Charging correctly safely provides the best performance from your battery and maximizes it's life span.
VMAX Lithium Ion batteries use A123 Nanophosphate cells. These cells are considerably more tolerant of over discharge, over charge and current values than many other batteries. They are more robust and much safer than Lithium Polymer batteries. However, it is important to use common sense, follow instructions and understand what you are doing when charging.
A) From the battery label determine:
Voltage - Make sure you know the voltage of and the number of cells (Voltage/3.3) in the battery. Consult the battery label. Typical values for VMAX Lithium Ion batteries are as follows: 3.3V (1 cell), 6.6V (2 cells), 9.9V (3 cells), 13.2V (4 cells), 16.5V (5 cells) etc
Capacity - This is stated on the battery label in mAh for example 1100 mAh, 2300 mAh etc.
MAX CHARGE - A123 Nanophosphate Cells can be charged at up to the 5C rate. The actual 5C current value in Amps is stated on the battery. Make sure you do not exceed the MAX CHARGE current when charging.
Balance Voltage - A123 Nanophosphate cells perform best when balanced. The balancing voltage should not exceed 4.2V/cell. This is best done at a low current value such as 50mA or less. Although balancing is important it is less critical with A123 Nanophosphate cells than Lithium Polymer. Typically 95% of more of the battery capacity can be obtained without balancing. The final 5% of capacity requires balancing.
B) Select your charger. We recommend a charger that is capable of balancing the cells. Slow chargers will take up to a few hours to charge your battery and generally connect only via the white balance connector on your battery. Fast Chargers can charge your battery in a little as 15 minutes provided that the charger is capable of operating at the 5C charge rate. Fast chargers usually work with dual connections, one set of wires runs to the power connector on the battery while a second set runs to the balance connector.
The VMAX Slow Charger #VME-LPBC10 works well 2 and 3 cell VMAX Lithium Ion batteries. No programming or switch settings are required.
The VMAX Fast Charger #VME-LPBC50 works well with VMAX Lithium Ion batteries having up to 5 cells (16.5 Volts). This charger uses a menu driven program to set voltage and current limits.
C) Follow the instructions that came with your charger. Set your charger to match the Voltage, Capacity, Max Charge and Balance Voltage of your battery. In many cases the capacity is not selectable and the charger will automatically bring the battery to near 95% capacity before beginning a slower trickle charge cycle to top up the final 5% of capacity.
DO NOT CHARGE UNATTENDED
STAY ALERT FOR OVERHEATING, SMELLS, SMOKE OR OTHER SIGNS OF TROUBLE. UNPLUG ALL CONNECTIONS IMMEDIATELY IF THE BATTERY OR ANY CORD OR DEVICE OVERHEATS, SMELLS, SMOKES, SPARKS OR MAKES ANY UNEXPECTED NOISE OR EMISSION AND REMOVE COMPONENTS TO A SAFE OUTDOOR LOCATION UNTIL COOL.
D) When charging is complete, unplug your battery from all connections and unplug your charger and/or the power supply connected to your charger.
UNPLUG WHEN UNATTENDED
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