RCCrawler Forums

Harvo · 08-10-2008, 05:24 AM

I was at the comp yesterday using my charger as usual. (Charging at 1.5 amps for my 6 cell 2/3A 1500 packs) A buddy needed to use my charger so I let him... He changed the amp rate to 4.5 and charged his battery, but didn't set it back to 1.5 when he was done.

Surprisingly... I found out I had to run in the finals, so I threw a battery on the charger to peak it off. Like 4 minutes later it was done (which tipped me off that something was wrong). It was very hot to the touch, but it didn't pop. It works, but I have no idea what the damage would be.

Is it safe to continue using... charging? Did I shorten the life of it?

Thanks

Scattman · 08-10-2008, 07:06 AM

Just use it.

Stormin2u · 08-10-2008, 09:26 AM

Woops

Yup you should use it..... I'm surprised it didn't have to off gas during a 4.5 charge. You might notice it won't give you as long a runtime as it did before. As far as total lenght of life for the pack, if you go back to charging at the lower rate it might not have any noticable effect.

Reflection · 08-10-2008, 10:00 AM

If it didn't vent,it's still useable. NiMH cells are pretty tough,thats what appeals to many people. Don't have to worry much about them. I'd say you may have shortened the overall life of the cells,thats really hard to say one way or the other. I say,run'em till they quit.

TwistedCreations · 08-10-2008, 10:12 AM

nothing to worry about...

Picture this:

A glass on the table.. Pour milk very slowly into the glass and you will get it completely filled and not spill a drop..Full battery

Now just dump the whole jug into the glass very fast.. It all comes flying out and your glass is 1/2-3/4 full -

Charge it at a slower rate to bring it back up :thumbsup:

Harvo · 08-10-2008, 11:10 AM

Thanks guys!

Harvo · 08-26-2008, 08:39 PM

Still wondering what's going on. The battery discussed in this thread will get hot sometimes during a charge, and only warm at other times. The charge rate is the same at 1.5 amps each time, and the discharge is about the same each time. I don't hot charge them... so I don't know what changes.

My question though... what happens if a 2/3A cell pops?

Can it cause a fire? Is it dangerous? (relatively speaking of course). I'm still using the battery and it staill works great and has great runtime... I just can't figure out why it's fickle about getting hot like that.

Rockcrawler · 08-26-2008, 08:45 PM

I have not messed with the NiCD's or NiMI's in while but it sounds to me like you might have a cell out of balance. You have a way to discharge the cells individually?

Chris_The_Battery_Man · 08-26-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harvo

Still wondering what's going on. The battery discussed in this thread will get hot sometimes during a charge, and only warm at other times. The charge rate is the same at 1.5 amps each time, and the discharge is about the same each time. I don't hot charge them... so I don't know what changes.

My question though... what happens if a 2/3A cell pops?

Can it cause a fire? Is it dangerous? (relatively speaking of course). I'm still using the battery and it staill works great and has great runtime... I just can't figure out why it's fickle about getting hot like that.

What is the MV peak setting to? If thats too high you will ruin a pack. NiMh cells dont cause fires. I doubt you will pop a top. That usually only happens with a super high rate SC cell that has a thin can.

HndsWthtShdws · 08-26-2008, 09:51 PM

Form charge it to bring it back into balance. Basically discharge it at a low rate and then charge it at C/10 for 14 hours.

Harvo · 08-27-2008, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_The_Battery_Man

What is the MV peak setting to? If thats too high you will ruin a pack. NiMh cells dont cause fires. I doubt you will pop a top. That usually only happens with a super high rate SC cell that has a thin can.

If by MV you mean Max Voltage (?) the charger is a peak detection charger. I can't set that. And from what I understand in the instructions, I can only discharge NiCad... not Nickel Metal. It's a Duratrax Intellipeak pulse charger. (which could be part of my problem) I have heard those can read false peaks (?)

Again... I am still learning when it comes to batteries and charging, so most of what I think I know, I learned on RCC. I appreciate all the help so far!

08-10-2008, 05:24 AM	#1
Harvo I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In the Dark Edges of your Mind Posts: 6,386	Battery Damage? I was at the comp yesterday using my charger as usual. (Charging at 1.5 amps for my 6 cell 2/3A 1500 packs) A buddy needed to use my charger so I let him... He changed the amp rate to 4.5 and charged his battery, but didn't set it back to 1.5 when he was done. Surprisingly... I found out I had to run in the finals, so I threw a battery on the charger to peak it off. Like 4 minutes later it was done (which tipped me off that something was wrong). It was very hot to the touch, but it didn't pop. It works, but I have no idea what the damage would be. Is it safe to continue using... charging? Did I shorten the life of it? Thanks

08-10-2008, 07:06 AM	#2
Scattman Official Cook of the ECC Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hawthorne, Florida Posts: 2,653	Just use it.

08-10-2008, 09:26 AM	#3
Stormin2u I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2007 Location: Taylors Falls just hanging with the MNRCRC crew. Posts: 7,843	Woops Yup you should use it..... I'm surprised it didn't have to off gas during a 4.5 charge. You might notice it won't give you as long a runtime as it did before. As far as total lenght of life for the pack, if you go back to charging at the lower rate it might not have any noticable effect.

08-10-2008, 10:00 AM	#4
Reflection TEAM MODERATOR Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 10,855	If it didn't vent,it's still useable. NiMH cells are pretty tough,thats what appeals to many people. Don't have to worry much about them. I'd say you may have shortened the overall life of the cells,thats really hard to say one way or the other. I say,run'em till they quit.

08-10-2008, 10:12 AM	#5
TwistedCreations Colt Python/SR9c Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: out in the shop, reloading ammo! Posts: 8,626	nothing to worry about... Picture this: A glass on the table.. Pour milk very slowly into the glass and you will get it completely filled and not spill a drop..Full battery Now just dump the whole jug into the glass very fast.. It all comes flying out and your glass is 1/2-3/4 full - Charge it at a slower rate to bring it back up :thumbsup:

08-10-2008, 11:10 AM	#6
Harvo I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In the Dark Edges of your Mind Posts: 6,386	Thanks guys!

08-26-2008, 08:39 PM	#7
Harvo I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In the Dark Edges of your Mind Posts: 6,386	Still wondering what's going on. The battery discussed in this thread will get hot sometimes during a charge, and only warm at other times. The charge rate is the same at 1.5 amps each time, and the discharge is about the same each time. I don't hot charge them... so I don't know what changes. My question though... what happens if a 2/3A cell pops? Can it cause a fire? Is it dangerous? (relatively speaking of course). I'm still using the battery and it staill works great and has great runtime... I just can't figure out why it's fickle about getting hot like that.

08-26-2008, 08:45 PM	#8
Rockcrawler I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hueytown, Alabama Posts: 6,777	I have not messed with the NiCD's or NiMI's in while but it sounds to me like you might have a cell out of balance. You have a way to discharge the cells individually?

08-26-2008, 09:51 PM	#10
HndsWthtShdws Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 341	Form charge it to bring it back into balance. Basically discharge it at a low rate and then charge it at C/10 for 14 hours.

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