Lipo batteries..will only charge at low rate
08-11-2012, 09:30 AM
#1
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Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 58
Lipo batteries..will only charge at low rate
I have two 3s 5000mah battery packs and both are showing the same unusual behaviour.
The 2 packs are about 2 years old and have been used about 60 to 70 times each. They have never been run down to low, theres usually about 30% to 40% in them after the flight.
I have always charged them at 4.0A and they record about 97% to 99% capacity and the cells are always balanced.
Recently when I have charged them at 4.0A my charger beeps with an "Input voltage error" warning. Its only on these 2 packs it gives this warning.
I find I can now only charge these packs at 1.0A...any higher and I get the warning message. The resulting charge gives 97% to 99% charge and the cells are balanced and they packs perform as normal in the planes. The packs do not get warm during the charge.
Basically there is no differance to how they use to be, just the low charge rate.
Whilst this is not a problem as it just simply takes longer to charge, I was wondering if a more serious problem exists.
Any advice/thoughts appreciated.
The 2 packs are about 2 years old and have been used about 60 to 70 times each. They have never been run down to low, theres usually about 30% to 40% in them after the flight.
I have always charged them at 4.0A and they record about 97% to 99% capacity and the cells are always balanced.
Recently when I have charged them at 4.0A my charger beeps with an "Input voltage error" warning. Its only on these 2 packs it gives this warning.
I find I can now only charge these packs at 1.0A...any higher and I get the warning message. The resulting charge gives 97% to 99% charge and the cells are balanced and they packs perform as normal in the planes. The packs do not get warm during the charge.
Basically there is no differance to how they use to be, just the low charge rate.
Whilst this is not a problem as it just simply takes longer to charge, I was wondering if a more serious problem exists.
Any advice/thoughts appreciated.
08-11-2012, 11:30 AM
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 6,121
'Input Voltage Error' means that the voltage being supplied to your charger is either too high or too low... Usually the cause is voltage falling too low under load, probably caused by an inadequate / failing power supply.
It might be happening only with those two batteries because they are larger and take more power to charge than your other batteries.
Steve
It might be happening only with those two batteries because they are larger and take more power to charge than your other batteries.
Steve
08-11-2012, 11:36 AM
#3
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Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 58
Originally Posted by JetPlaneFlyer
'Input Voltage Error' means that the voltage being supplied to your charger is either too high or too low... Usually the cause is voltage falling too low under load, probably caused by an inadequate / failing power supply.
It might be happening only with those two batteries because they are larger and take more power to charge than your other batteries.
Steve
It might be happening only with those two batteries because they are larger and take more power to charge than your other batteries.
Steve
Thanks for the quick reply.
I'm not experiencing similar problems with my other 3s 5000mah...they still charge as they have always have, which is why I was leaning more towards a battery problem than a power supply problem.
Do you think my charger is possibly failing?
08-11-2012, 01:15 PM
#4
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Trophy Club TX
Posts: 6,314
Perhaps it is a charger issue - what are you using for a power supply?
One test - attach the charger to one of your car batteries and see if they same behavior exists.
I suspect your power supply...
One test - attach the charger to one of your car batteries and see if they same behavior exists.
I suspect your power supply...
08-11-2012, 06:48 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 58
Originally Posted by rcers
Perhaps it is a charger issue - what are you using for a power supply?
One test - attach the charger to one of your car batteries and see if they same behavior exists.
I suspect your power supply...
One test - attach the charger to one of your car batteries and see if they same behavior exists.
I suspect your power supply...
Thanks for the reply.
I'm using the charger from the mains. I tend to charge at home as opposed to the flying field. I can certainly check the charger on my car battery next time I'm at the field when I've used one of the batteries. At the moment they are fully charged.
Leaving them at 3.7v or so while stored will likely keep them lasting longer.
08-11-2012, 09:41 PM
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 8,952
Originally Posted by liposucker
I have two 3s 5000mah battery packs and both are showing the same unusual behaviour.
The 2 packs are about 2 years old and have been used about 60 to 70 times each. They have never been run down to low, theres usually about 30% to 40% in them after the flight.
I have always charged them at 4.0A and they record about 97% to 99% capacity and the cells are always balanced.
Recently when I have charged them at 4.0A my charger beeps with an "Input voltage error" warning. Its only on these 2 packs it gives this warning.
I find I can now only charge these packs at 1.0A...any higher and I get the warning message. The resulting charge gives 97% to 99% charge and the cells are balanced and they packs perform as normal in the planes. The packs do not get warm during the charge.
Basically there is no differance to how they use to be, just the low charge rate.
Whilst this is not a problem as it just simply takes longer to charge, I was wondering if a more serious problem exists.
Any advice/thoughts appreciated.
The 2 packs are about 2 years old and have been used about 60 to 70 times each. They have never been run down to low, theres usually about 30% to 40% in them after the flight.
I have always charged them at 4.0A and they record about 97% to 99% capacity and the cells are always balanced.
Recently when I have charged them at 4.0A my charger beeps with an "Input voltage error" warning. Its only on these 2 packs it gives this warning.
I find I can now only charge these packs at 1.0A...any higher and I get the warning message. The resulting charge gives 97% to 99% charge and the cells are balanced and they packs perform as normal in the planes. The packs do not get warm during the charge.
Basically there is no differance to how they use to be, just the low charge rate.
Whilst this is not a problem as it just simply takes longer to charge, I was wondering if a more serious problem exists.
Any advice/thoughts appreciated.
If you've not used a digital meter before, take a look:
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52821
09-19-2012, 03:48 AM
#10
Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 108
LiPo batteries only charge at low rate
I have two LiPo batteries, 11.1v, 1000mAh and about two years old with few charge cycles on them that also charge very slowly compared to other similar LiPos that I have. My charger is a Triton2 and is fully automatic, I can't adjust the charge current; the charger does it. My power supply to the charger is perfect, no problem with it. I suspect the batteries are perhaps "on their last legs"! After the very long charge time, this charger will end the charge and indicate that the battery is fully charged. A digital voltage check of each of the 3 cells confirms this. The battery flys normal in my airplane, however. Crasher
09-19-2012, 03:58 AM
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 152
It is true that older worn out batts will take longer. They spend proportionately more time and capacity in the slower CV stage of charge.
ps. The only way to change the cc part of the charge current (the set-point) on T-2 is to lie to it about capacity.
ps. The only way to change the cc part of the charge current (the set-point) on T-2 is to lie to it about capacity.
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