Have I charger problems.

[cambs flyer]

I only have a cheap set up and since flying the Trex it's been as good as gold.

I use the "Prolux 1-3 Cell Li-Po Charger DC 12v" & "Prolux 2-4 Cell Lithium Balancer"

My 12V Battery power source is fine, the last charge that was normal at 1.5 amps was with one of my Maxpoly batts where cell one had 4.26, cell two had 4.20, cell three had 4.22. this has been the normal charge rates since I've been flying and it has given me excellent flight times.

After my align batt cooled down I put it to charge at the 2amp charge setting (for the first time) as I wanted it to be charged quick, I've never done this rate before, as the highest I'd ever charged any batt was 1.5 amp.

And when charging at 1.5 or 1amp the charge unit usually got quite warm, I though it was strange when I felt the charger while charging at 2amps and it wasn't warm at all, then all the lights flashed saying the charging has been completed.

When I checked the voltage in the lo po after a 2amp charge, cell one 3.75, cell two 3.80 cell three 3.75.

It was the same when I tried to charge another Maxpoly after a flight, and this was charged after the Align battery, at 1.5amps, (thinking it 2amp setting doesn't work) and the charge per cell at this rate was a crappy cell one 3.75, cell two 3.80, cell three 3.75

I've got the 12V source batt on charge just to be sure, however the source batt has had more charges taken out of it before being put on charge again, plus each evening it's put on permanent float so its constantly trickle charged throughout the night, or on days it's not used, so I know my 12V source batt is in tip top condition, plus its only a few months old.

Any ideas, or suggestions guys,

[cambs flyer]

Has anyone any sugestions or thoughts to my problem.

[David Drew]

What's the mah of the lipo ?

I've had this sort of thing with my FP packs on a Cellpro charger. Sometimes charges, sometimes the same as you describe.

[cambs flyer]

There maxpoly and one align 2100mah, my source batt is on 100% charge via the mains and it was sucking a solid 5 amps for ages, now it's still drawing 1.2 amp charge and has been doing so for sometime, plus the 12V lead acid batt is making those gurgle sounds, it hasn't done that for a long time, I fear I may have only been topping up the surface and the batt is in desperate need for a serious recharge, I'll be leaving it over night to completely refresh it

Its a 12v 12amp motorcycle batt, I'm thinking as I'm drawing loads of voltage to charge my 2100mah's may be I haven't been replenishing enough charge thus electronic malfunctions, as its happening with both makes of batts.

And possibly the 12V batt isn't strong enough for continued 2100mah charging, and I need a car batt, as I used it for the BCX2 batt's and one charge almost lasted a week with them.

However its always left on float of a night time so I'll start charging the batts in the morning once the source batt has been topped fully.

This might not be the case, but I want to cancel out my 12V batt before anything else.

Can you please describe what happened to you bud', does this sound familiar at all?

Thanks

[David Drew]

My first gut feel is the motorcycle batt.

I have a 110 amp caravan batt & unless that is really well topped up it gives errors on charging 4 cell batts.

Try a car batt. I think it may be an issue with the losses in the draw from the batt versus the needs of the charger. Can you keep the charger on the m/c batt whilst you charge? Some chargers do not like it due to pulsing or something.

Keep us in touch

David

[cambs flyer]

Thank you David this has been very helpful.

It makes sense why I had an error light flashing on the balancer with a maxpoly earlier, then I turned it off, restarted the Lo Po charge and it went through OK after that, then, I wasn't getting fully replenished Li Po batts.

And I guess when I asked it to draw a 2amp feed on a Li Po that was the final death blow for a weakly charged main source battery.

so your saying my motorcycle 12amp hour batt really isn't up to many 2100mah charge cycles and needs serious recharging many times, or get a bigger battery amp hour wise.

[cambs flyer]

The charger states you can keep the trickle charge going while camping or boating so the batt never dies, I'll check, but I cant see it being a problem with the Lo Po charger, as the balancer evens the voltage before it enters the batt cells.

As I see it that is?

[David Drew]

I connect my 110 amp batt to a car type charger. When using one or two of my chargers it goes mad.

I think it's about the way the car charger 'pulses' the charge in. The Lipo charger does not like it,

Try this. Connect your Lipo charger to the car. Try charging a Lipo. If no probs then it's the combination of M/C bat & charger.

The chargers really do require a constant full voltage power supply. I really think the M/C batt can't do it & a car charger makes it worse.

David

[David Drew]

The charger states you can keep the trickle charge going while camping or boating so the batt never dies, I'll check, but I cant see it being a problem with the Lo Po charger, as the balancer evens the voltage before it enters the batt cells.

As I see it that is?

No. Don't think so/ Lipo chargers are fussy animals when it come to the supply they get

[David Drew]

Look Only 3 to go for 1000 !!!!!!!!!! Posts

[David Drew]

Two..........

[cambs flyer]

Congrats hitting the 1K mark.

OK scrub the idea of trickle charging while Li Po charging at the same time.

I guess it's get a car battery and top her up every night, or have a very strict recharging plan with the M/C battery. as I've been using her pretty much solid since this time last week and everythings been fine, I guess bit by bit the M/C/B has been losing amperage and it's come to a close today where enoughs enough.

I think a mains charger might be on the books very soon as I can't keep going on like this, but charging from a 12V power source seemed to have a great effect on the BCX2 batts, so I thought stay the same with the 450 batts, only they were sucking her dry compared to the little CX2 batts.

You've been a great help mate thank you, I just hope after giving the battery the charge of it's life everything plays ball now.

Just another line of thought, if the Li Po's haven't been charging correctly could this explain why tonight I've had no end of trimming probs on the heli as the Li Po's have been insufficient, and has had the same effect on the helis electronics as the Li po's have while squeezing out the power from a dieing battery source causing the charging equipment to fail in the process.

[AndyThilo]

Firstly forgot a mains charger, they are overpriced and tbh it really limits your selection. Get a resonable 12v psu, one like this :

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=23410

Then get a mid range lipo charger (although you're exisiting one may suffice, remember that lipos are designed to be charged at 1C, i.e the stock align 2100 will happily charge at 2.1amps.

A good charger would be for example :

http://www.aurorra.co.uk/shop/produc...cat=258&page=1

thats lipo only. A excellent field charger and what I use at the moment is this :

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=24297

This charges upto 5 cell lipos, nimh's, even car batteries.

Hope that helps a little.

[David Drew]

Chances are that the M/C batt has died. They don't like deep discharge.

The Prodigy charger shown above is similar to my Multiplex one. Very useful & does all the batt types you will need.

A caravan deep-cycle 85/110 amp batt is about £50. For the field it's just what you need.

As for the trimming - not sure. It could be as the lipos may not be delivering full power to the head & hence the need for trims. Maybe.

Cheers

David

[163phil]

Hi Wayne

Here's my 2p worth.....

I use this set up: http://www.brchobbies.co.uk/?page=shop&item=186 with http://www.brchobbies.co.uk/?page=sh...ditem&item=157

Great charger for the money - tells you all you need to know about your LiPo, is easy to use, will charge just about anything, and comes with a good selection of leads that enable you to make your own to suit

Re trimming I think it could very well be linked as I've noticed my heli starts to have a mind of its own as the battery gets close to exhaustion.

(Remember with LiPo's you mustn't let the voltage drop below 3V per cell. I did once, and although my battery is still useable, it's never been as good since)

Phil