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This thread is privately moderated by Howard Matos, who may elect to delete unwanted replies. |
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Careful!
Charging series-wired packs - be careful ! ! !
Charging two batteries wired in series using two separate chargers has the potential to cause irrepairable damage to either one or both chargers as well as damage to one or more batteries connected to the chargers. Of course it is physically possible (and easy) to connect the balance leads and/or discharge leads of two series-wired batteries to two separate chargers, but a common ground can occur at the power supply inputs to the chargers. The only safe way to do proceed is to use individual "isolated" power supplies; two separate 12v batteries for example to power each of the chargers independently. If you were to use two AC power supplies, you MUST confirm using a continuity meter, that the power supplies do not share common ground while connected to the house's AC supply. The problem is, MANY power supplies do share common DC ground as the power supply manufacturers connect DC ground to AC "earth" ground internally. Common DC ground flows through your home's AC lines. Now with common ground, when you connect the first wire of the second series pack to the charger, you have the potential for a direct short across the first series-wired pack (pack 1 ground to pack 1 +). The short will not occur until the charge FETs actually energize. Then "poof", the damage is done in microseconds. This is probably the number one way that people damage chargers in this industry, and not only FMA Direct chargers. Most of the time, customers have no idea what went wrong. The original Cellpro 4s charger has no protection or warning against this scenario because it has AUTO start. Charge FET closes as soon as valid voltages are present on the charger output. The manual clearly warns customers against this situation. Please check the CAUTION box on page 2 of the following link:
http://www.fmadirect.com/support_docs/item_1230.pdf For a detailed pictorial diagram of the proper and improper ways to charge series-wired batteries, check the following link: http://www.fmadirect.com/support_docs/item_1324.pdf Incidentally, our newer Cellpro Multi4 is capable of determining this common ground scenario and will not energize the charger when the condition exists. But the simplest solution is to never charger two packs wired in series using two separate chargers. Disconnect series-wired packs before connecting to the charger(s). If you only have one charger and you are determined not to wait to charge each pack individually, consider the potentially safer approach of charging packs in parallel using a single charger. If you are careful and you assure that both batteries are discharged to equal levels before connecting them together or to the charger, you can make up a simple "y" adapter using Cellpro battery pigtails for example, to parallel charge 2 packs using the Cellpro chargers. Each node of a pack must be connected to corresponding nodes of the other pack. The packs must be equal cell count and equal capacity. The charger will see the two parallel connected packs as a single pack. If one battery is charged and the other is discharged, you can run into problems because when you connect the two packs up to your wiring harness, the full pack will charge the dead pack at high current with no current limiting between the two. After a short time, the cell voltages will equalize, but in the mean time you will be putting high charge rate into the dead pack which is generally not good for the battery's life. |
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Last edited by Howard Matos; Jul 20, 2010 at 07:48 AM.
Reason: change category
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Keeping a log
Outstanding information Howard. Every battery user should keep a log of useful information available and perhaps even a check list of dos and don'ts. Howard---Your post should be # 1. One should keep a log of every battery and remember to check their condition periodically. You would be amazed to see how rapidly time flies when you are having fun and you suddenly realize you have been flying a pack for three years! Add this one to your log too: Check your transmmitter battery or meter reading BEFORE each flight. Do you know when most flyers check it? You got it! Right after the crash to see if it went down!
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Hi Howard:
I tried the links you posted above and neither of them point to the documents. Is there another link I can use, or is this sticky no longer valid? I'm trying to charge 2 2 cell A123 packs wired in series through the Cellpro node plugs off of one Multi 4 charger. Can you provide me with a diagram to check that I am doing this properly? Thank you Regards, Dennis |
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Quote:
Hi: The FMA Direct site was merged into www.revolectrix.com. Here are the correct links on the new website: Cellpro 4s manual - http://revolectrix.com/support_docs/item_1230.pdf Series Wiring Caution Sheet - http://revolectrix.com/support_docs/item_1295.pdf But for your situation, you can refer to the following document to see the Cellpro batteries wiring conventions. You'll want to wire the 2 x 2s to make it look like a single 4s battery pack. http://revolectrix.com/support_docs/item_1315.pdf Tim Marks |
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Quote:
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I am embarrassed to say I was the idiot that put 2 chargers In parallel and caused them to burn up and co$t the company money and time plus the time to update their site...
I learned a lesson and felt very bad about it but both parties learned from this. Wishing you the best going forward Howard. Rick Distler |
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I realize this is a very very old thread.
My question is why would you want to do this. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The assumption that the DC neutral is common with AC neutral is very wrong as a step down transformer would be used to lower the AC voltage to the power supply . The transformer would isolate the ground. The only way to have a common ground is if a 3 way plug is used and the ground in your electrical plug has been properly tested with a tester and has continuity with the chassis. A 2 wire plug would never have a common ground as there is the potential to have a live chassis if the AC plug in your house is not properly wired. |
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