As I wanted to know the capacity of Li-ion batteries, I used the discharge menu but it stops at 3.2 V. I’ve seen in the documentation the minimum terminal voltage is between 3.0 and 3.2 V. I’ve seen other guys have done it but it’s not possible to choice it in the discharge menu and there isn’t this parameter in the settings menu. How can I do?
Is there a significative capacity below 3.0 V (5% …) ?
I’ve seen it’s possible to use the NimH menu but I’m not sure the discharge method is the same between the 2 chemistries.
And how can I update this charger? If I click on “setup.exe” (if the charger is connected to the PC), does it do the job?
You may want to take a look at some of HKJ’s discharge profiles for LiIo batteries. He’s done a lot of them.
Personally, what I’ve gathered from his charts AND from personal experience is that below 3.2v there is very little capacity to be gained but potentially unrecoverable damage to the batteries life span. I generally avoid taking my Lipo OR my LiIo’s below 3.2v
Gauss, even if I’m not sure (I don’t remember exactly), I have to put “N” to “LiPo balance” (or something like that) in the settings (I don’t see it in the manual) to use the discharge function.
And the function you are talking about is in the settings or in the battery/program? I can try it but there is a problem if it needs a LiPo balance connection : I want to do it on a single 18650.
Zebretta, HKJ have given them for Imax B6 or for all hobby chargers? Because before writing this post, I’ve looked for informations for Imax B6, I haven’t found these decharge profiles but I’m not easy at all in English, sorry. Have you a link?
I think 3.2 V is a bit high to stop because my lamps have full power at this voltage, it has not already decreased. I think I have a margin of security if I stop at 2.9 ~3.0 V because a lot of batteries have their battery minimum voltage between 2.5 ~2.75 V.
Do not use the ‘balanced’ mode in the charge mode selector, just choose the normal charging, the charger will automatically detect how many cells in series and apply the required voltage.
lf you just charge 1 18650, the charger will detect it and pump in the defaualt voltage for the chosen chemistry.
I’m not sure we speak about the same thing : when I chose “N”, it was in the settings and I think you speak about the different options for a LiPo battery : LiPo balance charge, LiPo charge, LiPo fast charge, LiPo storage, LiPo discharge.
Go to ‘Settings’, then look for the minimum discharge voltage you like and Save it. My iCharger is adjusted like that (up to a minimum of 2,50v), l’m confident your imax also is.
As you can see from HKJ’s results, your batteries have very little capacity to offer below 3.2v except at very high rates of discharge where heat is even more of an issue and the voltage begins to dive very quickly.
At the same time, the internal resistance rises rapidly causing heat….which we all know is not good for batteries.
But doesn’t heat becomes a factor a high rates of discharge?
And since you’re discharging at a high rate, as the resistance rises, so does the heat. Heat, heat and mo heat.
As far as I know, heat is a battery slayer….so the deeper you discharge…the harder on the batteries life. No?
I suppose if all you care about is capacity and not about battery longevity, then it’s a moot point.
Sorry for the late response, I can’t access easily to Internet yesterday.
Zebretta, the curves you gave are interesting but if I take a 1 A discharge, you can get 260 mAh. Ok it’s only 8% of the total capacity but if your boss decide to increase your salary of 8 %, would you tell him : “No, it’s very little, you can keep them, I don’t kneed them” :smiling_imp: ?
If a battery can go to 2.5 ~2.75 V, I hopeI have a security margin if I stop at 2.9 V ~3.0 V.
Tatasal, as I explain it, there is no possibility to modify the terminal discharge voltage for Lithium batteries, I can only use the NimH menu.
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