How To Charge Remote Control Car Battery
Charging a battery sounds uncomplicated enough but can be a daunting task for novices. At that place is always some potential danger due to the energy that tin be stored in some of these cells. This article is intended as a primer to charging RC batteries, introducing the hardware you will need, some of the processes involved and some best practices for doing it right whilst fugitive too much technical jargon.
Disclaimer : RC Geeks cannot exist held responsible for any damage to your equipment or person that results from following the actions in this commodity. We strongly advise reading the manual that comes with your charger, checking the concrete condition of your batteries and exercising caution whenever charging cells.
Identifying your battery
If yous are new to battery engineering science and connectors, we advise you read our remote control machine battery introduction article. Without repeating the contents of that article, the most important details to know when it comes to charging is what chemistry your batteries use and what connector they have on them. Whilst many are available we are going to concentrate on the almost common ii types used in remote control cars.
NiMH batteries
NiMH batteries are robust, smashing value and frequently arranged with budget RC cars. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes such simply most usually in the stick pack layouts shown beneath. Nigh come up terminated with a translucent white 'Tamiya' plastic female person connector (far left) but some come with a mini-Tamiya (far right) or even XT60 plugs.
LiPo batteries
LiPo batteries are typically more 'powerful' batteries capable of bursts of high-power. They offer far greater performance than NiMH, but requiring greater intendance in charging, use and storage. They besides come in a diverseness of sizes, some in hard cases but by and large stacks of layers vacuum sealed. They likewise are bachelor in varying plug types such as XT, T/deans, HXT, EC and many others that back up thick gauge wiring.
Which charger should I buy?
Once you lot have discovered what chemistry and connector you are dealing with, which battery charger should you apply/purchase?
The basic option
If you are on a budget, a bones trickle charger is likely the only option. Typically costing less than £20, basic chargers are available for both NiMH and LiPo batteries and will slowly acme the jail cell up (at a maximum of 2amps) safely via the connector (or in the case of LiPo batteries) via the residue plug.
Note that virtually NiMH trickle chargers are terminated with a Tamiya connector (as seen above) and so ensure y'all purchase an adapter if this doesn't match your battery. Most balance plug chargers volition only back up ii-cell or 3-cell batteries (equally seen below), only check the manual to be sure.
These types of chargers are our recommendation to anyone looking for a rubber elementary (if not fast) charger on the cheap. Their connect-and-forget style performance makes for trouble-free charging.
Avant-garde universal charging
Anyone looking to become into the hobby should consider a smart charger. Dual channel models are available, platonic if yous want to get back to driving ASAP or if your model takes 2 batteries at once. Premium models include fans to cool themselves and are compatible with temperature sensors for monitoring cell estrus. Some can exist run from machine batteries or include cigarette lighter adaptors.
Overlander's RC-D100 is a bully instance with both Air conditioning and DC inputs, dual channel charging outputs, temperature sensors and even USB charging output. More recent models also include app integration for monitoring with your mobile phone or the production of QR code stickers to create charging presets for your batteries!
Note when purchasing such a unit that most advanced chargers will non include the leads needed to connect your batteries to the charger.
Advanced charging for Traxxas
However, should you ain any Traxxas iD batteries,you are going to need a Traxxas iD bombardment charger due to the proprietary residuum connections their batteries feature. Whilst more than expensive then universal chargers, these modern units are often intelligent printing-and-forget chargers that require no extra cables.
The EZ-Peak Live Dual iD loftier output charger tin handle both NiMH and LiPo cells, charging upwards to two 4S LiPo batteries in parallel! Its connect-and-forget approach means you will never accidentally try and charge an NiMH battery as a LiPo, it features twin fans, audible alerts and a staggering 200W output. Its max-accuse feature can stuff up to 16 amps into a 2 or three cell battery for the fastest charge times.
With its Bluetooth link, you can use an app on your smartphone to remotely monitor the charging process, with alerts when charging is consummate. It really is an incredibly-powerful, fully-featured, largely idiot-proof fast charger that comes recommended. If this all sounds overkill to you, more basic Traxxas iD compatible 40w chargers start from around £xl.
Purchasing the correct adapter lead
As mentioned, its common for chargers to come up without leads, leaving enthusiasts to purchase the wiring they need to claw up their batteries. For most, this multiple accuse atomic number 82 cable will cover nearly all bases, note that they are designed to be used just one of the plugs at a time, not for parallel charging.
For some battery types you can pick up an adapter that will up/downsize (every bit seen in the commencement photo below) or fifty-fifty switch the gender. Rarer connectors such as XT90, HXT and XT150 are available equally standalone leads with 4mm banana connectors ready for connecting to a charger.
If you lot are particularly handy, the blank connector plugs are available allowing you to solder up your own custom adaptor atomic number 82.
Advanced RC bombardment charging : A step by step guide
For our instance we volition be using an Overlander charger but many of the concepts (such as press-and-hold to brainstorm) have been adopted cross-manufacturer and apply to other four-button battery-chargers. Regardless you lot should always refer to manual before plugging in whatsoever batteries.
1. Inspect your bombardment
Select the right adapter cablevision for your battery, our Absima battery is terminated with a deans/t-plug. For LiPo batteries identify how many cells it has by reading the label and comparing it to the number of wires on the balance plug (in our case three wires = 2 prison cell).
two. Power up your charger
Many advanced chargers lack power switches and will turn on every bit soon equally they receive a power input. The RC-D100 takes a C5 'cloverleaf' style three pin ability plug merely volition also accept a DC input, a three to v prison cell battery with an XT60 connector.
iii. Connect your battery
Plug in your battery using the right lead, ensuring the correct polarity (red positive to red positive etc)plug in the rest lead. Exist particularly careful with bare connectors such as deans. When using a multi-cable with a blank male connector (such as the deans plug), always ensure its protected with a cap or tape to avoid shorting information technology.
Multi-cell LiPo batteries nearly ever include a multi-wire JST-XH connector balance plug. This volition need to be continued to the charger to allow it to monitor the voltage in each cell individually. Most chargers have the port on the side, but the RC-100 we are using features a break-out board seen on the far right of the above photograph.
If yous forget to plug in your balance lead nigh chargers will give you an error when you try to start the charging process every bit seen beneath.
iv. Configure your charging manner
Mod Traxxas iD chargers will often autodetect which bombardment type you lot plug in but characteristic a button to switch mode if needed. Selecting the charge mode betwixt store/fast/balance is also a simple toggle switch.
For the advanced chargers in that location are many more options. Our RC-100 configuration for our Absima battery goes as follows:
- Select channel (Which side the battery is plugged into) in this example A.
- Select programme. We scroll right until it displays LiPo BATT and press enter to confirm.
- Accuse charge per unit : We will exist charging at 3.0A, matching the 3000mAh chapters (1C charging). We use the left and right buttons to pump the number up to 3.0 and press enter.
- Cell count : Our battery is a 2S so we scroll right until the readout says 7.4V (2S).
v. Start charging
In one case configured, printing and hold the enter/start button for 3 seconds. The charger will likely perform a battery check before asking yous to confirm the number of cells the bombardment has. It will display the Registered (or detected) against the Selected (configuration y'all gave it), if they match press Start to begin the charge, or cancel to go dorsum and adjust your settings.
Whilst running the charger will typically show the battery type, live current input, alive voltage input, charge fashion, elapsed time and charged capacity. Pressing left and right will frequently bear witness the current jail cell balance voltages, charged pack percentage and much more.
As the procedure comes to completion its common to encounter the ampage output drop significantly, the charger trickling the final 20% or so. The procedure can exist stopped at any time past the terminate button. When finished many chargers volition beep or flash to confirm that the process is consummate. Power down your charger and and so disconnect your battery.
Should I use charge, fast charge or rest?
Balance charging refers to the process of 'filling up' the battery whilst ensuring the voltage in each of the cells matches. A balanced battery volition offer the best functioning whilst lowering the adventure of a prison cell dropping below operating tolerances. We recommend e'er using residuum mode when charging.
Both charging and fast charging techniques are charger dependant and we recommend you refer to your manual to acquire exactly what they mean. With our RC-D100 example, fast charge aims to accuse the battery quickly but (not e'er) to its total capacity.
What is a rubber charge rate?
Nosotros recommend charging your batteries at 1C. In the instance our case 3000mAh battery that is 3.0A. For the big 5000mAh overlander battery it would exist 5.0A. Expensive modern batteries exercise support higher C charge per unit charging, which volition shorten your charge times simply often with resulting higher temperatures and eventually diminished bombardment life. You may also find that some cheaper chargers are unable to output the ampage requests for 2C+ charging. Say for the 5000mAh battery mentioned the accuse rate would need to be 10.0A!
Where bachelor, follow the manufacturers guidelines for charging. Please practise not mix upwardly the max-burst (or even continuous) discharge charge per unit with a potential charge charge per unit.
When should I use storage charge?
If y'all do not intend to apply your RC car for a calendar week (or longer, with winter approaching) then information technology is essential that you accuse/discharge your batteries to a storage level (3.8v per jail cell). Leaving batteries fully charged tin result in them discharging unevenly (unbalancing) or worse, discharging below their safety range, making them useless.
Most advanced chargers feature a 'storage' mode to condition the battery correctly. In one case at storage level the batteries should be placed in a absurd, dry location, ideally in a LiPo safe bag.
Using LiPo batteries? Buy yourself a cell checker!
For less than £10 on anybody's' favourite auction site, you lot can pickup a jail cell checker like those pictured below. These pocket-sized units connect to (and are powered by) your remainder plug and brandish the status of your battery.
Often with a cycling (or select-able) readout, they typically brandish the remaining bombardment capacity (%), individual jail cell voltages, total voltages, everyman/highest cell voltages (for monitoring the balance) and sometimes much more.
Whilst many avant-garde chargers accept these features built in, its platonic to take 'in the field' where you lot can cheque which batteries you have used (say, if you take several that look the aforementioned) and diagnose running issues. They are a battery-saver if your model does non have a LiPo cutout, as regular checks ensure you don't overly discharge your batteries.
Safety first
Post-obit some contempo incidents with Samsung and Apple tree products, lithium batteries are seen past many every bit 'bombs'. Whilst it is true they have explosive potential when mistreated, following some safety precautions volition minimise run a risk.
Practise not leave a 'fast' charging battery unattended. If y'all accept the option of a thermal probe to feedback data to the charger, employ it. Utilise a LiPo condom, or a LiPo prophylactic bag (equally poctured above) whenever possible. Lastly, always disconnect your batteries when charging is complete.
RC Geeks : RC Enthusiasts
Looking to buy a new charger or battery? Then our webstore is the identify to first! Nosotros have a whole host of batteries suitable for every car nosotros sell, plus adaptors for some of the ones that nosotros don't. If you are looking for a specific connector, battery or lead that you tin can't find on the site, drop us a message and nosotros volition effort to help.
We are currently producing a series of short guide articles aimed at novices to the RC scene, browse our site to learn more. Alternatively, if you accept a topic you'd like us to tackle or explain, or have spotted any errors or emissions leave a suggestion in our comments section beneath.
Source: https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-charge-rc-batteries
0 Response to "How To Charge Remote Control Car Battery"
Post a Comment