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<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Hello
Dennis,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>1)
Yes, you do want to balance your cells.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>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.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>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.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>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.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>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.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>No, I
am not sponsored by FMA.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=841464218-27022006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Dean</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Dean Pappas</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Sr. Design Engineer</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Kodeos Communications</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">111 Corporate Blvd.</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">South Plainfield, N.J. 07080</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">(908) 222-7817 phone</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">(908) 222-2392 fax</FONT> <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">d.pappas@kodeos.com</FONT> </P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Dennis
Bodary<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 27, 2006 12:09 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [NSRCA-discussion] Thunder
Power cell balancer<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> 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.</DIV>
<DIV> Anyways
Thanks</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dennis</DIV>
<P>
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