I've been using the same set of LiPos on my bike for a few years. Can't go very far with em. So last November I spent £160 on some more batteries to supplement what I already have. Another 2x 5s batteries and a 3s battery. Was good, increased range, could go on longer rides.
Would check the balance now n again n do a balance charge when they needed it. Don't use the bike that often in the colder months but been using it more recently.
Noticed a few weeks ago that the voltages seem a little off after a ride. So grabbed me balance checker and connected to each battery, to see if they're alright. Fully charged and unused should be 4.2V per cell obviously.
So I'm checking me old ones. all around 4.18v-4.21v. About right, don't wanna over charge LiPos obviously, it's why I keep them in fire retardant bags. So after checking the old ones I check the new ones. And wouldn't ya know, something's not right.
So I'm checking the new ones, should also be about 4.2V for each cell obviously.
4.56V, 4.55V, 4.57V and so on. And I'm like... Oh shit!! That's way over. Turns out all of the new batteries were overcharged, except c2 on one of the 5s packs. That was 0.00V... It's gone completely bad in that short time and is shorted, it's just passing the power through. Result being when they get charged it's bypassing that cell and giving all the others too much. This will have been happening each time I charge my bike. I'm shocked they hadn't burst into flames. They were all swollen and under high pressure. I've since drained them all. But bloody hell. That's what I get for not checking the balance every time.
Even the old set I'm still using are Zippy (Hobbyking). They claim to be 30c constant, so at their rated capacity- 150A. Which I don't believe for a second anyway. But get this, I'm only drawing about 30A peak and after a ride they're pretty damn warm. Dodgy much?
Anyway enjoy some pics of one of the 5s's
Given the pressure I thought it best to cut them out of the blue shrink wrap. Put a little cut in the lip of it and began to gently tear it open, till the pressure started the push the tear along its self and burst out of the shrink wrap. Giving me a mini heart attack in the process.
I've had Turnigy (Also Hobby King made) go puffy as well. And a brand new 5s Zippy pack a few years ago, charged to 4.2v per cell and left on a shelf to be cycled a few times, randomly cook the 3rd cell. Came out to garage next day and it was melted down to desk, middle cell had cooked its self to burnt flakes, melted the shrink wrap and stuck its self down. Having never even being used. They even tried to argue the warranty with me saying I must have damaged it. Having already explained that the only thing I did was top it up to 4.2v p/cell. Ugh..
I'm sick of wasting money on this crap and don't exactly have much to spare. Does anyone know a UK based, or at least Europe based seller that I can buy good quality LiPo's from for a decent price? Or maybe LiFePO4's? At least when they went bad that was it. No fire risks.
Would check the balance now n again n do a balance charge when they needed it. Don't use the bike that often in the colder months but been using it more recently.
Noticed a few weeks ago that the voltages seem a little off after a ride. So grabbed me balance checker and connected to each battery, to see if they're alright. Fully charged and unused should be 4.2V per cell obviously.
So I'm checking me old ones. all around 4.18v-4.21v. About right, don't wanna over charge LiPos obviously, it's why I keep them in fire retardant bags. So after checking the old ones I check the new ones. And wouldn't ya know, something's not right.
So I'm checking the new ones, should also be about 4.2V for each cell obviously.
4.56V, 4.55V, 4.57V and so on. And I'm like... Oh shit!! That's way over. Turns out all of the new batteries were overcharged, except c2 on one of the 5s packs. That was 0.00V... It's gone completely bad in that short time and is shorted, it's just passing the power through. Result being when they get charged it's bypassing that cell and giving all the others too much. This will have been happening each time I charge my bike. I'm shocked they hadn't burst into flames. They were all swollen and under high pressure. I've since drained them all. But bloody hell. That's what I get for not checking the balance every time.
Even the old set I'm still using are Zippy (Hobbyking). They claim to be 30c constant, so at their rated capacity- 150A. Which I don't believe for a second anyway. But get this, I'm only drawing about 30A peak and after a ride they're pretty damn warm. Dodgy much?
Anyway enjoy some pics of one of the 5s's
Given the pressure I thought it best to cut them out of the blue shrink wrap. Put a little cut in the lip of it and began to gently tear it open, till the pressure started the push the tear along its self and burst out of the shrink wrap. Giving me a mini heart attack in the process.
I've had Turnigy (Also Hobby King made) go puffy as well. And a brand new 5s Zippy pack a few years ago, charged to 4.2v per cell and left on a shelf to be cycled a few times, randomly cook the 3rd cell. Came out to garage next day and it was melted down to desk, middle cell had cooked its self to burnt flakes, melted the shrink wrap and stuck its self down. Having never even being used. They even tried to argue the warranty with me saying I must have damaged it. Having already explained that the only thing I did was top it up to 4.2v p/cell. Ugh..
I'm sick of wasting money on this crap and don't exactly have much to spare. Does anyone know a UK based, or at least Europe based seller that I can buy good quality LiPo's from for a decent price? Or maybe LiFePO4's? At least when they went bad that was it. No fire risks.