IMAX B8, cell with higher voltage

[hoffa]

Hi folks

I've been using an IMAX B8 charger/balancer for a few months. It's been running smooth but I've been noticing that the B8, when charging or balancing my 3s1p LiPos, constantly show cell 3 having 4.2v and the others around 4.17-4.18v when fully charged. I've tried different LiPo packs and get the same reading from all of them.
Does this mean my charger is broken?

Regards
Fredrik

[RC Accessory]

To to www.rcgroups.com (http://www.rcgroups.com) and do a search for Imax B8 and Imax B6. Many issues with that brand of charger. Sorry.

[hoffa]

Damn it, not very good reviews on RCgroups.
I'm not sure if my problem is related but it seems like it, different readings from cells and such. The thing that makes me wonder is that the problem with different cell values only applies to the packs I've been using in series as a 6s1p for my Hurricane 550. Those packs flown as 3s1p only all have the same cell voltages.

/Fredrik

[Will_o_Wisp]

Did you find a solution to your balancing problem with the IMAX? I have the exact same problem that you describe... :(

[hoffa]

Sadly no, I made an attempt to resolder the capacitors as suggested by some posts over att rcgroups but I ended up damaging the charger and I bought a Bantam BC6 instead. As I understand from the review I've read the improper balancing is common problem and is caused by low queality components.
Sorry about that.

/Fredrik

[SkunkyMagoo]

Get a better external balancer like a common sence balance pro.

[hoffa]

Normally I would agree but when you buy a charger sold as a charger WITH built in balancer you would expect it to perform equally good as a balancer as it does charging. Bantam BC6, although lacking in power, handles very well as a balancer but is known to have better components than IMAX.

/Fredrik

[SkunkyMagoo]

Right, but I wouldnt expect much out of a knock off. I have an IMAX B6. Turnigy has a new one out, same as the GTP/IMAX but only $40.

Later on went with a hyperion.

[hoffa]

That's the problem I had with being an early adopter, there weren't that many reviews of the IMAX B8 around when I got it and I had no real idea how bad it was at balancing. In retrospect it would have been smarter of me to get a high quality external balancer instead of trying to resolder the IMAX.

[Will_o_Wisp]

Thanks, I will look for an external balancer then, I guess that's cheaper than buying a new charger with a balancer included.

I guess the rumored firmware upgrade for the IMAX B8 wouldn't do much good then, if the components are of low quality...

[Will_o_Wisp]

One more question ;), if I am to buy a new charger with a balancer included, what do you recommend?

My requirements are good balancing of 3S and 6S (2 x 3S in serie).

[SkunkyMagoo]

Hyperion or FMA CellPro get my vote.