BMS & lipo

[Gow864]

OK I recently started using some lipo batteries, I totally love them, heaps of grunt in a little package. What I don't like is the charging bit, plugging in balance taps, having to press buttons on the charger etc.. Boo-effing-hoo I hear you say, fair enough, I'm from the lifepo4 world of plug and play simplicity. So, the question is. Can a BMS designed for lifepo4 be modified or whatevered to work with lipo batts the turnigy 6s 5Ah kind.

Obviously ending up with a lipo battery that you can treat like a lifepo4 battery.

Gow.

 

[vanilla ice]

I hear you on the balance taps. Fragile little plugs they are and I hate babying them. I've been meaning to grind the lock tabs off of them. I think that will help.. and I'd rather have a plug pull out than wires rip out anyway. Seems stupid to me having lock tabs on the balance connectors.

Don't mind the button pushing or main plugs though.

A lot of lipo users here report not having the balance very often. They get by charging with regular old power supplies. Sounds like that is what you want to do. Then you can do some periodic balancing with your RC charger. As needed.

 

[Russell]

You don't need to mod a LiFePO4 BMS just buy yourself a BMS designed for LiCo/LiMn/LiPo. The boards for 10S are commonplace but the same can't be said for 6S or 12S and those that are available are usually lower current. The cabling is slightly different when working with a BMS compared to the balance taps on LiPo's but it wouldn't be a big deal to change. Here are some sources for the boards;


http://www.batteryspace.com/pcmforli-coli-mn-nibatterypacks.aspx

http://www.all-battery.com/protectivepcbsforli-ionandli-polymerbatterypacks.aspx

http://www.bmsbattery.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_15&products_id=79


I've been thinking about trying 12S LiPo too and ordering a 30A 12S BMS from the last vendor.

-R