Charging LiFePO4 Ham Radio Batteries

[@chrisfell2621]

There has been a surprisingly little amount of content related to charging LiFe batteries so I'm glad you made this video.

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

I'm glad it worked for you. I hope you are able to enjoy many adventures with your battery. 73.

[@Drew_Pearson]

Man this was super helpful! I just got a LiFePO4 battery to try out portable operations with and was mulling forever over a charger. I finally picked one (that I don't particularly like) on Amazon for about $25 and tried it out. Then I see this video and realize I have an old Turnigy charger I have been using for 10+ years for RC stuff that can work! I had no idea this menu option was available. Thanks so much for the info!

[@HomesteadOnThePreserve]

Dude you rock! I've been an RC helicopter LiPo guy for the last 15 years. I just bought a 12v LiFePO4 (12amp hr) battery for my micro GMRS radio. I wasn't sure if my Turnigy -6 ( IMax B-6 / Accucel-6 ) could charge it and if so do I use LiFe or LiPo since the LiFePo is a combo of each. Was hoping I didn't have to go buy another charger because I love my Turnigy. Searching, searching, searching and I FINALLY found your video! LiFe it is, thanks again!

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

Glad that it helped! I've got a few quadcopters that are itching to get some air time, so I appreciate the hobby. Happy flying!

[@gordonb2011]

Thanks for the video. I'm considering charging some lifepo4 cells with my charger. You can also use the same charger to charge your lead acid battery. Do a pb batt charge, 5A 12V 6S charge and you'll be able to charge your lead acid battery faster than using your other charger.

[@nozefian]

Thanks for this video. Can I ask, will the charger auto cut off or do you need to stop charging manually?

[@CR125Elsinore]

This may be a case when the "non-official" imax b6 works better than the sanctioned by SKYRC. (Originally makers the B6). I have a SKYRC IMAX B6AC v2. They're user programming is different and I've been unable find a way to program it to charge a LiFe motorcycle battery (specifically a WEZE TX30L). I bought from SKYRC for their support. Will send a msg to them to see if they have a work-around. Thanks for posting & let me know if you might know how to program mine. TKS

[@akinmolayanpeter6770]

Thank you for the video Please I have 4s 1p lifepo4 setup and I want to know what is the best current to charge , discharge and balancing

[@qnedim3200]

To use this device as a balancer on LiFEPO4, wouldn't multiple wires need to be connected to each battery? Since you only need 2 wires (since you're not using the balance feature), I'd rather use a simple DC_DC converter with current and voltage adjustment than spend that much money on it.

[@tomjeff9007]

Thanks for the video, I have a very similar ht-rc B6 v2 charger, which charges Lilon/LiPo/LiFe/LiHV cells, however, I bought a 12v LifePO4 battery recently which has BMS included as you know. Do you think I can use this charge to charge that battery? tnx

[@mhpreach]

I have 2 lifePO4 12v 8Ah I bought the first of this month. I bought a charge you have to set type of battery number of cells, voltage, etc. I tried to see the charger work. When I hook either battery up and try to start the charge I get a cell warning on both and no charge. My other charger, one like yours, plus it never gets me to user programming, gives me a cell balance problem. What do you think? I just got one of the Miady 20ah batteries today. The charger is at my office so haven’t had a chance to try it with either charger.

[@donaldsmith3048]

There is a lot to learn about them. I found that videos by Will Prowse has a lot of information about the batterys. From charging, to putting cells together to make your own batterys. He tells about the BMS = Battery Management System! I think it is worth watching some of his videos.

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

Thanks for referring to Will Prowse. I'm going to start watching his videos and learning more! And you are very right, there is a lot to learn about batteries and the BMS. I love the level of complexity that is possible with something that we so easily take for granted.

[@2E0ILFhamradio]

Did u do the upgrade on that charger it does not work out of the box

[@Gunchulis]

What if the battery is rated as 3.2v nominal? And peak voltage should be 3.65?

[@chrispowbilledo9993]

I'm wondering this too

[@michaelkaine345]

Would this charge a 36v lifepo4 20ah miady battery bank

[@tomco43]

Hi, tje problem is that the lifepo4 batteries have a nominal voltage of 3.2V. Is it normal that the charger give a 3.3V in nominal voltage? Moroever, i have 16cells at 200Ah. Is it good if i charge the 16 cells one by one and then connect them in series? Sorry for my bad english i am french.

[@hommerdalor6301]

Oui ;-)

[@Adywerty88]

Ilike your channel is very good

[@2cyclebikeraricstreet195]

So if it too cold i have to wait to warm up...then i can charge the battery? But to what temp? Its a ~12v 100ah or I might get 200ah. For diesel heater and/ or electric blanket, 2way mobile radio, etc On ebay. I think have circuit boards for over heat protection and other...but they lie about low temp protection. IMAX b6 will charge?

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

I was hoping that someone might chime in here and give some expert feedback. What I've read is that most (not all) LiFePO4 batteries can not be charged below freezing temperatures. Doing so can damage the battery. Warming the battery up to above freezing can be done through the use of a battery warmer. Charging a 100ah battery using the iMAX B6 can be done, but I would guess it would take a long, long time.

[@esucll]

LiFePo4 batteries are supposed to be charged at 14-14.6Volts. Arent those volts a bit low provided by your charger (they are almost the same as the batteries rated voltage) ?

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

I’m not positive, but I don’t recall if the documentation actually specified what voltage it was charging at for what value battery was being charged. I would need to hook up a meter to check the actual output voltage. I do know though that it has worked flawlessly so far, at least as much as I can tell. Definitely worth looking into though, so thank you!

[@janred94]

The voltage shown on the iMAX B6 isnt the charging voltage but the nominal voltage of the selected battery you want to charge. It easily charges up to 14.6V where it then is stopped by my small LiFePo's BMS.

[@mhpreach]

I’m missing something. I cant get to User program area. Every time I get wait checking battery the balance control error. Do I hook up the battery via output?

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

It depends on the battery you are using and the options it has on it. If you are using a straight LiFePO4 without any additional plugs or wires other than the positive and negative terminals, then yes, you would be using the red and black banana plug output ports on the charger.

[@mhpreach]

Where is the cable plugged into on the left side?

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

For me the main power AC adapter is plugged into the left side and the red and black banana plugs are on the output on the right side.

[@denmark2798]

my Imax B6 charger worked for about 15 min then gave me a "connection break" error. how do you know when the battery is full?

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

Mine always beeps at me and then has a message that reads something like "Battery Full". I hope you've found success with yours.

[@viv8687]

What setting should I use if I have 27 l i f e p04 cells?

[@viv8687]

www.rcfishing.world/product-page/9-6v-11-7ah-lifepo-battery

[@transmittinguntilrobotsrep1045]

I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer to that...I'm guessing that is a 100AH battery and I don't have any experience with those - far more than I've ever needed. Hopefully someone will chime in here.

[@francos2696]

I have a Shorai battery which is a lithium-iron phosphate type battery with a Max voltage of 14.4v. What setting and voltage should I have my charger set at? For example, is it the LiFe setting and set at 3.6v because it is a 4 cell battery?

[@ghaithassaf430]

Connection break

[@Adywerty88]

Your charger it is not original is a copy

[@Joedirt5]

I have a 280 amp 3.2v battery so what do I do? Does this equipment charge it up I don't want to go over the 3.2v Plz help

[@Diki58]

Hello, ⚠️! The information mentioned in this video corresponds to a standard battery charging operation made of lithium Iron Phosphate. The optimal charge of a portable lithium Iron Phosphate LifePO4 battery is much more "complex" and requires a "BMS" device integrated inside the lithium Iron Phosphate LifePO4 battery. Using this internal "BMS" device installed by the manufacturer, you can for example charge a 100Ah/140Ah/200Ah battery etc. using a 40A/50A STABILIZED SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY (stabilized power supply used in radiocommunication, totally different from a stabilized linear laboratory power supply!). I myself charged my 140Ah (39% capacité remainig)) lithium Iron Phosphate LifePO4 battery with a 40A DIAMOND ANTENA stabilized switching power supply (14,6v) My Lithium Iron Phosphate LifePO4 battery was fully charged after about 2 hours. During the charging cycles, the Lithium Iron Phosphate LifePO4 battery repeatedly drew 40A. During the charging process, the "BMS" device regulated the amperage levels that fluctuated between 10A and 40A. Please note that the first charging cycle lasted about 5 minutes with a constant absorption rate of 40A! (VERY IMPORTANT!!) WHEN THEY ARE MANUFACTURED, LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE LIFEPO4 BATTERIES 100Ah and above ARE CHARGED AT AMPERATURE LEVELS AROUND 90A! Conclusion: to obtain an optimal charge and discharge of a lithium Iron Phosphate LifePO4 battery, A HIGH AND CONSTANT AMPERAGE LEVEL IS REQUIRED SO THAT THE "BMS" DEVICE CAN CARRY OUT THE MOST EFFICIENT AND OPTIMAL CHARGE OF THE ELEMENTS (BALANCING/CYCLING/ABSORPTION...) Sincerely