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Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: quizz_kid on August 18, 2013, 01:25:50 pm

Title: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: quizz_kid on August 18, 2013, 01:25:50 pm
Hi. Dont know if this is the right place but...

I going to have 4x3.7V(=14.8V) li-ion batteries connected in serial and built inside a box, and I want to be able to recharge these.

Would something like this (http://"http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intelligent-Smart-Charger-DC16-8V-1-5A-for-14-8V-Li-ion-LiPo-Battery-pack-EU-/320987143180?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item4abc531c0c") work?

The cells are 4900 mAh each
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: mann0mann on August 18, 2013, 02:05:15 pm
Even though it's my first post, I own a Hobby Store....spec wise that should do the trick for you.

With 4900 mah capacity cells, this charger puts out 1.5 amps max, so you're talking about 4 hours to fully charge.
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: Drnick on August 18, 2013, 02:11:01 pm
It looks like they do a 2.5 amp version too.  By the way loving the work you are doing.  :notworthy: :notworthy:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intelligent-Smart-Charger-DC16-8V-2-5A-For-4S-14-8V-LiIon-LiPo-Battery-Pack-UK-/221239089427?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item3382e09913 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intelligent-Smart-Charger-DC16-8V-2-5A-For-4S-14-8V-LiIon-LiPo-Battery-Pack-UK-/221239089427?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item3382e09913)
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: quizz_kid on August 18, 2013, 07:03:25 pm
Thanx Mann0mann and Drnick!

This is my first time using li-ions, anything you think I should know besides never discharging them completely? Like overcharge if leaving them charged for two long or something? Do four cells in series differ from complete batterypacks of 14.8V somehow?

Always learning
//Quizz
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: CoryBee on August 18, 2013, 10:56:00 pm
Have you put any though in having a display to keep track of how much charge your batteries have left?

Something like this would look nice,

link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-Digital-Voltmeter-DC-0-30V-Useful-LED-Panel-Meter-Red-EP98-High-Quality-New-/121149852452?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c35180b24)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1pcs-Digital-Voltmeter-DC-0-30V-Useful-LED-Panel-Meter-Red-EP98-High-Quality-New-/00/s/NTg1WDU4NQ==/z/kg4AAOxybqpRiMj9/$T2eC16FHJIYE9qUcNUGWBRiMj8qS+w~~60_3.JPG)

Or in blue

link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-500V-DC-Blue-LCD-Digital-Volt-Panel-Meter-Voltmeter-/180686821298?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a11c617b2)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/0-500V-DC-Blue-LCD-Digital-Volt-Panel-Meter-Voltmeter-/00/$(KGrHqZ,!lgE3HR3cbYrBOBY1vCzDQ~~_3.JPG)

I prefer non-digital ones myself

link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Analog-10-16-volt-Panel-Meter-Gauge-Battery-Charge-Monitor-Solar-4WD-Marine-DIY-/181023159912?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a25d23668&vxp=mtr)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Analog-10-16-volt-Panel-Meter-Gauge-Battery-Charge-Monitor-Solar-4WD-Marine-DIY-/00/s/Mzk0WDM5NA==/$T2eC16NHJGIE9nnWpUhJBP6m662t+Q~~60_3.JPG)
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: quizz_kid on August 19, 2013, 03:34:41 am
Corybee, that gauge verison is very nice. Too big for this build though, won't fit. The digital versions, how do you wire these? Would you need an additional measuring PCB or something?

//Quizz
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: CoryBee on August 19, 2013, 04:05:48 am
Quote from: quizz_kid on August 19, 2013, 03:34:41 am
Corybee, that gauge verison is very nice. Too big for this build though, won't fit. The digital versions, how do you wire these? Would you need an additional measuring PCB or something?
//Quizz

There could be some smaller ones around that would fit, analog just looks plain cool in my opinion.

You just wire them to the terminals at each end of your battery pack. It is basically a multimeter, I have used a bunch before in random projects to keep an eye on battery capacity.

They have ones that have custom inlays that kind of look like a fuel gauge as well.
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: CoryBee on August 19, 2013, 04:13:44 am
Forgot to mention some are three wire and others are two wire. The difference is the three wire ones need its own power source, which you can conveniently get from your measured source (not always though).

EDIT:

2-Wire version

link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Wire-Red-DC-4-5-30V-LED-Panel-Digital-Display-Voltage-Meter-Voltmeter-/310697337584?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48570122f0)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/2-Wire-Red-DC-4-5-30V-LED-Panel-Digital-Display-Voltage-Meter-Voltmeter-/00/s/NjAwWDYwMA==/z/8qgAAOxyKsZRzTGZ/$(KGrHqR,!qQFH!F0vhv9BRzTGZOWg!~~60_12.JPG)

link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-NEW-BLUE-LED-3-DIGIT-2-WIRE-VOLTMETER-3-30V-CAR-RV-BENCH-DC-VOLT-PANEL-METER-/380594605683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589d34ce73)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1-NEW-BLUE-LED-3-DIGIT-2-WIRE-VOLTMETER-3-30V-CAR-RV-BENCH-DC-VOLT-PANEL-METER-/00/s/MTE5N1gxNjAw/z/F~QAAMXQgb1ROTpa/$T2eC16JHJIkE9qU3i)j+BROTp,eCOw~~60_57.JPG)

Just make life easier on yourself, go with the two wire one so there is no need for a reference wire.

Cheers!
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: quizz_kid on August 20, 2013, 06:34:21 pm
Thanx for the tips Corybee, appreciate it!
Title: Re: Charger for 4x3.7V li-ion batteries?
Post by: CoryBee on August 20, 2013, 08:32:12 pm
Quote from: quizz_kid on August 20, 2013, 06:34:21 pm
Thanx for the tips Corybee, appreciate it!

 :afro: