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Author Topic: Charging help for newbie Please  (Read 6330 times)

jaymac

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Charging help for newbie Please
« on: April 28, 2012, 10:42:52 pm »

Hi Just got my first  electric boat today and would appreciate advice on the following
It has two 8.2 3000Ma Nimh packs  assume  wired in Parallel
(1) can I charge these in Situ and both together or better to do  singly
Also the charger  has  four rates  1amp  2 amp or 4amp which would be the better to use   the label on the pack says standard charge 10 Hrs @300mA and 1 Hr @ 3000 mA  Thanks
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Mad_Mike

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2012, 11:41:30 pm »

does the charger have a cut off when the battery is full?
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scoop

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2012, 11:50:22 pm »

Hi Just got my first  electric boat today and would appreciate advice on the following
It has two 8.2 3000Ma Nimh packs  assume  wired in Parallel
(1) can I charge these in Situ and both together or better to do  singly
Also the charger  has  four rates  1amp  2 amp or 4amp which would be the better to use   the label on the pack says standard charge 10 Hrs @300mA and 1 Hr @ 3000 mA  Thanks
Charge them separately, from a discharged state at 4 amp for 45 minutes (if your charger does not cut out when battery is charged)  :-))
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john s 2

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2012, 07:57:27 am »

Scoop has given you a good answer. Please remember that your batterys will develope a memory effect which will reduce there capacity. So as he correctly sayes always fully discharge them. You could use a bulb to discharge. Battery chargers that will automatically discharge and charge your batteries do exist but not worth the cost. Better to buy later type batteries if required. The component shop is a good source. Have fun. John.
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Netleyned

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2012, 08:15:06 am »

NiMH
 do not have a memory problem and can be charged
from any state of charge unlike the old NiCads

Ned
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DickyD

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2012, 09:12:20 am »

As Ned says, your NiMH batteries will not develop a memory like the older NiCAD batteries so you dont have to completely discharge them before charging them.

Charge them when you like. :-))
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2012, 11:34:53 am »

If the charger does not have a meter to indicate the actual rate of charge, then you really have no idea what is going into the battery.  The choice of 1A, 2A, 4A is most likely a maximum limit rather than an actual regulated rate, but it is the sort of thing that needs checking with a meter.
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john s 2

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2012, 06:43:07 pm »

Im sorry that i got batteries mixed up. John
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jaymac

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2012, 07:01:07 pm »

Thanks Guys  well Re the  charger shutting off when complete the Gubbins on the box says With LEd and beeper  to indicate charging status .This went Off about 90mins after charging my first Pack @1 amp   this pack was not fully discharged  before charging
The second pack @ the same rate took just over 3 hours
Box also says charging controlled by 8bits CPU microprocessor 
And Re-Peak function   Thanks again
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DickyD

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2012, 07:07:39 pm »

Sounds like the charger I have, it gives an audible warning when the battery is fully charged.

It would be helpful if you gave us the make and model of charger.
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jaymac

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2012, 08:05:58 pm »

Sorry thought I had  its  BMI Ultra Peak 4A art2129  I guess? once its beeped it goes on trickle charge  hopefully
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DickyD

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2012, 11:18:27 pm »

I do have one of these.

Set the switch for 4amps, connect battery to charger, red light will flash to indicate trickle charge.

For fast charge, when light starts to flash push red button, red light will stay on but not flash.

When battery is charged the charger will beep, the battery should be disconnected at this point.

It is best not to leave unattended when fast charging in case battery gets hot.

Hope this helps.
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jaymac

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #12 on: April 30, 2012, 10:38:15 am »

Thanks Richard  so I must have fast charged Aaargh! must remeber to leave the button alone .Curious though  Re 4Amps  according to the BOX 
Variable charging current AC 4-8 cells 1.2amps
                                   DC 4-7 cells 1-2-4 amps
does that mean only 1.2 available  on AC
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Netleyned

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #13 on: April 30, 2012, 11:37:11 am »

The AC current quoted will be the mains AC consumption of the charger
All batteries are DC

Ned
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DickyD

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #14 on: April 30, 2012, 12:12:46 pm »

Thanks Richard  so I must have fast charged Aaargh! must remeber to leave the button alone .Curious though  Re 4Amps  according to the BOX 
Variable charging current AC 4-8 cells 1.2amps
                                   DC 4-7 cells 1-2-4 amps
does that mean only 1.2 available  on AC
I always fast charge my batteries as I have so many I would need too many chargers to trickle charge them all.

My oldest batteries are six years old and still going strong.
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #15 on: April 30, 2012, 01:12:49 pm »

Quote
Variable charging current AC 4-8 cells 1.2amps
                                   DC 4-7 cells 1-2-4 amps
does that mean only 1.2 available  on AC
Since batteries are DC only devices, and have never responded well to AC, I have to guess that the letters used in this case mean something else other than Alternating Current and Direct Current.
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Netleyned

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2012, 05:19:11 pm »

The AC current quoted will be the mains AC consumption of the charger
All batteries are DC

That is what I said :-))

Ned
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jaymac

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2012, 06:41:58 pm »

Guys I know batteries are DC but as this charger  runs OFF AC or DC  I thought perhaps this  had some   effect regarding output depending on input
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #18 on: April 30, 2012, 07:29:06 pm »

The mains AC input is converted to DC. The 12v DC input stays as DC but is probably regulated.
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CF-FZG

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #19 on: April 30, 2012, 07:57:22 pm »

Thanks Richard  so I must have fast charged Aaargh! must remeber to leave the button alone .Curious though  Re 4Amps  according to the BOX 
Variable charging current AC 4-8 cells 1.2amps
                                   DC 4-7 cells 1-2-4 amps
does that mean only 1.2 available  on AC

It means that from a DC source, you can charge 4-7 cells at 1, 2 or 4A
but from an AC supply you can charge 4-8 cells at 1.2A


Mark.
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jaymac

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Re: Charging help for newbie Please
« Reply #20 on: April 30, 2012, 10:22:57 pm »

Thanks Mark thats what I thought it meant
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