Has anyone used the iMax B3 Lipo Charger?
I want to know that is the battery to be connected first to the charger before it is plugged in the wall socket? Or first the charger has to be switched on & then the Lipo battery has to be connected? I think the later is risky.
Please let me know the correct usage method.

i m also usin the same charger n i thnk connecting the battery to the charger before switching on the power supply is the correct method.
recently one of my batteries also stopped workin may be it wud be due to this reason only

but the imax website says to switch on the charger first & then plug in the battery...thats risky! Read this:
http://www.imaxrc.com/Products.aspx?Para=11

hi vikalp..
i dont think it matters, either whould be fine... however i use for my charger - plug in the battery to the charger and then power the charger up..

i think we better do as the website says becoz the lipo batteries are really highly sensitive n costly too. why to take a risk atleast if the website says so they must hav got it checked first.
thanks for the website link

I think I will plug in the battery first into the charger & then switch on the charger. Instinct says its safe.

Should this be even a discussion ?

Yes. Because of the discription given on the charger's website.

Quote from: vikalp11 on August 30, 2011, 11:15:12 AM
I think I will plug in the battery first into the charger & then switch on the charger. Instinct says its safe.

Your instinctor needs fixing 

As a general rule, you should have your charger powered up and complete the initialization before you connect the battery. Any decent quality charger will have protection against connecting battery first, but a poorly designed one may not. Why take risk ?

Why is it a problem connecting battery first ? Look at the reverse V_be rating of any transistor, it is usually a low number easily exceeded by a battery pack. Early linear regulator ICs used to go up in smoke if voltage was applied to the output first. Later designs has a reverse biased diode connected to input from output to prevent this damage. This is just an example, the battery chargers are SMPS, not linear regulators, but the same thought process apply.

I had connected the battery first to the charger & then switched no the charger. It started charging. I switched off the charger & then removed the battery as I had go out. Now when I again connected the battery to the charger & then switched on the charger, a crackling sound came out of the charger & it got switched off. I switched off the charger & removed the battery. Switched on the charger again without the battery this time. But again the same thing happened. It went on & then a crackling sound  & then went off. No appearance of smoke. Is the charger damaged? Or is that it switched off on its own to prevent over consumption of current?

I'am not sure if your charger is damaged or not. But connecting the battery before powering up the charger and switching off the charger before disconnecting the battery; both sound like very bad ideas.

The charger is not damaged. Got it checked from an electronics guy. The crackling sound was due to loose connection. For now I have got a external plug that will fit on the charger plug. This external plug fits tight into the wall socket. Got it tested at the shop, works fine as a brand new. However I haven't tested with the battery yet.

Good to hear that

got my battery charged.
Sujju Sir (RcBazaar), thanks for all your support!

I got the Same charger IMAX B3 Pro yesterday (from RC bazzar, i had been to the store, good one  ). Can you please clarify if this is the correct way to charge.

• Plug the charger into the socket. now switch on
• Then connect the battery.
• After battery is charged remove the battery.
  
• Now switch off the charger.

I have a 3S 2200 mAH Lipo. I'm new to this hobby and youtube has loads of videos on lipo fireworks  So can someone guide me?

Yes that's the correct way. I have used both B3 & B4 in the same manner for quite some time.

yes. that's the correct way to charge lipo battery.

hey frndz,
              i brought  imax b3 charger and i tried to charge my 2200 mah 3s lipo but its not charging.3 leds in the charger are continuously blinking in  red and green colour.plz help me......

Moderator note: same question posted on multiple threads; merged.

sir i bought the same charger and tried to charge  my 2200mah 3s lipo but unfortunately its not charging.without connecting the battery if i switch on the charger ,the 3 led's are glowing in green colour but if i connect the battery,the 3 led's are blinking in red and green colour.i can't understand the problem and the battery is brand new.plz help me....my ph. no. is 9642397141.
      thanks in advance...........i love to hear from u.......

This should fix it, reply #8
http://www.rcindia.org/batteries-and-chargers/struggling-with-a-new-li-po-battery/msg37847/#msg37847

Got your PM... have you tried SunLikeStar's above suggestion ?

Check this video, it might clear some points