The PowerLab hooks up the same as most any lipo balancing charger. It has a pair of main wires (+ & -, some call them the discharge wires), and a balancer port. The hookup is not any different for a PowerLab than an iCharger, Hyperion, etc. (The non-relevant exception being some small chargers that only charge via the balance port)

In a parallel circuit the voltage of each paralleled path is the same. The power and current in each path are different if the paths have different properties, as is the case we are discussing. This is the key point.

The packs will not require re-distribution while charging, as the charge current distribution will be automatically achieved on the fly by the parallel connection. Does leave the issue of initial hookup, why I mentioned that packs should be at a similar voltage.


Worst case, some have tested configurations with significant voltage/charge state difference with different capacity packs (like 10:1). Even then the current spike when connecting wasn't terribly high and quite short in duration, with minimal wire & connection heating. Although not recommended for general practice just to be extra safe.

If that is not enough, the MPA (Multi-Port Safe Parallel Adapter) that Team Grid RC said he is using has fuses on every single connection, both balance and mains. Certainly the safest and most foolproof method of parallel charging.

Of course simply don’t try parallel charging if you are not comfortable with it. In many cases it is better to charge the packs singly as needed anyway due to the detrimental effects of lipos sitting at full charge. Personally I would probably only use it for something that had twin packs that always ran together.


And just for the benefit of anyone that might be reading this, do not try to parallel charge nickel type packs, ni-cads or ni-mh. For lithium, and lead acid (auto) batteries, parallel charging can be a useful tool in the appropriate situation.