LiPo Charging question from dumb newb.

[Itsmee x2]

Hi all, I’m brand new to this Lipo charging business and was hoping to get some confirmation that I’m doing it ‘right’!

I have a 2s 3000mah 25c LiPo battery and just bought a new fancy Ovonic Mate 2 charger. I was not surprised when I turned it on and it asked me questions I wasn’t prepared to answer, but hopefully stumbling through a few old threads has imparted me with enough information to keep from starting a fire. So……here goes:

My new charger prompts me to enter ‘target voltage’, which ,as I understand it, in a LiPo battery is 4.2v per cell for max charge and 3.8vish for storage charge. So….when charging the battery for use, obviously 4.2v is the answer to ‘target voltage’ right?!?

The second grey area when using this charger is ‘target current’. It seems like there’s some flexibility here depending on your aversion to risk(or lack there of!) and 1C (3A in a 3000mah LiPo) is the maximum current you should use or possibly less to prolong battery life…..

Is this all correct? Am I too dumb for this hobby? Let me have it straight.

Thanks!

Chris

 

[Merv]

... 4.2v is the answer to ‘target voltage’ right?!?...

If your changer is ask voltage per cell ,then yes 4.2v per cell. If your charger is asking voltage for the pack, the 8.4v for 2S.

... 1C (3A in a 3000mah LiPo) is the maximum current you should use...

Yes, 3A charging for a 3000 mah pack.

It's a good practice to let a pack rest after charging before use and rest from use until charging. The rest should be a minimum of 15 minutes.

 

[Itsmee x2]

If y changer is ask voltage per cell ,then yes 4.2v per cell. If your charger is asking voltage for the pack, the 8.4v for 2S.


Yes, 3A charging for a 3000 mah pack.

It's a good practice to let a pack rest after charging before use and rest from use until charging. The rest should be a minimum of 15 minutes.

Thanks! It’s ambiguous! I don’t know if it’s asking voltage per cell or for the whole pack!

 

[Mr NCT]

Am I too dumb for this hobby?

Nah, not possible

 

[Itsmee x2]

Nah, not possible

Dunno, charging a LiPo battery has sent me into a full fledged existential crisis.

 

[Mr NCT]

Writing clear and easy to follow instructions is a lost art. It reminds me of a calculus text book that had a full page formula and when you turned the page it said "So, it is obvious to the casual observer that x=2." Don't despair, it's not you. YouTube is your friend.

 

[Mr NCT]

I just looked up the factory instructions and YouTube videos for your charger. I don't think I've seen less helpful instructions in quite a while. They tell you what the buttons are and then figure that you know what you're doing. Not much in the way of instruction videos available, either. You're mission, if you decide to accept it, is document your learning curve to help others in the same fix. This post will self destruct in 10 seconds.

 

[Itsmee x2]

I just looked up the factory instructions and YouTube videos for your charger. I don't think I've seen less helpful instructions in quite a while. They tell you what the buttons are and then figure that you know what you're doing. Not much in the way of instruction videos available, either. You're mission, if you decide to accept it, is document your learning curve to help others in the same fix. This post will self destruct in 10 seconds.

Lol, thank you for your time and encouragement. I’m 90% sure that by ‘cell voltage’, Ovonic means voltage per cell. I’m doing a balance charge right now. Will check back in if no third-degree burns are incurred.

 

[Itsmee x2]

All is well - for as confusing as it is, neat charger with a ton of flexibility.