Duel charger vs. parallel charging - help pls

[bikergreen]

I'm investing on a power supply and new charger as I am sick of my slow inaccurate ac/dc chargers. Starting with a 12v supply for now. Looking at either a Turnigy Mega dual

https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20613__Turnigy_MEGA_400Wx2_Battery_Charger_Discharger_800W_.html

Or the iCharger 306B. http://www.progressiverc.com/icharger-306b.html

I can't decide if I'm better off to have a dual or use a parallel board with the iCharger. I guess I can't wrap my head around how the iCharger monitors and balances all cells when using a board. For example I would charge 4 2s 2200mA batteries at once. I know it works and have read about it and seen vids but is it as good or better then having a duel charger?

Thanks in advance

[properchopper]

This is the same charger as the HK one in different clothing. I'm really liking it : http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...e-Duo-400W-X-2

[jkr]

I prefer parallel charging as my lipos are identicaly charged.
The importance is this: your lipos work as one 100%

Better buy an fma powerlab 6 or i-charger 208b.
Either way you will need a psu >18v 350watt

[kevinpratt823]

I believe a dual charger is better. I disagree that paralell charging makes the cells identical, as it only charges/balances based on the combined paralell voltage of multiple cells. It will charge them until the combined voltage is say 4.2, but when disconnected one could be higher than the other, depending on the condition of the cells, internal resistance, and thier ability to take and hold the voltage.. A sync charger actually monitors and charges 2 packs individually.

[siberianhusky]

If your charger can supply the amperage charging in series is much better than parallel as each cell is monitored individually, also takes less time as you are not doubling the capacity when you add a battery, just increasing the voltage.
Or a double charger.

https://sites.google.com/site/tjinguytech/charging-how-tos

Some good charging info here worth reading the series and parallel sections if you want to charge multiple batteries at the same time.

[BHChieftain]

Hi,
Read this site, which proports that // charging is actually results in better balancing as it averages out the effects of internal resistance difference in cells. No data is presented, however...

http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/parallel-lipo-charging.html

Note, I use a 2 port charger (Hyperion Duo3), AND parallel charge off both ports. I get eight 2S1P 5000 mah packs charged in an hour at 1C.

Chief

[bikergreen]

bunch of good info there thanks - I am only going to run a 12v power supply right now so I won't be able to utilize a powerlab or iCharger fully. The turnigy dual or maybe the 4x100 turnigy might be what I will end up with.

BH - are you running 24v + with your charger?? 8 packs in an hour is AMAZING - right now i have 2 crappy chargers and it take 70min to charge one 5000mA 3s packs.

So I guess what it comes down to is if I am going to run a 12v PS would I be better off with a turnigy or paying more for and iCharger or Powerlab 6 in which case I could get another powersupply down the road..

[kevinpratt823]

Hi,
Read this site, which proports that // charging is actually results in better balancing as it averages out the effects of internal resistance difference in cells. No data is presented, however...

http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/parallel-lipo-charging.html

Note, I use a 2 port charger (Hyperion Duo3), AND parallel charge off both ports. I get eight 2S1P 5000 mah packs charged in an hour at 1C.

Chief

He actually states it is "perhaps even healthier", and like you said, no data. I don't think he has a complete understanding of what is going on. The charger is balancing the cells so that the total voltage of the cells is 4.2, the cells could still be drastically different and the charger doesn't know the difference because it cannot be read until they are disconnected from eachother. If you do paralell charge, it is a good idea to charge individually every so often and monitor what each pack is doing, as a bad cell going unnoticed will surely cause problems when charging in paralell.

[bikergreen]

Ok so my goal is charge faster - The fact that BH above can charge 8 5000mA packs in 30 min blows my mind which leads me to believe the wattage capability of the charger makes a bigger difference then what C rate you charge at - Is this correct? So I want to be able to charge as fast as possible at 1C-2C using a 12v powersupply, the one I am getting will push 700w - So I think I should be focusing on how many watts the chargers are capable of on 12v. In which case the Icharger 306b is a good option as its listed at running 500W at 12v - or the turnigy running 4x100W or the mega running 2x400W http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ger_800W_.html - leaning towards this in the flysky and maybe running parallel boards if need.

decisions decisions...

[BHChieftain]

I have a 15v, 23a power supply, so I can maintain 1c.

I recharge my packs at "store" level after my runs, so they are partially charged when it comes time to recharge for a run... That is part of the reason my charge times are short.

For fully discharged packs, it takes me about 1.5 hours.

Bye
Chief

[jkr]

For me a good charger will always be a good charger.
Except wattage you need accuracy also cause if it stops at 4,21 you destroy your cells.
I always charge parallel.
My opinion...you charge at 1c-2c and discharge at 30-40c.
If you have a bad cell,probably you will find out on the run.

Stay away from cheap chargers.

[LiPo Power]

Hey, bikergreen..

I use the HK chargers all the time and yet to have single problem with them or the lipos...

Sure there is few out there with sky rocking performance, budget is the key I guess...

Or, get the best you can and in the future you are set.

My next one will be:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20613__Turnigy_MEGA_400Wx2_Battery_Charger_Discharger_800W_.html

...because I would love to see it working at 400Wx2 out of no more than 18V....

Anyways, whatever charger you will get from the few that you are considering you will love the way they work.

I personally do not practice any charging in P or S configuration, it's just my way, you know....

In your situation I see big step ahead in charging that will make you very happy RC maniac for sure....

Chers

Robert

PS

Thanks again.....

Ok so my goal is charge faster - The fact that BH above can charge 8 5000mA packs in 30 min blows my mind which leads me to believe the wattage capability of the charger makes a bigger difference then what C rate you charge at - Is this correct? So I want to be able to charge as fast as possible at 1C-2C using a 12v powersupply, the one I am getting will push 700w - So I think I should be focusing on how many watts the chargers are capable of on 12v. In which case the Icharger 306b is a good option as its listed at running 500W at 12v - or the turnigy running 4x100W or the mega running 2x400W http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ger_800W_.html - leaning towards this in the flysky and maybe running parallel boards if need.

decisions decisions...

[bikergreen]

Thanks for all the input guys - I will make a call based on what has been talked about and let you know how it all goes!

[BHChieftain]

He actually states it is "perhaps even healthier", and like you said, no data. I don't think he has a complete understanding of what is going on. The charger is balancing the cells so that the total voltage of the cells is 4.2, the cells could still be drastically different and the charger doesn't know the difference because it cannot be read until they are disconnected from eachother. If you do paralell charge, it is a good idea to charge individually every so often and monitor what each pack is doing, as a bad cell going unnoticed will surely cause problems when charging in paralell.

Just FYI, tonight I decided to manually balance each of my 12 packs that I've been // charging for the past year. Every single one of them balanced within seconds.
Chief

[bigwaveohs]

He actually states it is "perhaps even healthier", and like you said, no data. I don't think he has a complete understanding of what is going on. The charger is balancing the cells so that the total voltage of the cells is 4.2, the cells could still be drastically different and the charger doesn't know the difference because it cannot be read until they are disconnected from eachother. If you do paralell charge, it is a good idea to charge individually every so often and monitor what each pack is doing, as a bad cell going unnoticed will surely cause problems when charging in paralell.

I couldn't agree more...you are parallel charging each battery pack by charging each cell in each pack in parallel with the other...when you disconnect them they can end up at entirely different voltages...the only way to be sure is either check each cell in each pack individually after you parallel charge them (you would then have to re-balance at this point if they are not the same) or just don't parallel charge at all.
I used to parallel charge to save time but it just doesn't work very well at all...