Question about parallel charging and parallel charging boards

Darshan for multirotors · April 20, 2016, 02:59:08 PM

Hello,
I have heard of parallel charging boards but I don't know how they work. I just know that they can help charge multiple batteries at the same time with equal voltage supply to all batteries. But my question is does it balance all batteries connected to it?
Thanks in advance.

chintal · April 20, 2016, 03:16:10 PM

Parallel charging wont be able to precise balance all six batteries
Its good for charging multiple batteries of same brand, voltage , mah and c rating

SK1701 · April 20, 2016, 03:46:40 PM

Let me Google that for you

April 20, 2016, 04:00:29 PM

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

Darshan for multirotors · April 20, 2016, 04:48:37 PM

Quote from: chintal on April 20, 2016, 03:16:10 PM
Parallel charging wont be able to precise balance all six batteries
Its good for charging multiple batteries of same brand, voltage , mah and c rating

So if I take one unbalanced battery and connect it to a parallel charging board, will it atleast be able to bring it to a close final voltage level?

madaquif · April 20, 2016, 05:06:51 PM

[/quote]
So if I take one unbalanced battery and connect it to a parallel charging board, will it atleast be able to bring it to a close final voltage level?
[/quote]

YES.....it should bring the individual cell voltage close. but at times it may not be precise....

BTW what kind of charger are you using.

Sreeraj · April 20, 2016, 05:07:13 PM

Wealth of information by Joshua Bradwell on Lipo charging available on YouTube. Please check 'em...

Darshan for multirotors · April 20, 2016, 05:15:47 PM

Quote from: madaquif on April 20, 2016, 05:06:51 PM
YES.....it should bring the individual cell voltage close. but at times it may not be precise....

BTW what kind of charger are you using.

I am currently using b3ac but I wanted a balance charger. I had even found one but I had two options.. either a tx and rx or charger. And I need a tx badly. So I thought if one of the parallel charging boards could balance my battery then no need of buying a new charger...
So do you think I should go with this or should I buy a new charger.

Himadri Roy · April 20, 2016, 07:56:15 PM

Please please please please use the wonderful thing called Google.

SK1701 · April 20, 2016, 08:02:19 PM

The B3AC is barely powerful enough to charge one battery at a decent rate, let alone parallel charge multiple packs. A parallel charging board will not balance the individual cells in a pack either. Your charger needs to do that.

K K Iyer · April 20, 2016, 08:56:54 PM

As Himadri Roy says 'please, please, please use a wonderful thing called Google'

Please do so before embarking on parallel charging.
There are some inherent dangers that you need to be aware of.
For example,
whether to plug the balance leads first or the power leads...
Or what happens when you connect two batteries before even connecting the charger...

Please check such things out, as it will reduce the risks.
Regards.

Darshan for multirotors · April 20, 2016, 09:03:27 PM

No I will charge batteries individually. Are you sure it won't balance individual cells cause @madaquif said that it could.
Confused

K K Iyer · April 20, 2016, 09:29:22 PM

Quote from: Darshan for multirotors on April 20, 2016, 09:03:27 PM
No I will charge batteries individually.
in that case, why use a parallel charging board
Are you sure it won't balance individual cells cause @madaquif said that it could.
Confused
Depends on whether you use a balance charger or not!

Forgive me, but i find this whole discussion strange.
You wish to balance charge batteries individually.
Possible if your charger is a balance charger, otherwise not.
Where does the parallel chg board come in?
Perhaps i'm missing something...

Darshan for multirotors · April 20, 2016, 10:28:19 PM

Iyer sir I just wanted to ask.. now that I have a b3ac and I have to balance a battery, if I connect the charger to a parallel charging board and the the battery then would I be able to balance all of my cells. I wanted to ask this question because if I could get a parallel charging board and be able to balance my cells, I would be able to buy a tx which I need badly instead of a new balance charger.
I know this is stupid but if there is no way I would buy a charger.

K K Iyer · April 20, 2016, 11:03:34 PM

I've not used a B3AC, but from the Hobbyking description it seems to be a balance charger.
Hence it should be able to balance your cells.

Remember that a parallel chg board is only a device with multiple ports to connect more than one battery.
It does not add any capability to your charger.

Whether you connect a parallel chg board or not, cells can be balanced only if your charger has the balancing capability (ie, whether it accepts the balance plug or not)

An ordinary charger would charge a 3s lipo to a total of ~12.6v irrespective of the voltage in each cell
A balance charger will charge each cell individually to about ~4.2v.
A parallel chg board is a passive device. It cannot add balancing ability to a charger that doesn't have it.

BTW, you don't have a tx? If a basic one is enough, i could provide.
Your problem looks to me like 'should i buy 1 litre of petrol or a tyre pressure guage?'
Without petrol you cant even get going.
Without a tyre pressure guage, you can get by for quite a while.
Hope this helps in solving your dilemma!

Darshan for multirotors · April 21, 2016, 06:46:20 AM

Iyer sir B3AC charger is not a balance charger and I have a 4ch tx but it's not enough.
So its a no then. I guess I will have to buy a balance charger now before I could buy another tx and rx

Darshan for multirotors · April 21, 2016, 06:47:26 AM

Is this a good charger?
http://robu.in/product/skyrc-e6-ac-lithium-polymer-battery-pack-charger-original/

Question about parallel charging and parallel charging boards

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