Out of balance lipo

[dpcardoza]

I was wondering if anybody had advice on how to safely re-balance a lipo when 1 cell is way off. The cell never dropped below 3 but when I put it on a balance charger it wouldn't balance it. It reads like 3.8 3.8 3.1. I put it in balance mode and it's dropped down to like 3.7 in the good cells and the 3.1 was unchanged. Tried discharge mode it it just dropped all the cells. I've read a little on using the nihm setting but don't grasp it completely.


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[OldNTired]

well, basically the NIMH trick is to plug your lipo in and charge using the NiMH setting on your charger. Just for a couple of minutes to bump your cells voltage up. I've used it in the past for batteries which dropped below the minimum and would trigger my low voltage alert on my charger. Not sure it would help to balance that one cell out though.

 

[TheLetterJ]

It took me quite a few charge/discharge cycles to bring a little 1600mah 3s back to balance after my son's balance port charger failed and only charged 2 cells. My question is: why did your battery go out of balance in the first place? In my case, it was an obvious reason and no cause for concern of the battery's health, but it seems like most other reasons point to a bad cell, in which case it might be due for retirement.

 

[BAD RC]

I've gone this route quite a few times with good results. Video gives you a good idea how your charger works.

https://youtu.be/wIbHLacozFo

Sent from Mars.

 

[Ninomaniac]

Hm. My cheap Hobbyking Accucell charger can pull a cell from the depths of despair (~2.5V) with ease. It will automatically trickle charge and then after a certain voltage start full current charging.

 

[raybies_AU]

My charger will never balance a battery with cells which are way off <3.3v.

I get 1 or more good LiPo @ ~3.7v/cell, and parallel them. I have a 6 batt parallel board. then balance charge them all.

I've also used another battery to charge just one cell.
Or single cell charge using a modified balance lead.

LiPo's are pretty resistant to damage when you fast charge to nominal voltage, the chemistry hates being under or over 3.6-3.8v.