View Full Version : CellPro says 3C is OK. Do you Believe?
trickybit
03-11-2008, 02:24 AM
From the 4S manual:
In 3.0C LiPo 4.20V Mode, LiPo/Li-Ion cells are individually charged to 4.2V per cell. Charge current is automatically set to 3 times capacity. Typical charge time for packs under 1.5Ah is 30 minutes. Cycle life on high discharge packs (12C and greater) is not affected by the Cell Pro 3C charge current.So, I've got FP Evolite 2500mAh, 20C (v2) or 18C (v1).
Do I crank it up to 3C? I've been running 2C so far.
Do I need to feel lucky, or brave? I mean, I'm looking forward to buying some more packs, but I was kind of hoping not to toast any so I'd end up with, well, "more".
Jim
HPSOV2
03-11-2008, 04:59 AM
Worst that will happen is you will reduce the cycle life slightly.
Be aware though, that the amount of time saved going from 2C to 3C is actually quite minimal.
rcboosted
03-11-2008, 05:42 PM
I assume you have the cellpro 4S? 1C for a 2500mah pack is 2.5A. The MAX a cellpro 4S(new version) can do is 4A, which is not even 2C(5A). If you do the math, the max is only 1.6C. So it will not matter if you charge at 2C or 3C, the result is the same on that charge on that lipo. In order for a lipo to take advantage of 3C charging rate on that charge is with a lipo that is 1333mah or less. And the downside is reduced cycles.
Pinecone
03-11-2008, 07:08 PM
Testing by at least TP, and IIRC some others, show no loss of cycle life with 2C and 3C charging.
Depth of discharge and storage cause more problems.
trickybit
03-11-2008, 07:52 PM
I assume you have the cellpro 4S? 1C for a 2500mah pack is 2.5A. The MAX a cellpro 4S(new version) can do is 4A, which is not even 2C(5A). If you do the math, the max is only 1.6C.
Ah, good point.
Thanks
kamtsa
03-11-2008, 10:49 PM
From the 4S manual:
So, I've got FP Evolite 2500mAh, 20C (v2) or 18C (v1).
Do I crank it up to 3C? I've been running 2C so far.
Do I need to feel lucky, or brave? I mean, I'm looking forward to buying some more packs, but I was kind of hoping not to toast any so I'd end up with, well, "more".
Jim
With the Cellpro 4S (and possibly the 10S), your C charging rate is only a 'recommendation'. The charger still limits the current to whatever it deems to be safe.
With my 2100mah packs, the charge rate never goes beyond 2.5A, regardless of my C setting. So, the answer is yes, it is safe to set it to 3C but don't expect it to actually charge at 3C. ;-)
Kam
You know, I have a newer Evo 25C 2500 mah Flight Power Pack. I started charing it at 2.5C because I read a flight power ad that said I could. It charged faster, but now doesn't seem to ahve as much start voltage as it used to...
Am I tripping, or is this a possiblity?
-Aox
mjr_larkin
03-16-2008, 05:09 PM
With the Cellpro 4S (and possibly the 10S), your C charging rate is only a 'recommendation'. The charger still limits the current to whatever it deems to be safe.
With my 2100mah packs, the charge rate never goes beyond 2.5A, regardless of my C setting. So, the answer is yes, it is safe to set it to 3C but don't expect it to actually charge at 3C. ;-)
Kam
Will it charge to 2.5A even if you set it to 1C?
istandalone
03-18-2008, 12:20 PM
Will it charge to 2.5A even if you set it to 1C?
definitley not. a charger (at least those that i've used/own) won't charge at a higher rate then you set, although it may charge a bit lower as you already mentioned.
Pinecone
03-18-2008, 08:15 PM
Although the Cell Pro doesn't actually KNOW what the 1C rate is. It figures out the proper charge rate based on the cell performance at the start of the charge.
So it is possible, that the CellPro could run its pack test and actually charge at over 1C, even when set to that.
I find that for most of my packs, set to 2C is actually charges at less than 1 C.
mjr_larkin
03-19-2008, 10:23 PM
You know, I have a newer Evo 25C 2500 mah Flight Power Pack. I started charing it at 2.5C because I read a flight power ad that said I could. It charged faster, but now doesn't seem to ahve as much start voltage as it used to...
Am I tripping, or is this a possiblity?
-Aox
Can you make sure that you are or are not tripping because I too will own one of these packs soon and am wondering if I should set to 1C to prevent lowering performance in flight or battery life
I don't trust it. I'm charging it at 1C from now on.
I don't think I was tripping.
-Aox