charging my lipo is so slow !

[dayxwalker]

I have just got back into rc so lipos are new to me. I have a trinity 4500mha stick pack and a ripmax charger that charges lipos but does not balance them. My problem is that it takes ages to charge it ! Like 74mins last time and it was not completely flat. It starts at almost 5A then drops very slow to less than 1A. Is the charger set wrong ? It's set to 4500mha
Also I need a vbalancer ! I have not balanced it for about 10 charges is this a bad thing ?

[rcmadd]

SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT TO ME
first of all never fully discharge a lipo pack
as a lipo charges your charger will reduce the ampage

no idea why but someone will give you all the technical info soon lol

[dayxwalker]

Thanks for confirming it's not my charger !
My problem is the club I race at (jarrow) have 3 heats ish so there's no time to charge it ! Looks like I need another one ! And a balancer !

[DCM]

charge it fully, and just top it up between heats, but always use the Cancel or Stop charge button on your charger.

Alternatively, have two batteries lol

[Col]

My charger goes the other way - starts slow and works upto fast.
Get a balancer. It keeps the bettery in top condition so is worth the money.
Trying to use one pack for 3 rounds and a final? Buy another!

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by Col

My charger goes the other way - starts slow and works upto fast.
Get a balancer. It keeps the bettery in top condition so is worth the money.
Trying to use one pack for 3 rounds and a final? Buy another!

that sounds wrong, what you using? should reduce amps as the pack is naring full, if it does not, id not use the charger!!

lipo should charge at constant voltage, so it will put 5 amps in (if thats your max) then as the pack reaches 8.4 volts the current will reduce,

dayxwalker you can just top up between runs,
if you can borrow a balancer just do it now and then, unless you want to buy one outright, they will give a longer life

[frogger]

Some lipo chargers are faster than others. It all depends on the algorithm the charger manufacturer uses. They may have decided to use a conservative charge rate for safety reasons which means it will reduce charge ampage much quicker than some other chargers. It could also have to do with the fact that the charger may be going into cold restore mode or something similar (assuming it has that capability).

The fastest charger in my arsenal is the Cellpro 10S. I also have a Cellpro 4S and a Trakpower charger and balancer. The 10S will typically charge my packs 20% faster than the others.

[dayxwalker]

Thanks all !
I will try and top up but I think that there will not be enough time ! We will see. I have one raceed once since I used to race 14 years ago and that was a regional (made the b) so there was 9 rounds and lots of time !
If I bring it fully charged maybe it can last with top ups as my cars a b4 with a brushless 7.5 and it's indoor so not to much grip to drag the power out of the pack.
I will get another pack soon anyway

[rcmadd]

the good thing with lipo is that you can fully charge it the day before you race and it will be good enough for a race then just top up between rounds it does not matter if its fully charged

[Col]

Originally Posted by mark christopher

that sounds wrong, what you using? should reduce amps as the pack is naring full, if it does not, id not use the charger!!

lipo should charge at constant voltage, so it will put 5 amps in (if thats your max) then as the pack reaches 8.4 volts the current will reduce

It's a robitronic overloader with the vbalancer running "in series".
It starts at around 1amp (depending on amount of charge in the lipo) and works upto max charge (in this case 4.9amps). As it gets close to max capacity it drops off again to about 1amp. Only used it once so figures might be in-accurate. The lipo does not even get warm...

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by Col

It's a robitronic overloader with the vbalancer running "in series".
It starts at around 1amp (depending on amount of charge in the lipo) and works upto max charge (in this case 4.9amps). As it gets close to max capacity it drops off again to about 1amp. Only used it once so figures might be in-accurate. The lipo does not even get warm...

ah ok thats normal, its just soft starting, mine does same ( just sold it but like yours)

[turbo_brick]

If you ask jimmi price I think he did most of the night on one charge of his lipo.

I've got some 4900 saddle packs you can use if they'll fit aswell.

Peter

[dayxwalker]

Thanks peter ! Hope I will be ok tho ! The first time the pack ran out it just cut out at about 25mph and it cr*ped not steering

[mark christopher]

soon as you have raced, top it straight back up does not matter if its not full for the next run.

[dayxwalker]

thanks all ! Just got a new trackpower 3200 20c so I should be ok !