Lipo charger and losi battery question

[McKie]

I find that The specs for the 14.8V 5000mAh 4S 25C LiPo on horizons and Losi's Web site is misleading
It says that the Losi LiPo Balance Charger (LOSB9605) is only recommended for charging the 14.8V 5000mAh 4S 25C. but when reading the instructions for the battery it states " Only Charge this LOSB9864 battery with the Losi Charger, part number LOSB9605 charger.

Thinking that all was needed was a charger capable of balancing I bought this battery. Thinking I could use my Venom Pro Charger only to find out that the balance plug on the battery does not fit on my venom charger.

question, is there an adapter I can buy to fit this to my Venom charger. and then it comes to the question about what the instructions say about only charging this battery with Losi's charger LOSB9605.

[mr chop]

well you take this and plug it into your charger then the batt into this and it ballances i am pretty sure this one will work
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/145582/n/ProTek-R-C-Multi-Adapter-Balance-Board-w-Cable-2S-6S-Thunder-Power-Flight-Power-Losi

[McKie]

I did see that . but wasn't sure about it when I seen on the description "Works with ProTek R/C chargers only"

[mr chop]

I did see that . but wasn't sure about it when I seen on the description "Works with ProTek R/C chargers only"
i am pretty sure that they both have the same bored in them there got be a way to ballance it thought

[MikeFriery]

im pretty sure your battery will work with the venom charger. I charge losi lipo's on a thunder power charger that does not have a battery port designed specifically for the losi plug. I just simply plug the battery into the appropriate port but plug it in all the way to the left of that port. There are open pins not connected to the plug. The battery balances fine this way, and it will not damage the battery. If you plug it in wrong.. the balancer will simply not work.


It's kind of hard to explain in text, i will try to post a picture for you when i have time

[McKie]

It physically will not fit no matter what I do. the pins on the balance block are spaced apart different than the battery connection. here is a picture of both. The lower picture is of the the actual balance block that came with my charger. If you look at the picture, the balance block that came with my venom pro charger looks nothing like the one listed at horizon.Venom Pro Charger Balance Block: TP/FP (http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=VNR0661) the one listed on horizon is for TP batteries which should work with the losi.

http://mckie_titus.home.comcast.net/~mckie_titus/pictures_1.htm

[McKie]

So I ordered the Venom pro charger balance block for TP/FP. That should work. Just wish it was the one I got with my charger in the first place.

This is quoted from the battery instructions that were provided with the Losi battery. which I think should be changed.

" Only Charge this LOSB9864 battery with the Losi Charger, part number LOSB9605 charger."

It's not so much that it was misleading and I will retract that statement, but it lacks further information for people unfamiliar with lipo battery connections. in that there is several different connections and that it might not work with other balance chargers without the right adapters.

It just says This LiPo Battery MUST be charged with a LiPo Balance Charger

[Xcelorin_Brian]

McKie - Thank you for your comments. We will try to make this clearer in future manuals.

[McKie]

It's all good. I was into nitro about 4 years ago. decided to get back into nitro just recently. and was surprised by how much battery technology has come. So much, I bought me an 8th scale electric. but my Knowledge is limited on the new Lipo batteries. I did also buy the Losi charger. always nice to have a couple chargers anyhow. One to take to the track and one to keep at home. looking forward to running this 8ight E :D thanks for all the replies

[McKie]

Looks like it will be another week before I get the LOSI charger now. Said it was in stock when I purchased it online. now I get an email saying the back ordered item is now available and will ship with my confirmation. :eek:

[McKie]

First, I received my LOSB9606 charger. for one I didn't realize it did not come with a power supply. I assume that the power supply from my venom pro charger will work it's rated for 15v- 5 amps. the losi chargers voltage range is 11.0-18.0 v/5 amps.

Second. could someone please. explain how to plug in the balance lead from the battery into the tp/fp adapter. for one, it has one extra pin. Ok I tried to put it in to the left side but it still will not seat all the way. the connector out of the battery has two guides on each side and a clip that snaps it in place. the two guides prevent me from pushing it all the way down. and it just falls out. do i need to cut the guides off. I'm on the verge of tossing this battery out.

http://mckie_titus.home.comcast.net/~mckie_titus/pictures_1.htm

[Justme]

It looks like you don't have a Losi Lipo. You will need to get the correct balance board to match your plug. You can get one from your local hobby shop, something they should have told you about if you bought from them. Then it will be a plug and play situation.

[McKie]

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/mckie_titus/DSC00247.jpg

[Justme]

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/mckie_titus/DSC00247.jpg

LOL! My bad, I didn't read through the whole thread before I replied. The Losi charger SHOULD include the correct balance board for the Losi battery with it in the first place. You stated you had bought another board for the Venom charger, will that one work with the Losi charger? This is the main reason I suggest people deal with their LHS as if you have problems, a real person is easier to deal with then over the phone.

Stick with it though, electric is much nicer then gas, plus my wife doesn't mind me working on the car in the apartment due to the lack of smell.

[McKie]

I do have another balance board coming for the venom charger, but it's also for TP/FP. I suspect it will be the same issue.

According to horizon/Losi. That balance board/ block for TP/FP will work. and i have seen somewhere else and as the other person MikeFriery stated above that you might need to put the plug on the left side . I can see that it could work with this losi TP/FP board ,but why in the heck would i need to start cutting the guides on the connector/Plug. to get it to fit into a charger that supposedly is for a losi battery.

[McKie]

I'm tempted to just take it to my LHS and say Here, show me how to plug this in to balance it . And then when he sees that the connector does not just plug in that easy and says that he needs to cut of one of the guides on the connector to get it in .I'll just ask why. Its a losi battery and a losi charger. why do you need to start cutting on it .

[McKie]

at what charge rate should i charge this 4 cell 14.8 lipo battery The specs say to not charge over 5.0A for this battery . but what is a good charge rate. somewhere in the middle of 5.0A?

[Full Montee]

McKie I posted on another thread in this Losi forum to try using LOSB9651. http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=LOSB9651
It required a little trimming on the sides but atleast I didn't mod my battery or charger.

With older LiPo chargers that charge at one rate until the battery is completely charged lower rates will give you greater runtimes. However in my experience with E-Flite/Losi intelligent chargers you can charge at the 1C rate and when the battery nears it's max voltage the charger will lower the rate all the way down to 0.1Amps to finish completely charging the battery. Giving you the best of fast charging and slow charging for your vehicle runtime. At this point many have written that fast charging decreases the lifetime of batteries. For this I could only say find what works for your budget and use. Many slow charge at home and fast charge when at the track.

Hope that helps

[McKie]

It does. Thanks :)

[LosiFan77]

To balance a 2-cell Losi battery with the LOSB9606 Multipro Intelligent Balance Charger, you will use the 3-cell port on the balance board. Plug the 2-cell balance plug lead into this port, making sure the pins on the right side of the connector are used, leaving the 4th pin (farthest left_ is open. Don't worry if you accidentally plug it in wrong - the charger will simply give and incorrect reading - no damage will be done tot he charger or the battery.

Hope this helps everyone - I'll try to psot a pic of the connection soon!
LF77

[Full Montee]

oh darn there it is page six of the manual has the picture :o. Thanks LosiFan77 :)
If anyone really is in a jam the way I explained earlier works if you don't have the TP/FP Adaptor that comes with the LOSB9606.