Problem charging my LiPo battery

Started by zeuses23, May 09, 2018, 01:51:58 PM

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zeuses23

So I'm very new to the RC Plane scene and I have done quite a bit of research, but for some reason while testing my electronics whenever i connected my brand new Wolfpack 3S 30C 1800 mAh 11.1V battery, the receiver(HKTR6A V2) for a fraction of a second lit up, but then went dark.

I removed all the servos and tried again a few times, and just once it lit up with a red light, so I guessed that it was working fine, and so was my Flycolor 20A Blue Multicopter ESC.

I then realised that I had completely forgotten to check my battery voltage, and so i hooked it up to my IMAX C403 charger. I couldn't find a lantern battery yet, so I improvised by using a 12V, 900mAh AC adapter. The charger powered up fine, detected my battery also, but it was showing that the battery was at 4.15 V. I tried charging it, and it went on fine, but after a few seconds, it gave beeps and said that it was full. What do i do? Thanks in advance!!

https://imgur.com/a/nG3ABp9

kiran rc

Check the voltage of individual cells.
Seems like a problem with either battery or charger.

zeuses23

Thank you so much, but how do i do that?

kiran rc

Most of the chargers feature voltage display of individual cells. You may need to refer the charger's manual.
Alternatively,  you can use a multimeter or LiPo battery voltage tester.


K K Iyer

Quote from: zeuses23 on May 09, 2018, 01:51:58 PM
forgotten to check my battery voltage,
Lipos are usually shipped at storage charge of 50% capacity,~3.85v per cell
If you used it without charging, it could have gone down to maybe 3.5 per cell


and so i hooked it up to my IMAX C403 charger.
Saw the manual. It has the balancing feature, but shows only total voltage, not individual cell voltage. Flashing LEDs indicate balancing in progress. LEDs go off when balanced.

I couldn't find a lantern battery yet, so I improvised by using a 12V, 900mAh AC adapter.
We usually charge at 1C rate, in your case 1.8amps. A 900mah supply will probably not be capable of supplying more than about 500mah. Drawing more current will reduce the input voltage below that of the battery. I think your low capacity input is one of your problems. See if you can set your charger to trickle charge, ie, at 1/10C, or about 0.2amps

The charger powered up fine, detected my battery also, but it was showing that the battery was at 4.15 V.
Not a good sign. Since your charger shows total voltage and not individual cell voltage, it means only one cell is being detected. Maybe 2 of 3 cells are gone. Check if you connected the balance lead correctly (your lead has 4 sockets, and the charger port must be having 5 pins)

I tried charging it, and it went on fine, but after a few seconds, it gave beeps and said that it was full.
Probably means the one working cell, likely the first one, is full at 4.15v

One of you pics shows 3.51v. How did it go down from 4.15v stated by you earlier?

BTW, your connectors are unsuitable. Get XT60 connectors. Or at least Deans.
It is possible that you damaged the lipo during soldering...


Buy or borrow a lipo voltage checker urgently.

Five years ago, I got a Wolfpack 4s lipo (along with my Tiger Moth) from RCBazaar, Bangalore
The lipo showed only 3 cells on the checker.
I called them. They asked for a video. Which I sent.
The next day they sent me a new one that I'm still using!
So best of luck to you
Regards

zeuses23

Oh my god thank all so much for your replies. I have gotten in touch with them, and they have asked me to send a video of the battery and the charge issue.
Also, when I leave the charger connected, the voltage keeps dropping, so by the time I clicked the picture it was down to the voltage displayed. I don't want to connect it again cause this discharge rate usually happens when the voltage it REALLY low as far as i know, and I don't want to risk a fire.