What's the future of batteries and chargers in the next couple years?

Let's be realistic.

Tom

Something like LiPoly that is not flamable and charges like the current LiPoly cells. I hope.

thanks
Steve

Originally Posted by tommyt

What's the future of batteries and chargers in the next couple years?

Let's be realistic.

Tom

Two direction to go.

Non-flamable lipos or some other chemistry that is stable.

Safer (balancing) chargers and all packs made with taps to take advantage of them.

I see us getting some of both.

Capacitors have also been mentioned as a possible sourse of power and there are fuel cells as well as other exotic battery chemistries.

Two years is probably too soon for any of those technologies tho.

Larry

1.) New cell chemistry, but that is probably at the best more than a few years off.

2.) Individual cell taps in battery packs will become standard.

3.) Saftey circuits that go in line between existing chargers and packs that have cell taps. They will add saftey, allow for cell balancing and use existing chargers to charge packs safely in series.

4.) Saftey guard circuits that allow for one cell voltage and current control. Multiples of these will allow for parallel charging of cells.

5.) A low cost high amperage power supply with a fixed 4.2v output.

If the above happens a movement away from series charging / series discharging to parallel charging / series discharging.

Brad

I anticipate Lithium-type cells which can be charged at rates in excess of 1C.

It remains to be seen how long I'll have to live with my anticipation.

Pete

Originally Posted by tommyt

What's the future of batteries and chargers in the next couple years?

Let's be realistic.

Tom

I believe we will see Lipos with parallel charging.

I believe that this will be as safe, if not safer than other batteries.

-a.

Originally Posted by bjpaul

1.) New cell chemistry, but that is probably at the best more than a few years off.

2.) Individual cell taps in battery packs will become standard.

3.) Saftey circuits that go in line between existing chargers and packs that have cell taps. They will add saftey, allow for cell balancing and use existing chargers to charge packs safely in series.

Brad

Hello Brad,

Thunder Power had been working on items 1 to 3 for two years.

1)Safer Li-Poly chemical (need 1 to 2 more years)
2)Thunder Power will release batteries packs prewire for external balancer starting in January.
3)Thunder Power will release two Li-Po balancers to allow for cell balancing and use existing chargers (2 to 5cell version in January & 2 to 4cell in March).

Thunder Power progressive balancers can be use with existing chargers including the Astro 109.

Charlie

Charlie, once batteries are being balanced every charge, will it be possible to charge faster? I thought the only thing holding charge rates at 1C was the unqual cooling causing imbalance that comes with >1C.

Originally Posted by adamg

Charlie, once batteries are being balanced every charge, will it be possible to charge faster? I thought the only thing holding charge rates at 1C was the unqual cooling causing imbalance that comes with >1C.

Adam, this is very hard question to answer.

I think 1.5C charging is OK for pack with built-in protection such as Dragonfly 1320-3S (TP1320 seem to do well with 1.5C charge)
on the other hand, I recommend slow charge Li-Po batteries once in 5 to 10 charges/discharge cycles.

In January, we will release 2100s prewire for balancer, I think it is ok to charge at 1.5C if needed and progressive balancer is use.

Charlie

Charlie,

I thought that chargeing at over 1C greatly reduced the life expectancy of the cells?

Is this no longer true?

Larry

Originally Posted by Larry3215

Charlie,

I thought that chargeing at over 1C greatly reduced the life expectancy of the cells?

Is this no longer true?

Larry

Larry,

Any increase of charge rate can effect the life expectancy of the cells, how much depend on the design of the cell (that is why I use example of the TP1320s)

My best guess at single cell level, charge rate of 0.1C vs 1C may reduced life cycle by 1.5% to 3%.
betwen 1C and 1.5C, depending cell type may be 1% to 4% (some cell may be unsafe to charge at 1.5C)

My hope is with the use of Progressive balancer, higher cell count pack can also be charged safely at higher than 1C.

Charlie

I would love to see 2C charge rates on Li Polys. Only time will tell

One more question Charlie.

In another thread you said that only certain packs would be getting the taps.

Is this still true? If so, which packs?

Larry

Originally Posted by Larry3215

One more question Charlie.

In another thread you said that only certain packs would be getting the taps.

Is this still true? If so, which packs?

Larry

Larry,
Below are packs with connector/taps for balancer

Available in January 2005
TP2100-2S, TP2100-3S,
TP3200-2S, TP3200-3S, TP3200-4S, TP-3200-5S. TP6400-2S2P
TP4200-2S2P, TP4200-3S2P

TP4000-2S2P, TP4000-3S2P, TP4000-4S2P, TP4000-5S2P
TP6000-2S3P, TP6000-3S3P, TP6000-4S3P, TP6000-5S3P
TP8000-2S4P, TP8000-3S4P, TP8000-4S4P, TP8000-5S4P

Items below will be available in February with limited production for market test:
Thunder Power Carbon Fiber series (will post picture tomorrow)
TP6400-3S2P, TP6400-4S2P, TP6400-5S2P

Charlie (Thunder Power Batteries)

Thanks Charlie!

Larry