Charging unknown LiPo?
 

I picked up a Futaba 3PK on e-bay and it came with a Nicad and a LiPo, the LiPo is unmarked. I am a rookie to the newer generation of chargers and batteries.
Would there be a safe way to charge the LiPo without knowing the details of the pack?
Thanks

Yes, and all you really need to know is the cell count or voltage. I run lipo in my 3PK and 3PJS and they are 3S or 11.1v nominal which charges to 12.6v when fully charged.

Lipo charges by voltage - charger will charge to a max of 4.2v/cell and then ramps the current down at constant voltage letting the lipo top off. So as long as you use a proper lipo charge, charger will charge the lipo to max voltage and top it off and stop. The charger's mah should give you some idea of what lipo capacity is. Most lipo chargers have some protection built in, so you can't charge a 2S (7.4v nominal) as a 3S (11.1v nominal) lipo. This helps keep things safe when mistakes are made or in your case when you don't know all the details on the lipo you have.


Maybe read this and learn about lipos -

http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-lipo-batteries.html



Do you have a lipo charger?

Thanks for the info, yes I have a Orion Advantage Race Spec charger w/ balancer.

You will have to decide what charge rate to use. With the lipo in the 3PK turn it on and see what voltage it has. You don't want to discharge it below about 10v. I would charge it at 1amp until you get an idea of what capacity the lipo has. That is a safe charge rate for the lipos I've seen used in a 3PK. Mine is an older one that's been discontinued, but was a 3300mah so I charge at 3.3amps.



Any way you can ask the seller what he installed in the radio? He should know if he made the switch to lipo.