Charging of 5S4P 8000mah TP packs

[Ed]

I would like comments on what others are doing by way of charging their TP 5S4P 8000mah packs. Are you charging each individually or two in series? I am using Orbit Microlader Pros to charge.
Thanks
Ed

[WillJames]

This is what I have been taught by John Garst, Bobby Smith and Chris Stephenson and what I have picked up from asking people who know.

I fly out all my packs at the field carefully using my timer on the TX.

I return home and charge my Ion packs at 3.5A individually. Once they are charged, I either balance them (occasionally) and then put them into the little fire safe thing and take them to the field charged and ready to plug and play.

I do this also for my 6 TREX packs. I fly about 7-8 minutes on each pack. Take them all home charge them then take them back to the field charged and ready. I have 2 of the TP cheap 54 dollar charger I use mostly with them. Works good, but most of the time Alan flys a few of them out at the field before we leave because I have already crashed my TREX.... :DOH

I only put back in about 2/3 to 3/4 mah as the capacity of the 8000-8880 packs each cycle and the packs never are allowed to run above 140. Tons of fun and packs seem to really get good once you get some cycles on them.

The Pro Lite TREX 2100 3s packs I have been known to put up to 2000mah into a couple of them and they are holding up fine so far. I plan to never discharge below 75% capacity of the packs sometimes it is harder to do this than others like when it is really windy with your TREX.

I never 1C fast charge, ever as I don't need to.

This is how I do it, I am sure there are better and very different ways.

[WillJames]

It takes a while to write, but nobody else has any advice for Ed?

[MinAirChris]

I fully agree with you Will.

I would add that it is a good idea to take all the numbers on the battery label and multiply them by .75. In other words: if the label says the battery is a 8 amp*hour battery, only pull 6 from it. That same 8 amp*hour battery should be charged no harder than 6 amps. If it were rated for 15C max discharge, then set your machine up or fly in a way to take no more than 11.25C.

Something else to watch is the voltage on the packs. It is a good habit to get into measuring the packs before and after each flight so you know where they are and are sure they are charged before flying them. A charged battery will measure around 4.1 to 4.2 volt/cell fully charged and no less than 3 volt/cell fully discharged, unloaded. If you use two chargers for twin packs that are used simultaneously on a model, alternate the packs and chargers, don't get into the habit of always charging the same battery on the same charger.

Another good thing to do is to store them for long periods at half charge (approximately 3.3 volts/cell) in a refrigerator. NOT the freezer. Many have an extra fridge around for drinks or whatever and these can be utilyzed for battery storage. Just use the minimal setting (warmest).

This may sound difficult or even impossible to do, but with a half dozen carefully monitored 5 minute flights, you can pretty well tell what you need to do to ensure these numbers are adhered to. And these things along with what Will outlined will ensure long battery life.

Chris

[Ed]

Thanks for the responses.......sounds like what I have been doing is right as the two responses reinforce that.

Ed

[BobbySmith]

Yup you guys nailed it on the head


Bobby

[Ed]

It sounds to me from what is posted that you shouldn't charge in series and you should charge each pack individually.
Thanks
Ed

[ChrisS]

Ed

That is correct.

Chris

[misskimo]

yeh , dont charge in series , I know that one , you can ask Charlie about that one . I think I went through 2 gen 1 back in the day because of that , you know how the voltage veries at the end of a flight , (like) 1 is 18.84 volts and the other is lets say 19.00 volts , well I never matched the lower pack and just hooked them together in series and plugged the charger to them , the higher voltage pack after a few charges like that will swell

Tony