What does Balance Current drain means
#4
Tech Regular
iTrader: (6)
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 362
From: GreatWhiteNorth
It's the drain current that the balancer cct applies to keep the cells of the entire battery pack near the same. The main charge leads are what source the large current to the battery (from the charger), but each cell of the battery will charge at slightly different rates, so the drain current tries to draw some of the current back out of the battery to keep the cells roughly at the same voltage. It might be slightly faster at balancing.
#5
Tech Champion

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,342
If the pack is significantly out of balance then yes a higher drain current allows faster charging. If/when the drain current is not sufficient the charge rate is reduced.
Some of the better higher current drain chargers charge faster even with balanced packs, they appear to take better advantage of the more accurate balance connection voltage readings, compensating for the slight voltage drop over the main charge wires and can charge a little quicker.
Some of the better higher current drain chargers charge faster even with balanced packs, they appear to take better advantage of the more accurate balance connection voltage readings, compensating for the slight voltage drop over the main charge wires and can charge a little quicker.



