Battery charging question

[godale03]

Hey Guys,

I have a couple of questions regarding charging battery packs. I have an MRC Super Brain 959 and it is supposed to be plug and play, but I notice that no matter what pack I connect it charges them at the same rate. I have 2 SMC 4200 6 cell packs, and 4 Reedy Mini Max packs for my 18T. My question is what do you recomend charging these packs at? Also I hear folks talking about "Sub C" packs... are these considered sub c, if not can someone explain to me what would be? Thanks

Tom

 

[sweetdiesel]

The SMC packs are made from sub c cells. The reedy packs are made from 2/3 AA cells.

You can safely charge nimh packs at 1C. Take the mah rating of the pack and divide that number by 1000 to get your max amp charge rate. Example your 4200mah SMC pack can be charged at 4.2 amps. The Reedy pack can be charged at 1.1 amps. Certain high quality cells can be charged at a higher rate but a general rule of thumb is 1C max.

 

[godale03]

Thank you for the education my friend... it does help a bunch. I will right down that formula and keep it with me the next time a new pack arrives. Alot of folks are trying to get me to switch from NiMH to Lipo but... I have heard that lipos can be volitile.... I think I will stick with NiMH until I figure them out! LOL

One more question.... ok... well two questions! LOL what to you mean when you say 1C? Also how do you know by looking at the battery if it is sub C or not? Thanks

Tom

 

[sweetdiesel]

Sub C is merely a name designation for the size of the cell. A Sub C cell has dimensions of 1.68 inches length and .88 inches in diameter.

1C means 1 x Capacity. The capacity of your 4200mah pack is 4.2 amp hours. (mah =milli amp hours)

So charging at 1C = 4.2 amps, 2C =8.4 amps etc.

 

[godale03]

Sub C is merely a name designation for the size of the cell. A Sub C cell has dimensions of 1.68 inches length and .88 inches in diameter.

1C means 1 x Capacity. The capacity of your 4200mah pack is 4.2 amp hours. (mah =milli amp hours)

So charging at 1C = 4.2 amps, 2C =8.4 amps etc.

Wow! I didn't know that this was so complicated.... Well actually it isn't that complicated when you really think about it. I do have a better understanding now, though. Thank you very much.


Tom