[NSRCA-discussion] Thunder Power cell balancer

[Dean Pappas]

Hello Dennis,
1) Yes, you do want to balance your cells.
2) A balancing charger (rather than a separate charger and balancer) is better, because the combo unit will have internal smarts to end the charge of an unbalanceable pack.
3) Balanceing needs to be part of a maintenance regime, where you balance upon charge, and check individual cell voltages right after flight. Weakl cells can be found before theyt cause grief.
 
Now, I have been BETA testing an FMA Balance-Pro charger, as part of a big article for FM I am doing about the issues related with high-performance electrics, since July. I had a cell go bad, as a result of an encounter with a battery cycler. Entirely my fault, though LiPo cyclers should also be "per-cell" not per pack! As a result of my doing a flawed battery capacity check, I had a pack with one cell that had 60% of capacity.
I was able to fly 15 or 16 shortened (7 minute) flights with a full 1C charge in between, using the Balance-Pro, without causing any further damage to any otjher cells, or any fires. Needless to say, this was an acid-test, and the Balance-Pro passed. You'll have to make up an adaptor cable from the charger to whichevr pack you use, but it is a good item.
 
No, I am not sponsored by FMA.
 
Dean
 

Dean Pappas 
Sr. Design Engineer 
Kodeos Communications 
111 Corporate Blvd. 
South Plainfield, N.J. 07080 
(908) 222-7817 phone 
(908) 222-2392 fax 
d.pappas at kodeos.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Dennis Bodary
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 12:09 PM
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Thunder Power cell balancer


          Well i finally broke down and bought a 3-cell lipo pack. Also i plan on building a 40 size electric bi plane using a bigger battery pack. My question is going to cheapbatterypacks.com i notice they have a cell balancer. Is this needed? If it is what does it do and how does it work. If i kill one of these batteries from drawing to many power i can live with. but i would hate to destroy a pack by charging it wrong. Also i plan on using a astro flight 109 charger. a little overkill for this project but i figure it will pay for itself later. Buy cheap buy twice. Buy good only buy once.
          Anyways Thanks
 
Dennis



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