Originally Posted by
got_nitro
3C-4C = charge rate. example, Take a 5000mah pack x 3C = 15 amps. 5000mah pack x 4C = 20 amps charge rate. Take the mah x it's "C" rating and thats what you can charge it at.
Ok, the info given here isn't wrong, but I think it can be taken the wrong way if you read it too quickly.
Mah = run time. Its like a gas tank, bigger the tank the further you can go.
"C" rating is a way of stating a Lipo battery's output, based on the Mah of the battery. Mah multiplied by C = Amps. The "C" rating is used to describe how many amps a battery is capable of delivering under the following condtions.
Continuous load
Burst load (generally less than 10 seconds)
Charging
For example You would normally see this on a label of a battery: 5000mah 25/40c. This means it is a 5000mah battery with a 20c continuous and 40c burst rating. It can deliver 100amps continuous and 200amps burst.
The charging C rate of a pack will always be listed separately from the other two numbers. Up until a year or 2ago almost all packs could only be charged at 1c (5000mah pack at 1c = 5amp charge). Now there are packs availible that can be charged at 5c or more. If you cannot find the charge rating on the pack, do not charge it at more than 1c or you could damage the battery.