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03-24-2011, 04:44 PM | #1 |
Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Morgantown, KY
Posts: 48
| nimh pack full charge voltage difference....
I've noticed that when charging one of my 7.2v stick packs at a 5A rate my final charged voltage is roughly 9.2v give or take. But when charging my new stick pack at a c/10 rate of 0.5A for 10 or 12 hours the final charge voltage is only around 8.1v or so. Is this normal and simply the difference in trickle charging and quick charging? If so I suppose that explains why people quick charge for that extra punch at the beginning. |
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03-24-2011, 04:49 PM | #2 | |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2005 Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 2,048
| Quote:
But hammering the battery at 5A shortens it's overall life. | |
03-24-2011, 06:59 PM | #3 |
Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Morgantown, KY
Posts: 48
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Ok, good deal. Just wanted to double check and make sure my battery pack wasn't defective. How much will high amp charging actually shorten the life span.
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03-25-2011, 03:28 PM | #4 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2005 Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 2,048
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That really depends on the quality of the cells. But it can be a crap shoot too. I've had $$$ matched-cell packs go poof and I had some raggedy 3700s that were very reliable. But I'd say you can actually cut it's life expectancy in half with regular high amp charging. For crawling, the higher voltage isn't really a huge advantage; certainly not worth wearing out a battery pre-maturely.
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03-25-2011, 04:47 PM | #5 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lowell, Arkansas
Posts: 1,307
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Mainly depends on how hot the battery is getting at the end of the 5 amp charge. If you can hold the battery in you hand semi comfortably, it's fine. If the battery is too hot to hold in your hand, the charge rate it too high and it's not good for the battery.
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03-25-2011, 09:14 PM | #6 |
Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Morgantown, KY
Posts: 48
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Il have to double check next time I charge it. But pretty sure I could put a death grip on my 3300mah stick and it not be uncomfortable at all. Only mildly warm. Before I bought my current charger, I was completely ignorant about proper charging and was using a radioshack quick charger. After flipping it over due to curiosity I see that it was dumping 8.0A into my 3300mah stick.
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03-25-2011, 09:17 PM | #7 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lowell, Arkansas
Posts: 1,307
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03-27-2011, 08:30 AM | #8 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 07456 N. NJ USofA
Posts: 8,314
| +1. For pan cars, we would charge at a mid-rate to get the packs charged. Just before a race, we would top them off at a higher rate to get the packs warm. A warm pack (NiCD/NiMH/LiPO) discharges BETTER when warm. This was a typical racing trick. No real need to charge at a high rate to get the pack fairly full. For crawlers, getting the pack warm just before use is a good idea if outside & it's cold. BTW, when the cells get too warm, they vent the magic stuff inside. Everytime they do that, they lose a bit of life & capacity. Venting a pack is bad for them. |
03-27-2011, 11:40 AM | #9 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wayne county. PA
Posts: 2,507
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my 1500 elites 2/3 batts i charge at 1A every time when i get home....if i needed a battery charged at a comp/GTG i charged my first used batt at 1A while i was there....i always have at least 4 batteries with me at all times and boost charge them at a comp at 1A as well.........bob .... |
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