Best damn balance charger I ever had

[mistercrash]

I've used Novak, Competition Electronics, MRC, Hyperion, Thunder Power, Revolektrix. The BC168 balance charger charges 1 to 6S at up to 8 amps through the balance tabs only. It also discharges and is super adjustable. It's like six separate and precise 1S chargers in one package that will charge your packs in a hurry at cell level. So there's no bleeding off of voltage on the cells that charged faster while the others are catching up during a balance mode that can take hours and WILL damage your batteries. This thing charges real quick and does not damage the cells. Find them on ebay at under $80 each and try to find free shipping. Comes with a parallel harness and a temp probe.

[brainanator]

looks like a good one. I've always used cheap chinese chargers with good results.

Here is a link to the DealExtreme product, but as said by mistercrash ebay is another very valid option. DX has free shipping, but it's usually pretty slow.

http://dx.com/p/bc168-1-6s-8000ma-20...charger-124483

[hashemio]

So you just charge through the balance tab? That is it? You don't have to plug in the actual deans/traxxas/etc. connector in? Is that safe?

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by hashemio

So you just charge through the balance tab? That is it? You don't have to plug in the actual deans/traxxas/etc. connector in? Is that safe?

It's safer. Keeping the cells balanced ensures individual cells are not damaged and balancing prolongs pack life. This is like a separate smart charger for each cell instead of 1 charger for a whole pack.

It's like 8 mechanics for your cars v-8. 1 for each cylinder instead of 1 guy in charge of everything.

[Arct1k]

Not sure how many amps i'd want to put via the balance wires though... 8amps seems like alot

[A RC Dude]

Originally Posted by Arct1k

Not sure how many amps i'd want to put via the balance wires though... 8amps seems like alot

Exactly what I though. It's an awesome idea, I was wishing chargers did that a two months ago when i bought a new one. I only hope that the balance leads have thick wire for the batteries that can take it

[zeropointbug]

I better get me self one then!

[BrianG]

I agree with Arct1k; most balance wires/connectors are good for around 1.5-2A max. The wire size and connector type have relatively high resistance due to their size, so when you start pumping higher currents through them, you get more voltage drop across the wires/connectors. This would cause the charger to think the cells are at a lower voltage than they really are and could overcharge them as a result.

However, this type of charger is a really good idea IMO, but only if the wires where changed to something like 18GA and then a use different higher-current connector.

[zeropointbug]

Originally Posted by BrianG

I agree with Arct1k; most balance wires/connectors are good for around 1.5-2A max. The wire size and connector type have relatively high resistance due to their size, so when you start pumping higher currents through them, you get more voltage drop across the wires/connectors. This would cause the charger to think the cells are at a lower voltage than they really are and could overcharge them as a result.

However, this type of charger is a really good idea IMO, but only if the wires where changed to something like 18GA and then a use different higher-current connector.

Brian, unless I'm just tired right now, having the charger recharge the pack through the balance leads would read a HIGHER that actual voltage, then you would have a skewed CV phase than normal, but in the end the voltage of each cell would be spot on the money as current tapers off.

[zeropointbug]

BTW, where did you buy this charger Mister?

[A RC Dude]

Originally Posted by zeropointbug

Brian, unless I'm just tired right now, having the charger recharge the pack through the balance leads would read a HIGHER that actual voltage, then you would have a skewed CV phase than normal, but in the end the voltage of each cell would be spot on the money as current tapers off.

Actually, wouldn't the fact that the battery has the same wire and connection on both sides of the circuit make the resistance the same in front and behind the charger making the voltage read lower and lower when the internal resistance of the charger goes closer to zero (aka a high rate of charge)? In a since it's making a voltage divider circuit.



In this case the outer 2 resistances are the connectors/wires and the middle is the charger. But in all honesty, I doubt the wires have enough resistance to really matter enough considering that Lipo batteries can actually go slightly over 4.2v per cell. They just cut it at 4.2 for safety and most chargers are programed to read a just slightly higher voltage than actual so in production, the resistor values put in it don't have to be super extreme tolerances to still be safe.

Just my two cents and theory from what little electrical engineering know how I have.

[zeropointbug]

I'm not sure what you are trying to say. But I mentioned this before... say for instance you charge the cells at maximum 8amp, it's charging, it's charging, then nearing 4.2 volts, the charger would 'see' 4.2 volts, but the potential at the cell would be more like say, 4.17 volts, this is because of the losses in the small balance wire. Now, the current begins to fall, and as it's falling, the 'voltage losses' in the length of wire becomes less and less, so for example once it drops to 4 amps, the charger still 'sees' 4.2 volts, but now the cell is sitting at around 4.185 volts. This will continue until it approaches fully charged and the current drops to such a level where the charger voltage and cell voltage are indistinguishable, as the voltage losses are so minute.

[mistercrash]

You can all agree with everything that anyone who never used this charger as to say. I have been using two of them on a daily basis for the past 4 weeks to recharge my 20S20P, 74V 30Ah battery in my E-Moped and the balance tabs barely become warm. My battery can be separated into four 5S packs fast so I recharge two 5S and then the other two 5S.
Even doing it that way is faster than using two Hyperion 1420i to recharge all at once or two Cellpro 10S to recharge all at once because they always go into a balance charge mode that tries to equalize 30Ah cells with each other at less than 1 amp

Once the charge is done, I checked the voltage of each cell with my Fluke and they all are below 4.205V so no over charging going on here. I did this for the first 5 charges just to find out if the chargers are consistant and they are. That is with the chargers adjusted to charge at 4.2V per cell. That is adjustable to a lower voltage if needed.

So hypothesize all you want, I know what I got and I know it works well Just wanted to share.

[FG101C]

Can you charge more than one pack at a time with this?

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by FG101C

Can you charge more than one pack at a time with this?

You could charge multiple packs in series up to 6s (6 total cells) and still reap the benefits of this charger.

Any parallel charging would negate the benefits of individual cell monitoring.