / LiFe / LiIon / LiXX / LTO: 1-8S
- Nickel-based Batteries: NiZn / NiCd / NiMH: 1-20S
- Lead-acid Batteries: PB: 1-12S
- Other: Eneloop: 1-20S
Measurer
- PWM: 880us-2200us @ 20-400Hz
- PPM: 880us-2200us x 8CH @ 20-50Hz
- SBUS: 880us-2200us x 16CH @ 20-100Hz
- Voltage: 1.0V-5.0V @ 1-8S
- Internal Resistance: 1-99mΩ @ 1-8S
- ESC: 1-20A @ 1-35V, MAX 650W
Output
- PWM: 500us-2500us @ 20-1000Hz
- PPM: 880us-2200us x 8CH @ 50Hz
- SBUS: 880us-2200us x 16CH @ 74Hz
- Power Supply: 0.5-22A @ 1-35V (CC+CV mode)
Physical Dimensions
- Dimensions: 97mm × 69.5mm × 34mm
- Weight: Approximately 194g
Design
The standout feature of the HOTA T8 is its 8S compatibility, making it one of the few affordable chargers capable of handling 8S LiPo batteries. It’s also equipped with balance and discharge functions, standard features in modern smart chargers.
The HOTA T8 has a compact, lightweight rectangular design, though it can only be powered via a DC 7V to 35V input through an XT60 connector. This setup allows for power from a battery or PSU (power supply unit), but the lack of a USB-C (PD-compatible) input may limit its portability.
New to PSU for charger? Check out my tutorial here: https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/#Choosing-the-Right-Power-Supply-for-Your-Charger
On one side, you’ll find the XT60 input connector and a 5V 2.1A USB output.
On the other side are the XT60 output and balance port, along with two servo connectors for signal generation and measurement.
The user interface is straightforward, with an “Exit” button and a scroll wheel for menu navigation. The menu design is intuitive and similar to other smart chargers from HOTA and ToolkitRC. The screen is clear and bright, readable even in direct sunlight.
The T8 also measures internal battery resistance during charging, which is useful for monitoring battery health and performance.
Here’s the bottom.
How to Use the T8
The included manual is pretty useless, but it’s not difficult to use this charger.
To begin using the HOTA T8 charger, connect it to a power source through the XT60 input, then attach your battery to the XT60 output and the balance port.
Set the charging settings as needed, and you’re ready to start charging. It’s straightforward and efficient.
The T8 can also be used as a voltage checker. When you plug a battery into the XT60 output without powering the charger itself, it displays the battery voltage. Note, however, that connecting only the balance lead won’t power the charger.
Additional Features
Like many other smart chargers from ToolkitRC, the HOTA T8 is versatile and doubles as a power supply, signal generator, and measuring tool.
In Power Supply Mode, you can set an output voltage between 1V to 35V, with currents from 0.5A up to 22A.
In Signal Generator Mode, the T8 outputs SBUS, PWM, and PPM signals. While these signals are becoming less common in the hobby, PWM signals are still useful for testing servos, particularly for fixed-wing models.
In Signal Measuring Mode, the T8 detects SBUS, PPM, and PWM signals, helpful for troubleshooting receivers using these signals, though they’re becoming obsolete.
Additionally, the T8 includes a USB output (Type A) for charging devices like a GoPro or smartphone. However, it’s limited to 5V output and isn’t Power Delivery (PD) compatible.
Charging Accuracy
After fully charging an 8S battery, I measured the voltage of each cell to verify whether the HOTA T8 undercharges or overcharges. The results indicated a slight undercharge, with cells ending up about 0.01V below the target voltage— a minor discrepancy that leans on the safe side and isn’t a concern. Additionally, the T8 allows you to adjust the end voltage higher or lower, which is a nice feature for fine-tuning. For example, to compensate for the under-charge, I might set the end voltage to 4.21V.
| Total | 33.57 |
| Cell 1 | 4.191 |
| Cell 2 | 4.193 |
| Cell 3 | 4.192 |
| Cell 4 | 4.188 |
| Cell 5 | 4.183 |
| Cell 6 | 4.190 |
| Cell 7 | 4.199 |
| Cell 8 | 4.197 |
Voltage Reading Accuracy
To ensure the accuracy of the T8 voltage readings, I double checked the voltage measurements against a calibrated Digital Multimeter (DDM). The readings are quite accurate and I am very happy with it. The biggest error I encountered was only around 0.01V – it’s so small it’s negligible and shouldn’t be a problem at all for hobbyist use.
| Source | Charger | DDM |
|---|---|---|
| Input XT60 | 23.9V | 23.97V |
| CH1 XT60 | 30.66 | 30.62 |
| Cell 1 | 3.830 | 3.824 |
| Cell 2 | 3.829 | 3.824 |
| Cell 3 | 3.829 | 3.824 |
| Cell 4 | 3.829 | 3.822 |
| Cell 5 | 3.832 | 3.823 |
| Cell 6 | 3.830 | 3.825 |
| Cell 7 | 3.827 | 3.825 |
| Cell 8 | 3.826 | 3.824 |
Testing Max Power and Charge Current
When charging a large 6S battery, I set the current to the maximum 22.0A, in theory the power should go up to 530W when voltage reaches 4V per cell. However, the charger only managed to reach 19A, capping out at 495W. While it didn’t meet the full specs, this is still ample power for most FPV pilots, especially considering that parallel charging six 6S 1100mAh batteries at even 2C (quite aggressive charging), demands only about 13A, around 300W.
For those who don’t parallel charge, the power requirements are even less. Charing an 8S 1000mAh battery, for instance, typically only requires around 30W to 60W, making the T8’s performance more than sufficient for realistic charging needs.
Conclusion
The HOTA T8 is the most affordable 8S LiPo charger available, delivering solid performance in a compact design. While the T8 didn’t quite reach its stated maximum output (hitting 19A and 495W instead), this is still more than sufficient for most hobbyist needs. The user-friendly interface, precise voltage readings, and accurate charging make it a worthwhile option, especially for anyone looking to future-proof for potential 8S battery use while still being compatible with 1S to 6S batteries.
You can get the HOTA T8 from:
My favourite LiPo charger for 6S and lower is the Q6AC: https://oscarliang.com/toolkitrc-q6ac-lipo-charger/
My favourite portable charger is the SkyRC B6Neo: https://oscarliang.com/skyrc-b6neo-lipo-charger/
The T8 would benefit from a USB-C PD input to make it more suitable for travelling. Since it only has an XT60 input, you should get an external power supply that is powerful enough for your charging needs. For help in choosing the right power supply, you can check out this guide on LiPo charger power supplies: https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/#Choosing-the-Right-Power-Supply-for-Your-Charger
