Passport p2 charging issue

[flrutan]

I have the passport P2 and I’m trying to charge a transmitter two cell Lipo without the balancer just a regular charge and I can’t seem to figure it out any help here would be appreciated

 

[Greywolf74]

I have the passport P2 and I’m trying to charge a transmitter two cell Lipo without the balancer just a regular charge and I can’t seem to figure it out any help here would be appreciated

You wont be able to charge it on a lipo charge setting without a balance lead plugged in also. Its a safety thing built in to all lipo chargers. You could use a NiMH setting but you'll have to watch the voltage real close and you're taking a chance of overcharging and damaging one of the cells.

 

[WickedFog]

Why are you trying to charge a LiPo without the balance lead connected? If you don't have the balance lead connected, and try charging it in NiMH mode and one cell happens to get to 4.7v...

 

[flrutan]

You wont be able to charge it on a lipo charge setting without a balance lead plugged in also. Its a safety thing built in to all lipo chargers. You could use a NiMH setting but you'll have to watch the voltage real close and you're taking a chance of overcharging and damaging one of the cells.

I may have to open the battery up and connect a balancing plug up then. I wonder why they would even sell those batteries without the balancing plug.

I may have to open the battery up and connect a balancing plug up then. I wonder why they would even sell those batteries without the balancing plug. Thanks for you answer.

Why are you trying to charge a LiPo without the balance lead connected? If you don't have the balance lead connected, and try charging it in NiMH mode and one cell happens to get to 4.7v...

We used to do it befor balancing became the norm. Why am I doing it? Because the battery came without a balancing plug.

 

[WickedFog]

Oh, does it have an internal balance board in it? I am going to assume it does. Can you share a pic of the battery? If it does have an internal balance board in it, you can charge it safely in NiMH mode. Just make sure you are charging to 8.4v and no more than that.

 

[Greywolf74]

Id be interesting in seeing a pic of the battery too. I'm not sure I've seen a multi-cell lipo come without a balance plug. It could have an internal balance board in it in which case you could trickle charge it in NiMH mode. That would be along the same lines as what we did back in the day with things like the Duratrax Ice charger and an Astro Blinky

 

[flrutan]

Why are you trying to charge a LiPo without the balance lead connected? If you don't have the balance lead connected, and try charging it in NiMH mode and one cell happens to get to 4.7v...

We used to do it befor balancing became the norm. Why am I doing it? Because the battery came without a balancing plug.

Id be interesting in seeing a pic of the battery too. I'm not sure I've seen a multi-cell lipo come without a balance plug. It could have an internal balance board in it in which case you could trickle charge it in NiMH mode. That would be along the same lines as what we did back in the day with things like the Duratrax Ice charger and an Astro Blinky

We used to do it befor balancing became the norm. Why am I doing it? Because the battery came without a balancing plug.

I looks like it does have a internal balancing board.

Oh, does it have an internal balance board in it? I am going to assume it does. Can you share a pic of the battery? If it does have an internal balance board in it, you can charge it safely in NiMH mode. Just make sure you are charging to 8.4v and no more than that.

 

[Greywolf74]

*DISCLAIMER* This info is to the best of my knowledge and from what I saw testing one of my lipos. you're mileage my vary

Ok, While I've never owned a multi cell lipo without a balance plug I am somewhat familiar with the PCM boards inside lipo packs. So, I did some reading on the PCMs, lipos without balance connectors, and specifically how to charge them. There should be a lipo charge setting on your lipo charger that will charge a lipo without the balance plug. I dont know exactly what it will be called on your charger but on my Hitec X700 its just called "CHARGE" as opposed to "BALANCE" that I normally use for balance charging. (This is the first time I've ever actually used the "CHARGE" option) Use that charge setting at 1C and the internal PCM boards will keep the individual cells from over charging. I just got done testing it with a random 2S pack that I picked up off of my shelf and once the charging cycle was completed without using the balance plug both cells were within .003V of each other. 4.194V & 4.197V respectively. doesn't get much closer than that. So it should be perfectly safe to charge that way.

I appreciate you showing us the internal composition of that pack. I hope you have some shrink wrap laying around to re-do the pack

 

[WickedFog]

*DISCLAIMER* This info is to the best of my knowledge and from what I saw testing one of my lipos. you're mileage my vary

Ok, While I've never owned a multi cell lipo without a balance plug I am somewhat familiar with the PCM boards inside lipo packs. So, I did some reading on the PCMs, lipos without balance connectors, and specifically how to charge them. There should be a lipo charge setting on your lipo charger that will charge a lipo without the balance plug. I dont know exactly what it will be called on your charger but on my Hitec X700 its just called "CHARGE" as opposed to "BALANCE" that I normally use for balance charging. (This is the first time I've ever actually used the "CHARGE" option) Use that charge setting at 1C and the internal PCM boards will keep the individual cells from over charging. I just got done testing it with a random 2S pack that I picked up off of my shelf and once the charging cycle was completed without using the balance plug both cells were within .003V of each other. 4.194V & 4.197V respectively. doesn't get much closer than that. So it should be perfectly safe to charge that way.

I appreciate you showing us the internal composition of that pack. I hope you have some shrink wrap laying around to re-do the pack

I have never tried that either. Good to know!

 

[Greywolf74]

In retrospect, Id add that both of my lipo cells were already balanced so Id probably check your cells individually and make sure they are pretty close to each other before charging at 1C if theyre off more than +/- .05V from each other Id probably set the amperage to 1/2C for the initial charge