Topic: Battery maintenance (Read 8754 times)

tt1 · « **on:** October 06, 2010, 01:03:48 pm »

Hello all, might seem a bit of a dumb question but how do you guys keep your batteries in a healthy state especially if not in constant use? I have sla, 7.2v nimh packs and AA nimh for tx and rx.
Haven't done any real sailing as yet and most of the usage so far has been for setting up and trials. I don't have any gizmos for checking battery state etc because I'm quite ignorant re electrics, is there anything (simple! and accurate to use) that you would advise for checking battery charge etc?

Any advice welcome as always, but not toooooooo technical.

Regards, Tony.

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2010, 01:20:57 pm »

For the SLA just top up charge it regularly.
These batteries are used in Fire Alarm Panels and are permanently trickle charged.

Bob

mattycoops43 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2010, 01:35:57 pm »

I actually posted to the topic already, but it seems to have disappeared! I hope I am not the victim of an overzealous mod!!! basically, to keep it simple, I use a multi charger that measures the capacity which it puts into a battery. this way you can monitor how much capacity a battery takes while charging. That is really the main thing to consider when looking at batteries getting to end of life. if they take in, and give out a good capacity, then keep using them. Something like an "accucel 6" that I use is not very expensive, and will charge and monitor, niHm, nicad, SLA, pb, lipo. so I use one charger to charge everything.

SLA are a bit different. only ever trickle charge as too much current makes bubbles form in the gel, reducing the capacity. I would only charge them at a max of 1/10 capacity (7aH = 700mAh charge) but to be safe I tend to charge them at 300mAh.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2010, 02:05:06 pm »

This one Matty?

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=26351.msg258556#msg258556

Martin - Admin, mod, Zealot!

mattycoops43 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2010, 03:15:19 pm »

LOL. Actually no. I did post to this topic, and I had realised it was similar to a reply in another topic, but though it more helpful to give the answer again, than do the whole "well, if you had searched you would have found the answer" thing!

Who knows? maybe it got hung up between me clicking post, and refreshing? I don't know.

matt (zealot baiter)

tt1 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2010, 06:22:25 pm »

Thanks for response guys and your pm Matt, have just looked on a google search and the accucel 6 that you mention Matt varies in price from about £24 to £42 the descriptions differ very slightly and am wondering are they all one and the same - could you advise?

Regards, Tony.

mattycoops43 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2010, 11:35:06 pm »

Yes, they are all the same. The same charger has been resold in many different case. Basically, any charger from china with the same layout of 4 programming buttons, lipo balance ports on the right and an lcd screen is the same charger. I believe there are cheaper versions around now, but thats the one I have had. Still doing great service after over 2 years of being used for absolutely everything, truggy racing, rc planes, boat packs, sla cells and rc tanks!

Matt

tt1 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2010, 11:53:47 pm »

Cheers Matt

Tony.

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2010, 01:01:31 am »

Tony, I agree with Matt and Bob, that is, keep the SLAs charged. When I return from sailing, the first thing I do is remove the batteries from the boats and put them on trickle charge. Like Matt I also charge at 300mah and , when the charge indicator tells me they're fully charged, I disconnect and store them upright. However, I don't think that the storage position is critical, they just take up less room that way. I do charge them in an upright position though. A couple of my SLAs are 6 years old and still giving good service.

Peter.

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2010, 06:09:05 am »

Sorry to hijack this thread but its of a similar nature

How do you guys lay up your li pos for the winter?

mattycoops43 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2010, 08:00:37 am »

They lose a small ammount over time. Some people charge to 80% before leaving them, Personally I just leave them charged, they lose a charge gradually. I have left for 6 months, recharged then used them again and never had any problems.

Timo2 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2010, 08:16:57 am »

Hi All

Detail on Battery Maintenance Have a look at http://www.powerstream.com/

Timo2

P.S. Technical Resources in the index

malcolmfrary · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2010, 03:09:10 pm »

Found this -
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-19.htm

On a thread on another site which I can't find now, there was a recommendation for NiCads that if they were to be stored, they should be forcibly discharged and stored shorted out, then, over a fortnight or so before re-use, gently recharged and cycled. Something about the deliberate discharge involving different chemistry than just letting them self discharge on the shelf. I recall there was a link to a NASA site detailing the procedure. It went some way to explaining why space flight is so expensive.

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2010, 03:46:49 pm »

Quote from: malcolmfrary on October 07, 2010, 03:09:10 pm

Found this -
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-19.htm

On a thread on another site which I can't find now, there was a recommendation for NiCads that if they were to be stored, they should be forcibly discharged and stored shorted out, then, over a fortnight or so before re-use, gently recharged and cycled. Something about the deliberate discharge involving different chemistry than just letting them self discharge on the shelf. I recall there was a link to a NASA site detailing the procedure. It went some way to explaining why space flight is so expensive.

We used to do this years ago with the old ni cad packs in RC cars, I used to have little plugs that went in the battery connector with a resistor to fully discharge the battery and keep it shorted till the next use.

Not sure if this would be wise with NIMH tho and certainly NOT wise for Li Pos

mattycoops43 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2010, 09:08:48 pm »

You REALLY don't want to short a Nihm, not unless your a qualified NASA technician!

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2010, 05:39:23 am »

Quote from: mattycoops43 on October 07, 2010, 09:08:48 pm

You REALLY don't want to short a Nihm, not unless your a qualified NASA technician!

Fair enough.... how about leaving say a car light bulb across the connections?

Dreadstar · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2010, 11:14:28 am »

That works,or use a discharge board,which I use for my racing packs.

mattycoops43 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2010, 11:46:34 am »

Yes, I used to do that with buggy packs too. I guess a lightbulb is shorting them as well, but it doesn't sound as bad as saying "short the battery out". (shudders!)

malcolmfrary · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2010, 11:58:57 am »

The important thing there is the controlled discharge, different chemistry going on between that and leakage, and different physics between that and a full short. Recharging from a storage discharge is likely to take time.
Lead acid and anything with lithium in the name should never be fully discharged, of course, because after that, they are dead 'uns.

John Mk2 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2010, 12:00:38 pm »

An iMax B6 Charger can Discharge , Storage , Balance , Cycle Ect Ect & are cheap

Been using one for 2 years not missed a beat

John Mk2 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2010, 12:09:13 pm »

Link to the specs

http://www.astecmodels.co.uk/pdfs/Imax-B6%20manual.pdf

mattycoops43 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 08, 2010, 12:37:22 pm »

Yep, it's another version of the same thing basically. They're all good!

John Mk2 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 08, 2010, 12:44:35 pm »

Great for the money

Payed £25 all in with every lead i will ever need + 5amp mains p.s.u to boot

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #23 on:** October 08, 2010, 02:07:16 pm »

Quote from: malcolmfrary on October 08, 2010, 11:58:57 am

The important thing there is the controlled discharge, different chemistry going on between that and leakage, and different physics between that and a full short. Recharging from a storage discharge is likely to take time.
Lead acid and anything with lithium in the name should never be fully discharged, of course, because after that, they are dead 'uns.

Yes I learned that one.... a quite expensive mistake

note to self dont leave the RX switched on with lipos connected

funtimefrankie · « **Reply #24 on:** October 20, 2010, 10:48:34 pm »

Can the iMax B6 be powered by a laptop power unit, max 18 volts?

News:

Author Topic: Battery maintenance (Read 8754 times)

mattycoops43

mattycoops43

mattycoops43

mattycoops43

Timo2

mattycoops43

Dreadstar

mattycoops43

John Mk2

John Mk2

mattycoops43

John Mk2