Balanced charging question

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FalCT60

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Joined
Aug 28, 2022
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34
Hello,
Newly arrived on this forum, I could learn interesting things - even if some threads are over my understanding.
I am wondering if someone here could enlighten me on how to take advantage of a charger I bought some time ago.
It is this one, that is obviously capable of great things regarding Li-xxx cells, but I could not use it correctly so far except for charging only one cell at a time.
No problem with Ni-Cd or Ni-Fe, just Li-xxx ones.
I could neither find suitable accessories to manage cells packs, nor find anything relevant in the manual. And I feel like a chichen in front of a toaster.
Explanations on how to connect more than one Li-xxx cell to the device would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
J.-Luc
 
As far as I know, Li-xxx cells must not be charged in series like other batteries. There must either be charged individually or via a balancing method.
I read the FAQ before asking, and could not find an (obvious) answer for what I am asking.
My question is quite precise, but needs someone who knows this kind of charger.
As for your question about the device I am connecting to... did you even try to read my post ?
 
FalCT60 said:
As far as I know, Li-xxx cells must not be charged in series like other batteries. There must either be charged individually or via a balancing method.
Click to expand...
Yes and no. If you have healthy cells (in series) that are all the same voltage and type and capacity they will charge in unison (voltage will rise the same in all the cells) and discharge in unison. However, over time, the cells will get 'out of sync' (have different voltages) and this can become unsafe and/or shorten the life of some of the cells.

So, as you say, a balanced charger OR a BMS that can shut off the charge current if one of cells get's out of min/max is advised. BMSs may also have balancing.

FalCT60 said:
I read the FAQ before asking, and could not find an (obvious) answer for what I am asking.
My question is quite precise, but needs someone who knows this kind of charger.
As for your question about the device I am connecting to... did you even try to read my post ?
Click to expand...
The charger you list - https://www.conrad.com/p/voltcraft-...ead-acid-membrane-li-ion-lipolymer-lif-200106 - suggest's it can do up to 6s e.g. 6 li-xxx in series.
1662153100456.png

This means it likely has a 7 pin connector so you run sense leads to the cells in series so it can monitor the individual cell voltages as it charges - and balance charge.

Regardless - when you put cells in series to form a battery - a BMS is strongly advised :)
 
Last edited:
FalCT60 said:
My question is quite precise, but needs someone who knows this kind of charger.
As for your question about the device I am connecting to... did you even try to read my post ?
Click to expand...

Why yes i did. But not as well as I should have :( didn't see the link. your charger has has balance connections for 2s(3pin) ,3s(4pin).4s(5pin0,5s(6pin),6s(7pin) balance connectors on the front of the charger/analyzer.
later floyd
 
Look for premade balance wires/ connectors in 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s configurations. sometimes you can find a item with all the 2s,3s,4s,5s,6s balance wires in a single package.
Later floyd
 
The user notice for this charger is really useless. It does not explain the wiring for balanced charging. I have been searching for ages, but with no luck so far.
Thanks to the reply above, searching with the terms I could then find pages related to the item, and then could find those in french. Hurray !
Unfortunately, that did not explain how to do the wiring from the charger to the cells pack. But I think I was lucky, I found a picture with the charger connected to a 3s.
Assuming the picture is correct, I think the wiring should be as on the drawing I made, the connector is represented as plugged in the slot.
would there some way to be sure the + and - wires are correctly located ?
 

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I agree : the things one needs are not available until one does not need them anymore.
Also, I am somewhat unhappy in web search. Google is not often my friend.
Should I have found that forum before, I think my charger would not have been left in its box for such a long time.
I ordered the connectors from Al and the containers from Am. Hope it will not take too long.
According to the page above, the connectors in my charger look like JST, and anyway pos and neg are at the outer places, so I do not need to worry anymore about damaging my charger. At worst, the charger will detect a polarity fault.
My goal is to replace the cells in used DSC batteries. I will come back and report when all is done.
Rgrds,
 
It has been a while... but I finally assemble two batteries holders so as to handle 6 cells.
Here it is, attached to the charger.
I could turn 24 cells to storage state, then I intend to test full discharge and then charge on some elements.
BTW : the link in the above reply from @floydR seems dead. :cry:
 

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