Currently I always balance charging my lipo's.. but i hate waiting 1.5+ hours for them to charge with im at the track. The batteries are 4s 5000mAh 40c packs.

My idea is to unbalance charge them at 5.0A until the battery has a nominal voltage of about 16.6-16.7v and then switch it over to balance so the cells are all the same. Does that sound like a good or bad idea?

Suspect you are using an underpowered charger, if so I doubt if you would save any time. What charger do you have?

Balance between race and charge unbalanced at the track.. Balancing everytime is truelly unneeded..

I use a thunder ac6. It charges up to 5A but when i balance charge it normally chargers around 3-3.5A.

If i charged it at a true 5 amps it would charge faster..but should i still balance at the end of the charge?

Yep, it's underpowered being only a 50Watt charger.

50W/14,8V=3.38Amps

In order to charge a 4S at 5 Amps you need a 75 Watt charger at minimum.

Yep, won't be any faster, not enough power either way. Not completely familiar with the AC6, but at least with the Hyperion I've been using lately its a touch faster to charge with balancing. The balance connection provides a better voltage reading and the charger can use a slightly higher charge voltage.

I just got this charger last week

Powerlab 6

http://www.revolectrix.com/pl6_description_tab.htm



http://www.revolectrix.com/pl6_calcu...PL6_Calc_1.htm


This is my power supply


https://www.competitionelectronics.c...mart&Itemid=80


13.8 VDC Current limit 23 amps

I charge my Thunder power 5000 at 3c =15 amps Charge and balance in 20min.

I can charge this pack at 17.2 amps which would be like 3.3C and be done in 17 min.

The thunder power pack can be charged at 5c. which is 25c which is 29.1 amps

This charger can charge at 40amps.

I need a stronger power supply to charge that high of a amps/C.

Something like this




http://www.skyrc.com/index.php?route...product_id=128

1200W / 20V = 60A; DC24V output

So he is right you need a better charger and more powerful power supply

This is nice to have.

http://www.revolectrix.com/pl6_calcu...PL6_Calc_2.htm

Your problem with multiple cells and not balancing, give you a good chance of over charging a cell, boiling it, and catching the battery on fire. The only batterys I've ever seen burn, were being charged without balancing and were close to finishing (3). As far as charging, I've bought a Hitec X4 and a 30amp PS. It's been great and will charge my 6s at 5amp,5000 cell. But I think it's about the 30amp PS keeping the power clean. Hopefully you can learn from my earlier pain(LOL) and campfire car (I was lazy).

A Hitec X4 will charge a 6S, and it will charge at 5 amps, but not likely at the same time. Doesn't have enough power, 50 watts per port. Need 126 watts to do a 6S at 5A all the way. The X4 Eighty would be a little closer at 80W per.

I'm hoping my next charger is a PL8. I'm using a Sky RC 400W Duo right now and while it will do 20amps per side, I notice the left bank won't charge to 4.2 per cell. Always stops short at about 4.18. i can then put it on the right side and add another 50mah and bring it to 4.2, but not sure it's needed. Anyway, the PL8 would be nice with it's high power and computer interface capabilities. All my packs can do 5-10c charge rates, so I'd rather spend my time playing and not charging. lol