What type of balance connector?

[slikrx]

I have 2 E-flite Lipos and just bought a Thunder Power 1320 mAh/11.1 Lipo at my LHS.

The guy at my LHS provided the correct conductor so I could connect the 1320 Lipo to my 3 in 1, but it turns out that it has the wrong balancer/charging connector, so I can't charge it.

I assume I can just snip this one off and solder on the correct one. One question: what is the "connector type" used by E-flite?

At first glance, it *LOOKS* like the Align type:

http://www.helidirect.com/images/k10219a_1.jpg

CLIK FOR LINKY (http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=1163)

The next question: I assume that the black goes to the ground for all 3 cells (black on the Lipo), and that the other 3 leads (assorted colors) can be connected in any order. Is that correct?

[Raysun]

NO!!! Whew that was close!

Connector looks OK..Align and Eflite are the same..I have both. Eflite charger (0.8Amp) will charge a 2200 3S in about three-four hours, nice and safely.

Wiring..VERY important....the balance connector is a series conector linking all three cells in series as follows....

(SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG!!!!)

Black is ground for the same cell the black power lead comes from, brown is the positive for that cell, AND negative for the next cell. White is positive for that cell, and negative for the last cell. Red is positive for that last cell.

So wire the new connector in the same order as the existing one.

In other words, you must be able to measure ( therefore balance and charge) each cell voltage independently via the balance connector.

You should obtain a small DIGITAL multimeter ($10 or so) and get in the habit of checking individual cell voltages once in awhile to see how your bats are holding up...cells should be within 0.1 volt of each other....around 4.2 fully charged, never below around 3.4 or you are probably overflying them.

Hope this helps...but wait for confirmation of this post before doing anything!

Ray

[Raysun]

So no-one else knows how a lipo is put together?

Come on guys...do I have to pull one apart? OK I will. And I'm not telling anyone whats inside.

Ray

[slikrx]

FYI, here's a picture comparing the battery wire colors.

[tppjr]

I have 2 E-flite Lipos and just bought a Thunder Power 1320 mAh/11.1 Lipo at my LHS.

The guy at my LHS provided the correct conductor so I could connect the 1320 Lipo to my 3 in 1, but it turns out that it has the wrong balancer/charging connector, so I can't charge it.

I assume I can just snip this one off and solder on the correct one. One question: what is the "connector type" used by E-flite?

At first glance, it *LOOKS* like the Align type:

http://www.helidirect.com/images/k10219a_1.jpg

CLIK FOR LINKY (http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=1163)

The next question: I assume that the black goes to the ground for all 3 cells (black on the Lipo), and that the other 3 leads (assorted colors) can be connected in any order. Is that correct?

They are like the align connectors, JST are the type. Look here and get an adapter to go from JST to TP:

http://www.techmodelproducts.com/bat_charge.php

I would not cut off the TP ends because chances are you will be getting a "real" charger that will accept them.

Hope this helps,

Thomas

[slikrx]

They are like the align connectors, JST are the type. Look here and get an adapter to go from JST to TP:

http://www.techmodelproducts.com/bat_charge.php

I would not cut off the TP ends because chances are you will be getting a "real" charger that will accept them.

Hope this helps,

Thomas
Thankyou!

Ordered!

[slikrx]

FYI, the TP Lipo is sitting at 3.78 Volts for each cell... (measured as you described) and 11.33 volts across the whole thing.

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

The balance connector does not have all the cells connected in series, thats the job of the main power connector. The balance connector has a wire going to each individual positive and negative of each cell. Thats how it balances each cell.

[Raysun]

Yes you are right it is not strictly a series connector, but the balance connector wiring is linked as I described above.

I have a 3S lipo apart, and I double checked, and its correct.

Ray

[chopperdudes]

get a good charger capable of charging tp batts and change the balance connector of ur eflight batt. :D

[slikrx]

get a good charger capable of charging tp batts and change the balance connector of ur eflight batt. :D
I will... but a DX7 Tx is first on my list of "biggish" expensive things to buy. :roll: