Is There something wrong with my Lipo Balancer?
#1
I have a Hobbyking Quattro 4x6s Charger. I have had this charger for over two years, just started using it to balance my Lipo packs (before that I used a separate balancer)
Sometimes when I balance a lipo pack it takes a long-time for the balancer mode to stop, it will stay at .01 charge rate for a long time.
Other times, the charger will time-out before the pack has completed balancing. Is this normal? Is The Lipo pack being balanced the problem?
Sometimes when I balance a lipo pack it takes a long-time for the balancer mode to stop, it will stay at .01 charge rate for a long time.
Other times, the charger will time-out before the pack has completed balancing. Is this normal? Is The Lipo pack being balanced the problem?
#3
I've seen this on brand new B6 chargers (both genuine and clones) and nearly new lipos... I think there can be times where the system drops to trickle charging/balancing and it is taking out about as much current while checking the voltage on each cell as it is putting back in. So far this is only happening to me on smaller 2s packs.
To be honest, I haven't noticed the problem since I started using a decent hobby style power supply.
To be honest, I haven't noticed the problem since I started using a decent hobby style power supply.
#4
I've seen this on brand new B6 chargers (both genuine and clones) and nearly new lipos... I think there can be times where the system drops to trickle charging/balancing and it is taking out about as much current while checking the voltage on each cell as it is putting back in. So far this is only happening to me on smaller 2s packs.
To be honest, I haven't noticed the problem since I started using a decent
hobby style power supply.
To be honest, I haven't noticed the problem since I started using a decent
hobby style power supply.
#6
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,530
From: Houston, TX
The IMAXX B-6 charger and copies have a known balancer issue that's related to the poor accuracy of its voltage measurement. There's a big thread on RC Groups about fixing the prob - replacing some orig low quality internal resistors with better ones to improve voltage measurement and balancing.
Some of what you're seeing otherwise is prob age related, I haven't seen complaints about the Quattro having inherent balance issues. If it does this with a good lipo, then I'd suspect the charger may have a prob.
Does it happen in all 4 ports?
Some of what you're seeing otherwise is prob age related, I haven't seen complaints about the Quattro having inherent balance issues. If it does this with a good lipo, then I'd suspect the charger may have a prob.
Does it happen in all 4 ports?
#7
I've seen this on brand new B6 chargers (both genuine and clones) and nearly new lipos... I think there can be times where the system drops to trickle charging/balancing and it is taking out about as much current while checking the voltage on each cell as it is putting back in. So far this is only happening to me on smaller 2s packs.
To be honest, I haven't noticed the problem since I started using a decent hobby style power supply.
To be honest, I haven't noticed the problem since I started using a decent hobby style power supply.
The IMAXX B-6 charger and copies have a known balancer issue that's related to the poor accuracy of its voltage
measurement. There's a big thread on RC Groups about fixing the prob - replacing some orig low quality internal resistors with better ones to improve voltage measurement and balancing.
Some of what you're seeing otherwise is prob age related, I haven't seen complaints about the Quattro having inherent balance issues. If it does this with a good lipo, then I'd suspect the charger may have a prob.
Does it happen in all 4 ports?
measurement. There's a big thread on RC Groups about fixing the prob - replacing some orig low quality internal resistors with better ones to improve voltage measurement and balancing.
Some of what you're seeing otherwise is prob age related, I haven't seen complaints about the Quattro having inherent balance issues. If it does this with a good lipo, then I'd suspect the charger may have a prob.
Does it happen in all 4 ports?
#8
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,055
I have a few packs that do this on several different chargers, and it is because they are not balanced well or a cell is getting weak. I cant say this is what is going on here, but it has been the case for me. One way to know is to stand there and watch the individual cell voltage. Every few minutes the charger should allow the pack to "rest" for a few seconds while it checks voltage, and at this point you can see one cell voltage shoot up and the other stay the same or even drop, depending on how bad it is out of balance.
#9
I have a few packs that do this on several different chargers, and it is because they are not balanced well or a cell is getting weak. I cant say this is what is going on here, but it has been the case for me. One way to know is to stand there and watch the individual cell voltage. Every few minutes the charger should allow the pack to "rest" for a few seconds while it checks voltage, and at this point you can see one cell voltage shoot up and the other stay the same or even drop, depending on how bad it is out of balance.




