Hey there,
I just made the switch to lipos, and I would like to charge my batteries in parallel. I'm looking at some of the parallel plugs/boards at EP Buddy.com. Is there stuff decent?

Also looking for some confirmation on how I need to set up the charger. From what I've read I should set it up like this.

2-2s 5000mAh packs should be charged like a single 2s 10000mAh battery so 10amps for a 1C charge rate, 20amps for 2c etc.

or
2-2s 2200mAh packs charged as 1 2s 4400mAh pack so 4.4amps for 1C, 8.8amps for 2C etc.

Thanks in advance for your help,
Ryan

Your maths is correct

Simply add the pack capacities, charger sees them as a single larger pack

Cheers

Thanks! I thought so, but wanted confirmation from some one who knew or sure.

I use the paraboards from EP buddy, they are an excellent solution.

To further expand you question, you can charge ALL your 2S packs together. So using your example you can charge two 2s 5000mah packs, and the two 2s 2200 mah packs all at the same time. Charge current is divided evenly across all the packs. Setting your charger at 20 amps (max continuous rating for para board) would push 5 amps into each of your packs. So you would be charging your 5000mah packs at 1c and your 2200 packs at about 2.3c.

The key points to remember is that the voltage (cell count) MUST BE THE SAME, and the charge current is evenly divided between the number of packs charged.

Good to know. I thought they had to be "like" packs as far as voltage and mAh, but I guess that makes sense. Unfortunately I will have to keep them paired up in 2's as they have different balance plugs. The 5000's are Turnigy with XH plugs, and the 2200's are Hyperion's.

I'm looking at the parallel cables HERE & HERE as I don't see any of the "Paraboards" with the TRX plugs I use. Will they work just as well?

Thanks,
Ryan

guys, have you seen the smart parrallel adaptor bouad by REVOLECTRIX??
Definitely the smartest p/llel board in the market

Agree that cell count must be the same. The charging current however will be not be evenly split among the batteries, but rather according to their internal resistance. So in the above case the 5000mAh and the 2200mAh batteries will receive different current, not 5amps both.

When parallel charging with a simple parallel cable you should charge only batteries that have roughly the same voltage, otherwise there will be a very high current between the packs. A paraboard with some overcurrent protection on each branch is definitely safer, if not all batteries are at the same charge level initially.

Well the packs I have will always be run in pairs. The 2200 are run in parallel in my Rally, and the 5000 in series right now in my Revo, hopefully soon in the MT4-G3 I hope to get. I typically check the voltage on the packs before charging anyways, I will just have to make sure to check them when I charge them together.

I would love to go with one of the paraboards, but have not been able to find any with TRX connecters. I anyone knows of one please let me know. I really don't want to have to use adapters. Otherwise I will probably just stick with the cables.

yah i guess if you have a "dumb" charger yes you have to take care of yuor connectors. have a look at PowerLab 8 and you'll see why this application based chargers is fully autonomous

John, one of the chargers I have is a CellPro 10s. I was under the impression that it was disadvantageous to charge batteries of different capacities or different states of charge because it would just dump the excess going to the battery which was at a higher state of charge and limit the rate of charge to that of the smaller capacity battery. It allows different cell counts as it is charging them in series and actively balances them to avoid overwhelming a smaller capacity battery.

Does the PowerLab 8 work differently than the CellPro 10s or am I misunderstanding how the Cellpro 10s works?


-Chocula

Voltages are usually advised to be no more than 0.1v different before you connect them.


I use the EPBuddy Paraboard setup and the only complaint I have is the wires from charger get a little warm at 30amps.....

you definitely have understood it corretly....with the ACTIVE charging mechanism of CellPRO the charger will detect if you have places mismatched batteries together.....it'll charge at the rate that the smallest capacity cell that is found on any of the channels connected to the charger.

They look great, but I can't wait till march for availability.

I need one yesterday.

According to the site it says due in March?? Does it really take that long to build and ship these to the U.S.?

I would think the profit loss from short stock situations like this would cause a loss of customers.

Hi therere. The shipent just passed customs inspection and shipenst shuold start Monday !