Lipo 2mm balance connectors...

[Dandare]

I just wondered why balance leads have a 2mm balance connector along with the balance plug when not all lipos have the facility to plug it in, but just have the balance plug to plug into the balance board only ? What does this 2mm connector do exactly ?

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/core-rc-7.4v-balance-charge-lead-jst-xh-to-2s-gold/rc-car-products/32048

[sosidge]

There are a variety of balance leads available. The one with the 2mm plug is for packs that have a... 2mm socket (like most racing packs).

If your pack has a moulded balance connector, naturally you will need a different balance lead.

[Dandare]

So what is the 2mm lead for, when a battery has the socket for it ?

[i4n]

Balance charging the battery.

In simple terms, it is essentially the mid point between the two cells (in a 2 cell battery) and the charger can use it to see which cell needs charging more to even them up to the same charge state.

Have a play with the top diagram on this site http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/lipo.html as it shows what I've said pictorially (set series to 2S, parallel to 1p and balance connection to yes).

[Dandare]

Balance charging the battery.

In simple terms, it is essentially the mid point between the two cells (in a 2 cell battery) and the charger can use it to see which cell needs charging more to even them up to the same charge state.

I understand balance charging, what i don't understand is why you sometimes see batterys balance charged via just the white balance plug (connected to the battery) plugged into a balance board ie, no 2mm connector present at all.

If the 2mm lead isn't always present ie, no 2mm socket on the battery to plug it into what job does it do when it is present ?

[fidspeed]

hi

some batteries have a 2mm socket for balance charging some have a separate lead on the battery which can plug into the charger directly or a balance board basically you need 3 wires connected to balance 2s lipos

1 goes to positive on 1 cell the second goes on the bridge between the first and second cell and the 3rd goes to negative on the second cell

which ever way you balance, through a plug (3 wire) or a 2mm balance pin utilising main charge leads (red/black) you get the same result

hope this helps Dave

[i4n]

What fidspeed said.

Some batteries have a jst style balance connector (the white plug you mention) as well as the main power connectors.

Other batteries just have the main power connectors (normally 4mm bullet type) and a 2mm balance connector.

If you go back to the web page I linked to and set it up for a 2S battery with balance connector, this is the set up with the extra white connector (you'll notice the two wires going into that connector connect at both ends of the battery where the main power wires go in, with the third in the middle). If you have a 2mm bullet type, the 2mm bullet replaces the middle wire of the three wires.

I can't think of another way to explain it. Sorry.