I spotted I’ve written a number of guides about LiPo batteries on this weblog, however one way or the other I’ve by no means written a step-by-step tutorial on the right way to truly cost them utilizing a charger. So right here it’s! Not like most batteries we use in on a regular basis electronics, FPV drone batteries are removed from plug-and-play. There are a number of cables it’s worthwhile to join, and utilizing the flawed charger settings might be harmful. That’s why it’s essential to know a couple of fundamental settings and configure your charger appropriately.
What LiPo charger I like to recommend: https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/#Prime-LiPo-Charger-Suggestions
Most fashionable LiPo chargers have comparable interface and settings, so the steps proven right here ought to work with the vast majority of chargers available on the market. Nevertheless, when you’re ever doubtful, all the time test your charger’s guide.
The charger I’m utilizing on this tutorial is the iSDT Q6 Nano, get it right here:
Earlier than Charging
In the event you’re fully new to LiPo batteries for FPV drones, I extremely advocate trying out my LiPo Battery Information first to be taught the fundamentals: https://oscarliang.com/lipo-battery-guide/
Listed below are three issues it’s worthwhile to find out about your battery earlier than plugging it right into a charger:
- Cell rely (S): What number of cells are related in collection inside your battery.
- Capability (mAh): The rated capability of your battery.
- Battery chemistry: Whether or not it’s an ordinary LiPo, LiHV, Li-ion or one other sort of battery.
This data is important and often straightforward to search out, because it’s usually printed on the battery label.
Step 1: Join the Battery to Your Charger
First, verify that your charger is suitable with the battery you’re making an attempt to cost earlier than plugging it in.
Most FPV LiPo batteries have two connectors:
- Most important energy connector: Normally XT30 or XT60, relying on the battery dimension.
- Stability connector: The smaller connector with a number of wires.
Join these to the suitable output ports in your charger. Be sure you take note of the polarity and that all the pieces is related appropriately.
Most chargers have an XT60 output. For smaller batteries with XT30 connectors, you would possibly want an XT30-to-XT60 adapter.
You will get one from Amazon: https://hyperlink.amazon/B0iAtXbRm
Step 2: Choose Charging Mode
Most chargers have a number of working modes. To cost your battery, choose the charging mode.
I like to recommend utilizing Balance Cost mode.
Stability charging permits the charger to watch the person cells and proper small voltage variations between them.
In case your charger presents a mode that means that you can cost a multi-cell LiPo with out connecting the steadiness lead, I’d keep away from utilizing it. With out balancing, some cells may find yourself undercharged whereas others turn into overcharged, which might be harmful.
Most fashionable chargers solely permit steadiness charging, so the menu would possibly merely say “Cost“. Examine your charger guide when you’re not sure.
One other helpful mode it is best to find out about is Storage Mode. This brings your battery to an acceptable voltage for storage, for LiPo that’s usually round 3.80V to three.85V per cell.
Step 3: Choose Battery Sort
3 frequent varieties of batteries we use in FPV are LiPo, LiHV and Li-ion.
Relying on the battery chemistry, the utmost charging voltage and different charging necessities might be totally different. That’s why it’s essential to pick the proper battery sort.
When you have an ordinary LiPo battery, merely choose LiPo. As soon as chosen, the charger ought to mechanically set the utmost voltage to 4.20V per cell.
LiHV batteries (Lithium Excessive Voltage) can usually be charged as much as 4.35V per cell, offered they’re rated for it. Due to this fact, when you choose LiHV mode, the charger will usually set the tip voltage to 4.35V per cell.
NEVER choose LiHV mode for an peculiar 4.2V LiPo battery, as overcharging might be harmful.
And when you’re charging a Li-ion battery, choose Li-ion in your charger.
Step 4: Set Cell Depend
Most fashionable LiPo chargers can mechanically detect the battery’s cell rely once you join the steadiness lead, so that you don’t usually must enter this manually.
Nevertheless, all the time test that the displayed cell rely matches your battery.
For instance, when you’ve related a 6S battery, the charger ought to detect 6 cells and show the voltage of all 6 cells.
In the event you discover that some cells are lacking, don’t begin charging!
There is likely to be an issue with the connector or wires, or maybe there’s a lifeless cell.
Disconnect the battery safely and test the steadiness connector, wires and particular person cell voltages with a multimeter: https://oscarliang.com/multimeter-fpv/
In the event you can’t determine the issue, don’t try and cost the battery till it’s been correctly inspected. Broken batteries might have to be changed.
Step 5: Set the Charging Present
Charging present is measured in amps (A).
For most traditional FPV LiPo batteries, I like to recommend charging at 1C, until the producer specifies in any other case.
What Does 1C Imply?
1C means charging a battery at a present equal to its capability expressed in amp-hours.
To calculate the 1C charging present, merely divide the battery’s capability in mAh by 1,000.
Charging Present at 1C = Battery Capability (mAh) ÷ 1000
Listed below are some examples:
| Battery Capability | 1C Charging Present |
|---|---|
| 300mAh | 0.3A |
| 500mAh | 0.5A |
| 1000mAh | 1.0A |
| 1500mAh | 1.5A |
For my 6S 1100mAh battery:
1100 ÷ 1000 = 1.1A
That’s the charging present I’d usually use.
Set this in your charger.
Charging beneath 1C is completely high-quality, it’ll simply take an extended.
Can You Cost Sooner Than 1C?
You might need heard folks speaking about charging at 2C and even increased.
For our 1100mAh battery:
- 1C = 1.1A
- 2C = 2.2A
- 3C = 3.3A
Some fashionable LiPo batteries are rated to cost quicker than 1C, however that doesn’t imply it is best to mechanically use these increased charges. Sooner charging places extra stress on the battery, generates extra warmth and should shorten its lifespan. Extreme warmth can be harmful. For rookies, 1C is a wise start line.
Step 6: Double Examine Your Charger Settings
Earlier than beginning the cost, I prefer to rapidly undergo all of the settings another time.
For our 6S 1100mAh LiPo instance, the charger ought to be configured as follows:
| Setting | Worth |
|---|---|
| Charging Mode | Stability Cost |
| Battery Sort (Chemistry) | LiPo |
| Finish Voltage (Situation) | 4.20V Per Cell |
| Cell Depend | 6S |
| Cost Present | 1.1A |
As soon as all the pieces seems right, you can begin charging.
Step 7: Await Charging to End
Now the charger will do the remainder.
Because the battery costs, you’ll usually see the voltage of every particular person cell growing. When the cells strategy their goal voltage (4.20V for the standard LiPo), the charger regularly reduces the charging present to finish the charging course of.
At 1C, charging a depleted battery usually takes round an hour, typically a bit of shorter or longer relying on the beginning voltage and the way a lot balancing is required.
NEVER depart a LiPo battery charging unattended.
As soon as charging is full, the charger ought to cease mechanically and notify you, and chances are you’ll disconnect the battery.
That’s it! Your battery is now totally charged and prepared to your subsequent flying session.
Vital LiPo Charging Security Ideas
Earlier than wrapping up, there are a couple of security precautions price mentioning.
LiPo batteries include quite a lot of vitality, and incorrect dealing with may cause them to catch hearth.
Listed below are some habits I’d advocate:
- By no means depart batteries charging unattended. Keep close by and monitor the charging course of.
- Cost on a non-flammable floor. Use an acceptable LiPo security container or charging enclosure, and preserve flammable supplies away.
- By no means cost a broken or swollen battery. If a pack has been punctured, crushed, badly swollen or in any other case broken, retire it safely.
- At all times double-check you may have the proper battery sort. By no means assume!
- Keep away from charging instantly after flying whereas the battery remains to be sizzling. Let it calm down first.
Another factor: when you’re not going to make use of your LiPo batteries for some time, don’t depart them totally charged for days or even weeks. For longer storage (e.g. greater than 2 weeks), I like to recommend utilizing your charger’s storage mode, which usually brings customary LiPo cells to round 3.80V to three.85V per cell. This helps cut back battery degradation and retains your batteries in higher situation.
For extra data, take a look at my guides:
Throughout charging it’s also possible to test the inner resistance of every cell. On this publish I clarify what you should utilize inside resistance for: https://oscarliang.com/when-retire-lipo-battery/#Examine-Inside-Resistance
Remaining Ideas
Charging FPV batteries can appear sophisticated at first, however when you’ve executed it a couple of occasions, it turns into second nature.
Simply keep in mind to double test your battery’s specs, and ensure the charger settings match it, and by no means depart a charging LiPo unattended.
Hopefully, this information has made charging FPV batteries rather less intimidating, particularly when you’re simply getting began with the passion.