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Old 11-05-2018 | 11:15 AM
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rhodesengr
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so here is how to estimate charge times with Lipo batteries. It helps if you read up on the term "C". You will probably always see a discharge C-rating but not as often a charging C-rating. C is current normalized to the capacity. So for a a 5000 mAh hour battery (5 Ah), 1 C is 5 amps, 2 C is 10 amps, etc. 20C is a typical lowish discharge C. 30-50C is a decent rating for discharge.

On the charging side of things, the C's are much lower. Standard charging is 1C which by definition would take 1 hour. Most LiPo hobby-type batteries can be safely charged at 2C or even 3C. 2C would charge a battery in 30 minutes and 3C in 20 minutes. So a 5800mAh (5.8 Ah) at 2C requires 5.8x2=11.6 amps. 3C would need 17.4 amps.

Power is amps times volts. A 2S battery like for that truck is about 8volts (8.4 fully charged) so the power required for 2C charging is about 8V* 11.6A=92Watts or for 3C 8V times 17.4amps= 139Watts.

So with a 5800mAh battery and a 100W charger, you can just manage 2C but not 3C.

The actually times vary because you should never fully discharge a Lipo (50-80% is a good stopping range) but the chargers tend to only balance at the end of the cycle so balancing can take a while. So time is reduced for the battery being partially charged but increased if the cells are out of balance.

I have this charger
https://www.amainhobbies.com/protek-...k-8519/p578442
It is two channels and 200Watts per channel. If is great for LiPos up to about 4S. It is underpowered for my 6S 5000mAh helicopter batteries. I have a 1000W system (iCharger i306B with 1000W 24 VDC powersupply) that I use for those.

You can buy whatever cables and adapters you need from various places, or make your own. Progressiverc.com is a great shop for all things related to charging.

Most of my batteries I buy from Hobbyking or GensTattu https://www.genstattu.com/


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