Powerhobby Battery occasionally not charging

[Nebula34]

Hey All,

I have a power hobby 2s battery that is not dropping equivalent charge in each cell when I run it. i.e. at the end of the run I could have a 3.7 and 3.5 volt charge. I've been able to get it to charge sometimes by discharging the battery (getting them both to 3.5ish) and then charging both cells from there. Is this really abnormal? My son and I are still learning the ins and outs of Lipo, but this seems like it might be a bad battery?

TIA

 

[Moirae]

You need an IR checker to check the resistance. Probably a big difference between cells which is why it's happening. Personally, I'd toss the battery or return it if you just bought it recently but that's just me

 

[Nebula34]

You need an IR checker to check the resistance. Probably a big difference between cells which is why it's happening. Personally, I'd toss the battery or return it if you just bought it recently but that's just me

Thanks - unfortunately, it's probably out of warranty but I'm not super comfortable with a finicky battery in the house either...

 

[Diem Turner]

What @Moirae said.

 

[RCbuzz]

You need an IR checker to check the resistance. Probably a big difference between cells which is why it's happening. Personally, I'd toss the battery or return it if you just bought it recently but that's just me

This!

 

[Nebula34]

I'm in the market for a new charger too - does it make a difference if I get a separate IR charger or a battery charger with an IR sensor in it? Any recommendations? Thanks everyone!

 

[Diem Turner]

I'm a big fan of ISDT chargers. They're not the cheapest, but they're good and they also read IR. I use a P20, P10 and I have a Q8 for use outside the house (I've never used it, but thought it would be a good thing to have). It's worth mentioning that these chargers require a DC input/power supply. But I think they're great.

If you decide to go a different route, make sure to check the balance current of a charger. It should be at least 1A unless you don't mind waiting for your batteries to finish charging. Anything over 1.5A is good.

Hope this helps

 

[Moirae]

I'm in the market for a new charger too - does it make a difference if I get a separate IR charger or a battery charger with an IR sensor in it? Any recommendations? Thanks everyone!

I was told be one of the better battery manufacturers (SMC) that you should use a separate IR checker from the battery charger because it's less accurate.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0178P8H9U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3IAN4VN1Q26HU&psc=1

I actually plan on buying this one sometime soon as I was previously using my charger.

 

[Diem Turner]

I was told be one of the better battery manufacturers (SMC) that you should use a separate IR checker from the battery charger because it's less accurate.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0178P8H9U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3IAN4VN1Q26HU&psc=1

I actually plan on buying this one sometime soon as I was previously using my charger.

I don't look at IR readings as absolute values. Rather as a guide to monitor the health of my batteries. I'm not too concerned about whether they're totally accurate. If they're in the ballpark, that's good enough for me.

 

[Moirae]

I don't look at IR readings as absolute values. Rather as a guide to monitor the health of my batteries. I'm not too concerned about whether they're totally accurate. If they're in the ballpark, that's good enough for me.

I agree with you and thought it was lowkey a copout when he told me that after I told him the IR of my batteries lol.

 

[Diem Turner]

I agree with you and thought it was lowkey a copout when he told me that after I told him the IR of my batteries lol.

Could well be. Maybe they're just trying to sell their battery tester.

 

[CrashBoom]

I was told be one of the better battery manufacturers (SMC) that you should use a separate IR checker from the battery charger because it's less accurate.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0178P8H9U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3IAN4VN1Q26HU&psc=1

I actually plan on buying this one sometime soon as I was previously using my charger.

Those cheap testers aren’t going to be any better, but for what we do we mostly just need relative measurements anyway. Search for “Wayne Giles ESR meter” if you are interested in “accuracy”.

 

[Diem Turner]

Those cheap testers aren’t going to be any better, but for what we do we mostly just need relative measurements anyway. Search for “Wayne Giles ESR meter” if you are interested in “accuracy”.

SMC makes (or sells, not sure which) an ESR meter too. That's what I meant when I said "Maybe they're just trying to sell their battery tester".
https://www.smc-racing.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=565

 

[slick2500]

I was told be one of the better battery manufacturers (SMC) that you should use a separate IR checker from the battery charger because it's less accurate.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0178P8H9U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3IAN4VN1Q26HU&psc=1

I actually plan on buying this one sometime soon as I was previously using my charger.

I remember paying like $10 for mine off Amazon. But that isn't very good either cell 1 is always way higher than the rest of the cells, the one in my ISDT charger works better.

-edit- I'll post some pics give me a moment.

 

[CrashBoom]

SMC makes (or sells, not sure which) an ESR meter too. That's what I meant when I said "Maybe they're just trying to sell their battery tester"

Ah that’s the newest version of the Wayne Giles meter, didn’t know they sold them.

 

[SrC]

Thanks - unfortunately, it's probably out of warranty but I'm not super comfortable with a finicky battery in the house either...

If you had to guess, how many cycles are into that pack so far. And what brand is it?

I remember paying like $10 for mine off Amazon. But that isn't very good either cell 1 is always way higher than the rest of the cells, the one in my ISDT charger works better.

-edit- I'll post some pics give me a moment.

View attachment 257368
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True. I have the same Testor. Sometimes but not always, the Charger gets me the best reads.
Those cheapo lipo alarms, even some of them are way Off also. Good just for their purpose, to sound an alarm when the overall voltage drops as you bash.

 

[slick2500]

Hey All,

I have a power hobby 2s battery that is not dropping equivalent charge in each cell when I run it. i.e. at the end of the run I could have a 3.7 and 3.5 volt charge. I've been able to get it to charge sometimes by discharging the battery (getting them both to 3.5ish) and then charging both cells from there. Is this really abnormal? My son and I are still learning the ins and outs of Lipo, but this seems like it might be a bad battery?

TIA

Where did you buy the battery? The warranty varies from company to company can be anywhere from 30 days to 2 years.

If you had to guess, how many cycles are into that pack so far. And what brand is it?

True. I have the same Testor. Sometimes but not always, the Charger gets me the best reads.
Those cheapo lipo alarms, even some of them are way Off also. Good just for their purpose, to sound an alarm when the overall voltage drops as you bash.

I only use it to make sure that they aren't getting too high and I usually only pay attention to cell 2 or 3.

 

[Nebula34]

If you had to guess, how many cycles are into that pack so far. And what brand is it?

True. I have the same Testor. Sometimes but not always, the Charger gets me the best reads.
Those cheapo lipo alarms, even some of them are way Off also. Good just for their purpose, to sound an alarm when the overall voltage drops as you bash.

I'd say I have about 2 dozen cycles in it - It's a power hobby. I picked up a few SMC batteries and am loving them. @slick2500 I picked up the batter with my Typhon at my LHS.

 

[slick2500]

I'd say I have about 2 dozen cycles in it - It's a power hobby. I picked up a few SMC batteries and am loving them. @slick2500 I picked up the batter with my Typhon at my LHS.

Oh man I am so blind some days, idk how I completely missed that it was a Power Hobby lipo.

Power Hobby appears to have a 6 month warranty.
Warranty:

• This LiPo Battery Pack is guaranteed, under warranty, against defects in materials and workmanship upto 6 Months from the day of purchase
• This warranty does not cover physical damage to the battery pack as the result of a crash, hard landing, improper mounting or any deformity caused by the user.
• This warranty does not cover internal damage to the battery pack due to overcharging, deep discharging, or excessive
• discharge current.

Looks like you just need your receipt.

 

[Nebula34]

Oh man I am so blind some days, idk how I completely missed that it was a Power Hobby lipo.

Power Hobby appears to have a 6 month warranty.
Warranty:

• This LiPo Battery Pack is guaranteed, under warranty, against defects in materials and workmanship upto 6 Months from the day of purchase
• This warranty does not cover physical damage to the battery pack as the result of a crash, hard landing, improper mounting or any deformity caused by the user.
• This warranty does not cover internal damage to the battery pack due to overcharging, deep discharging, or excessive
• discharge current.

Looks like you just need your receipt.

Thanks man, I appreciate it. Looks like I'm just out of warranty then, but that's a lesson to me... if I think it's an issue, deal with it right away. Thanks for looking that up - I really appreciate it!