Lipo popping sound

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Shadows

Shadows

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Arrma RC's
  1. Kraton EXB
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Okay, so as I was trying to get one 3s 7200 mah Zeee Lipo balanced in storage mode, I heard a few pop sounds come from it. It was way off balance, and by charging it at 1.5a, then 1.0a, the middle cell finally got to 3.79 from previously being 3.74 with the rest at 3.8. Then I heard a few pops. It's a hard case, no puffing, and has only been used twice since I bought the pair a couple years ago. What now? My only other two 5200mah 3s lipos are even older but seem fine. Lectron pro. Should I get the one Zeee the heck out of my house?
 
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I guess I sould look for new 3s Lipos. Don't want to...CAN'T spend more than $80 for a pack of two.
 
Thanks to guys for the recommendation. I expected more responses though. Seems my threads don't get seen, or I just don't have the clout. Idk. I just ordered some 'cheap' Hoovos from amazon. I know, they're not great and supposedly all the same lower quality, but I don't have the money many here seem to have. The little 2s ones from Hoovo for my Teton birthday gift work well. Has a little HW quicrun system in it, so I took the chance. The basher gensacearespammers on 3s all seem to have 8000mah heavy bricks. That's too heavy for all my rigs except my M2C'd K6 which runs on 8s anyway. All my other lipos are Lectron Pro and are doing well, even the 3s ones at least 6yrs old.

Also, seeing as I'm not a hobby pro, I'm not sure of the basher gensacearespammers as they have balance connectors that I'm not sure would be compatible with my LHS charger.
 
Shadows said:
Thanks to guys for the recommendation. I expected more responses though. Seems my threads don't get seen, or I just don't have the clout. Idk. I just ordered some 'cheap' Hoovos from amazon. I know, they're not great and supposedly all the same lower quality, but I don't have the money many here seem to have. The little 2s ones from Hoovo for my Teton birthday gift work well. Has a little HW quicrun system in it, so I took the chance. The basher gensacearespammers on 3s all seem to have 8000mah heavy bricks. That's too heavy for all my rigs except my M2C'd K6 which runs on 8s anyway. All my other lipos are Lectron Pro and are doing well, even the 3s ones at least 6yrs old.

Also, seeing as I'm not a hobby pro, I'm not sure of the basher gensacearespammers as they have balance connectors that I'm not sure would be compatible with my LHS charger.
Click to expand...
as for the gensacearespammers batts, they have a thing on the side of the connector, so any charger without a narrow passage for the balance lead should work just fine for them. these batts have also worked great for me(expectedly at their price point.)
 
Replaced the Zeee's for now. 10 gauge wire. Will get a couple more down the line for sure.

20240409_132605.webp


A couple more of maybe a different brand, I mean.
 
Shadows said:
Replaced the Zeee's for now. 10 gauge wire. Will get a couple more down the line for sure.

View attachment 359891

A couple more of maybe a different brand, I mean.
Click to expand...
I've had both really good and really bad experiences with Hoovo. hopefully yours is leaning on the good side. I assume they were cheap? Got off amazon? I'd run some test while you still have them new to see if they are worth keeping or returning. Just the name of the game unfortunately.
 
Hector_Fisher said:
I've had both really good and really bad experiences with Hoovo. hopefully yours is leaning on the good side. I assume they were cheap? Got off amazon? I'd run some test while you still have them new to see if they are worth keeping or returning. Just the name of the game unfortunately.
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I've never returned anything from online purchases. I don't like dealing with hassle BS. Yes, these are Amazon specials. $60 for a 2 pack, and I'm well aware the 120c is a lie. Tbh, the Zeee's WERE probably just fine before my Max 6 didn't do it's job at LVC. Two of the three cells went under 3.2v. Darn ESC and as set at intermediate. I keep it high now. Less runtime, but it's safe at 3.6, and storage charging takes less time 🤷. But at their second use, the ESC let them get to 2.8 iirc. For two years after that, I kept them around, and finally when I got the one pack to balance at 1a storage mode recently, I heard the pops. Glad I was with it. Hopefully the charger is okay. It's seems alright. Nothing great, Just a UP200 Duo. It doesn't tell resistance. I don't understand resistance. My knowledge is limited. I just know from what I work with.
 
New Hoovos. On storage charge to check the celld. Hmm 🤔 what do I make of this?

20240409_153813.webp
 
Shadows said:
I've never returned anything from online purchases. I don't like dealing with hassle BS. Yes, these are Amazon specials. $60 for a 2 pack, and I'm well aware the 120c is a lie. Tbh, the Zeee's WERE probably just fine before my Max 6 didn't do it's job at LVC. Two of the three cells went under 3.2v. Darn ESC and as set at intermediate. I keep it high now. Less runtime, but it's safe at 3.6, and storage charging takes less time 🤷. But at their second use, the ESC let them get to 2.8 iirc. For two years after that, I kept them around, and finally when I got the one pack to balance at 1a storage mode recently, I heard the pops. Glad I was with it. Hopefully the charger is okay. It's seems alright. Nothing great, Just a UP200 Duo. It doesn't tell resistance. I don't understand resistance. My knowledge is limited. I just know from what I work with.
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I hate to be the one to say "spend money" but having the knowledge is kind of essential to being able to take the appropriate course of action. Are you sure the charger doesn't have IR measuring? That seems odd to me, unless it's old as dirt. I used to use a skyrc B6ac (about 10 years old now) with a similar interface to your charger, and i had to back out way far into the outer most menu to get to the IR function. Could yours be in the same branch of the menu?

Internal resistance is the resistance a battery creates to the flow of electricity. Higher resistance causes bigger swings in voltage under load and generates more heat. It's one of the best way to determine the health of a battery. Best when you can measure IR on a new pack and periodically monitor over time to see if the IR changes. If it does, then you can be aware something might be going on. Always measure IR at room temperature and from storage voltage or full charge, since IR can fluctuate with temperature and pack voltage.
 
Hector_Fisher said:
I hate to be the one to say "spend money" but having the knowledge is kind of essential to being able to take the appropriate course of action. Are you sure the charger doesn't have IR measuring? That seems odd to me, unless it's old as dirt. I used to use a skyrc B6ac (about 10 years old now) with a similar interface to your charger, and i had to back out way far into the outer most menu to get to the IR function. Could yours be in the same branch of the menu?

Internal resistance is the resistance a battery creates to the flow of electricity. Higher resistance causes bigger swings in voltage under load and generates more heat. It's one of the best way to determine the health of a battery. Best when you can measure IR on a new pack and periodically monitor over time to see if the IR changes. If it does, then you can be aware something might be going on. Always measure IR at room temperature and from storage voltage or full charge, since IR can fluctuate with temperature and pack voltage.
Click to expand...
Well, then I guess I'm stupid. I do what I can after a stroke and three brain surgeries. The charger mentions absolutely nothing about IR resistance. I just know one of the packs has two cells at 3.89, and one at 3.78. The other pack all three at 3.85v.

I don't know what to work with regarding the cells being off like that. I do feel....dumb. So, I suppose I don't belong in the hobby?
 
Shadows said:
Well, then I guess I'm stupid. I do what I can after a stroke and three brain surgeries. The charger mentions absolutely nothing about IR resistance. I just know one of the packs has two cells at 3.89, and one at 3.78. The other pack all three at 3.85v.

I don't know what to work with regarding the cells being off like that. I do feel....dumb. So, I suppose I don't belong in the hobby?
Click to expand...
I don't see any required age or intelligence level for the hobby, so as long as you are enjoying the highs, it might still be worth putting up with a few lows (y) For example, if I only focused on when my trucks broke and decided not to fix them or drive anymore, i'd miss all the great times i've had bashing when the trucks worked perfectly.

FWIW, you can pick up cheap cell/IR checkers from amazon that will give you at least a ball park result for IR:
https://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-Battery-Intelligent-Digital-Balancer/dp/B0178P8H9U/
These aren't going to be super accurate, and i think it only shows the total pack resistance, but it's more data than nothing.

Also, as you were running the Zeee lipos before without checking IR and they were fine, so it wouldn't be the end of the world to continue operating the same way. I only state that, from an information perspective, that would is one of the best ways to determine how your lipos are doing.

EDIT: I looked through the UP 200 charger manual, and actually I don't see anything on IR resistance. So i guess call me the one stupid for assuming the charger would have had it. I'd pick up a cheap cell checker and use it in general to monitor the health of the pack.
https://www.arrmaforum.com/attachments/uptup200duo-manual-pdf.87672/
 
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Hector_Fisher said:
I don't see any required age or intelligence level for the hobby, so as long as you are enjoying the highs, it might still be worth putting up with a few lows (y) For example, if I only focused on when my trucks broke and decided not to fix them or drive anymore, i'd miss all the great times i've had bashing when the trucks worked perfectly.

FWIW, you can pick up cheap cell/IR checkers from amazon that will give you at least a ball park result for IR:
https://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-Battery-Intelligent-Digital-Balancer/dp/B0178P8H9U/
These aren't going to be super accurate, and i think it only shows the total pack resistance, but it's more data than nothing.

Also, as you were running the Zeee lipos before without checking IR and they were fine, so it wouldn't be the end of the world to continue operating the same way. I only state that, from an information perspective, that would is one of the best ways to determine how your lipos are doing.
Click to expand...
Fair statement and helpful. However, I don't need to uh....say....introspect on the whole thing. Sure, I feel ignorant at times, but it's only temporary. My charger is crap. I have tried to say it was perhaps a lesser in terms of features and the LHS got REAL defensive about it, saying they sell the "good stuff." Yeah, I don't know about that. I'd like to look for a nice one that doesn't cost an arm and leg, but have clue what's out there. Doesn't mean I'm asking for more info. Just saying. I feel a bit overwhelmed now. I'm a poor guy, and have just about 'had it' atm.

Trying to get the pack here to balance out. No dice so far. Charger isn't cooperating. Feel anger towards it and the LHS, honestly. A few employees in there laugh at me and whisper in each other's ears when I walk in. I'm not in the societal club (if you will) and it wears on me. In short, people just plain don't like me.

Tinkering with these things (I apparently don't know enough about) is all I have left in this life.

They want $70 a pack for 3s 5200mah Lectron Pro brand lipos in there. F that.
 
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Shadows said:
Fair statement and helpful. However, I don't need to uh....say....introspect on the whole thing. Sure, I feel ignorant at times, but it's only temporary. My charger is crap. I have tried to say it was perhaps a lesser in terms of features and the LHS got REAL defensive about it, saying they sell the "good stuff." Yeah, I don't know about that. I'd like to look for a nice one that doesn't cost an arm and leg, but have clue what's out there. Doesn't mean I'm asking for more info. Just saying. I feel a bit overwhelmed now. I'm a poor guy, and have just about 'had it' atm.

Trying to get the pack here to balance out. No dice so far. Charger isn't cooperating. Feel anger towards it and the LHS, honestly. A few employees in there laugh at me and whisper in each other's ears when I walk in. I'm not in the societal club (if you will) and it wears on me. In short, people just plain don't like me.

Tinkering with these things (I apparently don't know enough about) is all I have left in this life.

They want $70 a pack for 3s 5200mah Lectron Pro brand lipos in there. F that.
Click to expand...
You don't need to worry too much about the LHS folks. They often times don't know anything more than the average RCer, if that. I'd keep it simple and stick with the charger you have unless it stops working. Pick up the cell checker if you feel so inclined, watch some videos on how to operate the UP200 charger, and get those lipos sorted out. Then focus on what you enjoy about this hobby (for some its tinkering, for some its bashing and driving) and go do it! 😁
 
Shadows said:
I just ordered some 'cheap' Hoovos from amazon. I know, they're not great and supposedly all the same lower quality,
Click to expand...

I have many Hoovo batteries, they work just fine for bashing. I've had zero problems with them.
 
CrashBoom said:
I have many Hoovo batteries, they work just fine for bashing. I've had zero problems with them.
Click to expand...
Okay. That's good. But my big question (without a IR checker atm) is how are the cells on my new Hoovos? I don't know what's way off balance and what isn't.

My charger storage charges at 3.80, so all the cells between the two packs are at 3.80v except the one troublesome one that is NOW at 3.78v. It took a LOT of messing with discharging to get it to even cooperate for storage mode, then went it's full timer of 120 minutes to get to where they're at now.
 
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Shadows said:
Okay. That's good. But my big question (without a IR checker atm) is how are the cells on my new Hoovos? I don't know what's way off balance and what isn't.

My charger storage charges at 3.80, so all the cells between the two packs are at 3.80v except the one troublesome one that is NOW at 3.78v. It took a LOT of messing with discharging to get it to even cooperate for storage mode, then went it's full timer of 120 minutes to get to where they're at now.
Click to expand...

Generally, if you have a bad cell you'll see that reflected in the voltage under load. Resting voltage doesn't necessarily give you the whole picture.

I can tell you that you should certainly not hear audible pops coming from a battery!

Also, the discharge function on a lot of chargers is ridiculously slow.
 

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