Charging A123 Battery
 

I am thinking about switching from a NiCad 5 cell pack to a 2 cell A123 battery in my F-86.

What I would like to know is, Do you feel it is save to charge an A123 batt in the Jet?

The reason I ask is the location of the battery does not allow easy removal for charging. I have to remove part of the internal ducting and the nose section to get the battery out. I stuck with the NiCad because it was safer for charging on board.

Thanks
Joe Lewis
Kingtech
K-80 and K-140
Owner

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

A123s are very stable, no issues charging in the plane. All of my gasser planes and my large scale heli that use A123's get charged in the aircraft.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

+1

This is one of the many advantages of A123's. Fast charging anywhere without risk of fire or over heating. I've got them in all my jets now for both rx's and ECU's. Just make sure you use a charger designed for A123 and always balance charge for best results.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Hi Joe,
You should just call Electro/Dynamics they can set you up with what ever you would need to switch over to A123 batteries.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

I fly A123's in all my fuel powered stuff for the Rx and ECU's. NO problems at all. I typically only balance charge once per week, as i find it rare that the cells on a Rx pack get more than .15v difference

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

guys can i charge my life po duralite battery 6.6 volt with the same charge that i charge the manganese ? i need some help

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Joe:

I've been using A123's (two packs and two switches per receiver in each jet) since you held the local Jet Meet in Newton Falls many years ago. I always charge them in the jet. I also use them for my ECU's since they handle Kero start effortlessly. They are bullet proof!

Nick

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

I have been using A123's now for about six years without removing them from the airframe, the good thing about a two cell pack is that you can use a standard servo plug as a ballance socket and attach it to a standard external charge point, means you can fit the whole thing internally.

Mike

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

I think the Manganese are charged using LIPO settings. The LIFE should be charged using A123 settings. Therefore is not the same charge parameters.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

If you go to the A123 web site I think you will find that they recommend charging at no more than 3.3volts/cell, but please check I don't have the spec's in front of me and as Edgar said in the above post I charge on a LiFe setting in my charger.

Mike

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Does anyone charge their A123 packs @ more than 1C?

Rob.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Rob

Not sure what that is in English but I charge mine at 4 amps. In fact both my chargers will not charge at a higher rate than this. With the Quattro charger it only takes a few minutes to charge 4 packs if they are part charged or under an hour if almost flat.

John

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

I have inadvertently charged my 1100Mah A123's at the 4amp setting for my 2300mah did not seem to make any difference except for the speed of charge.

Mike

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

The batteries will take a lot higher charge rate than the wiring we use will allow.

I charge all mine at 4amps.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

+1

For those using the Electrodynamic Ultra Switch II or Ultra Switch Ed-Nano and balance charging their A123's through that I would not go higher then 1 to 1.5 amps as that is only 22AWG wire. Also the same caution if charging through the balance connector on most all A123 packs. If you are charging through the Deans connector with 14AWG wire you are good up to 4 amps.

-Randy DesRosiers

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

[/quote]


+1

For those using the Electrodynamic Ultra Switch II or Ultra Switch Ed-Nano and balance charging their A123's through that I would not go higher then 1 to 1.5 amps as that is only 22AWG wire. Also the same caution if charging through the balance connector on most all A123 packs. If you are charging through the Deans connector with 14AWG wire you are good up to 4 amps.

-Randy DesRosiers
[/quote]


Veritech where do you get your numbers for max amps for a 22 awg wire, a 22 awg can handel up to 7 amps before generating to much heat and 14awg will handel up to 32 amps at a length of 1000 ft.




Alan

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

[/quote]


+1

For those using the Electrodynamic Ultra Switch II or Ultra Switch Ed-Nano and balance charging their A123's through that I would not go higher then 1 to 1.5 amps as that is only 22AWG wire. Also the same caution if charging through the balance connector on most all A123 packs. If you are charging through the Deans connector with 14AWG wire you are good up to 4 amps.

-Randy DesRosiers
[/quote]


Veritech where do you get your numbers for max amps for a 22 awg wire, a 22 awg can handel up to 7 amps before generating to much heat and 14awg will handel up to 32 amps at a length of 1000 ft. The connectors will cause these values to drop down to 5amps for the 22awg




Alan

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Agreed. Randy, what you are saying is in direct conflict with what Andy himself told me when I purchased his batteries, chargers & charging leads at JOK two years ago - 4 amps no prob, do not exceed. http://www.electrodynam.com/rc/EDNan...nd_Feeding.pdf

Chad at Sin City also states 4amp charge rate through HD JR extensions.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

A standard JR/Futaba plug or socket can take up to 4 amps continuously, if not I need to change all the leads on my Hitec 7955 servo's on my 1/4scale Yak. ;)

Mike

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Sorry guys I didn't mean to stir up any controversy. This was based on my experience at charging over 1 amp using 22 awg wire. It tends to get the charge cable warm at rates much over that and I was being conservative as I always tend to be.

I just found this posted on Andy's site so you are correct you can charge at a higher rate through the switch then I have been using.

"Be aware that there are many exaggerated claims of higher amps in the RC market, but as long as they use RC connectors, since the pins and sockets are rated at 3A max., regardless of the gauge of the wires or type of internal switch, the TRUE max amps of any switch that uses RC connectors is 3A max."

Thanks for setting me straight!

-Randy

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

If in any doubt don't use RC connectors and don't charge though a switch. You can solder longer leads on the balance lead plug and charge quite happily at 4 amps. If you have a Cellpro charger that is designed specifically for A123 batteries it charges via the balance socket at 4 amps in auto mode. If you charge at less than 4 amps then you are just wasting time and not taking advantage of the main benefits of using these cells.

John

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

hey ,

sort of same question but little different ... tagging along ....


just getting new ED nano a123 pack , FIRST time charge new pack , does that have to be SLOW charge like some other batt ?

thanks, Joe

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Nope, conditioning is not required, that is a left over from Sub-C cells, IMO LiPos don't need it either.

Mike

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

Mike.

3.3v is the nominal voltage. A123's should be charged to 3.6v per cell.
I love these batteries. They are fantastic for us up in the north where temperatures vary a lot from season to season. I use mine with as much confidence in -10 Celcius as I do in +30 Celcius.

RE: Charging A123 Battery
 

The only one time change you need to make is to wire the balance wire (the middle wire between the two cell) from the 2s A123 pack into the charge socket (e.g., as the signal wire in Himax heavy-duty charging switch). Then you can balance charge the A123 pack on board.

It should be pretty safe to balance charge it on board.