Charging 2, 6-cell in series?

[RogerN]

I bought an E-Maxx a few weeks ago along with 2 ea. 6-Cell 3300 NiMh packs.
My charger (Tekin BC112) can charge up to 12 Cells in series. Since my
battery packs are identical, and since they are discharged in series, I
thought I'd try making a charger cord to charge the two packs in series. I
wired a connector to plug into the charger with 2 in series for the
batteries. I've charged the packs in series a couple of times so far and it
seems to work just fine. Is it common practice to charge 2 identical packs
in series or is there a reason this should not be done (such as one pack
peaking first and overcharging while the 2nd pack peaks) ?

Anyway, if it's a good idea, I thought I'd share it so others can charge
their E-Maxx with one 12 Cell charger instead of 2 chargers or a dual
charger. If it's a bad idea, I'd like to find out before damaging anything.

Thanks

regor@midwest.net

[M78Ultra]

Should work fine if you keep charge level below 4amps
I would guess your adapter looks something like this?
http://www.onlybatterypacks.com/showitem.asp?ItemID=10142.12

"RogerN" <regor@nospammidwest.net> wrote in message
news:VAUid.1291$_J2.1051@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> I bought an E-Maxx a few weeks ago along with 2 ea. 6-Cell 3300 NiMh
packs.
> My charger (Tekin BC112) can charge up to 12 Cells in series. Since my
> battery packs are identical, and since they are discharged in series, I
> thought I'd try making a charger cord to charge the two packs in series.
I
> wired a connector to plug into the charger with 2 in series for the
> batteries. I've charged the packs in series a couple of times so far and
it
> seems to work just fine. Is it common practice to charge 2 identical
packs
> in series or is there a reason this should not be done (such as one pack
> peaking first and overcharging while the 2nd pack peaks) ?
>
> Anyway, if it's a good idea, I thought I'd share it so others can charge
> their E-Maxx with one 12 Cell charger instead of 2 chargers or a dual
> charger. If it's a bad idea, I'd like to find out before damaging
anything.
>
> Thanks
>
> regor@midwest.net
>
>
>

[RogerN]

"M78Ultra" <M78Ultra@REMOVEtriad.rr.com> wrote in message
news:a1Vid.44851$hr3.1739649@twister.southeast.rr. com...
> Should work fine if you keep charge level below 4amps
> I would guess your adapter looks something like this?
> http://www.onlybatterypacks.com/showitem.asp?ItemID=10142.12

That looks alot like my adapter except I have a little more wire between my
connectors so that I can charge the packs while in the E-Maxx. The
instructions on my 3300 NiMh packs said to charge at 3A for best life or 4A
for best performance. I've been charging them at 3.3A just because it's a
1C charge rate and gets them done in a little over an hour. Thanks for the
link, I'm glad to see that it's acceptable to charge 2 packs in series.

[mike]

I've been doing it this way since I got my E-Maxx. Seems to work fine. I use
pretty cheap crummy packs and every so often the charge will fail. When that
happens I discharge then fully charge each pack individually and things seem
OK again.

MIKE


"RogerN" <regor@nospammidwest.net> wrote in message
news:VAUid.1291$_J2.1051@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> I bought an E-Maxx a few weeks ago along with 2 ea. 6-Cell 3300 NiMh
packs.
> My charger (Tekin BC112) can charge up to 12 Cells in series. Since my
> battery packs are identical, and since they are discharged in series, I
> thought I'd try making a charger cord to charge the two packs in series.
I
> wired a connector to plug into the charger with 2 in series for the
> batteries. I've charged the packs in series a couple of times so far and
it
> seems to work just fine. Is it common practice to charge 2 identical
packs
> in series or is there a reason this should not be done (such as one pack
> peaking first and overcharging while the 2nd pack peaks) ?
>
> Anyway, if it's a good idea, I thought I'd share it so others can charge
> their E-Maxx with one 12 Cell charger instead of 2 chargers or a dual
> charger. If it's a bad idea, I'd like to find out before damaging
anything.
>
> Thanks
>
> regor@midwest.net
>
>
>

[dingo]

"RogerN" <regor@nospammidwest.net> wrote in message
news:VAUid.1291$_J2.1051@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> I bought an E-Maxx a few weeks ago along with 2 ea. 6-Cell 3300 NiMh
packs.
> My charger (Tekin BC112) can charge up to 12 Cells in series. Since my
> battery packs are identical, and since they are discharged in series, I
> thought I'd try making a charger cord to charge the two packs in series.
I
> wired a connector to plug into the charger with 2 in series for the
> batteries. I've charged the packs in series a couple of times so far and
it
> seems to work just fine. Is it common practice to charge 2 identical
packs
> in series or is there a reason this should not be done (such as one pack
> peaking first and overcharging while the 2nd pack peaks) ?
>
> Anyway, if it's a good idea, I thought I'd share it so others can charge
> their E-Maxx with one 12 Cell charger instead of 2 chargers or a dual
> charger. If it's a bad idea, I'd like to find out before damaging
anything.
>
> Thanks
>
> regor@midwest.net
>
>
>

As long as you keep using the 12 cells togheter there is no risk for
overcharging 1 of the packs. Then they act like a 12cell pack.
I just want to warn other people who use only 6 cell in there car (or
other ) and also would like to use your idea.

Dont do this !!!
unless the packs are of the same age ( and equal use ). AND
same brand and selection AND
The afterrun charge is equal. AND
proably more reasons.