Help Please new to LIPO and they are confusing!!!!

[Jdpb614]

So I have been into nitro for the past 10 years or so after being sick of my slow brushed motors and nicad batteries. You can see I have been away from electric for awhile. I have having question I just picked up a rig that is set up for 6s 2x3s packs. I am going to run them in series and from what I have read can charge them that way as well. So here is the million dollar question, to balance or to not? If I do run a series balancer could you take a look at the 2 links I posted and let me know which way to go? One says you charge through it and the other is merely the balancing plug. Thank you so much I have already learned a lot from trolling on here but cannot find an answer to this question.

one charge lead
http://www.valuehobby.com/2-x-3s-to-6s-charge-lead.html

another charge lead
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...5pcs_bag_.html

Batteries I was thinking of buying
http://www.valuehobby.com/power-syst...3s-bullet.html


Thank you so much for any help you can give.

Bill

[Fluid]

The batteries you are planning to buy I know nothing about. From their specifications they should work for many different applications.

You can run two packs in series as long as they remain in series - through both charge and discharge cycles. It is best to charge them individually for the first few times (discharging in series), then charge them in series thereafter. I do this all the time with quality packs which do not drift out of balance.

I don't like charging through the balance taps - they are not designed to carry much current, so the common 5 amps is too much for them IMO. I always charge through the power wires, and either plug the taps into a balancing charger, or just hook up a balancer while charging the packs. You could even balance the packs prior to charging. Regardless, you do need to balance packs at least occasionally, better packs require less balancing.

[Jdpb614]

Do you or anyone happen to have a reco for batteries? Is there really a difference between car batteries, boat and plane batteries. Does it matter? Are those decent specs or should I be looking for something different? Again I know there is some good info online and some bad but from what I gather the higher the mah and c rating the longer your runs can potentially last. Thank you guy's for your help!

[JimClark]

I would suggest http://www.progressiverc.com/ for any charge or adapter cables you might need

[Meniscus]

One of the main differences is the C rating which helps to identify the amperage discharge the batteries can safely sustain. In the boat hobby we try to use lipos that have a high C rating since, in general, we deal with much higher and consistent current draws. Of course more mah will lead to a longer run, but it also important to mention that the capacity (mah) and C ratings are integral to how much load you are putting on the setup. To compare mah, C rating and ability to handle current: multiply the mah and the c rating, then divide by 1000. Examples: 3500mah X 35C (constant, not burst) / 1000= 122.5 Amps. Another example: 5000mah X 45C / 1000 = 225 Amps.

Your lipos will last a lot longer if you plan appropriately for the current draw you're planning to encounter in your setups.

[Brushless55]

So I have been into nitro for the past 10 years or so after being sick of my slow brushed motors and nicad batteries. You can see I have been away from electric for awhile. I have having question I just picked up a rig that is set up for 6s 2x3s packs. I am going to run them in series and from what I have read can charge them that way as well. So here is the million dollar question, to balance or to not? If I do run a series balancer could you take a look at the 2 links I posted and let me know which way to go? One says you charge through it and the other is merely the balancing plug. Thank you so much I have already learned a lot from trolling on here but cannot find an answer to this question.

one charge lead
http://www.valuehobby.com/2-x-3s-to-6s-charge-lead.html

another charge lead
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...5pcs_bag_.html

Batteries I was thinking of buying
http://www.valuehobby.com/power-syst...3s-bullet.html


Thank you so much for any help you can give.

Bill

I'm not 100% sure but I think those lipos are the same as GensAce packs

[oscarel]

The hobbyking adapter you chose is the wrong way, this is the one you'll need http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...5pcs_bag_.html. And there's a warning on these for good reason, there's a correct and incorrect way to do this. If you get it backwards you'll short the batteries. http://www.tjinguytech.com/charging-...erial-charging

*Warning. Do not use this item unless you know what youre doing. Incorrect connections to the iMAX charger will cause a short circuit.

[danielplace1962]

Series charging without using either balance jack is not the way to charge a Lipo.

You should only charge two packs in series if you have a way to connect all six cells to the charge from each packs 3S balance connector by either buying or making a splitter that connects both 3S connectors to a 6S connector so the charger can see all six cells will ensure you don't over charge a cell.

Charging two batteries that are used together as a pack can also be parallel charged so both discharge leads are paralleled and both balance jacks are paralleled. This way every cell will be balanced to exactly the same voltage.
The packs will last tremendously longer done in this fashion.

You really need to get a parallel board or just make a splitter for the charger for the main leads and the balance leads. Some dual port chargers have the internal capability to charge two packs as a single pack.