Rate/Explain This Balancer Please!!

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Oct 17, 2009
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-6-Cell-Lipo-Battery-Pack-Balancer_W0QQitemZ390043059523QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad060c543

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Could I use something like this to balance hand-built packs of 6 cells?

How would I wire it to a charger and into the pack?

Thanks.
 
It has a fair amount of descriptive instructions on the page itself, but doesn't say exactly what the board does, electronically (not a surprise).

Well, based on what's visible on that side of the board, it doesn't have much current-handling capability, so if it does indeed have any actual "balancing" function, it is either not a shunting balancer, or it probably is in the low milliamp range for shunting capability. You would not be able to charge in any reasonable time like that, if true. (it even mentions about not charging fast when unbalanced on the page)

However, if all it is used for is monitoring voltages for HVC or LVC it is easy to use--just hook up the most positive of the six cells it monitors to one end pin of it's connector, the most negative lead of the six to the other end pin, and the rest of the inter-cell connections to the remaining leads in order.

What I suspect it is doing based on it's description is that it is redistribuiting charge from high cells to low cells, until they are all even, rather than shunting all cells as they reach full voltage. If that's what it does, it's neat, but I"m not sure you could charge fast with it doing the balancing if there was much of a difference between cells.
 
I don't think does any active balancing (via charge transfer) as the necessary components aren't there (caps and inductors) and the price is too low...even for a unit from China. :)

I think it's just a low-current passive (50ma? 75mA? Just guessing) balancer that "burns off' any voltage higher than the lowest cell or 3.7V, depending on the situation, by discharging the cell(s) through a resistor.
 
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