Thanks Dave. Your explanation makes it clearer why it is not appropriate.
Edward

My appologies Dave M I thought your superb knowlage was from trade experiance

Mark

Cenbeth & Mark

Just for the record I have a good knowledge of electronics and matters electrical but have never been in the trade. I have however had many years experience of model electronics and am more than happy to share my knowledge.

The charger on e-bay is from a UK supplier and does state that there is no balancing of the cells but claims to be suitable for LiPos using their own charging process and a temperature sensor.

This may well work for a single cell where the peak voltage setting will be correctly identified. For multiple cells starting from different discharge states there is the possibility that one or more cells will be overcharged before the peak voltage for the pack is reached.

Each cell of a LiPo battery will not tolerate even minimal overcharging and using a charger that allows this will damage and destabilize the battery. Such damaged batteries can and do self destruct in an explosive fashion. Might happen immediately or whilst in use or on a subsequent charge.

There are posts on U-Tube of LiPo self destruction.

This offering is not, in my opinion, suitable for charging Lithium batteries.

Dave

Thanks Mark. Just checking!
Edward

Always use a balance charger. All the cells need to be charged up to the same voltage, a balanced charger does this by gradually bringing each cell back to the same voltage.
After charging I then check each cell with a Lipo battery tester. These give a reading for the voltage in each cell and then a combined reading. if a cell has a significant low reading the lipo should be discarded after discharging in a controlled manor. Do not short circuit unless you want a very nasty surprise. These testers are available for just a few pounds. it is worth concidering buying one with a low voltage alarm buzzer, as well as giving cell readings if attached to the balance lead whilst on the lipo in a model it will give an audable buzz when the lipo needs recharging and should be replaced. if the voltage is reduced to a very low level it may be impossible to get your charger to recognise it and it will not start charging. if such a case occures try connecting it in parallel with a reasonably charged lipo having the same cell count for a short time then disconnect and check the voltage, as the voltage rises the lipo should again be recognised and charging will be resumed. if a cell remains low I would scrap the lipo as it is unlikely the cell will recover.

Cenbeth

For your own safety and your family dont touch one with a bent barge pole. if lipo's are not balanced they could/will overheat and possibly catch fire.

Extreamly dangerouse.

Look at Dave M's remarks he does know as he was in the trade

Mark

On eBay there is a LiPo charger that claims the cells do not need balancing (item no 271969213201). it's by Muchmore. is this too good to be true or what?

They plug straight into the mains and use the balance lead only for charging. They are a slow charger which I am led to believe is better for the Lipo, I do not know the output current. if you have a few lipos to charge and you need them the next day you would need several chargers as one would not cope but they are inexpensive. My first charger I bought about 8 years ago cost well over £100 and it was constantly giving me agro and difficult to set up as every time the Mah altered you had to reprogramme the unit, these are plug and go for 2 or 3 cell lipos - piece of cake!

If your charger is not mains driven you will need a power supply probably a couple of volts higher than the max number of cells voltage you intend to charge. The supply will also need to be continuously rated at greater than the max current you are using to charge your battery(ies).

Your charger should specify what power source is required as well as the max number of cells and current.

If all your charging requirements are

What do you use as an input source for these chargers, ie do you use a mains adaptor and what output current.
Ta.

Re-safe charging of lipos. I have been using 3 x SKYRC SK-100081 E3 AC input 2S 3S Lipo Battery Balance Charger for several years now and have had no problems with them and have also purchased many for other club members who have not reported any problems. They are available at under £9. I have though always charged the lipo in a biscuit tin. I have punched 3 holes, one for each charger, in the side of the tin and fitted a rubber grommet as used by electricians in Flush Pattress boxes. A balance lead extension is plugged into each of the chargers and passed through a grommet thus allowing the lipo to be plugged in for charging without fiddling its balance lead through the grommet. The tins lid is then replaced during charging. I am currently in the process of securing 3 suitable smaller tins one for each charger as currently if one lipo goes haywire the other 2 in the tin would no doubt join the party!

Another salutory lesson. Lucky you used a charge bag, but I doubt if you will never ever leave a LiPo to charge unattended.

Good question as to quality. if you are paying good money for your batteries it seems pointless to choose a cheap charger. Many of the Chinese imports are not compliant with all the required parameters and could pose a risk. I'm sure many have perfectly good chargers sourced abroad but you could be taking a risk. Remember if the charger fails you will most probably also lose the battery.

There are many UK suppliers of suitable Lipo chargers and if you have a local model shop they will be able to advise on what other customers are using. Model flyers have been using LiPos for several years and will have identified the safest and best chargers available. Usually the dearer models allow for more cells and faster (higher current) charging. if you are not racing and do not need to fast charge there really is no need to pay for a feature you don't require.

Cell balancing is a must and I would not entertain a charger that didn't have this feature.

LiPos are high power units and need to be operated within their perameters. Good batteries will advise on the minimum discharge voltage and max charge current. You should set your ESC to this discharge voltage and set you charger to the correct number of cells and max charge current, many chargers will do this automatically when the balance lead is connected, and you should not charge without this connected

Finally a routine inspection of the LiPo should be undertaken before and after each usage. Any ballooning may indicate damage, with loose oxygen causing the balloon. Batteries should be at ambient air temperature before charging.

Here's to safe charging
Dave

I charged one of mine recently in a charge bag using a multipurpose budget charger. Have used this type for a few years. At 95% full charge on 3cell Lipo I went away for 45mins. Opened the solid wood door from house into the Conservatory, to be greeted by a lot of heat and a small fire. Luckily only scorch marks and melted roof blind.
Last night I was charging a nhmI on the same make charger to see that one start smoking and a very hot battery.
Sourcing some quality chargers now. But what is a quality charger ?

Many thanks for all your replies.
I used a Fusion balance charger, except on
this occasion I walked away from the charger.
Will now charge in a bag outside
Regards

What a really good warning for us all ,pity you lost so much

HI Olly
Sorry to hear this tale of woe.
LiPo's are very high energy batteries and any misuse can and does lead to dramatic failure as you have found to your cost.

I totally agree with your last sentence and offer this advice to all model boat members
There are dedicated chargers and cell balancers that allow safe charging but you should always be present for the whole of the charge time to stop the charge should the battery overheat or start to swell. Disconnect the battery once the charge has completed.
Battery bags also provide a safe charging medium should you experience any problems.
It is a good idea to charge near to an easy exit and away from any flammable material, so the battery can be removed to an outside safe area..
Any batteries that swell have suffered some internal damage and personally I never re-use such batteries as they may fail in a model and I value my models.
It is Important to balance the individual cells in a pack between charges. Many chargers give a balanced charge so will protect your battery, but standalone balancers are available.
Heat can alter the charge rate so charging should only be commenced when the battery has reached room temperature.

Thankfully no one was hurt in this instance, but we all need to be aware and take care.