Topic: How Do I Charge THIS ? (Read 8384 times)

richald · « **on:** September 24, 2017, 02:05:23 pm »

Just been given a Go Anywhere RC car to fix for next door neighbours kids
but the battery is weird and I am not sure how to charge it - as you can see
it claims to be an 11.1V Lithium-Ion battery but there is no balance cable fitted.

The battery works through two small brass pins, one of which is visible at the
extreme right hand side (the other pin is on the back face in a matching position)
there are + and - markings on the underside.

My Imax B6AC V2 charger will not look at it in either of the Lithium settings
without a balance cable being plugged in.

To add to that, there is a strange error, My charger shows a 3S LiPo as 11.1V
and a 3S Lithium Ion as 10.8V !

Dimensions : Width 75mm approx, Depth 83mm approx, Thickness 22mm approx

Where do I go from here ?

Richard

andyquirot · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2017, 07:36:17 pm »

Hi there
Buy an imax b6 charger it will charge you battery and many other types of battery's
Regards Andy Quirot

richald · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2017, 07:49:53 pm »

Andy

Not sure if you read my original post correctly! - I already have an Imax B6AC V2 charger
and it will not charge any Lithium-Ion or Lipo batteries without a balance lead being plugged in
Richard

Chris57 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2017, 08:54:12 pm »

Would it have it's own charging cradle? Like a cordless drill?

Otherwise is your IMAX set for balance charging? Can it be set for just charge, which might remove the need for a balance lead?

Chris

richald · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2017, 09:31:01 pm »

Chris

There is a proper charging cradle but I haven't been given that yet - once I have it I will
have to rely on it charge the battery, but in the meantime, I'm still wondering how you can
charge a (probably) 3S battery without any setup to balance the cells - Chinese engineering
is wonderful ain't it?

The IMAX instruction manual says the 'balance socket is used for lithium battery charging in all modes'

The modes are : balance charge, charge, fast charge, storage, discharge - but doesn't seem to
explain the difference between 'balance charge' and 'charge'

I will dig a little deeper into the difference if there is any!

I also have the PC based ChargeMaster2.02 software - that may shed a little light !

Richard

andyquirot · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2017, 09:41:17 pm »

Hi there
Yes you can charge lipo's etc without a balance lead connected.
Andy Quirot

richald · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2017, 12:02:55 am »

Wrong again Andy,

I have just rechecked, charger works exactly like it says in the instructions
no balance lead gives a "BALANCE CONNECT ERROR".

Are you using a knock-off IMAX charger? (which may work differently).

Richard

Chris57 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2017, 03:51:48 am »

Looks like you will have to wait until the charging cradle is found.

Chris

lesfac · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2017, 01:33:27 pm »

Hi
I have an Imax B6AC charger and regularly charge my Lipo batteries without the balance lead attached. I only attach that if I do a balance charge.
I just looked at the charger manual. On page 18 it reads
"Charging lithium battery in the charge mode.
This charge mode is for charging Li-Po/Ion/Fe battery without balance lead."
Les

andyquirot · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2017, 07:50:40 pm »

Thank you Lesfac.

richald · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2017, 09:09:36 pm »

Lesfac/Andy
if your page 18 refers to charging without using a balance lead then I think we are working with different versions of the charger.

My page 18 in the manual only talks about using the battery meter - could you give me more detail of
your page 18 or even a scan of the page?

Richard

fredd · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2017, 09:35:24 pm »

In the manual for V2 version
Page 20
WARNING AND ERROR MESSAGE

No Balance cable detected
Balance connection is suggested for all lithium process
(charge/discharge/storage/fast charge/balance charge),
if your battery comes without balance lead, push enter to start.

Fred

richald · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2017, 09:55:49 pm »

Hmmm the thick plottens . . .
my page 20 . . .

I've also checked the software version for my charger . . .
HW 1.00 FW 1.10
ser. no. 21419154

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2017, 12:48:37 am »

Got one of these and my documentation matches Rich's.

Look on the back and see what the publication date is, mine says it is 2014 .04. With the usual caveat, subject to change without notice

Think you should be able to download a current version of the instructions from the web.

The critical bit with Fred's instructions is If no balance ........

Am no expert but are there any battery packs sold without balance leads?????

richald · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2017, 07:42:23 am »

RAAArty . . .

if you have a look at the start of this thread you'll see what I found -
exactly as you surmise - a lithium-ion battery pack with no balance leads !

MY SKYRC instructions have the same publication date 2014.04.

I have retried both Lithium-Ion and Lipo settings with all the different modes
the only one that will allow you proceed without a balance lead is the discharging facility.

BTW - still waiting for charging cradle from the neighbour - evidently it is under all their camping gear
so it looks like the car will be taking up long-term storage on my kitchen floor!

Richard

lesfac · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2017, 08:10:57 am »

It is clear that there has been an update to this charger. My manual was printed 2013. It clearly says for non balance charging not to bother with the balance lead and I have done this many times. Looks like they have amended the procedure although from what Fredd says they indicate a way around it.
Just a thought although you are probably well aware of it, on mine I have to hold the start button for 3 secs to make it accept the instruction
Les

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2017, 11:37:49 am »

Richard,

Don't think there are any batteries soldwithout balance leads, could be wrong.

The fact you have a battery that you can't see any balance leads may be an exception as are power tool batteries which don't have visible balance leads. However the balance leads are built into these batteries and are recognised and registered by the dedicated charger.

Hazard a guess that the instructions for the equipment says something about only using the charger provided.

I myself don't use those batteries still a lot of uncertainty, power tools excepted. However in your V2 instructions there is warning to not to attempt to charge a battery with any inbuilt "monitoring". Therefore I wouldn't be trying try to charge it, as it seems to me to be a dedicated battery for use with a specific (supplied) charger.

Pic of the battery wouldn't go astray.

fredd · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2017, 11:50:38 am »

A few different manuals on line
Details of the one I quoted from

Manufactured by
SKYRC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
www.skyrc.com

SkyRC Technology Co., Ltd. 2016 Version 2.1

Printed in China 2016.11

Fred

richald · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2017, 01:35:47 pm »

RAAArty . . .

Quote from: RAAArtyGunner on October 13, 2017, 11:37:49 am

Pic of the battery wouldn't go astray.

There should be a picture with my original post.

Fred . . .
There seem to be loads of different manuals - I turned up a HobbyKing one
from 2007 for the LiPro Balance Charger (looks like an IMAX B6 'variant') .
the manual is different to all the other ones mentioned on this thread!

Looks a bit like the earlier and later versions will allow charging without a balance
lead, but not mine or RAAArtyGunner's

Richard

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2017, 02:02:17 pm »

Quote from: fredd on October 13, 2017, 11:50:38 am

A few different manuals on line
Details of the one I quoted from

Manufactured by
SKYRC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
www.skyrc.com

SkyRC Technology Co., Ltd. 2016 Version 2.1

Printed in China 2016.11

Fred

Fred,

Thank you for the link and have downloaded the updated version.

It does still carry the same warning about non suitable batteries.

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2017, 02:14:08 pm »

Quote from: richald on October 13, 2017, 01:35:47 pm

RAAArty . . .

There should be a picture with my original post.

Fred . . .
There seem to be loads of different manuals - I turned up a HobbyKing one
from 2007 for the LiPro Balance Charger (looks like an IMAX B6 'variant') .
the manual is different to all the other ones mentioned on this thread!

Looks a bit like the earlier and later versions will allow charging without a balance
lead, but not mine or RAAArtyGunner's

Richard

Sorry mate, should have opened my eyes and now remember it.
Can't tell by the photo but think there would be connectors that correspond to points on the dedicated charger and these may well activate any balancing connection etc.
So because we can't see it doesn't mean the battery is not balanced during charging.
Have a look on youtube for the battery type and make, interesting what you find on there.
Also would download latest manual version via Fred's link.

http://www.skyrc.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_90&product_id=217

richald · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2017, 04:00:01 pm »

RAAArty . . .

There are definitely only two brass pins on the outside of the case - unless the Chinese have fitted
some method of contactless balance charging - and I can't honestly see that in £30 toy car.

I will wait til I have the proper charging cradle and watch it like a hawk while it is charging.

Ta Fred/RAAArty for the link to the latest manual - will investigate - might be relevant because there seems
to be an option to update the charger software via SKYRCs ChargeMaster2 PC software.

Richard

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