First time charging...

[nathanotis]

Thought this maybe should go in electronics, but it's a pretty noobish question, so here I am.

Just got my charger wired up with Dean's last night. It's a Hyperion EOS 0606i and the battery pack I'm charging is a 9.6v, 1600mah, 8 cell maxamps saddle pack.

My question is about charge rate. The Hyperion manual states:

2) Short press the ENTER button to select “C”, charge rate in Ampere
3) Press INC or DEC buttons to choose the proper rate for your battery pack. - Charging NiCd and NiMH is mostly automatic, and the setup routines are the same for both. You only need to consult the documentation for your battery pack (or ask your dealer) to determine the proper charge current in Ampere (A). If the rate is given in mA, note that 100mA equals 0.1A: so 900mA would be 0.9A, for example.

I didn't know there was gonna be MATH involved!! So, the Maxamps site states,

"The absolute best 2/3A on the market."

See, I'm TRYING to do my research and learn. Does this mean I can set the "C" setting on the charger to 2A or 3A? Is 3 a faster charge? Would 1A be safer? Would one setting provide a deeper, fuller charge than another setting?

See, noob section was prolly the best choice.
Thanks.
n.

 

[Twiztid Metal]

1 amp would give you a slower charge but extend the life of the batteries.
3 amp is faster charge, shortens the life of the batteries.

 

[bigheadandmoose]

I've got the same charger and it always charges them at 2amps and then slowly trickles down below 1 amp towards the end of charging.this charger is pretty smart it's hard to mess it up.
"thumbsup"

 

[nathanotis]

1 amp would give you a slower charge but extend the life of the batteries.
3 amp is faster charge, shortens the life of the batteries.

Simple answer. Easy to understand. Love it.

So, generally speaking, what is the "life of the battery"? How long can I expect it to last, and how much shorter would the life be charging @ 3A vs 1A?

Thanks.
n.

 

[KRAWL]

1 amp. is all you need.

 

[mycrors7]

look at it this way

for every 1000mah, u go up 1 amp... so 2000mah battery would be 2 amps... 3500mah battery would be 3amps.. you can go into the 3.5 amps but that just shortens the life even more...

thats the way i roll... i have a 2400 nicd pack.. been charging it on 2 amps every since i have gotten it... its lasted be over 5 years...

 

[Harvo]

Saddle packs are kinda fragile little things. You should really only charge them at 1 to 1.6C . If you go past that, you risk popping a cell. You might pop one and never notice the slight decrease in power.

Those packs should get warm when charging but never hot. And if you are hearing a little pffft at the very end of the charging cycle that is the cell venting. Some say it's normal and some say its getting too much charge :???:

 

[nathanotis]

Good stuff, guys. Thanks a bunch! I'll try to plan ahead so I'm never in a hurry, and stick to 1A.