11 Years of Parallel Charging Lipo Batteries. Why no problems? Not One!

This video covers me parallel charging 4 Lipos and sharing the data through a 47-minute charge.

[@sixter4157]

I am new to the RC plane hobby at 47. I had, and modified a Tamiya RC car in my youth, but always wanted a plane. Recently my wife and I were at the park with our young son (just 2) and saw someone flying a small P-51. She said "That looks fun, you should get yourself a plane as an early anniversary present." One question, perhaps I missed it. For parallel charging, is the charge rate calculated by adding the batteries capacity, then calculating what 1C is as though they were one big pack? Your channel is one of my favorites with your presentation of information with, data, experience, logic, and science. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. So many channels are just "this is what to do" without imparting the why. I always wanted to know the how and why something worked, so I could understand, and build on that knowledge. It comes from my father. He was a German VW master mechanic, and always taught me how systems worked so I could troubleshoot on my own. Thank you.

[@dagtheaviator]

Hello. Most chargers are "smart chargers". You need to get a good "balancing" charger. It will know when it is charged. I set most of the charge rates at 1C. But, when parallel charging you can charge at 2c if two packs, or 3c if 3 packs. If one pack took 5 amps, and I would set to 10 amps with two. Hope this helps. Thx, DAG

[@sixter4157]

@@dagtheaviator Thanks for the reply. 👍🏻🛩️

[@Commander_ZiN]

Good info, you said several things most others overlook.

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad it was helpful! Rock ON!

[@jtcustomknives]

Great info

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad it was helpful!

[@russcole5685]

Great content, I only fly glow as just re-entering to hobby after a 25 year break, and have been scared of the fire risk myths I've heard of. You have tought me a lot, and I'm starting to feel a lot safer hearing what you had to say. I'm starting to think lipos may be the way to go. less mess, less vibration, ect. Just gotta look after your batterys as well as you do a prized and loved engine. Rutein "spelling" maintenance. Easy and safe. Will follow your advice and expand my feild of option to fly with this new knowledge. Thank you, from little New Zealand

[@dagtheaviator]

Very happy you like my videos. :)

[@txkflier]

I've been parallel charging since April 2019. I have a Revolectrix GT1200 (40 amp) and a GT500 (20 amp) with two parallel boards that I power with two converted Dell 750 watt/12 volt/62 amp server power supplies. I use a Hitec lipo checker. I like it because it shows me the voltages of all 6 cells simultaneously. I don't have to push a button to cycle through all the individual cell voltages and then remember what each one was. I make sure that all of the cells of the packs I'm going to connect in parallel are within 0.1 volt of each other. I feel like that is close enough that there won't be too much current flowing from one pack to another when I first hook them up. With 6 cells, the largest difference I could have is 0.6 volts and there's probably enough cell and wiring resistance that the initial current is less than 5 amps. One thing I'm doing that might be an issue is parallel charging two 5000mAH-6S packs with two 3300mAH-6S packs. When I hook my batteries up, I add up their rounded off 1C values. I'll count to myself, 5+5+3+3=16, and then add 50% to get the 1.5C rate of 24 amps. Now, if you divide 24 by 4, naturally you'll get 6 amps per pack. But, is that what the packs actually see? If they do, then I'm charging my 5000's at 1.2C (6/5=1.2) and the 3300's at 1.82C (6/3.3=1.818). So far, I've had no problems. The 3300's actually last longer than the 5000's, but it's because of the EDF's I fly them in..

[@dagtheaviator]

Great info. Thanks. I have never heard of anyone parallel charging packs that were not the same mAh. It's something I may run a few tests on.

[@txkflier]

@@dagtheaviator I just ran some tests with a clamp-on ammeter I bought a week ago and found that the 24 amps I have been pushing into two 3300mAH-6S and two 5000mAH-6S batteries is divided pretty equally between the four packs. Each one was getting very close to 6 amps. So, it looks like my calculations were correct. If you’re going to push more than 1C into your packs, they should really be identical and rated for it..

[@dagtheaviator]

@@txkflier great info!! Thanks!!

[@Erethros]

Hello @dagtheaviator, I'd like to ask you about this exact question... I'm thinking about moding a wireless keyboard to add more battery capacity to it and I was thinking to change the stock 1550 mah 1s battery with 4 1400 1s batteries.... Would it be too dangerous and should I go instead for a big battery and cut some plastic of the case instead? Or if I make sure they are balanced before putting them into the keyboard I should be fine if I let them charge using the own keyboard charging port? These are the batteries I've bought to this pourpose and they are suposed to came with individual protection and I would be charging the keyboard bit the computer so I'm not increasing the charging voltage nor the charging current (yes, I know it will take way longer to charge up too) but I'm still unsure if that would be risky enough or given the low charging rate it could be damaging for the batteries instead.

[@dagtheaviator]

Gosh, I don't know. For me, I balance charge everything. If four batteries are charged separately and have the same mah, voltage, and IR, to me would be fine. But when you make a pack, you need a way to balance charge, even at a low rate. I am not sure what you mean by a bigger battery? A store bought battery with higher mah? In my experience if you don't change the voltage, and only the mah, the charger will work. I hope what I am writing makes some sense? Maybe e-mail me- [e-mail] :)

[@johncampagna645]

I'm running 2 2200 venom fly lipos in paraell.do i have more flight time than running just 1 4400 Lipo because I have more cells using the 2 batts in paraell?

[@donlawrence1428]

Hi my charger/balancer worked well for 5 years, now it no longer balances. The manufacturer says it cannot be fixed. I do not have a job, so I can't buy another right now. So I am charging each cell individually (3S 1000mAh). It takes a long time, but it works, I think. U think it is ok?

[@dagtheaviator]

Some of my pals only balance every 3-5 flights, while other balance every flight. So what you are doing is fine. If you are able, and you may have already done this, check every balance wire on you charger. I friend had one break, and it would not do a balanced charge. If you have a way to check each cells voltage, and they are all close, you should be fine. But always stay near the charger when charging. :)

[@donlawrence1428]

@@dagtheaviator ok, good idea. thanks