Affinity charging lead with Align 2S 250 mah batteries.

[Granpappy]

Hi there,

I've just received an Affinity charging lead that allows you to charge 4 x Align 2S 250 mah batteries in parallel at the same time. (the ones for a TREX 150)
Now I guess after flying my little 150 around for a while the 4 batteries will be at varying states of discharge. They all get charged through the balance connector and the charger will see it as 1 x 2S4P battery. Does the balance board resolve the different states of discharge on the batteries or could this cause a problem. I've only ever used a balance board for multiple cells in series ie 6S1P. I'm just wondering whether it copes with multiple cells in series and parallel.

[SGD]

Before you try to charge anything in parallel have a good read of this:

How-To: Parallel Charging - TJinTech

The parallel board doesn't do anything other than connect your batteries to the charger and has no way of distinguishing between different states of charge in the batteries. So you need some way of checking the batteries before you connect either a small battery checker or put them on the charger one at a time and note the pack voltage.

All the batteries that are to be charged in parallel need to be in a similar state of charge/discharge and I never charge similar packs in parallel with more than a total voltage difference of 0.2V between all packs.

[Granpappy]

That's a very useful reference. Thank you.

[dillwhacker]

Well, I'm gonna stick my neck out a bit and say 'don't worry about it'...
As long as the packs aren't 100% or completely flat, I think you will be just fine paralleling up these very small packs.
They have a high Internal Resistance and the balance leads will add to that.
Just join them up, stuff 'em in a LiPo bag and charge. Don't go down the pub till they're finished.
There is a discussion here...
http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/main-d...you-why-3.html
HTH
T