Battery charge

[russellbryce398]

Went to charge my battery after sitting for a couple months, now it won’t take a charge. Any suggestions?

 

[332_RC]

Each cell is below the volt threshold. The charger won't recognize it. Have a multimeter? Put +/- on it, on DC, & read the battery voltage. Divide by # of cells. That's the volt per cell. If it's like 2.2v or 1.7v, it won't recognize it or charge it. There are ways to 'jump start' it & get it above the voltage threshold so it will charge. @Chapinb may help with that process.

 

[332_RC]

Went to charge my battery after sitting for a couple months, now it won’t take a charge. Any suggestions?

Welcome to the Arrma Forum!

 

[MyKeyB]

Always storage charge your lipos after use and never run them below 3.0 volts per cell or charge them past 4.2 volts per cell unless they are High Voltage batteries. You can still charge/"jump start" them if your battery charger has a nimh setting but it isn't really recommended and probably isn't a good idea.

 

[Chapinb]

You can sometimes revive a dead lipo, but there are caveats and warnings. It likely will never be as good as it was, and will always pose more of a risk of fire. If its already puffed, it's too late. It's hazardous trash, like carbon fiber. Doing what I'm laying out is a fire hazard. It gets done slow, gets watched and gets done outside. If your not fully comfortable with this, do not do it.
1st determin the total pack voltage and each cell voltage. Preferably with a multi meter or a lipo checker. Many chargers will read voltage from the cells even if they won't charge it.
Next feed some volts to it, no more than 3.5v/cell. If its a 2s pack, that's 7v. Can use nimh setting on a charger, or a wall brick if you eant to jerry rig something. A bench top power supply is best as it gives you ultimate control. Make sure charge rate is no more than 1/10c. It has to be limited. A shorted cell will absorb what your putting in and turn it to heat. Heat = fire. But @ 1/10c, it can dissipate that heat fast enough. Stop immediately if the pack gets warm. Hopefully the charger will recognize it under lipo setting now. Note the IR of each cell. Cycle the pack a few times. Charge at 1/10c to full, let sit 1 hour. Discharge at 1/10c to 3.5v/cell, let sit for for an hour. Repeat this a few times. On tje last charge, compare IR of each cell and total capacity it took.

With luck the pack will retain some life. But even a single trip below 3.2v will do permanent damage. It will never be as good as it was.

Cannot stress enough. This process is a fire risk, the lipo will forever more be higher risk of fire. Do this outside, under supervision and at your own risk.

 

[RC Steve]

If the battery isn't dead just low then charge it unbalanced in NiMH mode for 2-3 minutes then do a proper balanced charge. This will boost its voltage enough so your charger will recognise it. If this doesn't work DON'T REPEAT IT, your battery is dead. Last, don't do this inside your house.

 

[NitroK]

As mentioned above. Constantly monitor the Lipo battery when charging under NiMH mode. Do it outside and have a readily accessible fire extinguisher just in case.

 

[mvessell]

Thank you for this tread, I broke out all my batteries and charged them to make sure they are good. Half way thru still looking good.

 

[332_RC]

Thank you for this tread, I broke out all my batteries and charged them to make sure they are good. Half way thru still looking good.

I've got two 6s blocks in the same condition. 1.65v per cell on one, brand new, major brand, high quality name, 6-7 runs on it. Other, 3 years old, 2.2v per cell, cheaper Zeee. Countless runs on it.
Go figure.

 

[mvessell]

I've got two 6s blocks in the same condition. 1.65v per cell on one, brand new, major brand, high quality name, 6-7 runs on it. Other, 3 years old, 2.2v per cell, cheaper Zeee. Countless runs on it.
Go figure.

Idc what anyone says I’ve had so much good luck with ZeeS, I have 2 sets of CNHL 8s batteries and I feel like they don’t last as long. So my most recent purchase was 2 4s 10000mah ZeeS. I gotta make my battery tray longer to fit them, can’t wait to try them

 

[Dan B.]

I've got two 6s blocks in the same condition. 1.65v per cell on one, brand new, major brand, high quality name, 6-7 runs on it. Other, 3 years old, 2.2v per cell, cheaper Zeee. Countless runs on it.
Go figure.

I had the same experience last year. The only LiPo I’ve had go south on me in years, and it was by far the most expensive battery I’ve ever bought. Haters will hate, but +1 on the Zeee’s.

Idc what anyone says I’ve had so much good luck with ZeeS, I have 2 sets of CNHL 8s batteries and I feel like they don’t last as long. So my most recent purchase was 2 4s 10000mah ZeeS. I gotta make my battery tray longer to fit them, can’t wait to try them

I’ve also had great luck with Zeee’s. I still have some I bought years ago and couldn’t count the number of cycles they’ve gone through. I’ve yet to have one fail. I have retired a couple after crazy amounts of use when their performance just dropped off quite a bit, but hey…LiPo’s don’t last forever and I don’t consider that a “failure.” I’ve gotten way more than my money’s worth on every Zeee I’ve ever bought.
Like I said to 332, the haters will hate, but my experience with them has been great. (The LiPo’s, not the haters. )

 

[Chapinb]

Man I don't know about zeee's any more. At least for their 6s. A 6s 50c 5000mah is 65$, and the 100c is 80$. Meanwhile a smc 5000 80c is 63$. Out of stock and price will raise, but still.... It aint budget if its the same price as the best.

All my Zeee's are still trucking along too though.

 

[332_RC]

It was either @mvessell or @K-BASH
that I asked about short 3s lipos for my Limitless V2. Zeee was the reply. That's what I got. Now, I mismatched the ESC & motor, still learning, the 160a ESC amped out on a 192a TP motor, but the Zeee was giving it hell. I've got 4 different Zeee 6s blocks I'm watching on, for purchase for my off road bashers. Ya know, it's hard to say naw to $68 or $74 for a big 6s block.

 

[K-BASH]

Imo,unless I needed high dollar packs for speedrunning I'd stick to whatever is cheapest...all I use is top tier packs because they are the only ones that'll take the amps I regularly pull... I'll remove bad cells off packs just to continue useing a good pack..it's almost always a outer cell that dies cause they are most venerable...my best advise is of ya plan on buying packs the next few years buy a top tier charger to maintain your investment into lots of packs...I used to just buy cheap charges till I bought the best an I wish I woulda just gotten it from the start...can discharge/charge fast,shows IR accurately,just balance packs,it's paid for itself already for me...this is a 3s pack that took 600a like a champ