lipo questions with charger questions can you all help

[champ198]

tried to get answers on another forum that didn't work so figured you all know more than them
i am just getting set up for lipos. I bought a thunder t6 multi charger a power supply for the charger and bought 4 lipos they are 5000 mAh 40c battries
question I have is on the proper care and charging if them. the manual for the charger was not real specific on it
this charger has 4 charge ports and comes with plugs for those ports as well as 2 "balance boards". it also has a few diffrent settings to charge at one is "lipo charge" one is "lipo fast charge" and there is a balance as well as storage and discharge modes.
my questions are
1 to charge the way I understand 1 amp/ 1000mAh of capacity which would put me at 5.0 amps when charging.... do I just need to set the charger for "lipo charge" and let them go? and from what I hear and read I should plug the balance wire in also.... it should I put them in "balance mode"?
2 when stirring what amp should they be stored at?
3 what would I use the fast charge for and at what settings should it be? should it be the 5.0amps like a normal charge?


would really appriciate some help everyone my boy is loving to run his truck but I want to make sure I get the care of these lipos right
in a total newb with lipo but wanting to learn and learn the right way

thanks

[Johnnysplits]

You explained it pretty good. Yes, 1A for every 1000mah = 1C charge rate. You always want to balance charge. Fast charging a lipo eliminates the balancing which usually leads to unbalanced cells and that's when you have problems. When storage charging, you can use the same 1C rate, but have the charger stop at 3.8-3.85v/cell. What size ps did you get for it?

[champ198]

so when charging I should use the balance mode? or the lipo charge mode on the charger?
sorry total newb with theses lipos

[Johnnysplits]

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate. Been through seven chargers before ending up with the setup I have now...which is gonna be the LAST one for a long time!!

[Johnnysplits]

Originally Posted by champ198

so when charging I should use the balance mode? or the lipo charge mode on the charger?
sorry total newb with theses lipos

Yes the charger needs to know that you are balance charging lipo batteries. The charger should ask you in the beginning of setup and just before hitting the "start charge" if you are charging lipo batteries.

[champ198]

thank you very much Johnny that is a huge help awnsered all my questions....at least for now

[champ198]

Johnny
may I ask what your charging setup is now?

[Johnnysplits]

Sure. I have a Cellpro Powerlab6, Efuel fused power strip, and a 24v 1150w 47A power supply. Best $320 iv'e spent!!

[champ198]

wow that is a heck of a set up man
I'm hopeing I can get some use out of mine
these are for non crawlers but I also have a crawler I'm working on also so I know ill use the set up I got
thanks again for te help if I have any other questions ill make sure and ask you all over here are a lot more helpful than the other forum is that's for sure

[Johnnysplits]

Sure thing! Yeah, I got frustrated with the other chargers...be it not powerful enough, not accurate in charging capabilities, and can only do one battery at a time. Considering the money iv'e spent on all the other crap to try and save money, I should have just got this from the start. Live and learn.

[KBrog]

Do the batteries have a sticker saying what C rate they can be charged at?

[monkeyracing]

You're not planning to encourage the guy to charge at higher rates, are you? Even if a pack says it can be charged at more than 1C, it's still the safest way to charge and will get the longest life out of the packs. Besides that, the performance gains are minimal unless you're hypercompetitive.

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by KBrog

Do the batteries have a sticker saying what C rate they can be charged at?

Some do.....I just plan ahead and charge at 1C. Most of my packs are charged the day before, then topped off at a comp using a 7AH gelcell to power my charger.

[Johnnysplits]

Originally Posted by monkeyracing

You're not planning to encourage the guy to charge at higher rates, are you? Even if a pack says it can be charged at more than 1C, it's still the safest way to charge and will get the longest life out of the packs. Besides that, the performance gains are minimal unless you're hypercompetitive.

If you are directing this at me...no, i'm not trying to encourage anybody to do anything. He wanted to see my setup. 1C safest and long life? Yeah with lipo's from years ago or using super cheap ones.. I don't buy lipo's that have lower than 5C charge rates, so I can charge at 3C. Has absolutely no effect on safety or life span. Ask the heli guys that run 2 $200 lipo's per flight, or the boat guys running 4 $130 lipo's per run and see what they have to say about charge rates. Overcharging, overdischarging, overheating, very cold temps, as well as cheap shit charging equipment will damage batteries, not charging over 1C.

[monkeyracing]

Not directed at you. I've no desire to debate safety at this point. We'd all lose that one. My point is specifically about not clouding the issue for a new lipo user. He'll learn as he goes.

[Johnnysplits]

Gotcha

[champ198]

thanks for the info fellas. they said 1c charger rate and I wont go over that.