LiPo's I need HELP.

[TimXLB]

Hi,

How often do you balance your LiPo's?????? seems no one at our track has done it yet. (all are either running the 4800 Orion's and now the 3200 Orion spec packs in the Mini/Johnson class).
just wondering as I really don't want to wreck my LiPo's.

Thanks

[skellyo]

So far I've balanced mine every charge. However, the Trakpowers come balanced very well and the balancer hardly does any work while I'm charging the pack. I would say at a minimum, it should be done every 3-5 cycles. Balancing more frequently will only help prolong the life of the cells.

[TimXLB]

Hi everybody:

I'm looking at chargers.... and need some advice.
so far I've thought about the Orion Advantage Charger, and I looked at the Ice and the CheckPoint charger (like the Ice but with more options).
I'm kinda lost when it comes to LiPo chargers. I was hoping that Competition Electronics would have their update out for the GFX (I have two). it sounded like it was what I wanted.
any thoughts would be great!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Tim

[skellyo]

I use two ICE chargers and have no complaints at all with them.

[neweuser]

I would go with the 989.

[captain harlock]

I'd go with a Schulze 636 charger( I already have it, actually).

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by TimXLB

Hi everybody:

I'm looking at chargers.... and need some advice.
so far I've thought about the Orion Advantage Charger, and I looked at the Ice and the CheckPoint charger (like the Ice but with more options).
I'm kinda lost when it comes to LiPo chargers. I was hoping that Competition Electronics would have their update out for the GFX (I have two). it sounded like it was what I wanted.
any thoughts would be great!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Tim

When looking for a charger, you have to know what is important to you. These are some of the questions you might want to ask yourself:

- How many cells do I want to be able to charge?
- How much current do I want to charge at?
- What is an acceptable power limit? Even though some chargers have a high cell capability and high current, they usually can't do both at the same time due to this power limit.
- What kind of power supply will I need? High capacity chargers can pull a lot of current at 12v, and a power suply that can do this can be a little pricey.
- Do I want an adjustable CC/CV threshold (for A123's)?
- What kind of data do I want visible on the screen? Is it important to me to have a screenful of information?
- Do I want to be able to update it via computer in the future?
- What is the max price I am willing to spend?
- Does it use the typical CC/CV charge profile? Some use a different "pulse" method which doesn't work with many (if not all) balancers.

I'm sure there are more, but you get the idea.

Do your self a favor and think of possible future uses. If you get a max 4s charger because it is cheaper now, you will end up having to buy another one later if you decide to go to 6s+.

[jnev]

I made this mistake with my first charger. Don't make it and save the frustration. Now I have to find soemone to buy the current charger and then buy a new charger, which is a waste of even more money. Here is a quote I thought I would relate this to: "Buy the best and cry only once".