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BLKXJ 96 · 12-13-2009, 07:53 PM

How long should it take to balance a 2s 1600mHa LiPo at 5.0 amps? It's been running for 95 minutes and is still going, one cell is at 4.24 volts and the other is at 4.06 volts. how long....in most cases does this normaly take?

Im using a Pro-peak Sigma II EQ Charger/Balancer, the battery and charger are new and I want to charge and balance the battery before any heavy use. This is the first time I have used LiPo equipment.

dmgriff266 · 12-13-2009, 07:59 PM

turn it off
you need to charge at no more than 2.0 amps

BLKXJ 96 · 12-13-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmgriff266

turn it off
you need to charge at no more than 2.0 amps

Right now the amp meter on the charger reads 0.2 and switches to 0.3 amps. I am in balance mode at this time. sound normal?

Slowkrawl · 12-13-2009, 08:16 PM

What type of battery is it? The cells shouldn't be that far out, ever. I would check them with a voltmeter just to be sure that the charger isn't screwy.

It should be a 3 pin balance plug, ground black to black then put red on one of the other cells, remember the number, then check the other cell.

Stormin2u · 12-13-2009, 08:29 PM

My charger would be discharging the 4.24 cell it wouldn't be charging at all until the high cell matches the lower cell. I must say that is a larger variance than I have seen.

BLKXJ 96 · 12-13-2009, 08:35 PM

Hyperion VGx3 LiPo 2s 1600mAh 35c.

On the back it says do not exceed 5c charge rate, the guy at my LHS said it is ok to charge it at 5.0 amps. Like I said, I don't know...im new and looking for input. Should I not charge it like this?

Right now there at 4.15 and 4.20 volts.

Slowkrawl · 12-13-2009, 08:44 PM

That charge rate is fine for the hyperion, that particular battery can take up to an 8A charge. Only downside to that is it will hurt the life cycle a bit, but is safe for the battery.

However, that being said you might be charging a bit too fast for the balancer on your charger? Even at .20 and .15 that is too far out. They should really be no more than +/- .01 volts. Let it balance them, then next time try charging slower to see if the balancer just can't work fast enough? That is my guess, hyperion makes a really nice battery so I doubt it is screwy.

BLKXJ 96 · 12-13-2009, 08:55 PM

Slowkrawl, thanks for the info. I'll try it that way on the next charge.

ib99rt · 12-13-2009, 08:55 PM

Remember to only charge at a rate of 1A per 1000mha.
So you 1600mha, should be charged at a max of 1.6A to be safe.

Slowkrawl · 12-13-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ib99rt

Remember to only charge at a rate of 1A per 1000mha.
So you 1600mha, should be charged at a max of 1.6A to be safe.

Not true, most new lipo's have charge rates of 2C all the way up to 5C and I think there might even be a 6C charge rate out there. From what I have seen anyways.

It all depends on what each manufacturer recommends. If it doesn't say anything about charge rate, 1C is safe.

Sharkey · 12-13-2009, 09:40 PM

i agree, newer lipo stuff can take a higher charge. hyperion stuff ive seen 3c and 5c charge rates, can deffinitly take 5 amps. most people say high charge rates will reduce the life of the pack, however i havent yet seen any solid proof (it may exist, i just havent seen it).

just a thought, why not throw it in the truck and run it for a while (not till the cutoff, if its that far out i could see it discharging the lower cell too far) keeping an eye on the voltage, then balance it when its low.

12-13-2009, 07:53 PM	#1
BLKXJ 96 Rock Crawler Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 895	LiPo Balancing How long should it take to balance a 2s 1600mHa LiPo at 5.0 amps? It's been running for 95 minutes and is still going, one cell is at 4.24 volts and the other is at 4.06 volts. how long....in most cases does this normaly take? Im using a Pro-peak Sigma II EQ Charger/Balancer, the battery and charger are new and I want to charge and balance the battery before any heavy use. This is the first time I have used LiPo equipment.

12-13-2009, 08:35 PM	#6
BLKXJ 96 Rock Crawler Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 895	Hyperion VGx3 LiPo 2s 1600mAh 35c. On the back it says do not exceed 5c charge rate, the guy at my LHS said it is ok to charge it at 5.0 amps. Like I said, I don't know...im new and looking for input. Should I not charge it like this? Right now there at 4.15 and 4.20 volts. Last edited by BLKXJ 96; 12-13-2009 at 08:37 PM.

12-13-2009, 07:59 PM	#2
dmgriff266 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: alex city Posts: 200	turn it off you need to charge at no more than 2.0 amps

12-13-2009, 08:16 PM	#4
Slowkrawl Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alberta canada Posts: 386	What type of battery is it? The cells shouldn't be that far out, ever. I would check them with a voltmeter just to be sure that the charger isn't screwy. It should be a 3 pin balance plug, ground black to black then put red on one of the other cells, remember the number, then check the other cell.

12-13-2009, 08:29 PM	#5
Stormin2u I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2007 Location: Taylors Falls just hanging with the MNRCRC crew. Posts: 7,843	My charger would be discharging the 4.24 cell it wouldn't be charging at all until the high cell matches the lower cell. I must say that is a larger variance than I have seen.

12-13-2009, 08:44 PM	#7
Slowkrawl Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alberta canada Posts: 386	That charge rate is fine for the hyperion, that particular battery can take up to an 8A charge. Only downside to that is it will hurt the life cycle a bit, but is safe for the battery. However, that being said you might be charging a bit too fast for the balancer on your charger? Even at .20 and .15 that is too far out. They should really be no more than +/- .01 volts. Let it balance them, then next time try charging slower to see if the balancer just can't work fast enough? That is my guess, hyperion makes a really nice battery so I doubt it is screwy.

12-13-2009, 08:55 PM	#8
BLKXJ 96 Rock Crawler Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 895	Slowkrawl, thanks for the info. I'll try it that way on the next charge.

12-13-2009, 08:55 PM	#9
ib99rt Pebble Pounder Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Who Dat Louisiana Posts: 115	Remember to only charge at a rate of 1A per 1000mha. So you 1600mha, should be charged at a max of 1.6A to be safe.

12-13-2009, 09:40 PM	#11
Sharkey Rock Crawler Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Abbotsford BC Posts: 563	i agree, newer lipo stuff can take a higher charge. hyperion stuff ive seen 3c and 5c charge rates, can deffinitly take 5 amps. most people say high charge rates will reduce the life of the pack, however i havent yet seen any solid proof (it may exist, i just havent seen it). just a thought, why not throw it in the truck and run it for a while (not till the cutoff, if its that far out i could see it discharging the lower cell too far) keeping an eye on the voltage, then balance it when its low.

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