[highflier]

YES Highflier is an account on RCgroups and it is ME :)

There are some reports of people using PC power supplies to charge a 3s A123 pack.

I get what your saying about the adapter for cig lighter, But I'll bet they put out 12 volt not the 14.4 an alternator is doing. Thus you are back to a 3 cell pack.

There is one downside to all of this stuff and that is remember to disconnect the pack when it is charged, ( we are slightly over charging them and they seem to handle that just OK, But I don't think you want to hold it at that voltage for hours) that is where the handy little circuit called DB terminator comes in. It is a automated cutoff when the pack reaches full charge.


The whol trick to this thing is trying to find a voltage supply that is greater then 3.7 per cell and less then 4.2 per cell. So a cleaver guy can play with a PC Supply and do lots of cool things.

PC supply ex. thought
-5 Volt and +12 Volt = 17 volts... Hmm that is 4.2X volts to a 4 cell pack.
or
+5 and +12 = 7 volts..... 3.5 volts for a 2 cell pack.... that would get you a 95% charge :)


I am not responsible for any results just throwing some thoughts out there...... Proceed with data in this post at your own risk. I have used only 3s and deep cycles batter so far.

After I get my DB terminator working I may expand my tests!

Highflier