Question on charging and using a 2 batt set

[Bovinia]

Thank you all for the great info and advice! Exactly what we were looking for

 

[BuzzKill]

I've used batteries until they wouldn't charge and burnt up 3 sets testing LR attys/cartos on the new controller. I've also had them quit because of an imbalance but never had one explode. What I think is odd is people use LRs that cause a great deal more stress and if one would explode it would be because of too much stress. I think with Mikes PVs there is enough protection that your safe. As MWA pointed out you should use them in pairs. I got a few sets now getting ready for the trash because the charge just don't last very long on them any more.

THat is SMART battery usage 5CS !

 

[BuzzKill]

You should keep your Batts in pairs, label then A-1 ,A-2 if running them in sets,,, a fresh set of AW Batts should come off the charger anywhere from 4.1-4.2 say and if there .1-.2 different that wont hurt anything,,, and they should always charge to 4V+ if not chuck em there bad, hope that answers the question. What we really need is the newer tester that is out now which test the internal resistance of the Batts. There is also a way to check this but I'm not getting into that here, but this is what people need to be more careful about in my opinion is when that internal resistance of the Batts start to rise and thats the time to also ditch them.


http://www.ecutool.com/VOLTMETER-OF-INTERNAL-BATTERY-RESISTANCE-SM8124_3410.html

I'm curious about this meter, says it will do internal Batt resistance, anyone know anything about this meter ?

Edit: just ordered this Meter, will report back once I have it

I may have to borrow that thing LOL , or send you batts to test for us ? the more we know the better off we are .

 

[mwa102464]

As soon as I saw this new meter type I had to order it immediately,,, heck it will take all the guessing out of monitoring Batts. This is no joke and nothing to mess with in my opinion,,,, I dont agree necessarily with 5C on using them to that point where there dead or ready to have something happen possibly, why even risk that, just because one didnt blow or vent gas doesn't mean one never will, heck in almost 3yrs I have never vented a Batt either, and it also doesn't just take an LR to stress a Batt to much, trying to draw to much from a Batt at say 5-6v when the Batt cant deliver this power is stressing it just as bad or bad enough, no pun 5C but a meter like this just takes all the guessing out of the game.

 

[5cardstud]

Well if you feel the need to know then by all means get one. I don't use lr's and don't over stress my batteries unless it is on purpose for testing so it would be an added expense I don't need. You get out of a battery what you put into it. If your going to keep over stressing them I would suggest going to a battery that is made for that purpose. My batteries die of old age not over stressing unless, like I said, it is for testing.

 

[oplholik]

Thanks for the discussion folks, I feel better now. Not that I was too worried about something happening when using one of Buzz's pv's, just was wanting to know a little more as I've never seen anything on it before.

 

[Schoolbob]

I have never been scared of batteries before.....until now. I suppose I don't have a lot of experience with Lithium ion cells. I purchased the powerizer batts from Notcigs for now, but maybe I will phase in the "safer chemistry" batts before long.

My wife has a shhh...GLV2-Mini and she uses protected 16340 batts. Due to the lack of built-in protections on the GLV, I think I will definitely see if she wants to move to the IMRs sooner rather than later.

 

[markfm]

Myself, I'm lazy, not going to check batteries every time (honesty ). When I do check I hope to see batteries within about 0.05V or so after charge.

I don't pull batts immediately after lights go green, I have no problem giving them a half hour or so past initial "full", the charger sense circuits have a little manufacturing variability like everything else in the world. My timer cuts off at 3 hours.

Be good about contact cleaning -- periodically use an eraser on the battery and charger contacts, they build up oil/dirt from handling.

I don't mind running a battery down to about 2.75V resting state. As far as I have seen and heard, actual battery-level protection circuits can run to that point. The "3V minimum" that I've heard some use is apparently adding extra padding, not a bad thing but not something I worry about. For example, when you pull the Powerizer 16340 spec the discharge cycles are all based on discharge to 2.75V.

 

[oplholik]

I rarely check batts out of the pv, but I change my 14500's out twice a day, the others every morning, and they have never been below 3.75 or so. I do check after charging, after a little rest time, before putting back for use however.

 

[5cardstud]

This site has a wealth of information on batteries. http://batteryuniversity.com

 

[BuzzKill]

This site has a wealth of information on batteries. Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University

That site is run By CADEX they are one of the largest battery tester MFG in the world, if anybody knows THEY DO !