Battery Charger Advice For Rc Virgin

[David1226]

I assume there will be no charge for the advice.

David

 

[GAP]

Thank you all for your inputs. I appreciate the wealth of advice that has been given.

Quite happy to have lots of batteries charged and ready on standby, but they need to be charged properly or they are useless, also I need to be able to establish a rough idea of how many I will need.

Apologies, but I am mystified by the last link, as I can't see how it would be used. Presumably you charge one battery at a time using flying leads? This is all new to me!

James

Maybe a bit of terminology clarification is in order here for a newcomer.

Some times a single AA/AAA/C /D item is commonly referred to as a battery this is basically correct when used singularly but they can also be known as cells.

When 2 or more cells are connected in either series or parallel they make a battery.

Connecting cells in series i.e. +ve to -ve the voltage is increased but the capacity remains the same eg 2x 1.2V 300mAh will give a 2.4V 300mAh battery.

Connecting in parallel i.e. the +ve and -ve terminals are connected together will result in an increase in capacity but the voltage will remain unchanged eg 2x 1.2V 300mAh will give a 1.2V 600mAh battery.

Simplest analogy if you put 2 AAs, for example, into your TV remote you have just created a 3V battery (or 2.4V if using rechargeables).

The charger in the link will charge a battery via the batteries leads and the other connection is for the charger to monitor the charge levels of the individual cells to "balance" them out i.e. they all hold the same charge (or as near as possible to the same charge).
The misunderstanding of terminology can sometimes the biggest error made by the lay person not used to electrical speak.

Hope this explanation helps.

 

[GAP]

Phil,

I will try that, thanks. Don't see that it can do any harm!

A good charger will have a discharge/recharge function, the one in the link has this function.

 

[Bram]

Brian Jones told me along time ago that if the batteries go too low smart chargers won't bring them back to life. You have charge via a 15hour charger to kick start them. I have heard this from another reputed source as well

 

[GAP]

Brian Jones told me along time ago that if the batteries go too low smart chargers won't bring them back to life. You have charge via a 15hour charger to kick start them. I have heard this from another reputed source as well

I charge them at a rate of 1/10th of their capacity ie 10AHr is charged at 1Amp

 

[Greg Elmassian]

I'd like to see the link where someone advertises a 4600 mah AA nimih battery, the best I can find with a name brand is 2600, pretty much unbelievable. Was it determined that there are 2 2300 mah batteries in parallel?

Greg

 

[Rhinochugger]

Over here in the UK you can get up to 5000 mah on Sub-Cs - Vapextech