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Author Topic: Tale of Two Batteries  (Read 1726 times)

Online Motorman

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Tale of Two Batteries
« on: October 15, 2015, 08:56:52 PM »
Ive got one 4 cell that does everything ok in the air but it's taking more to charge it up also, it's a tiny bit swollen. I've got another 4 cell that hits the low voltage cut off but is not swollen it has a cell going bad. Which one is worse? Been using both for 1/2 flights in my beater plane but am I risking a burn down? How do you know when to decommission a battery? What criteria would you consider it unusable form a safety point of view?


MM
Wasted words ain't never been heard. Alman Brothers

Offline Target

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Re: Tale of Two Batteries
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2015, 10:26:47 PM »
How do you determine that a cell is going bad?
I would run both of them on a cycle program, at the same rate of discharge to the same voltage cut off.
But if they are the same brand and capacity, I would guess that the one reaching the LVC is the worse of the the two.
I assume that you are balance charging each time and also putting the batteries at the proper storage voltage between flights? Both are important
Heat, and deep discharge are the two biggest killers of rechargeable batteries, I think. 
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Chris
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Online Motorman

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Re: Tale of Two Batteries
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2015, 08:28:09 AM »
Well, the charger tells you the voltage of each cell or you can use a multi meter on the balance plug. Yes, I am balance and storage charging at 1C and they are the same brand/size.

What is this cycle program?


MM
Wasted words ain't never been heard. Alman Brothers

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Re: Tale of Two Batteries
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2015, 10:44:19 AM »
If your charger can do it, and most can, you could charge both packs, then discharge each right after on the same rate, to the same cut off voltage. That would probably confirm your suspicions of which pack is in worse shape(probably the one that cuts out in flight)
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Chris
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