To clarify, are you referring to the B6 or the B6 “mini”? They are different
I think it was B6 didn’t know there’s a mini….
Sorry I gave you very incorrect information. Depending on your charger you will be able to charge your 8S packs with a lower input voltage. The SC-608 though is only good for 6S packs. I update the original post.
The linker cable is not really necessary. I have a linker cable and I haven’t updated the firmware at all.
The most recent updates only change some slight things like clicker sound and added some European language support.
If you want to charge an 18v pack at 8A you will need to make sure your power supply can put out 150w. Most laptop powersupplies that you may find for free are usually 65w.
I just bought a 150w gaming laptop charging brick for $6 on ebay.
I just realized something. If I wanne charge cells in parallel do they all have to have the same capacity and be dis-charged to the same voltage/capacity? Obviouly my cells won’t be discharged to the same level as I use em in single cell aplications. So I’m guessing a hobby charger won’t fit my needs probably.
Aaaaah f*#@ I really haven’t tought this thing through.
edit: for those intrested gb has a nice deal on the iSDT sc608
No, but the chargers list in the specs the maximum current over the balance port, so if the cells are very different it could take a long time while they wait to get slowly balanced by the balance port (at like 200mA or something extremely slow like that).
That’s not true don’t balance when parallel charging.
The cells will self balance.
Oh I didn’t see that part, I thought he was series charging them.
Parallel charging cells that are at very different capacities is bad because a lot of current can flow from one battery to another if the voltage delta is large enough, which can cause the cells to heat up or potentially explode.
If you’ve measured it, even with high current cells like the VTC6 and a max difference of 4.2v - 3.0v the current flow is only a couple amps.
Well it depends on the internal resistance too, idk what resistance those cells are.
My batteries are 1.2mO.
I would still not recommend parallel batteries that have such a large difference of capacity %.
Incredible cells at 1.2mOhm. I think if you try it and measure you will be pleasantly surprised at how low the current is even between worst case 4.2v and 3.0v.
It’s definitely possible that he wants to try “resurrect” dead cells which could be at 2.5v or even less.
I’ve heard of people finding lithium cells near 0v and recharging them and have them work again with good capacity.
I guess if he makes sure the cells are above 3v then it could be ok 
And yeah my cells are the best cells 
not 18650s though.
This is why you want to charge in parrelle instead of series with the balance port. With parallel charging you just make sure the cells are reasonably close (I generally try to keep them withing .5V or so but have done more without any issues).
Toss them all in your cell holder, let them “balance” for a a few minutes if needed and then start the charge cycle.
They will all be perfectly balanced at the end of the charge after a rest period, even better balanced then if you used the balance port.
All right thank u all very much. I’ll do some more research but in short: the cells will balance them self before I turn on the charger if they are reasonably close to each others voltage….
As I posted previously, since you will be using the charger to analyze salvage cells ( which can be all over the place when it comes it’s cell’s health, etc. all in one pack alone), and as I have been through this road before, your best bet is not a hobby charger but 2 analyzing, 4-independent channel chargers with individual displays like the Opus BT-C3100 v2.2. I also have a hobby charger and it’s really time consuming to analyze a cell one-at-a time. Granted you call parallel charge maybe 4 cells at once, but you can only safely do it only on brand-new or really good cells that has identical health but not on salvaged cells.
Two 4 individual channel analyzing chargers/discharger in the best route to take, in my experience.
Anyway, buy either one of them, use it for some time, then come back here to share your observation.
I am thinking of buying both, 1 analyzing charger for testing and one hobby charger for charging up to 8 cells in parallel andseries packs.
The salvaged cells only need to be tested once I got em out of the pack and then once in a while after I have used them for a longer period.
Most of my cells come from unused laptop packs (I have a friend working in IT he gives me a new pack once in while. All the cells I get from him come out at 3.7V) but sometimes I just find a used pack and I have some old cells that I just would like to check.
I charge 14 good cells at once with my imax b6 all the time, with good cells it is no issue at all.
For salvaged cells I still charger 14 at a time but it does require you to be present and watch over it. If one cell starts overheating it is unlikely that the temp sensor will happen to be on that cell. So I feel them by hand every little while to make sure none are heating up.
I do this also now in my VC2 and VP2 charger when I charge old or questionable cells. I keep close and touch em every 30min or so. sometimes I even charge at 0.5A.
I usually charge at .5A or less, I figure my cells get abused enough during discharge, why stress them out during charge. I have spares, so whats the rush?
Understood but your lights are… well u could probably light the moon with your monsters. I don’t really have high drain lights, I only have stock lights like MH20 and skilhunt.