Battery got to low, cant charge now, can it be saved?

[motohead74]

Well i think i shot out my lipo. its around 6v and because i had my motor disconnected i didn't even know i was draining it that far, and now my charger wont charge it. :arggg: its a Align 16c 11.1v 2100Mah

and my charger is sounding the low volt beep and it wont charge. i am about to upgrade my charger. so i guess my question is can this battery be saved? or is it just to low to charge now?


Joe :dontknow

[Danal Estes]

Charge it at 1/10 C or less until coming above 3V per cell. Then charge normally at about 1/2C and check it carefully.

Very important to do this before trying anything else. A 1C charge, starting from below 3V per cell, is permanent ruin.


The 1/10 C trick sometimes saves them... sometimes.

[motohead74]

Charge it at 1/10 C or less until coming above 3V per cell. Then charge normally at about 1/2C and check it carefully.

Very important to do this before trying anything else. A 1C charge, starting from below 3V per cell, is permanent ruin.


The 1/10 C trick sometimes saves them... sometimes.

Thanks

The charger i have now i cannot control so tomorrow i am going to upgrade and get a charger that rocks. I'm sick of this charger anyways, 2 hours waiting sucks. not to mention i will need a charger to charge my li po for my 600 as well.

now i just have to decide a killer charger by tomorrow.


Joe

[kgfly]

motohead74,

Have you chosen a charger already ? I think we discussed some options here: http://helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=33289. I heard that the Hyperion 1210i with the new firmware that includes LiFe support should be in the US this week or next. Make sure you get the "1210i-A" if you want the version with new firmware.

Danal - To attempt the C/10 recovery I presume you set the charger to a NiCd mode and set the current, then monitor the pack closely until the voltage gets above 3.0V/cell. At that point you terminate the charge, switch the charger to the LiPo mode and run a C/10 charge cycle. Is that right ?

[motohead74]

motohead74,

Have you chosen a charger already ? I think we discussed some options here: http://helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=33289. I heard that the Hyperion 1210i with the new firmware that includes LiFe support should be in the US this week or next. Make sure you get the "1210i-A" if you want the version with new firmware.

Danal - To attempt the C/10 recovery I presume you set the charger to a NiCd mode and set the current, then monitor the pack closely until the voltage gets above 3.0V/cell. At that point you terminate the charge, switch the charger to the LiPo mode and run a C/10 charge cycle. Is that right ?

Yes we did discuss it. and no i have not yet decided, it will more then likely come down to what they have in stock. as i would like to get back to work/flying.

once they open i will give them a call. and will know more in a wile

[motohead74]

Well i just got back and they didn't have anything i wanted. so i guess i'm going to have to order online.

what do you guys think of the BC8?

my biggest thing is i want to be able to plug into my wall and charge, and not use a battery to charge. but also want to be able to charge 1-6 or 1-8cell




Joe

[kgfly]

Joe,

The majority of chargers require a DC power source. A few of the lower power ones (like the BC6) include dual ac/dc supplies so can be plugged directly into the wall, but none of the better ones that can do up to 8S. So for a good quality, high performance charger you will have to buy a DC power-supply as well.

As for the BC8, you might find these user quotes interesting (highlighting is mine):

I found the instructions for the BC-8 to be crystal clear. I made up my own balance connectors using the supplied harness. Works great!

The same connections can be made to the battery, whatever charging mode you are using (normal, fast, balance, or discharge). Even in the standard and fast charging mode,s the E-station monitors individual pack voltages and will terminate charge if a large imbalance is detected. I've done the tests.

I tried to score the popular chargers according to features only, since I don't have the resources to test them all. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609445&page=4

They were scored for the following features:

NiCd
NiMh
LiFe
LiIo
LiPo
Lead Acid
Balancer
CV/CC
2 Charging Ports
> 5 Amp Charge Current
> 7 Amp Charge Current
>12 NiCd/NiMh Cells
>14 NiCd/NiMh Cells
>5s LiPo Cells
>8s LiPo Cells
Discharge
Cycle
Motor Power
Temperature Sensor
Fan
Data Port
Memories
Input Monitor
Cost <$100.00
Cost <$200.00

I downloaded all of the manuals. If it wasn't stated in the manual, it didn't receive a point.

So you can see how you ranked next to the others:

Electrifly Triton JR............12
Electrifly Triton II.............16
Electrifly Triton ZX DC.......21
e-Station BC-5................10
e-Station BC-8................19
e-Station 301DX..............12
e-Station 501DX..............13
e-Station 701..................17
e-Station 902..................21
Hyperion EOS 5i DP...........11
Hyperion EOS 7i...............13
Hyperion EOS 1210i..........18
RC-Power 601BC..............13
MRC Super Brain 989.........16
Multiplex LN-5014.............11
Thunder Power TP 1010C...10

I chose the BC-8.

[RC Accessory]

The BC-6 and BC-8 are incredible chargers. They both have for the most part (slight difference) the same software.

So the real difference between the BC-6 and BC-8 is:

BC-6 is also AC powered and 50 watt limitation, 6S limitation. 5 Amp max charge rate.

BC-8 is DC only, 150 watt limitation, 8S limitation. 7 Amp max charge charge rate.

BC-8 also includes the software that optional on the BC-6. While the AC power is a super nice feature on the BC-6, if you do get into 6S packs, the BC-6 will take awhile to charge with the 50 watt limit.

You may have read in another thread that the BC-6 was recalled. As of 3-21-07, my stock of BC-6's are the updated units.

[motohead74]

The BC-6 and BC-8 are incredible chargers. They both have for the most part (slight difference) the same software.

So the real difference between the BC-6 and BC-8 is:

BC-6 is also AC powered and 50 watt limitation, 6S limitation. 5 Amp max charge rate.

BC-8 is DC only, 150 watt limitation, 8S limitation. 7 Amp max charge charge rate.

BC-8 also includes the software that optional on the BC-6. While the AC power is a super nice feature on the BC-6, if you do get into 6S packs, the BC-6 will take awhile to charge with the 50 watt limit.

You may have read in another thread that the BC-6 was recalled. As of 3-21-07, my stock of BC-6's are the updated units.


Well i am waiting over 2 hours for a charged pack now. It really comes down to cost, and the BC6 is more in my price range right now. and being i don't need a ac/dc power supply for it even better. i would love to be able to spend whatever i wanted on a charger but then i would have my wife to deal with and bills wouldn't get paid.

RC i spoke with you via email yesterday about the BC6 :mrgreen: i will more then likely be placing a order for one today or tomorrow.

at this point anything is better then the charger i have now.


Joe

[RC Accessory]

If you do not need the AC power, look at the BC-5. I have the BC-5 on sale right now for $115.

Differences:

BC-5 is the same power as the BC-6, 50 watts. It does 5S packs. The BC-5 also does not have the A123 support, Storage programming, and Fast Charge programming.

If you don't need these features, the BC-5 is a much lower cost.

Evan

[motohead74]

If you do not need the AC power, look at the BC-5. I have the BC-5 on sale right now for $115.

Differences:

BC-5 is the same power as the BC-6, 50 watts. It does 5S packs. The BC-5 also does not have the A123 support, Storage programming, and Fast Charge programming.

If you don't need these features, the BC-5 is a much lower cost.

Evan

Evan i am going to need to be able to charge 6s packs for my 600 , i like the $115 price a lot better no doubt, however it would be pointless if i cant charge 6s packs

i want something that i can charge up to 6s packs but not kill my wallet. bad enough $300 for 1 battery :arggg: thus is why my 600 is collecting dust at the moment

[PsychoPilot145]

I just did it too!

*&^%$#@ (&&^%!! :arggg: :bomb:

I FINALLY gey my gyro working properly after seven days of screwing with it, in the process of getting the gyro working, I lose focus on my run time, and I think I just killed a cell too. A spanking NEW align 22.2v 4600 mah.

I got it balanced between .2v, but the cell average is only at 3.2... :oops:

I try to initiate a low amp charge on the TP 1010 and it just goes into low voltage/polarity alarm and will not do anything.

Suggestions besides tossing it???

[motohead74]

I just did it too!

*&^%$#@ (&&^%!! :arggg: :bomb:

I FINALLY gey my gyro working properly after seven days of screwing with it, in the process of getting the gyro working, I lose focus on my run time, and I think I just killed a cell too. A spanking NEW align 22.2v 4600 mah.

I got it balanced between .2v, but the cell average is only at 3.2... :oops:

I try to initiate a low amp charge on the TP 1010 and it just goes into low voltage/polarity alarm and will not do anything.

Suggestions besides tossing it???

I can honestly say i feel your pain, i bought a small battery pack for my on board radio so i don't even do this again.

i wont toss mine i'm going to hang it on the wall as a reminder of my stupidity :lol:

[PsychoPilot145]

Whew... Near miss. Looks like I'm going to be OK.

I took it to the LHS. The lowest cell voltage was still above 3.1v so they ran up the two low cells to 3.3, and hooked it up to the TP 1010 again and there was enough power for it to take a charge.

I had it trickling at 1 amp for about 30 minutes, then stepped it up to 2 for a few minutes, now she is taking it all, and looks like it is going well. This was a very close call. I actually heard the headspeed drop and the bird settled on the ground out of a hover. It all happened in less than three seconds. I immediately knew what I did. :hammer

I am now ordering a low voltage alarm. I am also going to get the USB data cord for the TP 1010 so I can get the new software release. I understand they now have a recovery mode that would have saved the drive to the LHS had I had it installed on the charger.

[motohead74]

Good to hear, that's what i need a charger that will bring up batteries slow, or at least that option setting if i need it. not sure the BC6 is going to do that for me :dontknow

[kgfly]

motohead74,

If your goal is to be able to charge your T600 packs in under 2 hours then a 50W charger simply won't do it. A 50W charger will charge a 6S lipo at up to about 2.5A max. That means your 4900mAh packs will take from 2 to 4 hours for a full balance charge. IMO you will be frustrated and disappointed if you buy a 50W charger for large 6S packs.

A BC8 with 150W will do 6S lipo packs at over 6A which is really the ballpark you want to be in. Also the "Fast charge" feature on the BC6/8 is a nice way to get a ~90% charge in minimum time even when charging at 1C. Well worth having IMO.

I think the BC8 sells for around $260. If you shop around you can find the Hyperion 1210i-A + LBA10 balancer for under $200 (eg http://www.allerc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2787 ). This is a very good alternative to the BC8 and at 180W will certainly handle your 6S packs without a problem. It too has a "fast charge" feature similar to the one on the BC8 but they call it Terminal Charge Selection (TCS) and it also has specific support (and enough grunt) for 2C charging if you want to go down that route.

IMO you will be frustrated and disappointed if you buy a 50W charger for large 6S packs. If the choice is BC5=$115, BC6=$170, BC8=$260 or 1210i-A+LBA10=$190, well it's very clear to me what the best bang-for-buck solution would be for your requirements.