For those wondering; Series connected batteries ADD their Voltages.(Powering larger motors) Parallel connected batteries ADD Capacitance.(Longer flight times)
I found it easier to just use a series connector instead of eliminating one of the connectors. Since I have a dual charger I charge both at the same time.
Bruce, Good information for those "electrically challenged". I used to do it the way you show but since their advent have gone to the dual XT60 connectors that allow a series or a parallel hookup depending on which you purchase. I was running a 10S setup in an EDF using 2S batteries and what a mess that was!
I use a lot of high cell count packs (8-12S), and buying an 8S pack is incredibly expensive compared to buying two 4S packs, plus, a lot of lower end chargers don't allow charging 8S packs, so if you're at a mates place or whatever you can't charge, so 4S packs are handy for that too. Not too worried about packs failing, but if you use 2 seperate packs in series, you can also mount them apart for better CoG and also better cooling to the packs in high load environments.
Good to see some videos rolling out. I'd have to say that this is a good idea and works when you damage a battery from a crash when it is new but there is no point buying a new battery and running it in series with an old battery. When running in series your pack is only as good as the weakest cell. Should we also mention that when running in series it is important to match your batteries or the weaker battery will be over discharged and be damaged. Value for money yes but not always
I have done the same for years but i make a series adapter to connect to the 2 packs, that way you can split them and use them for 3 cell applications or series them up for 6 cell applications.
I dig but saving the two good cells from the damaged 3s would be even groovier. I find a wooden bbq skewer perfect for gently separating the internal cells without puncturing the foil. Tired metal rulers, bits of plastic, custom made tools but the wooden skewer is a winner - just gently poke it in parallel to the cells and the point separates the glue/tape. 2 mins gentle work and you have saved the planet some more :)
I do this but instead of connecting them as you have done, I made up a two into one series connector so that the batteries remain as two units, which can be charged or used as two units with no other mods or special connectors required. I can also connect them in parallel with a parallel wired two into one connector. I just find it a bit more flexible that way.
Very common way of doing boat batteries. In fact my Aquacraft FE30 uses either 2 7.4 in series or one 14.8. The boat is wired from the factory to connect the 2 7.4's in series and if you want to use a 14.8 you either need a shorting plug or have to modify the wiring. I have also found that the cost of 2 large cap, high discharge 7.4's is WAY less then buying an equivalent 14.8 battery.
you may not want to just replace on pack if it one fails because mixing packs of different ages can drastically reduce the life of the battery. but you can always move it to a 3 cell model and buy 2 new packs for the 6 cells
I really think if your suggesting doing this there should be an accompanying video explaining the dangers of this practice for new comers. Cells should be of the same capacity and c rating. You should never mix and match and charging if cell voltages are different can create unsafe situations. Just info that needs to be understood before doing this. Great tip Bruce
I like to get happy with the soldering iron so I've actually broken down packs and rebut new ones. Had one cell go bad in a 3s so used the other two with two other 3 s packs to make two 4s batteries.
Hello, I have a question for you. BTW, thank you for sharing all the tips in the above description about combining batteries! One thing I am wondering about is that you connected the negative of one battery to the positive of the other battery, I noticed that you kept the leads long and didn't shorten the wires for neatness or compactness, is there a reason you did not shorten the connected wires between the two batteries? Thank you so much in advance, I really enjoy listening to your articles on RC.
Hi, great video...one question. Do you need to put the 3s battery balance leads into the 6s balance charge lead in a certain way? So the battery with the main negative wire coming from it you would insert the 3s balance charger JST-XH next to the black negative wire on the 6s JST-XH connector and the other battery with the main red positive cable you would insert the 3s JST-XH into the 6s JST-XH connetor with the tiny red positive cable? Am I right in saying that if you mix this around then you will short-out the batteries?
Bene R you have to but im not sure how to. ive ruined 4 brand new 3s 5000mah packs because of this and im trying to figure out the right way if doing it
All my planes run on 3s 5000mAh packs, on either 3s, 6s, 9s or 12s. That way I only need a fraction of the batteries to be able to fly many different sized models. I also have a few running on 2200 3s and 2200 6s.
The charging doesn't happen over the balance wires, it uses the main connector for that. The balance leads are there to slow down or speed up in small increments to level all cells.
Bruce, I realize this video is pretty old now, so maybe you've changed the way you're doing things by now, but why not just throw on a series adapter? I know you really know your stuff, so I was surprised to see how you did this....wondered if I was missing something. Good stuff as always, and thanks for the effort. One last quick question, as a creator, how long have you been using RU-vid as a "primary" source of income? I've noticed a really drastic drop in ad revenue lately. It's getting old and a bit discouraging, and wondered if you had any tips for me.
As always, good ideas come from this channel. Ironically, I am getting into gliding and have almost completed my first un-powered glider. So I'm about to set it up experimentally with four little AAA cells just to see how it flies. So at the moment, I feel that a 6s Li-po is a bit like overkill. ;¬)
Whenever a cell dies in a pack, I breakdown the pack into each individual cell, keep the good ones after labeling their discharge/capacity on them, and build a new battery with all the good cells. I wish HobbyKing did a better job of stocking things like various spare balance leads and large size heat shrink that'd help with building new batteries!
12mins is pretty good, a lot will be much less. If you are new I would just build it first, 10mins is a long time flying, you will be concentrating so much and having fun it wont make much difference. Plus landing and changing a battery takes no time, where as carrying that extra weight the whole time will blunt performance and wont add double the time
Is there a similar method whereby I can charge each pack individually? because my charger is a turnigy S60 which can only handle up to 4 cells at a time
Hi Bruce, sorry for reviving this old video, but I have a question, Can I plug the XT60 directly into the XT60 female from the charger, and make a 2x 3s female to 6s male adapter for myself? Or does that adapter from Turnigy has any electronics inside that plastic? Thanks.
I have two 2 cell packs and two 3 cell packs laying about and I want to make two 5 cell packs proper with a single 5 cell balance lead. I have the heat shrink tube and all, but was wondering on a wiring diagram or instructional video you know of. Been searching for awhile now with no luck.
Hello I did my battery like you have but the only thing is i don't have the little white plug I try to charge the battery and it won't charge I'm Bjornn using a onyx 100 charger just wondering why it won't charge..
Simple to destroy your battery with the balance plug adapter ... if you plug wrong compared how you put in series the two cells ... lot of smoke will be created ... dangerous stuff what you suggest ... better use the hobbyking adapter and not hard cable in series as you did
I would like to see a similar tip on how to easily (and safely) use two batteries in parallel to increase your flight time. Maybe there are some options or tips you can share which are not that obvious to a beginner like me. best regards.
Hi there Bruce, I've got a question for you wich is somewhat related to this video. I've got a 2650mah 3s battery pack for my 9X radio and one of the cells died after 2 or 3 charges. Can it still be used to power the radio as a 2s? If so, and for balancing, should I alter the balancing plug and how?
Hi Everyone, BTW Thanks for the video, all of your stuff is Great! I'm using 6S Lipos on my Octocopter and I have a question someone here3 may know the answer to. I am running lights off of my main flight pack. The 6S pack is 22.xx volts but my lights are approximately 12 volts. What I have done is to tap 3 cells off of the balanced connector to deliver the approx 12 volts that I need, and it works fine... Now here's the question: Because I'm pulling my power from only 3 of 6 cells, I'm afraid of risking an imbalance between my cells. Will the cells equalize themselves i.e. one cell depletes faster than the rest but the other cells feed back some energy to the lower cells to keep them somewhat in balance? Or do I risk an imbalance that will get worst over time? Thanks! Anthony
BTW I have designed a circuit that will drop the 22.xx volts down to around 12 volts and I have power regulators and BECs that I could use, but if I can get away with this other option, it's just simpler. Thanks Again... Anthony
ITISolutions I'm sure you figured this out by now , but what I had done was either use a step down off the main board or just use a 500mAh 3S Lipo by itself for the lights. Super small and light weight.
so by doing this you'd be charging the lipos through your balance leads, which would only be like 1 amp/hour charge rate? that would take ages to charge 2x 3s 5000mah lipos now wouldnt it?
Bruce, I have a question about hobby king batteries, I have found they are not as good a in the past, have you found the same thing? I have some I picked up two years ago and they work great! but some of the one's I picked you in the last 6 month ago suck! they are running out faster then they did when the old one's??? point in case is my 4s 2650ma I have the old one's from 2 years ago and they work great, but the new one's run out in one half the time? but the old one's still work great???
It is possible, I've turned a 3S into a 2S pack with success. It's easily done if the damaged/dead cell is on the outer sides of the battery. Some soldering skills are required.
It's 4500 mAh series gives u more volts not more capacity If you want more capacity put bigger batteries in series (if you want more volts and capacity) also if you don't want more power just capacity put batteries in parrelel
funny fact the lipos are lighter because thundershowers rampage range is lighter like 1 4 cell lipo is 515 grams so another will add up to 1030 grams vs the actual 8s lipo packs so it's probably lighter to buy packs like this lose 6 grams of weight is it worth it yep
Hi, great video's - thanks. If I join two 3 cells as you suggest, how would I be able to attach a voltage warning buzzer when there are two balance charging leads. On a multirotor it is essential to have a warning buzzer but as far as i am aware it would only attach to one of the two joined packs?
marshalcraft If I'm reading what you wrote correctly, then yes 2, 3cells in series would give you a 6cell. you'd need 2 in parallel to increase flight time, but then it's a weight issue, so it's debatable.
+Lucas Sheridon Its the exact same as having 1x 6s battery. Inside a 6cell battery there are effectively 2x 3s batteries if you want to think of it like that.
I prefer to charge the packs individually but keep them together as a set. Then if one fails I will replace them but not suffer much imbalance from charging a fresh pack with an older pack.
Leo van Miert since you seemed to to know a lot about this, when connecting two 3s batteries to make a 6s like this video,do you charge them as 3s or as 6s in your charger and does the mAh stays the same or does it doubles example does it stays 4500 or becomes 9000,I'll appreciate so much if you help me
You don't have to remove a cell from a 6 S ... just make a short over the dead cell on the battery PCB adapter, and you are good to go ... a bit heavy pack .. but manageable .. remove the dead cell is not so complicated btw
How about cutting out the dead cell to make two cell and wot u think of people making 6s battery from drill battery, they think better weight to power than lipo, keep up the videos cob
I had a 6 cell where 1 cell failed, i bought another 2 cell 5000 mah, and pulled 1 of the cells off that and replaced the dead one on the 6s, so i still had another spare should something happen to another cell. If you had a 3s and 1 cell died youre still throwing away 2 good cells, which is still quite expensive if they are 45c 5000mah!
kina ironic how you're going on how simple it is to charge as you very nearly plug the low side pack into the high side balance connector, with the high side already plugged into the low side... and short out your 2 packs.
There is one disadvantage!!! if the cells of the two 3s packs are not good selected in resistance and voltage (often seen in the zippys) you haven´t the same power and not the same durability as a selected 6s pack.
honestly if a cell failed i would remove it and keep the 5 good cells or 2 good cells that remain, then i can either buy another cell or i can use them as 5s or 2s packs
Parallel balancing is not really balancing single cells. Seems that a bum cell would take out the corresponding cell on the other pack. I'd rather have a series connector with XT60 connectors to the batteries and an XT90 to the ESC.
I thought you were going to show us how to remove a dead cell in the middle of a 6 cell :( So you can still use the battry as a 5 cell. Btw Bruce what do you fly that uses a 6 cell? I don't remember you flying a plane with a 6 cell.
Have you ever tried to pull the good cells out of a battery with one dud cell? Would be interested in any tips you have for connecting directly to salvaged cells. Any Scotsman can tell you, a penny that can squeak should be made to SING. :-) I ask cause I have a few 2200 3 cells with one puffed cell.
☠️BLACK BARON☠️ 1:10 Simple🤪 ? RC-Modellers and RC-Manufacturers. XT60, XT90, EC5 ... Can we get a norm once in a while for at least 6S battery packs? All these different connectors and adapters. It's COMPLICATED!
