Low Voltage
#1
I hooked a 800 mah 3 cell Lipo that I hadn't used in a while up to my Venom charger and it gave the readout "Low Voltage" I had the charging set up to 11.1 volts. Why am I getting this "Low Voltage" readout? Is something wrong or is this battery toast because I haven't charged it in a long time. Is there anything i can do to "retrieve" it?
Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your input.
#2
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,530
From: Houston, TX
The lipo prob has too little voltage. Lipo charges usually are set not to charge lipo battery if the voltage is below 3volts/cell. Yours is prob dropped below that limit - thats why charger is showing low voltage.
You may be able to salvage it though if its in good shape and has not been damaged by dropping too low. First measure voltage and find out what the voltage is. Then set charger up as NiMh with a low charge rate - for an 800mah I'd use something like 0.2amp (200ma). Start the charge and watch the process - stop immediately if you see any signs that he lipo is beginning to swell. If its OK, continue to charge until voltage is back over 6volts. I'd let it charge to 6.2 - 6.4volts. Stop the charge. Now set charger back up as a lipo and it should now charge and finish.
You've prob damaged your lipo but how much depends on how low the voltage got down to. If the lipo doesn't swell, watch it over the next few cycles and if no probs, it'll prob be fine. You've prob just lost some chg/dischg cycles. If you're going to leave one for a long time again, charge it to 65-80% as a storage charge, thats supposed to pervent this kind of thing from happening.
You may be able to salvage it though if its in good shape and has not been damaged by dropping too low. First measure voltage and find out what the voltage is. Then set charger up as NiMh with a low charge rate - for an 800mah I'd use something like 0.2amp (200ma). Start the charge and watch the process - stop immediately if you see any signs that he lipo is beginning to swell. If its OK, continue to charge until voltage is back over 6volts. I'd let it charge to 6.2 - 6.4volts. Stop the charge. Now set charger back up as a lipo and it should now charge and finish.
You've prob damaged your lipo but how much depends on how low the voltage got down to. If the lipo doesn't swell, watch it over the next few cycles and if no probs, it'll prob be fine. You've prob just lost some chg/dischg cycles. If you're going to leave one for a long time again, charge it to 65-80% as a storage charge, thats supposed to pervent this kind of thing from happening.




