Lipo Charging Basic's For Future Lipo User

[enfieldbanana]

Hey there people,

I made the decision to move from NiMH to Lipo's and at the moment doing research and raising the cash.

Will most likely get the 4400's 30c Vampire saddle packs to run in my B44. I have a LRP Pulsar 3 which I am able to charge them up on.

I know that I will have to purchase the following:

1. Lipo charging pouch

2. B44 lipo craddle

Before I get them I want to get some answers clear in my tiny little mind, which are:

1. How do work out the rate at which you charge the cells?

2. How do you stop the charger from over charging them?

3. Do you need to balance the pack and what would be best the balancer to use with the Pulsar 3?

4. Do you need to discharge them before charging like with NiMH or can you just top them up to full capacity?

I think that's it at the moment. Any other information that would help a future lipo user would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Andy

[markwilliamson2001]

Charge rate: 1C (so 3200mAh cells charge at 3.2A, 4400mAh cells @ 4.4A).

Your charger should be able to set how many cells in series your packs are (yours SHOULD be 2S (2 series), which should cut off at 8.4v.
MAKE SURE YOUR CHARGER is set to LIPO mode as well.

Balancer: I use the trakpower v-balance, which is very easy to use, clear, and also has another cut-off, should your charger fail (belt and braces idea). Someone else at my club uses at prolux one, not too sure which one will be compatible with your charger. My v-balance has corally 4mm connector plugs on it.

No need to discharge (do not leave plugged into the car, as the big capacitor can discharge your cells overnight, and ruin them). And do not run past 6v. If your speedo has a cutoff on it, enable it for 2S packs.

HTH
Mark

[JCJC]

QUOTE=enfieldbanana: Hey there people,

1. How do work out the rate at which you charge the cells?

Usuall advice is charge at 1C max, that will be 4.4Amps for the 4400AmHr pack.

2. How do you stop the charger from over charging them?

Thats how chargers work (just like your other cells), when they are fully charged the charger will stop,
only charge on lipo settings, last bit of charge the amps drop but the volts stay constant.

3. Do you need to balance the pack and what would be best the balancer to use with the Pulsar 3?

Balance ocasionaly, not as important as traditional cells. (Pulsar-don't know)

4. Do you need to discharge them before charging like with NiMH or can you just top them up to full capacity?

Not like NiMH, just top them up whenever, store with some voltage in them. Most importantly do not run untill flat or below approx 6.5volts.

I think that's it at the moment. Any other information that would help a future lipo user would be extremely helpful.

Easier all round I would say, most difficult thing is finding the balance cable to suit and knowing what to do with all those 4mm female connectors you dont have a use for. But charge/balance em once and you are an expert.

[enfieldbanana]

Thanks for the information guys really appreciate it!!!!

You've made things a lot clearer in my head!!!

A