RX Pack Charging?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Hudson, NH
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RX Pack Charging?
I run my truck once a week and give the RX pack a 4 hour charge before running the T-Maxx each time.
Do you discharge your RX pack after using it and recharge for 12 hours before running again? If you do discharge, what do you use? I have a 6 volt 1100 ma and my friend has a 4.8 volts 750 ma.
Thanks
Do you discharge your RX pack after using it and recharge for 12 hours before running again? If you do discharge, what do you use? I have a 6 volt 1100 ma and my friend has a 4.8 volts 750 ma.
Thanks
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Ann Arbor,
MI
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: RX Pack Charging?
Wow, 12 hours to charge. At 1 amp my 1400's seem to charge a lot faster than that......
I don't think cyclying has any major disadvantages, besdies the time wasited. NIMH don't have much of a memory, but If you want to get techinal, you probably should.....Drive it more I mean [>:]
I don't think cyclying has any major disadvantages, besdies the time wasited. NIMH don't have much of a memory, but If you want to get techinal, you probably should.....Drive it more I mean [>:]
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: allentown, PA
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: RX Pack Charging?
ORIGINAL: Cloud15x
Wow, 12 hours to charge. At 1 amp my 1400's seem to charge a lot faster than that......
I don't think cyclying has any major disadvantages, besdies the time wasited. NIMH don't have much of a memory, but If you want to get techinal, you probably should.....Drive it more I mean [>:]
Wow, 12 hours to charge. At 1 amp my 1400's seem to charge a lot faster than that......
I don't think cyclying has any major disadvantages, besdies the time wasited. NIMH don't have much of a memory, but If you want to get techinal, you probably should.....Drive it more I mean [>:]
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pinson,
AL
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: RX Pack Charging?
As i understand it, discharging is to equalize the voltage in the individual cells so they will all get an equal amount of charge. Since nicad cells have a memory it is important to cycle them, but as was already mentioned nimh cells have little memory so it would follow that discharging would not be as critical. The new nimh cells were just coming out when i quit racing electric and at that time it was recommended that you not discharge these packs, but from what little I've read on battery tech since then it now seems the fast electric guys are doing some sort of cycling of their nimh packs. All I use for rx packs these days is nimh cells and the packs I use every week don't seem to gain any significant amount of run time from discharging. I have found that if I let one sit for a few weeks between uses they will do better if I discharge them before i charge them up. I use one dual element automotive taillight bulb for a 2 amp discharge and leave it hooked up until only one element is glowing. You should never discharge a battery all the way down as you risk polarity reversal when you recharge it.
Almost forgot, my new rx packs have been so good it's been a while since I've had to buy a new one, but i've learned a little about breaking in a new nimh pack that may be helpful.
The first few times you charge a nimh pack it won't take much of a charge, but the more you use it the more charge it will take up to around the 3rd or 4th time it's hit. I have found that if i deep discharge my rx packs those first couple of times, the packs take a better charge and last longer than simply throwing them on a charger when they get low.
Almost forgot, my new rx packs have been so good it's been a while since I've had to buy a new one, but i've learned a little about breaking in a new nimh pack that may be helpful.
The first few times you charge a nimh pack it won't take much of a charge, but the more you use it the more charge it will take up to around the 3rd or 4th time it's hit. I have found that if i deep discharge my rx packs those first couple of times, the packs take a better charge and last longer than simply throwing them on a charger when they get low.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: , AZ
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: RX Pack Charging?
Thats good solid information on packs that I have found to be true myself, if I may say also it is so important to not over charge your cells and get them hot that only damages them, RED
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pinson,
AL
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: RX Pack Charging?
Good point. I never have to worry about heat using my Pitbull so I'm always forgetting to mention it. Charge rate of .5 A with a dropback of .02 V and my packs will run a couple of race days without any problems.