Charging multiple 2 cell LiPo packs

Has anyone tried to charge 2 or more lipo packs on a single balance charger, at the same time?


I suppose it would take a y harness for the main power leads and a y harness for the balance leads.
I have a passport ultra capable of up to 6cell lipo.


just wondering?

I agree with GC that this is a super great charger.  Certainly the best I've ever had.  The only thing I would add is that the price in that Tower link is not so super great.  That exact same charger is private labeled by quite a few companies now.  You can get it under a different label at Hobby King or better yet here in the US at HobbyPartz.  The price there is just $88 with free shipping!  That will save you more than $40 compared to the Tower price.  This is a super nice charger and I recommend it to everyone.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/75p-t6-multi-charger.html


...Tiger

You fellas are a little quick on the gun there of do not do it, If you use a Y harness on BOTH the balance tab and the input leads it can be done fine.  Just as an FYI  when a pack use to say 2S 4P the P in there meant the number of total cells, 4P means 4 cells which in 2S means 2 cells are in parallel and then the two sets of two cells are put in series together to make the 2S output.  Do your homework fellas before you start crying wolf.  I have built multiple packs that are merely two packs strung together, I recently just built a 4P 2S lipo for my micro crawler and basically used the same theory that smitty was asking to perform this task as I have done many times as do many battery manufactures.

Yes agreed +1 w/ the Y-Harness

[hr]

FYI

• Parallel LiPo Charging – The Faster & Safer Way To Charge

          [youtube]NczQwVTI2bY[/youtube]


The following URL from RcGroups is a bit OLD now but is comprehensive. Also for added entertainment value there's even some DRAMA which is pretty FUNNY reading. I call it: How NOT to make a POINT {LMAO}

QUOTE: Please note: A troll named "cstratton" frequently claims in this thread, that parallel charging is dangerous. Although he has no data to back up his claims, he does neither accept the data collected by users, which suggest parallel charging is perfectly safe, nor numerous experiences by credible users, which suggest the same. It is up to the reader to decide whom to believe.

• About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs

Searching

• Google

[shadow=Orange,left]w00d[/shadow]

EDIT: Found this for those w/ less DIY in mind

• MPA - Multi-Port Safe Parallel Adapter

Thanks guys,
I appreciate your opinions and experiences.


Here's what I'm considering...



please excuse my drawing skills.


[glow=red,2,300]


[size=2em]OK the above diagram is bogus![/size][/glow]




This is what I'm looking for:
http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/lipo.html

scroll down to "Balance Connector" and select "High Amp 2s+2s generic connector".

Hi Smitty

I assume the following is the set-up your looking for
If so unfortunately I would only know HOW to make it myself, DIY ...  or even MacGyver'ed
As to where to BUY this Balance Y-Harness I would have to search for it?
Off the top of my head I have NO CLUE as to where to buy as I never had the need to look, sorry bud

Maybe someone else knows better ??

   

Good LINKAGE by the way, going to bookmark for my own reference
    [shadow=Orange,left]w00d[/shadow]

I have found a Y harness for 2 x 3S from a 6S but so far not what I'm looking for.
But with this diagram, I can build my own.
Thanx for posting that diagram.

Any time

If you want to make your own PICs like the one above. This a works on just about ANY web page! This also works well if a Page has turned OFF or don't allow the "Save Image" function ...

Hit/Press your "Print Screen" key ... Then OPEN your favorite Photo Editor and "Paste as New Image" or press "Shift" then "Insert" keys which WILL paste into your Photo Editor a copy of your entire screen. Then we "crop" to the image needed ... Now w/ the "cropped" image we "Save As" to a .JPG or .PNG file ... Hope this helps ... FYI:

thanks, that seems simple enough.
"even a caveman can do it"

LMAO, proven by the fact that I even know how

Hey, Grants Pass' mascot is a Caveman.

I am thinking about buying this charger, some of the reviews say it only comes with 2 charging leads? I want to charge 4 batteries at once, where do I get the other leads?

I imagine HobbyPartz has the leads somewhere on the site.  I know for sure you can buy all kinds of different ones from HobbyKING.  They even have this octopus lead set that charges everything on planet earth:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18738__MEGA-19_Multi_Charge_Plug_Adapter_Set.html

If you are still wanting to charge two batteries in series, you'll have to make up your own cables.  The charger output is just to banana jacks so I made all my own cables.  The only thing I bought was the balancing boards and I got those from HobbyKing.  Hobby parts sells that charger under two or three different names so you might find a better accessory selection under one of those listings.  Tower Hobbies is another option to find the accessories.  I know they carry it branded as Hitec, ThunderPower, and at least one or two other names.  There is also a good chance Al's in Medford has them.  Oh... And Chief!  HobbyPartz shows two balancing boards with the charger.  Don't know if they are the same or different.  There definitely are two different kinds available.

Indoor flying tomorrow night!

...Tiger

Ah thanks, after some battery research it looks like everyone these days have gone to 2c charge rates. HK says 2c is ok on Turnigy batteries. I just want to keep it simple so a single charger that will charge 4 batteries at once at a 2c rate would be a dream machine to me. It takes me 6 hours to charge all my 5 batteries now.

I figure it takes 10+ minutes to conduct a 6-7 minute camera flight (battery install, pre-flight checks, flight planning, drink some water, etc.). If 2c will charge a battery in 30-40 minutes then having eight batteries to start with will give you non stop flying all day long even with a cool down period before putting batteries on charge first.