To Balance or Not to Balance Lipo Packs while charging
#2
lipos usually dont need to be balanced. Maybe once in a little while. I have the Orion 4800 pack and I already have an Astroflight "Blinky" balancer for my other lipo batteries. I plan on building a balancing harness that i saw on the lipo thread so I will be able to balance on every charge
#3
Tech Master
iTrader: (11)
My plan was to use my balancer without a charger to balance the cells. However what I have found is everytime I plug it in my packs are balanced. So in my opinion being able to balance while charging is highly overrated. Get a balancer to be safe.. check your packs for piece of mind because they'll probably never need it if you have quality packs.
#4
Austin from MaxAmps recommended to me that a balancer be used on every cycle.
In case you haven't seen them before, here are some Lipo fire videos:
Lipo overcharge fire:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...60570423705609
Lipo Sack Testing:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...11953351279140
Overcharge Test:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...75988211814049
Better safe than sorry!
In case you haven't seen them before, here are some Lipo fire videos:
Lipo overcharge fire:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...60570423705609
Lipo Sack Testing:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...11953351279140
Overcharge Test:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...75988211814049
Better safe than sorry!
#6
Tech Regular
iTrader: (3)
Balancing is not necessary unless you are pounding the snot out of your lipo on every single run.
If you use the battery sensibly, it won't need it.
That's my experience with my airplane lipo's in the last 3-4 years.
Balancers are ways for the companies to make a few more bucks.......
If you use the battery sensibly, it won't need it.
That's my experience with my airplane lipo's in the last 3-4 years.
Balancers are ways for the companies to make a few more bucks.......
#7
Tech Fanatic
iTrader: (11)
Austin from MaxAmps recommended to me that a balancer be used on every cycle.
In case you haven't seen them before, here are some Lipo fire videos:
Lipo overcharge fire:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...60570423705609
Lipo Sack Testing:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...11953351279140
Overcharge Test:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...75988211814049
Better safe than sorry!
In case you haven't seen them before, here are some Lipo fire videos:
Lipo overcharge fire:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...60570423705609
Lipo Sack Testing:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...11953351279140
Overcharge Test:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...75988211814049
Better safe than sorry!
#8
Tech Lord
iTrader: (32)
I have 2 Orion 3200's and 2 of the 4800's. One of each needed balancing after a few months of use.
I was asked to balance two new (two cycles) MaxAmps packs, and both required it.
I don't know how far out they were, the Orion balancer doesn't say. And if you have an Orion balancer, you'll need to get a 2S Hyperion connector for it in order to use it with those taps. If anybody needs more information on that, PM me, it was an adventure figuring it all out.
I was asked to balance two new (two cycles) MaxAmps packs, and both required it.
I don't know how far out they were, the Orion balancer doesn't say. And if you have an Orion balancer, you'll need to get a 2S Hyperion connector for it in order to use it with those taps. If anybody needs more information on that, PM me, it was an adventure figuring it all out.
#9
Tech Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Beautiful Downtown L.A. Where the sky is always on fire and the grass is always brown
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My charger balances them everytime I charge, so I don't worry about them getting out of balance. Good or bad? Who knows.
#10
I have few 2200mAH 3-cell packs for my Heli, after 2 weeks of fun I was receommended to get a balance charger to charge my pack as I was told it is better for the battery life. When I try to discharge my packs with my new toy, there were at least 10%, some are 17% difference in capacity.
Now I use balance charging every time, they are balanced and showing only a little difference in capacity.
I am sure balance charger and discharger worth the money.
Now I use balance charging every time, they are balanced and showing only a little difference in capacity.
I am sure balance charger and discharger worth the money.
#11
I thought that one of the reasons you use a balancer, is to prevent overcharging one of the cells if they become significantly unbalanced. Is that not correct?
BTW... I think manufacturer's safety warnings alone are enough to dissuade anyone from buying Lipos.
BTW... I think manufacturer's safety warnings alone are enough to dissuade anyone from buying Lipos.
#12
i charge at 2C and balance all the time.
If charging at 1C then balance prob not as essential
If charging at 1C then balance prob not as essential
#13
Yes, if any of the LiPo is overcharge or over-discharge, the LiPo will be damaged. NiCD or NiMH can accept a bit overcharging, but not LiPo no matter 1C or 2C
#14
what is a good balancer/ or charger with balancer to get? I have 4 ICE. But they only charge not balance. My lipos are carbon 3200 and platium 4800, both orion.
someone at the track told me to get the FMA scorpion charger, I talked to a person with a trakpower balancer.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
someone at the track told me to get the FMA scorpion charger, I talked to a person with a trakpower balancer.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
#15
I use MaxAmps 4000mah 2s Lipo's for racing. I run them out until the 6v cutoff on my esc for every single run and charge them up all the way. After 10 cycles, i decided,hm....i'll try balancing, its worth a try. Guess what my balancer said? It said that the cells were already so closely balanced that there is no work for it to do. The two cells will not get out of wack that easy in need of balancing from my estimates for at least 15 cycles if you have a high quality lipo pack, like MaxAmps or the other hard cased lipo's.