Atlantic Society of Radio Controlled Modellers

Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Charging new batteries Aug 27^th, 2021 at 9:34pm Looks like the learning curve continues. Was getting a "main port? Low voltage" error on my charger and discovered that I think I need to connect the main battery ports as well as the balance plug to the charger. I thinkni need one of these...
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CQ Private Offline PC2312826839 MAAC76705 Posts: 253	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #1 - Aug 28^th, 2021 at 7:53am You are correct. Almost all chargers require the main connection as well as the balance port. You might be able to get that locally at Mighty Small Cars. They have a good selection of that kind of stuff.
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Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #2 - Aug 28^th, 2021 at 9:32am Thank you! Thought I had read on the web somewhere that you don't use the main port...I'll go over to small cars and see what they've got
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Wright Flyer Zach Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 100 Milford	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #3 - Aug 28^th, 2021 at 12:08pm I have a few of those ports and i get those errors sometimes and i just set it to Fast Charge and it should bypass that error
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Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #4 - Aug 28^th, 2021 at 2:22pm Also...should the charge rate be the same as the capacity of the batteries? I.e. .80 amp charge for a 850 amp/hr battery?
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Re: Charging new batteries
Reply #5 - Aug 28^th, 2021 at 2:31pm

For most batteries that is the case. Some batteries say on them the maximum charge rate in C. C means the capacity of the battery. If the battery is a 2200 mAh and it says the maximum charge rate is 2C then you can charge at 2 x 2200mA = 4.4 Amps.
Usually it is better to charge at 1C regardless of the maximum rate, for battery longevity, though opinions differ on that point.

@Zach. It is not a very good idea to bypass a voltage error. These errors are usually due to a problem with a cell or balance connector, and need to be diagnosed. Charging a battery on fast charge withough knowing what the problem is could result in a FIRE!

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Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #6 - Aug 28^th, 2021 at 2:36pm Thanks again. I read on the battery literature it said 1C for charge rate so I went .80 for an 850 amp/hr battery.
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Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #7 - Aug 31^st, 2021 at 8:57am Should it take about 40 minutes to charge a 850 mah/hr battery?
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Colin2 Private Online Heli Maniac! Posts: 168 Hammonds Plains, NS	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #8 - Aug 31^st, 2021 at 9:10am That sounds about right if you're charging the pack at 1C or .8 amps.
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Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #9 - Aug 31^st, 2021 at 11:32am Yes I am. What's the advantage of fast charging? Is it half the time?
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Colin2 Private Online Heli Maniac! Posts: 168 Hammonds Plains, NS	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #10 - Aug 31^st, 2021 at 12:44pm It could be even faster than that if you are so inclined. If the 850mah pack is rated for a 5C charge rate, you could charge it at 4 amps and have it done in around 10-15 minutes, but unless you are in a hurry, it's not necessary. For battery longevity, I would keep it at 1 or 2C.
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Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #11 - Aug 31^st, 2021 at 7:36pm It's rated for only 1C charging. But my charger has a "fast charge " setting. I'm wondering what that is.
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Colin2 Private Online Heli Maniac! Posts: 168 Hammonds Plains, NS	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #12 - Aug 31^st, 2021 at 8:07pm Fast charging generally doesn't balance the individual cells. It will charge the pack until the overall voltage reads 12.6v (if it's a 3S pack of course). This may not mean that all cells are balanced equally. If you're not in a hurry to charge the pack, it's better to do a balance charge every time.
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Vonrichtofen Private Offline ASRCM Forum User Posts: 29	Re: Charging new batteries Reply #13 - Sep 1^st, 2021 at 9:14am Thanks for all your help!
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