Choosing a Lipo charger

A

appleseed123

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Joined
May 2, 2012
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ontario canada
I am finally ready to take the lipo jump, but first is to find the right charger.

I decided I want to have 4 Turnigy 5s Lipo batteries, but I want to know what is needed in order for the charger to work with them.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...x6S_400W_Lithium_Polymer_Battery_Charger.html

I was looking at this charger. Since it works up to 6s Lipo, do i need an adaptor board to be able to charge 5s lipo with jst-xh plug? Will the 5s jst-xh plug fit the 6s charger without anything else?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HYPERION-EOS-1420i-NET3-CHARGER-1S-14S-20A-MAX-550W-/290847234212?pt=US_Character_Radio_Control_Toys&hash=item43b7d898a4

I paid 180 for mine! You'll need a healthy power supply to power it! I have 2 server supplies in series.
 
i am newbie... i was going to charge with Bulk charger from BMSBattery/EV3 4 X 5s in serials. Using icharge/hyperion with powersupply and disconnecting 5s at work is impractical for me.
 
@Ypedal are you taking about bulk charging? I know I have to split the pack back into each lipo case in order to balance charge, im ok with that. I will find a bulk charger later.
 
@appleseed123 - yes, Ypedal was talking about bulk charging. People generally prefer the bigger chargers like the Icharger 3010B (which is 10S limited or the Hyperion 1420i which can do 14S), the idea being that with say a 20S pack you charge it in two parts of 10S one at a time. Obviously with the quatro you are looking at you can charge each 5 S pack seperately (but simultanuously) - yes, the fact each channel is listed as 6S that is the maximum, the balance board for each channel allows 1-6S), but you are limited to a total of 400W (ie 100W per channel).

EDIT: When I started with 20S I did what you are intending, and got a Quatro charger, then I quickly learnt that breaking apart and rejoining your pack is the fastest way to screw up one day and fry your pack, so then I got a Icharger to limit the breaking in two, then I got a bulk charger, and wished I had started with the bulk charger, because I might at most balance my pack once or twice a year. If I were you I would start with a bulk charger, and then have one small balance charger for occasionally balance charging.
 
@phil

yes, i understand that breaking up the pack everytime sucks, that is why i will look for a bulk charger, but you cant start off with a bulk charger since its unlikely they will be balanced when bought. I need a charger for individual balance charging.

Can the 5s lipo fit the 6s plug on the charger? do i need an adaptor?
 
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Depends on how you are going to use your lipo. 20s1p, 10s2p? Makes a big difference on what I'd recommend. If 10s, then any 10s or higher balance charger. If 20s, then bulk charger with 4 separate balancers/charge limiters for about $10 each. Or any 6s charger if you plan on parallel charging.
 
@phil

yes, i understand that breaking up the pack everytime sucks, that is why i will look for a bulk charger, but you cant start off with a bulk charger since its unlikely they will be balanced when bought. I need a charger for individual balance charging.

Can the 5s lipo fit the 6s plug on the charger? do i need an adaptor?
Click to expand...

You don't need an adaptor usually, most chargers (but check this) come with balance boards for each channel. This means that you have a board with an input for each type of S, ie 1s/2S/3S etc.. So there will be a 5S spot on each balance board, and there should be a balance board for each channel. The point I was making is that you could get a cheaper balance charger that does 5s, and then get a bulk charger, I would have thought you could get a much cheaper balance charger that does say 6S alone, and then use that to balance each pack, and then have the bulk charger for total charging. But as I said, I did what you are doing myself. The upside with the charger you are looking at (compared to a cheap 6S charger) is that you can balance four packs at once. I was just making the point that your priority should be getting the bulk charger, because once you have balanced the packs, I assure you will need to balance them very rarely (presuming you don't run really deep discharges).

Edit: The other point I would make is, some people in your situation buy the more powerful charger (eg an Icharger 3010B), then use that to balance charge each pack initially to build your total 20S pack. Then you have your connections setup so that discharging is in a 20S configuration, but you have it setup so you can unplug the discharge connection (setup as 20S) but then can plug in a charging configuration which is setup as 10S, and you then charge the whole pack in one go as 10S, but when you reconnect it is back as 20S.

Cheers, Phil.
 
With RC Lipo, you will not need to balance the cells often. Quick bulk charging is the best advantage of lipos. To connect-disconnect the batteries every time to change the configuration for charging is a hassle, and probably the best chances to make a stupid mistake and KFF in the process. I charge daily with Meanwell PSU's in 15 minutes, and need to use the RC balance charger only once every 6 weeks. The RC charger I use is the I-charger 208b powered wih a Meanwell SP 320 24. My bulk charging stations are made with Meanwell PSP and RSP series.
 
Ok so for a charger just to balance them once every 10 times, would this work

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...AC_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_GENUINE_.html
for one at a time

and this balance board
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...er_All_in_One_Balance_Board_TP_HP_XH_EH_.html

I cant find a female to female jst xh cord to connect the charger to the balance board. Does hobby king even have one?

And what bulk charger would be good to charge 20s 1p 5 amp lipo to 4.10 or 4.15 volts (so 83 total)? I would rather not charge right to 4.2 on bulk charging.

Im so glad i posted here before ordering
 
Yep, that RC charger will do. You could add the 5s balance lead extensions:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9738__JST_XH_5S_Wire_Extension_20cm_10pcs_bag_.html

For bulk charging ideally, you want to do as fast as your Lipo's charging C rating, or close to. Many are rated to charge 5C now, and it is a very interesting feature to be able to charge your bike in 15 minutes.
You could buy a bulk charger from BMS battery, or make your own bulk charging station with PSU's. Anything up to 1500 watts can normally use a common 120v wall outlet, you will need to use 240v if you want faster.
 
@mad rhino

arent those extensions female to male? I believe since the balance board needs female, I think the charge needs a female too. I will contact hobby king about this thou.

Can you recommend any psu to start me on my search. Most i have heard about only do up to 48Volts
 
I checked hobby kings store again. After computing some numbers, I realized that if i went with 3 6s for a 18s 1p pack, it would be cheaper per watt and cheaper for no balance boards needed. Now the only question is finding a 75 volt charger for bulk charging 18s.

Thanks everyone thou for helping so far
 
Do what Ypedal said. Then use a paralelling board to do the "bulk charge" in 5s. You'd be charging at a decent wattage, so it won't take that long. That's my 2 cents.
 
appleseed123 said:
I checked hobby kings store again. After computing some numbers, I realized that if i went with 3 6s for a 18s 1p pack, it would be cheaper per watt and cheaper for no balance boards needed. Now the only question is finding a 75 volt charger for bulk charging 18s.

Thanks everyone thou for helping so far
Click to expand...

Bulk charge without balancer... BMSbattey 75v, they will configure watever voltage u want.
400W
http://www.bmsbattery.com/alloy-shell/26-alloy-shell-400w-lifepo4li-ionlead-acid-battery-ebike-charger.html

240W
http://www.bmsbattery.com/alloy-shell/25-alloy-shell-240w-lifepo4li-ionlead-acid-battery-ebike-charger.html
 
Yes i looked at bms, while a good charger it doubles the price with shipping.

Are there any home grown (canada/usa) bulk chargers? Or do i have to take the plunge on bms?
 
Ok after a few days of research, I decided to make a bulk charger out of psu. I found 2 local supplys of 12 volt computer psu with enough amps on the 12 volt rail to supply 14 amps (enough in case they are overrated). They are between $10 and $20 each.

I want to charge at a max of 7-9 amps, abit less than 2C on the 5 amp batteries I am looking at. I am down to finding a decent meanwell psu that provides the amp rate of 7-9 amps with constant current with abit of voltage adjustment.

http://ca.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...=sGAEpiMZZMuEhFEw3BeJbf7ytmkvQNcE/Ba56Bz6ME8=

Would this psu work? Is the HRP series constant current? Can I install a pot to vary voltage? Any problems I need to know about this series? If so I might search ebay for a used cheap unit first.

The batteries I decided to use were 6S 5amp 20c Turnigy batteries, since I can find a cheap 6S balance charger and no need for boards/accessories. 3 of them for a 18S pack.
 
if you like to try a Bulk charging is fine, but how are you going to know all the cells are not above 4.2v each ?
even im using my proper charging methods, rc charger at times i ever saw some cells volts goes nearly 4.28v, which is a danger potential.
I know Rc charger is abit expensive in cost, But I don't mind paying abit extra for safety. i don't wish to get a BIG SHOCK, oh. my house in fire !!
I have read some have said and name, cheap rc charger is call dis- balancer charger. I do agree with this. my goal is to get all the cells volts reach at a right number 4.16v or 4.18v.

anything you can do, just ensure cells are adjust to a right volts 4.18v, some likes 4.15v.. number is nice too!
 
kentlim26 said:
if you like to try a Bulk charging is fine, but how are you going to know all the cells are not above 4.2v each ?
even im using my proper charging methods, rc charger at times i ever saw some cells volts goes nearly 4.28v, which is a danger potential.
I know Rc charger is abit expensive in cost, But I don't mind paying abit extra for safety. i don't wish to get a BIG SHOCK, oh. my house in fire !!
I have read some have said and name, cheap rc charger is call dis- balancer charger. I do agree with this. my goal is to get all the cells volts reach at a right number 4.16v or 4.18v.

anything you can do, just ensure cells are adjust to a right volts 4.18v, some likes 4.15v.. number is nice too!
Click to expand...

Hi, I want to build a 18S 2P pack for my BMC4 motor.. using 6 each Turnigy http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9176__Turnigy_5000mAh_6S_20C_Lipo_Pack.html.

How would I split up this 18S pack to charge them with this Hyperion charger? http://www.aerobeez.com/Hyperion-EOS-1420i-NET3-Charger.html?

How would I wire it for charging ? tia
 
http://www.progressiverc.com/parallel-6x-hxt-4mm-bullet-charge-cable.html

http://www.progressiverc.com/parallel-6x-balance-adapter.html
 
joepah said:
Hi, I want to build a 18S 2P pack for my BMC4 motor.. using 6 each Turnigy http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9176__Turnigy_5000mAh_6S_20C_Lipo_Pack.html.

How would I split up this 18S pack to charge them with this Hyperion charger? http://www.aerobeez.com/Hyperion-EOS-1420i-NET3-Charger.html?

How would I wire it for charging ? tia
Click to expand...
You could charge them as 6s6p, or 12s3p. Whichever you feel more comfortable with. This might help.
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=39666
 
75V 6-7A bulk charger is simple using a 48V 300w Meanwell or clone and a modded genuine MeanWell S-150-24.
Adjust 48V to 50V, adjust MeanWell S-150-24 to 25V and 6a and electrically isolate.
Run in series with with S-150-24 as 2nd in series, this will regulate amps to the required 6a.

Meanwell mods documented and explained - MeanWell mods - S-150-24.

Oh! ... If you use a 48V 350w, you can bump it up to 52.5V and drop the MeanWell S-150-24 to 22.5V and adjust the amps up to to 6.67a.

Sorry, the S-150-24 is the only MeanWell that I have fully investigated-documented ... so far.
 
Several link from my files for info, here's what I use for 6S:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=23465#p341300

Hyenas $130 isolated high current balance charger
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=41107

How-To: Meanwell 63V-84V CV/CC Charger, 4 pages
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20118

converting a meanwell power supply into a LiPo charger, 23 pages
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=27199
 
Melbourne said:
i am newbie... i was going to charge with Bulk charger from BMSBattery/EV3 4 X 5s in serials. Using icharge/hyperion with powersupply and disconnecting 5s at work is impractical for me.
Click to expand...
So possibly causing a fire at your place of work is acceptable?
 
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