Charging LiFe Battery

[outkast7222]

I have been thinking about picking up a few 2s LiFe batteries for bashing duty but am a little confused on charging times. I know my current LiPo batteries can only be charged at 1c that means that if I charge my totally discharged batteries at 1c they take about an hour.

The LiFe batteries I am looking at say they can be charged at up to 15c. Sooo does that mean it would take 1/15th the time to charge them. (Assuming a charger capable of the given rate)

The packs I am looking at are small 1050mAh ones and my charger has a max output of 5 amps. How long would it take to charge?

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by outkast7222

I have been thinking about picking up a few 2s LiFe batteries for bashing duty but am a little confused on charging times. I know my current LiPo batteries can only be charged at 1c that means that if I charge my totally discharged batteries at 1c they take about an hour.

The LiFe batteries I am looking at say they can be charged at up to 15c. Sooo does that mean it would take 1/15th the time to charge them. (Assuming a charger capable of the given rate)

The packs I am looking at are small 1050mAh ones and my charger has a max output of 5 amps. How long would it take to charge?

3 x longer than at 15C.

At 15C it would be ~4 minutes (wow), so 3 x that is ~12 minutes.

[rcboy514]

you have any links to those batts?

Thanks

[outkast7222]

I found a few on cheapbatterypacks.com for around $25 but they are kinda sketchy about specs, the others were from maxamps.com and were just a few bucks more.

[Trubble]

1050mAh divided by 5000mAh times 60= 12.6 minutes

That fast charge rate is one reason why I've really been wanting to get a couple and try 'em out.

[outkast7222]

Originally Posted by Trubble

That fast charge rate is one reason why I've really been wanting to get a couple and try 'em out.

Thats the reason I want to try a few too, figure if I can get them cheap enough I would never run out of battery since a 1350mAh battery lasts me close to 1/2 hour maybe a little more taking it easy even charging them at half what my charger can do will re-up them before I can use one up. That and supposedly there is no concern of fire with charging them.

[static80]

Just remember that you'll probably need a slightly bigger pinion to get the same speeds cause the voltage is a bit lower, and with a bigger pinion you'll be drawing more amps so the run time will be less for the same mah battery.

[forbid89]

Originally Posted by static80

Just remember that you'll probably need a slightly bigger pinion to get the same speeds cause the voltage is a bit lower, and with a bigger pinion you'll be drawing more amps so the run time will be less for the same mah battery.

For anyone interested the voltage per cell in a LiFe battery is 3.3v versus the 3.7v of a Lipo. Hobbyking has some decently priced LiFe batteries for anyone interested in trying them out.

[Charlie-III]

I believe the LiFE batteries drop off in voltage fairly quick, then flatten out. This will likely seem like a LiPO with a low "C" rating.
I see using LiFE batteries for radios, NOT motive power.

I think Cheap Battery Packs had discharge curves for a number of battery chemistries.