Optipower odd charging ??? TP1010C & TP610V

**rachel** · 31-10-2011, 02:19 PM

Now I am trying to work this out , it's very odd.
I am charging my new Optipacks , (which i love so far ) with a Thunder Power TP1010C charger with a data linked Tp-210V balancer

My problem is that although charging at 1C (3.5 amps) sometimes the charger cuts out and states "cell over voltage" from memory 4.2 volts.
This usually happens at around 94% charged.
Its entirley random as I can then put a charge in to another pack no problem at all .

If i check the packs (off charge) the cels are around 4.18 volts and balanced to 0.04 of a volt
I never discharge the packs below 30% and have been running them in nicely.

My only ideas on this are that my particular charger charges through the main leads then bleads the highest cell down to the lowest cell with the balancer.

Ideas anyone ????
Thanks x Rachel

**ROSSCO** · 31-10-2011, 03:02 PM

This might not help but this is something Andy posted on the Optipower website a few days ago regarding cold weather charging with the PL8, might be something in this that might help.

COLD WEATHER CHARGING WITH CELLPRO PL8

We have been contacted a couple of times in the past few days by people asking why their lithium is no longer charging to 4.2v/cell with their PL8? The answer is it is doing exactly what it is designed to do in cold weather. The default condition of the PL8 is that the cold weather setting is ENABLED. This means that at 10 degree's C ambient the charger will charge to 4.1v/cell i.e. at 10C or lower the cell voltage cut off point is 100mV lower.
The cold weather settings are in PRESETS and range from:NONE (will charge to 4.2v/cell irrespective of ambient)0 C5C10CThe available variable mV cut-off settings are:--50mV-100mV-150mV-200mVDefault is 10C and -100mV = 4.1v/cellSo if you find your lithium is not reaching 4.2v and it's cold this is the reason. It is dangerous to charge lithium cells (anybodies brand) to 4.2v per cell at less than 10C if you do and then warm those up they will potentcially increase in voltage beyond 4.2v/cell hence the safety factor built into the CellPro PL8.

**rachel** · 31-10-2011, 03:32 PM

Cell voltages on charge are
4.233
4.238
4.243
4.238
4.236
4.238
Taken just before charging finished .

This pack charged fully :-)
I am charging indoors at 20 degrees C

**Ashley Davis** · 31-10-2011, 04:30 PM

is your charger at the latest firmware level, the TP charger did have problems with this but it is fixed in the very latest firmware levels (apparently, according to other users).

**rachel** · 31-10-2011, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Ashley Davis

is your charger at the latest firmware level, the TP charger did have problems with this but it is fixed in the very latest firmware levels (apparently, according to other users).

Thanks Ashley, I am not sure mine is V2.3 from memory I will check later :-)
rachel

**Adsmalan** · 31-10-2011, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by rachel

Cell voltages on charge are
4.233
4.238
4.243
4.238
4.236
4.238
Taken just before charging finished .

This pack charged fully :-)
I am charging indoors at 20 degrees C

I had a similar thing occur with one 3S pack I was using. The voltage after flight in one cell was pulled down lower than the other two. When charging the low cell would charge higher than the other two causing an over voltage alarm. I then changed my charger to a Cellpro 10S and I never had any more issues with this particular battery and all cells balance spot on.
I spoke to a knowledgeable person regarding this issue and they said it was probably the charger. Apparently there are very few "true" balancing chargers available and the one I owned at the time did not fall into this category. I cannot comment on your particular charger as I do not know enough about them but it may be worth trying another charger if you can.
Mike from Aurorra Ltd, 0114 257 0401is the man to speak to, he should be able to answer your question straight away.

**Andy from Sandy** · 31-10-2011, 08:04 PM

It seems ridiculous to be talking about such small numbers but if those figures are accurate then 3 to 400millivolts ( that is .03 to .04 volts) over 4.2 volts is bad.

My Cellpro never goes over 4.208, again assuming its accuracy.

**cjcj1949** · 31-10-2011, 08:16 PM

Could you make a note of the current the charger was outputting when it stopped charging? With a lipo the voltage reaches 4.2V during the constant current phase and then the current is reduced during the constant voltage phase. If the current is reduced too slowly you could trigger an overvoltage alarm. You could get round this by reducing the charging current. This problem could be a feature of Optipower batteries and the way they behave in the last stage of charge. They might require Cellpro chargers to charge properly. Some people would argue that all batteries need Cellpro chargers.

It is easier to understand if we avoid using the terms constant current and constant voltage, but that's what's they are called. I find it easier to think of Current limit and Voltage Limit which apply all the time. In the first part of charge the current limit is working and after 4.20V the voltage limit is working. Your charger isn't reducing the current quickly enough to stay inside the voltage limit with the Optipower battery. Or to put it another way the OptiPower is charging too quickly. (Or its internal resistance has gone up)

**rachel** · 04-11-2011, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Ashley Davis

is your charger at the latest firmware level, the TP charger did have problems with this but it is fixed in the very latest firmware levels (apparently, according to other users).

I just wanters to say a huge thank you , I managed to upload v2.5 and am now charging no problem , I had problems using my windows 7 laptop but an old vista pc at work did the job.

Thanks Ashley :-) and everyone who helped.
Rachel

**mikeKendall** · 04-11-2011, 10:28 PM

Do you need a special lead to do the firmware update? I have a TP 1010c and I know I've never updated it.

**rachel** · 04-11-2011, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by mikeKendall

Do you need a special lead to do the firmware update? I have a TP 1010c and I know I've never updated it.

Yes it's a pig to do pm me your address and you can borrow it hours of fun with every update ! Lol
Rach

**cjcj1949** · 04-11-2011, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by rachel

I just wanters to say a huge thank you , I managed to upload v2.5 and am now charging no problem , I had problems using my windows 7 laptop but an old vista pc at work did the job.

Thanks Ashley :-) and everyone who helped.
Rachel

Glad your sorted. It's very useful for everyone else to know about a problem that has been fixed. You might get a few requests for that lead...

**avroboy** · 07-11-2011, 09:59 AM

One interesting point about using the CellPro PL8v2 is that when its connected to your PC and you fire it up it looks at the firmware you have and will ask you if you want to upgrade it if its not the current revision. Firmware upgrades take 1 min 24 seconds generally, very quick and very simple. I have no idea how other systems work however.

Andy

**Mark_T** · 07-11-2011, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by avroboy

One interesting point about using the CellPro PL8v2 is that when its connected to your PC and you fire it up it looks at the firmware you have and will ask you if you want to upgrade it if its not the current revision.

Worth taking note of this post though to ensure you do get reminded in future ...

Cell Pro chargers website has moved