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Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
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FMA’s new Cellpro 4s Charger is part of a revolutionary new lower-cost LiPo battery and charge system for R/C aircraft. With an automatic 1C charge rate of up to 4 amps, the charger brings your Cellpro compatible packs up to charge with unprecedented safety and accuracy! No knobs, buttons, or jumpers to set - the cell count cannot be wrong!
A built-in LCD display shows you charging information and a pack fuel gauge. The PC interface allows for a complete graphical display of each cell in the pack using the free FMA 4s Charger Viewer Software.
FMA’s Cellpro Node Connector is a key part of the system. It enables the charger to monitor individual cells and independently charge each cell to its optimum level.
Charge protection dramatically improves pack performance, pack life and charging safety. The Cellpro 4s charger may be used to charge only FMA's new Cellpro Kokam and Cellpro Slimline 2s to 4s LiPo packs.
Cellpro 4s Charger Features:
LCD Screen shows all 4 battery voltages with 1/10% accuracy full scale, current, supply voltage, Amp Hrs, Fuel Level and Charge mode
The charge current in amp hours is factory calibrated to +/-1% accuracy
A built-in speaker signals charging finished
The Auto-current setting will charge any battery less than 3.5Ah in 50 minutes or it can be manually set to 0.25 to 4 amps in 0.25A steps
The free 4S viewer software shows everything in graphical format
Battery Restore mode will fix over discharged cells
Special wire compensation allows 10mV accuracy on any length charge wire
Don't let your old charger guess the wrong cell count again! Using the lower cost Cellpro 4s charger guarantees the correct cell count.
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Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
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Cellpro 4s Discharge Protection Module
In the past, Lithium packs were treated in a similar fashion to NiCd and NiMH packs during both charge and discharge cycles. They were treated at the pack voltage level and not the individual cell level. The Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) would monitor the pack voltage and shut the motor down when the voltage was reduced to a certain level. The over discharge damage to a weak cell in the Lithium pack could not be protected against.
The new Cellpro 4s Discharge Protection Module (DPM) plugs in-line between any ESC and the Cellpro battery pack node connector. It monitors each cell during flight and cuts off the motor when the weakest cell is safely depleted. Additionally, the Cellpro 4s DPM provides a 30 or 60 second (user selectable) early warning by pulsing the motor to tell the pilot that it is time to land. No more dead stick landings! No more damaged packs by ESCs guessing the cut-off voltage.
Cellpro applications can use up to a 12s Lithium voltage (three 4s Cellpro packs in series) by connecting three Cellpro 4s DPMS in a daisy-chain configuration to protect every cell during flight. The optional SV6S-SPKR is an accessory item that connects to the DPM for LED and audible status indication.
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Joined: 10/31/2002 From: Lyndonville,
VT, USA Status: online
Hi Greg, Are we going to see, or be able to buy Cellpro 4S at thw WRAM show I'm currently flying my 2M Deimos I with CP1300 7Cell, thinking of cellpro 2000 3S. If I go Li-Po I want to do it right
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Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
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Hi Pete,
Yes, the WRAM show will be the first time we will take orders for the Cellpro charger at a special reduced show price. We will have a live demo of the chargers in the booth. We had hoped to have the production units by then but they will likely ship around mid-March.
There will be many WRAM show booth specials so we hope to see you there!
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Joined: 12/14/2001 From: Germantown,
MD, USA Status: offline
Greg,
I use a Castle Creations Pheonix 10 speed controler. Using the PHS link adapter I programmed the low voltage cut off at 9V for my three cell (Celpro) LiPo pack. Is it imperitave that I use the Cellpro 4s Discharge Protection Module?
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Joined: 8/5/2003 From: Frederick, MD, USA Status: offline
Francis,
Only if you wouild like to get several hundred cycles from your Li Po pack. However, it is strongly suggested that you read over http://www.fmadirect.com/support_docs/item_1197.pdf specifically "Avoid the Zone of Temptation" to see that the thing that ruins most Li Po packs is unbalance that occurs during discharge.
Please read http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=734506 post # 9 to see what can happen to a pack that has poorly balanced cells as it is a perfect illustration of the "Zone of Temptation" that the DPM avoids completely. Some will try to tell you that their packs are always perfectly balanced; on of those is the seller of that speciman pack. Others will declare that they have flown hundreds of flights with out imbalance. Rod's data shows the real world.
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Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
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Francis,
The biggest issue solved by the Cellpro 4s charger is the Lithium safety issue. The Cellpro charger cannot get the cell count wrong and it cannot get the charge current wrong from a 1C rate. Additionally, by balancing your packs on every charge, you have also resolved some of the longevity issues related to unbalanced cells. The Cellpro 4s charger is the biggest step to safe charging and longer lasting packs.
The Cellpro 4s DPM also addresses the longevity issue by monitoring each cell during flight and shutting off the motor when the weakest cell is depleted. The cost and weight of the Cellpro DPM makes it less attractive to small parkflyers and indoor foamies. Once the plane become larger and the Lithium packs more expensive, the Cellpro DPM starts looking more attractive. As packs age, each cell develops a different capacity and the Cellpro DPM allows you to continue using the pack to the limits of the weakest cell.
It is not imperative that you use the Cellpro DPM as the discharge power line are not routed through it as in the BalancePro HD DPM.
Also keep in mind the concepts of pack temperature not exceeding 150 degrees F and using 70% of the so-called C rating as a realistic maximum current draw.
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Joined: 12/14/2001 From: Germantown,
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Fred & Greg,
Thanks for the info. I have a cellpro 3s1p 640 mah pack. If I use the cellpro charger whenever it comes out won't my pack be ballenced after each charge? I am using this on a Great Planes flat out with a Hobby-Lobby Esskay 400XT Outrunner Brushless motor and a 9x4.8 gws prop. This should be within specs for these components.
My concern is the extra gadget to be caried by a light plane.
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Joined: 8/5/2003 From: Frederick, MD, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: FrancisPerson
Fred & Greg,
Thanks for the info. I have a cellpro 3s1p 640 mah pack. If I use the cellpro charger whenever it comes out won't my pack be ballenced after each charge? I am using this on a Great Planes flat out with a Hobby-Lobby Esskay 400XT Outrunner Brushless motor and a 9x4.8 gws prop. This should be within specs for these components.
My concern is the extra gadget to be caried by a light plane.
Thanks Francis
Franses I suspect that you have been misled with regard to weight. The CellPro dpm will add about 8 grams to the weight of your , say, 10 ounce airplane. That is a little over 3% increase in AUW. Your 10 ounce model is 0.625 Lb. The KOK 640 at 11.1V and max 12.8 amps delivers 140 watts. 140watts/0.625lbs is 224 watts/lb. Increasing the weight by a round 10 grams would make the AUW = 264 grams = 10.5 Oz= 0.646 Lb and reduce the figure to 217 watts/lb. Any model that has more than 50 watt/lb available is a decent flyer and one that has 250 watts/lb is an international competetion caliber flyer! The extra few grams will ensure the life of your pack and keep your cost per flight down.
You have probably been reading a lot of hype about the lighter weight cells and this same set of data applies. Yes, the 7:1 savings in weight when you go from Ni Cd to Li Po is significant; saving a few grams after you make the jump to Li Pos is gilding the lily, especially as it reduces life cycle markedly.
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Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
It looks like the Cellpro products will be released on the first week of March. We may not put it on the Web site until after the Toledo show (March 7-9th) but I am not certain about that yet.
I will try to update the Coming Soon! page with the latest arrival date later this week.
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Cellpro 4s Balancing Charger 
Cellpro 4s Balancing Charger - 
RE: Cellpro 4s Balancing Charger - 
Are you taking "plastic" at your booth? 
