LiPo charging Q

[sargan]

Building my first Heli (Nitro) and it has a 3800mAH RX battery ... 2S2P

So far my option seems to be on buying a Cellpro multi4 charger.

Being unfamilair with LiPo's .... see that this battery has power leads ..plus a 3 core lead and a 4 core lead.
Do I need to buy a balance board as well, or will the charger connect direct to the battery.

I will also be charging a pair of NiMh batterries (starter) ... but not of course at same time as Rx Lipo

[Mark_T]

Which pack did you get in the end?

I know we talked about the 3600 2S Thunderpower packs at the time, but it looks like you got something else?

[sargan]

Tried to get the one you advised .. but it never came back in stock ... got the replacement the Thunder Power 3800mAh
Fits the tray perfectly. (gained 200mAh )

Need to order a charger - just checking if i need to order a balance board as well.

[Mark_T]

If you go with that charger then yes, you'll need the TP balance board to go with it.

[sargan]

Is this the right thing:
4S Cellpro Adapter (ThunderPower TPPQ) From Heliguy.com

[Mark_T]

Yes, but buy it from the same page as the charger if you order from there as you'll get a small discount on it.

[sargan]

Yes, but buy it from the same page as the charger if you order from there as you'll get a small discount on it.

The Cellpro Charger turned up with balance board & mains adapter.

A Q ... as you know the Rx battery pack I have ...
It has a 4 core lead which I assume plugs into the 4 pin '2S' socket on balance board.

There is also a red & black lead terminated in a 3 pin plug ... is what I connect to the Align 2 in 1 regulator
Plugs don't match ... so guess it's solderring iron time ... read that I should change all battery connectors to Deans, to standardize and they are better connectors.


The 2 in 1 also has a red & black lead terminated in a 3 pin plug ... which I assume then goes to the Align AR 7000 RX

The 2 in 1 has a glowplug croc clip, is that left permanently connected to glow ? .. heat cycle controlled by push button on 2 in 1.

Secondly ... on the battery pack there is also 2 single high current leads .. one red one black ... are these simply not used ?

[Mark_T]

OK, first off I'd use the high current leads you mentioned last for the Deans connector (socket side) and leave the servo type connector in place but unused.

Replace the red 2 pin connector on the 2-in-1 with the other half of the deans connector (pin side).

Yes, the servo type plug on the 2-in-1 goes to the receiver.

Yes the croc clip is left attached to the glow plug. There is also a single black earth wire, take that to the engine mount or the engine itself.

[sargan]

The Cellpro Charger turned up with balance board & mains adapter.

A Q ... as you know the Rx battery pack I have ...
It has a 4 core lead which I assume plugs into the 4 pin '2S' socket on balance board.

There is also a red & black lead terminated in a 3 pin plug ... is what I connect to the Align 2 in 1 regulator
Plugs don't match ... so guess it's solderring iron time ... read that I should change all battery connectors to Deans, to standardize and they are better connectors.


The 2 in 1 also has a red & black lead terminated in a 3 pin plug ... which I assume then goes to the Align AR 7000 RX

The 2 in 1 has a glowplug croc clip, is that left permanently connected to glow ? .. heat cycle controlled by push button on 2 in 1.

Secondly ... on the battery pack there is also 2 single high current leads .. one red one black ... are these simply not used ?

This stuff is almost starting to make sense ...

[sargan]

Just a further point ... I have the Cellpro ... and the balance board.

I will also want to charge some 3000mAh NiMH (8.4V 7 cell)

There is also a sepearte lead supplied with cellpro ..plug to suit the same socket as where balance board plugs in, is it just a case of connecting that lead to the NiMH ... (making up suitable connectors) and charging them one at a time.

Just that the wire gauge on this lead is very thin - quick measure shows it as less than 0.4mm2 ... certainly would have expected something more for a 4A charger ... maybe it's just me.

[chugga-bug]

No need to charge the NiMh cells one at a time. Just plug the whole pack in and charge at about 300Mah over night. You can fast charge them at upto 1c (3amps) but this isn't a reliable way to charge NiMh's as they tend to fool the charger into thinking they're full when they aren't.

[Mark_T]

I don't think Sargan was planning cell by cell charging, but he does have multiple 7 cell packs

The unbalanced connector wire is going to be fine up to 4A, even the balance wires are rated for around 3A so nothing to worry about there.

So yes, add a suitable end to the wire that can with the charger and charge the packs that way.

NiMH can give false peaks but I'd still be happy charging the packs at 3A just check what you've put into them and the final voltage if you think it has peaked too quickly.

[sargan]

Sorry if description was not clear..
Yes it will be complete packs charged at a time.
These packs are for my sullivan starter.