Balance Charge or Fast Charge For your RC Batteries

by Ruby Wang manger

Most RC lipo batteries are made in series or parallel in order to achieve higher voltage or capacity to meet the demands of RC hobbyist. But The problems can be compounded if parallel packs of cells are required to achieve the desired capacity or power levels. But what benefits will bring us when we keep and balance our lipo batteries? What happens if our battery cells are not balanced? There are many questions aroused for the battery balancing. Today, this article will emphasize the benefits of battery balancing and the outcome of not being balanced caused by the fast charge.

Balance charge

Now, let’s see the definition of the battery balancing. Battery balancing refers to technique that maximize the capacity of a battery pack with multiple cells in series to make all of its energy available for use and increase the battery's longevity. But how can a battery cell be balanced? Because there is a balancer inside the battery pack. A battery balancer is a device in a battery pack that performs battery balancing. Balancers are often found in lithium-ion battery packs for cell phones and laptop computers. They can also be found in battery electric vehicle battery packs, just like for RC cars, drones, or FPV batteries.

Fast charge

What about the fast charge? This mode tells the charger to only complete the first phase, constant current charging. The charger applies a high enough voltage to cause current to flow into the pack, up to the max current you've set. This gets the pack mostly charged, (70-80%) but the battery can still take more. Note, this fast charge mode has nothing to do with the charge rate, as that parameter can be set for any mode, and should be set based on your lipo, or at 1C if not specified. Fast charge merely tells the charger not to go on to the slower charge phase.

Benefits of balance charge & Fast charge

The individual cell capacity is not made totally the same. A well balanced cell will keep your battery a longer lifespan, a more steady power and even reduce the risks of danger.

It is very obvious that a fast charge for your battery will greatly reduce the time needed for a full charge.

Outcome of not being balanced caused by fast charge

If you set your charger in fast mode to fast charge your rc lipo battery, it will not balance each cells in your battery packs. No all batteries are created equal. If one of the cells is charged to its max voltage,the charger other cells might not be fully charged. After several times of cycle charging, the differences of each cells may get bigger. When charging or discharging, the “problem”battery cells may be over-charged or over-discharged at each cycle of charging due to the differences. This may lead to a shorten lifespan of the lipo, it may also decrease the capacity of your lipo , or even increase the risks of danger. A bad quality lipo will even aggravate this risk for the cells for the battery pack are not well matched. So a good quality battery is strongly recommended,because the internal resistance, voltage or capacity are well-balanced that would provide a better performance and reduce the risks of danger when you are playing with your RC vehicles. This is also quite important when you’re choosing the battery for your RC vehicles.That’s why I always choose the battery brand seriously for my RC truck and octocopter. Gensace, Tattu or Team Orion battery would be quite good choices.

Balance charge your battery may take longer time to get it fully charged, but it is good for your battery. It won’t make great harm to your battery if rarely fast charge your battery when you are in great need.So a balance charge is essential to well-protect your battery.