5
LiFePO4 (a123) CHG CURRENT (A) setting:
The EOS 0615iDUO3 does NOT limit max charge rate for LiFePO4 based on
capacity. It is our position that ~4C rate is the target MAX for Hyperion or A123 LiFe, as of this writing. Consult battery maker
documentation for other LiFePO4 types.
NiCd and NiMH:
Set BATT TYPE from MEMORY MODE screen as we did before in the LiPo example. Consult the battery
manufacturer’s documentation to determine the proper settings for VOLTAGE, CAPACITY, and CHG CURRENT.
In addition to the charge settings we have already seen in LiPo Mode, three additional settings exist for NiCd and NiMH battery
types. These are essentially “expert” settings, and should be left at defaults unless you know why you want to change them:
PEAK SENS
(peak sensitivity – delta V) – default for NiCd is 7mV/C and NiMH is 5mV/C
TRICKLE
– sets a low current at which the charger will continue to charge the pack AFTER normal charge is ended
PEAK DELAY
– Short interval after peak is detected during which the charger will continue to charge before terminating
STARTING CHARGE / SELECTING CHARGE TYPE:
After setting
MEMORY MODE
charge parameters, holding down
ENTER
takes you to a Sub-Menu with three options for NiCd/NiMH charge type. Press
ENTER
once to start the current setting flashing,
and use
DOWN
key to scroll through the three choices. Hold down the
START
button after your selection to start charging.
AUTOMATIC
– Essentially ignores your setting for CURRENT, but charges at rate determined by the internal resistance of the
battery pack. Especially useful when you don’t know what settings you should make due to lack of documentation.
LINEAR
– Charges at whatever rate you have selected from start to finish (if the charger detects no problem with settings).
NORMAL
– Charges according to your RATE setting but uses an intelligent algorithm to alter current as needed during charge.
Lead Acid Batteries:
Set Pb for BATT TYPE, correct voltage at the BATT VOLTS screen and the Ah at the BATT CAPACITY
screen, and amperage at the CHG CURRENT screen. Consult the battery manufacturer’s documentation to determine these
settings.
TCS Feature
(Terminal Capacity Selection % for Lithium battery types)
TCS has two settings: TCS CAPACITY %, and TCS END ACTION.
*
The TCS CAPACITY Setting is selected from the MEMORY screen by pressing
UP
button four times (or DOWN seven times).
TCS Capacity can be set from 50% to 100% in 5% increments (default is 100%, a full charge). The charger uses your setting
for Battery Capacity in addition to sophisticated measurements and calculations to make a close estimate for the currently
charged capacity in the pack during charging.
* TCS END ACTION can be set to CONTINUE (default) and STOP. If CONTINUE, when TCS% is reached for settings 50% to
95%, the charger will “beep” 10 times, but continue charging to 100% until stopped. If TCS ACTION is set to STOP, the charger
will stop charging at that TCS setting and - if balancing is complete – then give COMPLETE (END) Buzzer according to your
buzzer settings.
(or continue till balanced, then give End buzzer)
There are three good reasons why you might want to charge a Lithium Battery to something less than full capacity:
* The first is for long-term storage. Lithium batteries are best stored after charging to 55%~65% of nominal capacity. However,
rather than using TCS for this goal, it is easier and better to always use the STORE MODE function. STORE MODE automatically
charges or discharges as needed to reach 60% TCS, then stops.
* The second aim is to get more flight time in during a typical day at the field, by stopping the charge when the battery is 90%
to 95% full, for example. Due to the CC/CV method by which LiPo are charged, charging the last few mAh back into the pack
takes a LOT more time than the first few mAh did… So if you want to get in the air ASAP, and don’t mind a shorter flight then set
TCS at 90%~95% could save you a good bit of charge time. In this case we suggest END ACTION setting of CONTINUE, that
way the charger will sound 10 beeps when TCS is reached, so you can stop charging and fly. If you don’t catch the warning, the
charger will continue to charge to full capacity, as a safety measure in case you have forgotten that TCS is set below 100%.
* The third possibility is that evidence suggests that charging to 90%~95% can increase battery cycle life, compared to 100%
charges. So in this case set TCS ACTION to STOP.
Lithium Care
To maximize your investment in Lithium Battery packs, do the following:
* ALWAYS Store your packs at ~60% capacity. After a day of flying, use STORE Mode to achieve this. It is especially harmful
to store lithium packs fully charged, and should be avoided for more that a day or two at most.
* AVOID discharging cells beyond 90% of capacity (80% is even better). NEVER fully discharge lithium packs.
* STORE your packs in a cool, relatively dry location.
Charging Lithium Polymer in Excess of 1C Rate
(3.7v Nominal LiPo types)
LIPO MAX C –
Under USER SETUP menu you will find a setting to allow setting of Maximum “C” charge rate for Lithium
Polymer (3.7v/cell type) batteries, with options of 1C to 5C (2C is Default). Note that MAX C
attainable
will depend on the
Amps Max and Watt Max rating of your charger, and pack capacity.
NOTE:
It is entirely YOUR responsibility to determine the SAFE Max C for your LiPo pack.
HYPERION original LCL, LCX, LVX, LVZ
types
2C
max charge rate.
HYPERION GENERATION 3 25C/35C
packs,
5C
max charge rate
HYPERION GENERATION3 5C Tx/Rx
packs,
4C
max charge rate (20C Rx packs, 5C max charge)
HYPERION SWIFT G3 CAR PACKS -
5C
max charge rate
(ALL Swift Car packs ever produced support 5C rate, regardless of 2C charge cautions appearing on first-production packaging)
If using other than Hyperion lithium packs, consult your battery’s documentation for allowed C rates, before exceeding 1C charge
rate.
If you don’t know the allowed max CHARGE rate for your pack, never exceed 1C rates.
