Battery Charging

[Rick Huggins]

I'm wondering what the optimum charge current would be for a 4500mAh battery pack bearing in mind C1 is 4.5Amps?

I understand that the standard Halcyon NiMh charger charges very conservativley at 10th of C1.

Any idea's out there?

TIA

[Rage]

Originally Posted by Frogman

I'm wondering what the optimum charge current would be for a 4500mAh battery pack bearing in mind C1 is 4.5Amps?

I understand that the standard Halcyon NiMh charger charges very conservativley at 10th of C1.

Any idea's out there?

TIA

Not an electrician but wouldn't 'optimum' charge be variable?

=
Sish

[nickjb]

Depend what the cells are designed for.

Some cells are designed for fast charging (usually around 1 - 2 C, so 4.5 to 9 amps for your cells). But if they aren't designed for fast charging then this will knacker them.

Trickle charging is usually C/20 to C/10. This is safe for any cell.

Posh chargers will fast charge until the cell is full then switch to trickle charge to make sure it is completely full and kepp it that way.

The manufacturer should have a spec sheet for recommended charging rates. It is somtimes written on the side of the cell, too.

Keeping the cells cool will allow you to charge them at a higher rate than they can ordinarily handle. Some RC modellers super fast charge their cells in a plastic bag in a bucket of water!

[Rick Huggins]

Superb chaps.

I done a wee bit of thinking and wreckon the 4500mAh battery requires about 4 hours at 2.25A if anyone is interested.

C1 is 4.5A and 0.45A is C/10.

As Nick said though, I wouldn't bang C1 into the batteries if you want em to last

Cheers for the input guys

ATB