Questions about batteries.

[TacRacing]

Electric guys and Rx pack users..

I have a MRC SuperBrain 969.

I also have 3 nicd packs... 2 1500mah 6cell trinity packs and 1 1800mah Venom pack.
I run onlybatterypacks.com Rx packs. I have 1 2400mah 5 cell for my MGT, and 3 1200mah hump packs that i use in my Savage and buggy.

How do I know how much of a charge is left on them.. and why do I get the felling that my superbrain charger is lying to me?

I am not the best in the world when it comes to these Rx packs.

Please help.
adrian

ps.. the rx packs are supposed to be 6v right?? When I hook them up to the charger I should see something in the 4v range if it is dead shouldn't I??

Do I need to get a voltmeter to test them?

thanks again.

 

[TacRacing]

Anyone??

 

[FastEddy]

I don't have a superbrain so I can help you with using it properly.

Most of the batteries we use in RC are 1.2v if you multiply the number of cells by this that is the rated voltage of the pack. It will, and should read higher then that when its at the peak of your charge.

When a battery is DEAD there is close to no voltage. Most batteries are best "Dumped" or discharged to around .8-.9v per cell before recharging. a 5 call pack is best dumped to 4.5v (.9 x 5) and a 6 cell pack to 5.4 volts. After you take it off the load it will pop back up to around 1-1.2v per cell.

The best way to know if a pack is preforming properly is to look at the time it takes to drain the battery from full peak charge to .9v per cell. You can do this with a charger that will allow you to adjust the discharge amps and time the discharge to the set minimum value. (.9v) the longer it takes the better the pack.

Your best bet is to dump your packs, peak charge them and time the discharge at a rate close to what you are using them for. If the batteries have been sitting for a while you will find that they will get better after 2-4 "Cycles"

Hope this helps.

 

[TacRacing]

Eddy,

I appreciate the response..

I do understand how many volts that the packs should put out when fully charged and when they are dead.. but I think my charger is lying to me. When I think they are dead..I hook them up and I still get over 6v.

I was thinking that maybe I should get a voltmeter just to test the batteries. Well, I would use it for other stuff too. I am getting ready to build a Ross compressor clone pedal (guitar pedal).

adrian