A question about a Li-Po not charging
11-22-2006, 03:11 AM
#1
Thread Starter
A question about a Li-Po not charging
I admit it, I'm new to these electric planes, and I've only had two now, the most recent being an Ultrafly Radix 3D, (I've been in R/C for almost 2 decades, though).
I am using a Hobbico Quick Field Charger, which is Li-Po compatible, and the Electrifly 640mAh 11.1 volt packs. One of the packs charges fine and the other will not charge at all. I hook it up to the charger, and it immediately starts beeping, no matter how low I set the charge rate.
Anyone have some insight on this? I've used the packs probably about 10 times now.
I am using a Hobbico Quick Field Charger, which is Li-Po compatible, and the Electrifly 640mAh 11.1 volt packs. One of the packs charges fine and the other will not charge at all. I hook it up to the charger, and it immediately starts beeping, no matter how low I set the charge rate.
Anyone have some insight on this? I've used the packs probably about 10 times now.
11-22-2006, 06:17 AM
#2
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RE: A question about a Li-Po not charging
It sounds like the pack has fallen below the 3v per cell limit and
the charger will not allow the pack to charge.
Check the voltage of the pack with a multimeter and you will probably find its below 9v.
If you have a balancer plug on the pack, check each cell individually with the meter to see if you have one
that has failed.
This is an inbuilt safety device to stop the pack exploding.
I have had this happen and this is how I recovered the pack.
You have to use a charger that has nicad charge function and a digital readout.
You charge the pack on nicad setting at a low current for about 1 minute.
I suggest about 300mah on your pack.
DURING THIS MINUTE OF NICAD CHARGE YOU MUST KEEP A VERY CLOSE
EYE ON THE PACK TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT HEAT UP OR START EXPANDING.
This will bring the voltage level of the pack above the
level that your lipo charger will now accept.
Now charge as normal on the Lipo charge function.
Don't forget that you must not charge over the 1C rule:- e.g. 1000mah pack charge at a max of 1 amp.
This may lower the capacity of the pack and shorten its life, but has
always worked well for me and others I know.
the charger will not allow the pack to charge.
Check the voltage of the pack with a multimeter and you will probably find its below 9v.
If you have a balancer plug on the pack, check each cell individually with the meter to see if you have one
that has failed.
This is an inbuilt safety device to stop the pack exploding.
I have had this happen and this is how I recovered the pack.
You have to use a charger that has nicad charge function and a digital readout.
You charge the pack on nicad setting at a low current for about 1 minute.
I suggest about 300mah on your pack.
DURING THIS MINUTE OF NICAD CHARGE YOU MUST KEEP A VERY CLOSE
EYE ON THE PACK TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT HEAT UP OR START EXPANDING.
This will bring the voltage level of the pack above the
level that your lipo charger will now accept.
Now charge as normal on the Lipo charge function.
Don't forget that you must not charge over the 1C rule:- e.g. 1000mah pack charge at a max of 1 amp.
This may lower the capacity of the pack and shorten its life, but has
always worked well for me and others I know.
11-22-2006, 07:28 AM
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RE: A question about a Li-Po not charging
I had a similar problem using the same charger. It only happened when I tried to charge two packs at once off my power panel battery. Turns out the battery in my field box was not up to charging two packs at once. I then switched to the car battery and it worked fine.
What is your power source for the charger? Is it always the same pack that won't charge? If it is not always the same pack, check your power source.
What is your power source for the charger? Is it always the same pack that won't charge? If it is not always the same pack, check your power source.
11-22-2006, 04:43 PM
#4
Thread Starter
RE: A question about a Li-Po not charging
It's just the one pack that won't charge, it's twin brother charges just fine as far as I can tell. I use a standard sealed 12V field battery. I tried charging the field battery when it didn't work the first time and that didn't help.
I'm going to try the NiCd method for a minute and see if that fixes it. I'll let you know what hapens. Thanks for the help!
I'm going to try the NiCd method for a minute and see if that fixes it. I'll let you know what hapens. Thanks for the help!
