C) Charging Batteries With Balancer Connection ("Balance") - VOLTCRAFT B6 Duo Bedienungsanleitung

c) Charging Batteries with Balancer Connection ("BALANCE")

In contrast to the simple charging program "CHARGE", the voltage of each individual cell is
monitored and the charge current is adjusted correspondingly.
Besides the two normal battery connections, the balancer connector for the battery must
also be connected to the charger, see chapter 11. a).
The remaining procedure for charging is described in chapter 11. b).
If a multi-cell battery is connected via the balancer connections, you can switch
between the normal display and the display of the cell voltages during the charge
process by repeatedly pressing the "+" button.
Only an battery pack with exactly the same voltage for each cell provides the
maximum performance and service life for a model airplane/vehicle.
Variations in the quality of the materials used and the internal structure of
multiple-cell LiPo battery packs mean that the cells may have different voltages
once discharged.
If such a LiPo battery is charged without the use of a balancer, large differ-
ences in the cell voltages emerge very rapidly. This not only shortens the
charge life (as one cell may give in under the voltage), but also damages the
battery as a result of a total discharge.
In addition, there is the danger of overcharging when charging such different
cells (with different voltage) without the balancer: The maximum admissible
voltage of a LiPo cell of approx. 4.2 V (+/- 1%) is exceeded (LiIon and LiFe
data, see chapter 7).
Example:A dual-cell LiPo battery pack charged without the use of a balancer
appears to have a voltage of 8.4 V and thus appears to be fully charged.
However, the two cells have a respective voltage of 4.5 V and 3.9 V (one cell is
dangerously overloaded, the other is half-empty).
A cell overloaded in this way may leak or, in a worst case scenario, catch
fire or explode!
If your LiPo battery pack has a balancer connection, the charging program
"BALANCE" should always be used.
If your "LiFe" or "LiIon" pack also has a balancer connection, the above infor-
mation applies analogously, only the voltage values differ, see chapter 7.
77