Charging new LIPO Batteries

[nelsonmay10]

I have a 11.1v 1200mAh 3 cell lipo and an Eflite Celectra 1-3 battery charger. I am new to electrics and I understand that I have to test the votage of the cell. I also have to set the charger to 3 cell, but I have a range of charge rates (250mA, 500mA, 1A, 1.5A, 2.0A) and I am not sure which setting to for my particular battery. Will the charger also tell me when the batteries are charged? I thought I saw that in the directions.

Off the subject here, but I know there is also a voltage cut off circuit in the speed contoller. Will it work automatically?

[pmackenzie]

A better place for this question would be the batteries and chargers forum-

For a 1200 mahr pack, 1.2 amps is the standard charge rate. Choose the closest lesser value, in your case 1 amp.
I am not familiar with the charger you are using, but every one I have seen does indicate when the charge is complete.

As far as cut off in the speed control, that depends on the specific controller. Some of the Asian controllers have the cut off set too low.
3 volts/cell is the absolute minimum, 3.2-3.3 would be safer.
(9 volts and 9.6 - 9.9 volts for a 3 cell pack)
Not many allow you to adjust the cut off so you might have to resort to timed flights.

After discharge the pack should recover to above 11 volts.

Pat MacKenzie

[nelsonmay10]

I am new to the site and didn't the the battery and charger section, but I will look for it.

I have an electricfly speed controller great plains silver series GPMM1820

Thanks

[pmackenzie]

Batteries and Chargers forum:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=129
From the Tower site (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKSY4&P=M) your speed control uses 0.67 times the starting voltage as a cutoff.
A fully charged 3 cell lipo is 12.6 volts, so it will cut off at 8.44 volts. I think this is too low.
There is also a danger with this scheme that if you start with a partially used pack it will go even lower.
Pat MacKenzie