RCCrawler Forums

vodka child · 03-02-2011, 09:41 AM

Had a trawl through the forums and haven't found an answer to this specific question. I've got a ProluX Digi-Charge 104, which i'm using to charge up my 800mAh 11.1 3 cell lipo. Set up the charger as follows:

Set to charge, put A setting to 800 and the v setting to 11.1, plug in the start button, the charger checks the battery type then starts to charge. You can instantly see the current battery levels i.e. the drained level, VERY quickly the number ramp up so in as little as 3-4min the A figure is hovering just under 800 and the V just over 11.1, I can't believe that the batteries are charged that quickly, if i take them off charge at that point and try to use them they run flat in only 1 or 2 min - as i'd expect.

So the question is, is there a rule of thumb for actual charging time? I don;t want to leave for hours and have them blow up, but I do want to fully charge them and I know a few mins isn;t going to do this.

Any advise, even if you don;t have the same charger, just a rule of thumb you work to for charging your 3 cell Lipo batteries
Cheers
Darren

JeremyH · 03-02-2011, 09:53 AM

Are you sure that your charger doesnt require the peak voltage (for 3S is 12.65V) to be input in the charger?

ittybitty · 03-02-2011, 09:54 AM

I'm not sure how the programming is setup in that charger, but on mine I would set the charger to .8 A on that size pack.

JeremyH · 03-02-2011, 09:58 AM

Good catch IB, yeah....that charger gives the current in A....not mAh. Althought, not sure how he was getting it set to 800A....
http://prolux.com.tw/product.php?mod...&cid=5&pid=150

kk_kk · 03-02-2011, 10:06 AM

balance lipo charger will stop charging when reach 4.2 volt per cell. if set at just charging without balancing, it will stop 4.2 x number of cell which is 12.6v at ur case. it may end up one cell a bit more than others.

i always set it to balance charging instead of just charging that will not overcharge any cell to insure the maximium life of the lipo as lipos dont like to be overcharged or over-discharged.

i never leave lipo alone while charging or putting in lipo sack while charging. they can be set on fire if not charged properly. heard some people burn down house overcharged their lipo.

just my 2 cents, take wisely. read ur charger manual, it helps

kk_kk · 03-02-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyH

Good catch IB, yeah....that charger gives the current in A....not mAh. Althought, not sure how he was getting it set to 800A....
http://prolux.com.tw/product.php?mod...&cid=5&pid=150

does not look like it has balancing charger function. need a balancer then

vodka child · 03-02-2011, 10:15 AM

Thanks guys. It isn;t a balance charge, but that isn't a must, it's a nice to have and wouldn't effect the issue i'm seeing - i've read a bunch of threads on this and it's a split as to whether you need to balance at each charge or not, so don't want to open that can of worms

Trying to find the user manual online but hadn;t thought about the max charge point Jeremy thanks for the tip. The A and V are all preset numbers you scroll through the options and chose the ones the match your battery, set to charge to discharge and away you go.

Just trying to get a feel if you guys find your lipo batteries take 10min to fully charge or 60min etc
Cheers
D

ittybitty · 03-02-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kk_kk

does not look like it has balancing charger function. need a balancer then

Good catch there too! If you don't have a balancer...you need one!

JeremyH · 03-02-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vodka child

Just trying to get a feel if you guys find your lipo batteries take 10min to fully charge or 60min etc

Depending on the rate, it should be somewhere between those times. My 850's usually take 30 minutes or so at 1C when they are close to the low voltage cutoff limit....

kk_kk · 03-02-2011, 10:20 AM

i charger my 1C charge rating 1300mah 2 cell lipo at 4A balance charging. fully charged in about 15 mins

btw, the A u output from ur charger is more regarding to ur lipo charge capability. some lipo takes up 5C, some just 1C, if set at 0.8A it will take a long time

vodka child · 03-02-2011, 10:21 AM

Bingo, just what i needed to know, cheers guys

Charlie-III · 03-02-2011, 11:01 AM

Keep in mind, you can put ~80-90% of the voltage back into almost ANY battery fairly quickly, the last little bit takes some more time.

Balance charge most of the time for LiPO is HIGHLY suggested.

03-02-2011, 09:41 AM	#1
vodka child Rock Crawler Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: England & SoFlo Posts: 744	Charging LiPo batteries question Had a trawl through the forums and haven't found an answer to this specific question. I've got a ProluX Digi-Charge 104, which i'm using to charge up my 800mAh 11.1 3 cell lipo. Set up the charger as follows: Set to charge, put A setting to 800 and the v setting to 11.1, plug in the start button, the charger checks the battery type then starts to charge. You can instantly see the current battery levels i.e. the drained level, VERY quickly the number ramp up so in as little as 3-4min the A figure is hovering just under 800 and the V just over 11.1, I can't believe that the batteries are charged that quickly, if i take them off charge at that point and try to use them they run flat in only 1 or 2 min - as i'd expect. So the question is, is there a rule of thumb for actual charging time? I don;t want to leave for hours and have them blow up, but I do want to fully charge them and I know a few mins isn;t going to do this. Any advise, even if you don;t have the same charger, just a rule of thumb you work to for charging your 3 cell Lipo batteries Cheers Darren

03-02-2011, 10:20 AM	#10
kk_kk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: BC Posts: 32	i charger my 1C charge rating 1300mah 2 cell lipo at 4A balance charging. fully charged in about 15 mins btw, the A u output from ur charger is more regarding to ur lipo charge capability. some lipo takes up 5C, some just 1C, if set at 0.8A it will take a long time Last edited by kk_kk; 03-02-2011 at 10:22 AM.

03-02-2011, 09:53 AM	#2
JeremyH I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16,952	Are you sure that your charger doesnt require the peak voltage (for 3S is 12.65V) to be input in the charger?

03-02-2011, 09:54 AM	#3
ittybitty I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sumter Posts: 6,141	I'm not sure how the programming is setup in that charger, but on mine I would set the charger to .8 A on that size pack.

03-02-2011, 09:58 AM	#4
JeremyH I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16,952	Good catch IB, yeah....that charger gives the current in A....not mAh. Althought, not sure how he was getting it set to 800A.... http://prolux.com.tw/product.php?mod...&cid=5&pid=150

03-02-2011, 10:06 AM	#5
kk_kk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: BC Posts: 32	balance lipo charger will stop charging when reach 4.2 volt per cell. if set at just charging without balancing, it will stop 4.2 x number of cell which is 12.6v at ur case. it may end up one cell a bit more than others. i always set it to balance charging instead of just charging that will not overcharge any cell to insure the maximium life of the lipo as lipos dont like to be overcharged or over-discharged. i never leave lipo alone while charging or putting in lipo sack while charging. they can be set on fire if not charged properly. heard some people burn down house overcharged their lipo. just my 2 cents, take wisely. read ur charger manual, it helps

03-02-2011, 10:15 AM	#7
vodka child Rock Crawler Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: England & SoFlo Posts: 744	Thanks guys. It isn;t a balance charge, but that isn't a must, it's a nice to have and wouldn't effect the issue i'm seeing - i've read a bunch of threads on this and it's a split as to whether you need to balance at each charge or not, so don't want to open that can of worms Trying to find the user manual online but hadn;t thought about the max charge point Jeremy thanks for the tip. The A and V are all preset numbers you scroll through the options and chose the ones the match your battery, set to charge to discharge and away you go. Just trying to get a feel if you guys find your lipo batteries take 10min to fully charge or 60min etc Cheers D

03-02-2011, 10:21 AM	#11
vodka child Rock Crawler Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: England & SoFlo Posts: 744	Bingo, just what i needed to know, cheers guys

03-02-2011, 11:01 AM	#12
Charlie-III I wanna be Dave Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 07456 N. NJ USofA Posts: 8,314	Keep in mind, you can put ~80-90% of the voltage back into almost ANY battery fairly quickly, the last little bit takes some more time. Balance charge most of the time for LiPO is HIGHLY suggested.

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