Using a Parallel Charging board

[Basstronics]

I have a charger and the parallel charging board:
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store...dProduct=14856

Now I fully understand I need to connect like batteries in cell count AND capacity.

My questions:

1) Do both batteries have to be at the same level? For instance one may be partially drained and the other due to be recharged?

2) When I plug this getup into my charger and start the process even on "balance" setting (not charge) it is only showing 3 out of six cells connected? So if I understand correctly the first two cells are averaged and shown and so forth? This relates back to question 1 because if one cell is low and needs to be recharged while the other cell is almost fully charged???

See where Im going. Im just uncertain and want to be correct here. Dont need any exploding lipos.

My charger has a discharge function. I can bottom both batteries out separately to their correct levels and start fresh if I have to.

[785boats]

Hi Basstronics.
In answer to #1... The Voltages can be different. But they must be the same cell count. They can even be different Mha & C ratings, as long as they are the same cell count. They will all receive a full charge.

In Question # 2... I assume you are connecting 2 3s packs in parallel. If so then yes your charger will see 3 cells. It's like a 3s2p Pack.

Always plug the main power leads in first before you plug in the balance taps. This allows the voltages to balance with any current flow being handled by the main leads & not the small balance wires.
No need to discharge the packs all the way down first.
I've connected a fully discharged pack to a fully charged pack on several occasions & there was hardly a spark but there was high current flow. It's called regenerative discharging.
Have a read through this link. It's interesting.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1255751

I parallel charge all the time & have never had a problem.

Cheers.
Paul.

[siberianhusky]

http://sites.google.com/site/tjinguy...allel-charging
more good reading.