What is risk of using higher amps to charge Lipos?

[Caveman5150]

I've been charging my 3s & 6s lipos at like 4.5 amps forever. A LHS guy told me not to do that.... that I should charge them at a Amps-to-Mah proportion...
For example: To charge a 2300mah, I should use 2.3 amps.

What is the risk/down side to charging (with a simultaneous balancer) a 3s 2200mah Lipo at 4 amps?

Does is catch fire?
Does it damage the battery?

[JonJet]

A charge rating of 2C would mean 4.6 amps...so you're fine

The slower the better...(for battery lifetime)...if you have time, cut it down to 2.3 amps...

If in a hurry, go to 6.9

No reason to stay at multiples...the battery cannot tell the difference from 2.3 to 3.0 other than the charge time would be reduced

[Smoggie]

Almost all modern batteries are safe to charge at at least 2c (2 x capacity).. many you can charge higher. The 1c 'limit' goes back to the days when lipos had discharge c ratings of 10-15c... Lipos have come a long way, along with higher safe discharge rates comes higher safe charge rates.

As noted above, there is nothing 'magic' about sticking to 'whole number multiples' (1c, 2c, 3c etc) just don't exceed the maximum charge rate and you are fine.

[Caveman5150]

Ah thanks guys....

[Mateyhv]

Answers in red:

Originally Posted by Caveman5150

What is the risk/down side to charging (with a simultaneous balancer) a 3s 2200mah Lipo at 4 amps?

Does is catch fire? Not at 2C.
Does it damage the battery? Well, just reduces battery lifespan.

[jhamel]

How much would the LiPo lifespan be reduced by charging at 2C, 3C, etc. compared to charging at 1C?

[JonJet]

Originally Posted by curmudgeon

How much would the LiPo lifespan be reduced by charging at 2C, 3C, etc. compared to charging at 1C?

I would venture to say that it's nearly impossible to know...the accepted rule of thumb is to charge as slowly as you can given the time constraints...

I try to have enough batteries that I can fly nearly continuously even while charging...HiTec's X4 will charge 4 at a time, so I have 6 total...that's about right considering down time to change batteries when charging at 2C at the field

Before I go fly, I take the time to charge at 1C...so I suppose I average 1.5C as a steady rate...but even that wouldn't be an accurate way to measure lifetime...far too many variables

[Slyster]

I always charge at 3C... 30A for my Pulse Ultra 12s stick packs and they are still like new at 135 or so cycles. Same goes for my 6s packs.