Tech Help, Reedy Chargers
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LRP charger questions
Motor questions
Battery questions
Questions
Could you please help me set up Quasar Pro charger to discharge?
What is the difference between NiMH and NiCd batteries?
What is used most in racing? and why?
What does the charger's cycling do?
Is it best to discharge the batteries at the same rate as the ESC does?
How long does it take to charge the batteries?
Why are there 2 red wires and 2 black wires for charging attached to the alligator clips?
Reedy Quasar Pro charger threshold settings.
What does the charger's cycling do?
Answers
1 Could you please help me set up Quasar Pro charger to
discharge?
You should discharge your Ni-MH cells before you charge them up. Set the discharge at 20 amps.
2 What is the difference between NiMH and NiCd
batteries?
NiMH cells power will stay more consistent over the discharge cycle. Ni-Cd tend to fall off quicker.
3 What is used most in racing?
and why?
NiMH are used for racing at present because NiCds have been banned because they are dangerous to the environment.
4 I purchased a
Reedy Quasar Pro charger. My two 3000mAh NiMH Super Duty packs cut off after
about 500mAh. I've restarted charging them, each time it adds approx 500mAh and
stops. I'm charging at 4.5 amps/delta peak 24mv for the 6-cell pack. All OKd by
the manufacturer. They are still relatively new (4 previous attempts to charge),
and have never had a full charge on them, same problems with other chargers.
Should I keep starting over until it gets near 3000 total? I'd like to run a few
cycle modes on the Quasar but I don't think it'd do much good to cycle them
after only getting 500mAh.
On the delta peak setting instead of 4mv per cell set it at 6mv per cell or 36 mv for the pack. The batteries are so new and the voltage is fluctuating and causing the charger to shut off. Setting the delta peak a little higher should stop the false peaking and it will not harm the cells. For example, I have mine set at 8mv per cell for NiMH.
5 What does the
charger's cycling do?
With cycling, you can set the parameters to charge and then discharge a pack.
The benefits are, if the battery has been setting for a while and they run soft
or short on time, you can simulate them being used to recondition the pack. The
next plus would be you can see how your packs run, how much charge they take,
what the average voltage of the pack is during the discharge. That info helps
you to find out which are your best batteries by run time and voltage. The
higher the run time the longer the pack will run, and the higher the voltage,
the more power you will have coming off the corners.
6 Is it best to discharge the batteries at the same rate as the
ESC does?
Best way is to use a discharge tray that will discharge the cells at 20 to 30
amps. It does break down the internal resistance, but it does not effect the run
time.
7 How long does it take to charge the batteries?
The 2000s take about 35 minutes, the 3000s take about 35 to 40 minutes. These
times are approximate, for all batteries charge just a little differently, and
it depends on what amperage rate your charger uses.
8 Most of the guys are discharging their battery packs with 10
light bulbs. The current is about 20 Amps. I made one, but when I measured the
voltage just before the lights go out it's about 2.6V. Is this bad for the
batteries?
Light bulb dischargers are OK to use on NiCad cells only--1700, 2000, 2400. Do
not use them on NiMH. They can damage NiMHs by over-discharging. It is OK on
NiCad to see the voltage drop to 2.6V when the light bulbs are on. When you
remove them, it is normal for them to climb back up in voltage. 7.18 is not
abnormal for what can be called "residual charge."
9 If you can't hook up a charger to a car battery charger what
other alternatives do I have to power the charger?
You can purchase a power supply. This will allow you to clip the leads of your
charger to it and give you the proper power to charge from. Any electronics
store will carry a power supply for your application.
10 Can I charge the batteries half way at 2.5 amps and the rest
at 6 amps? Will this harm the memory in the batteries or the high voltage
output?
Charging your batteries halfway at a low amp reading and then the other half at a higher amp reading will harm the battery’s memory.
11
At what point does the Reedy Quasar Pro stop discharging? Does it have a cutoff
at .9v per cell or any adjustable cutoffs?
The charger will stop at .9v per cell. That parameter is not adjustable.
12 Why are there 2 red wires and 2 black wires for charging
attached to the alligator clips?
The large wire delivers the current while the small wire is the meter lead,
which does all the measuring.
13 Reedy Quasar Pro charger threshold settings.
For NiMH batteries set the threshold at 8, and for NiCad set it at 20.
14 What is battery cycling?
Cycling is way of conditioning and or testing your batteries. By charging and
discharging the batteries you can simulate how the batteries would run in a
race, letting you know what would be the best to worst packs that you have. Just
follow the directions supplied with the charger and you will be able to test
your batteries. Also see the next question.
15 What does the charger's cycling do?
With cycling, you can set the parameters to charge and then discharge a pack.
The benefits are, if the battery has been setting for a while and they run "soft"
or short on time, you can simulate them being used to recondition the pack. The
next plus would be you can see how your packs run, how much charge they take,
and what the average voltage of the pack is during the discharge. That info helps
you to find out which are your best batteries by run time and voltage. The
higher the run time the longer the pack will run, and the higher the voltage,
the more power you will have coming off the corners.
16 Quasar PRO Charger. What are the best settings for 1)
Charging, 2) Cycling, 3) Discharging etc. for the R3K Panasonic 3000 NIMH
batteries assembled stick packs.
For the 3000 NiMH batteries:
Charge at 4 to 5 amps, test the settings for what you like best! Set your
voltage threshold at 8 per cell
Discharge at max 20 amps, then your settings will stay the same for cycling, get
the battery between 2 to 5 minute break before starting the discharge.
For the NiCad batteries:
Charge 4.5 to 5.5, set the voltage threshold at 20 same discharge and cycle
parameters.
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