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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> A123Racing Support >> A123 charger
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A123 charger - 2/11/2007 4:25:20 AM   
akm


 

Posts: 60
Joined: 3/20/2005
From: Hudson, NH, USA
Status: offline 		What are people using to charge these cells? I am very intreasted in these cells but I do not want to purchase a new charger. I currently have a superbrain 989 and a ln-5014. Is there any way I can charge these cells with these chargers?
       Post #: 1

RE: A123 charger - 2/11/2007 4:29:52 AM   
guver


 

Posts: 8440
Joined: 3/7/2003
From: LaGrange, OH, USA
Status: offline 		http://slkelectronics.com/lipodapter/index.htm

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(in reply to akm)
       Post #: 2

RE: A123 charger - 2/11/2007 5:32:35 AM   
akm


 

Posts: 60
Joined: 3/20/2005
From: Hudson, NH, USA
Status: offline 		I saw the lipodapter. Is anyone using it and how well does it work. Are there any reviews on this product yet?

< Message edited by akm -- 2/11/2007 5:33:19 AM >

(in reply to guver)
       Post #: 3

RE: A123 charger - 2/14/2007 10:18:05 AM   
jbflier



Posts: 864
Joined: 2/1/2002
From: Concord Twp, OH, USA
Status: online 		I have a Common Sense Balance Charger which works well up to 4 cells.....I wonder if it will work? Any thoughts/comments?...............

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John

(in reply to akm)
       Post #: 4

RE: A123 charger - 2/14/2007 4:25:31 PM   
everydayflyer



Posts: 890
Joined: 8/21/2005
From: Buchanan, GA, USA
Status: offline 		My A123 charging post / graphs on RC Groups.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6462996&postcount=1

(in reply to jbflier)
       Post #: 5

RE: A123 charger - 2/14/2007 4:29:29 PM   
everydayflyer



Posts: 890
Joined: 8/21/2005
From: Buchanan, GA, USA
Status: offline 		If you read the A123 racing specs. they clearly state the cells can be charged up to 4.2V per cell but it is best not to charge them past 3.6 per cell.
If you do not mind monitoring the voltage and stop the charge when the cells reach approx. 3.65-3.7 ,at which time voltage will rise quickly with no useable capacity added and if you do not mind chargein at less than 1C then yes that charger will work.

Charles

(in reply to jbflier)
       Post #: 6

RE: A123 charger - 2/14/2007 4:31:34 PM   
everydayflyer



Posts: 890
Joined: 8/21/2005
From: Buchanan, GA, USA
Status: offline 		There is a rather length charging thread here

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4667864/tm.htm

(in reply to everydayflyer)
       Post #: 7

RE: A123 charger - 2/14/2007 6:29:17 PM   
dt1


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 2/8/2007
From: n/a, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		I'm using a 'universal car laptop adapter' for charging 4 cells. It can go to 7 cells within spec and possibly more. Cheap on ebay (£8 in the UK). Minimum modifications are to bypass the voltage setting switch with a trimpot and to change the leads. Other things to consider are a meter to see what's happening, a new container for better cooling and reverse polarity protection.

Technically these are 'wattage-limited' switch-mode power supplies that boost 12v. So they can only be used to charge 4 or more cells. Two sizes are available, 80 and 120W. The 80W version with 4 cells starts at around 10A and drops to about 6A as the pack voltage rises (80W / 14.4v = 5.5A). These currents are ideal for these cells. I describe the basic unit on my site and will update it with my A123 experiences within a week.
http://www.flyelectric.ukgateway.net/lithium-charger.htm#laptop1

Regards, David.

(in reply to everydayflyer)
       Post #: 8

RE: A123 charger - 3/21/2007 2:50:38 AM   
AIRPLANENUTS



Posts: 816
Joined: 7/21/2003
From: atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		So.......will the LN-5014 charge A123 cells........safely?

< Message edited by AIRPLANENUTS -- 3/21/2007 4:06:24 PM >

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       Post #: 9

RE: A123 charger - 3/21/2007 7:49:42 PM   
Red Scholefield



Posts: 4743
Joined: 12/8/2001
From: Newberry, FL, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AIRPLANENUTS

So.......will the LN-5014 charge A123 cells........safely?


No, You need a charger that charges only to 3.6 volts/cell. LN 5014, Triton take them to 4.2 volts/cell which is detrimental to the packs.


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R/C Battery Clinic
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(in reply to AIRPLANENUTS)
       Post #: 10

RE: A123 charger - 3/21/2007 10:07:07 PM   
AIRPLANENUTS



Posts: 816
Joined: 7/21/2003
From: atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Thank you, Mr. Scholefield. I'd love to try them, but I'll be hanged if I'm going to buy another charger. I may eat those words later.

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(in reply to Red Scholefield)
       Post #: 11

RE: A123 charger - 3/21/2007 10:58:04 PM   
dt1


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 2/8/2007
From: n/a, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		For a smaller investment you can regulate voltage with an addon device:
http://www.slkelectronics.com/lipodapter/index.htm
David.

(in reply to AIRPLANENUTS)
       Post #: 12

RE: A123 charger - 3/22/2007 12:40:49 AM   
akm


 

Posts: 60
Joined: 3/20/2005
From: Hudson, NH, USA
Status: offline 		Everyone is recomending the dapter but no one has said if they have used it yet and how well it works. Can anyone provide a link for a review of this product?

(in reply to dt1)
       Post #: 13

RE: A123 charger - 3/22/2007 1:30:20 AM   
Red Scholefield



Posts: 4743
Joined: 12/8/2001
From: Newberry, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I got one of the first that Sid put out. It works as advertised.

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R/C Battery Clinic
www.rcbatteryclinic.com

(in reply to akm)
       Post #: 14

RE: A123 charger - 3/22/2007 1:37:40 AM   
everydayflyer



Posts: 890
Joined: 8/21/2005
From: Buchanan, GA, USA
Status: offline 		See post #5 where I provided a link to a charging thread which has many graphs using th Dapter. Yes they work extremely well not only for A123s but LiPolys as well.

Charles
quote:

ORIGINAL: akm

Everyone is recomending the dapter but no one has said if they have used it yet and how well it works. Can anyone provide a link for a review of this product?


(in reply to akm)
       Post #: 15

RE: A123 charger - 3/22/2007 1:55:09 AM   
rajul



Posts: 6140
Joined: 6/18/2002
From: Missouri City, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Sommer just released their latest update (4.5x) for the miniron chargers that handles A123 http://www.sommer-electronic.de/ Charging is terminated at 3.6V

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RCU Moderator
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(in reply to everydayflyer)
       Post #: 16

RE: A123 charger - 3/22/2007 3:15:08 AM   
rcj


 

Posts: 180
Joined: 3/12/2007
From: , ON, CANADA
Status: offline