Building home made charger...

[Cincikid1]

I would like to build a home made charger to bring up a single unbalanced cell quickly via this method:

In the video he never explains what kind of power supply would be needed.
Any recommendations?

3 cell 1300 mAh 30c series 11.1v

 

[Zamazam]

I'd have to look into it. You can get some fairly cheap LiPO Hobby chargers that do the trick for less than $30.

 

[Cincikid1]

Wondering if i could use a cell phone charger ... 5.0v 1.2A.
My DNA has a balance charger built in but it's soooo slow we're talking days!

 

[Cincikid1]

I posted the same thread on Evolv's forum, (Vaping Bad) replying to an earlier post:

"I use the same 1 A boards as black lace to make travel chargers http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272161925060 they are extremely cheap (£2.59, $3.37 ish for 10) and will do a good job of bring up a single cell, don't try and chain them for 3 cells unless you are running from 3 isolated supplies. There is no revers protection and they fry if you connect them wrong."

With:
These chips + 5PCS 40Pin 2.54mm Single Row Straight Male Pin Header Strip
I'll be set several times over.

Info on the chip.

 

[fq06]

Single and unbalanced cell don't go togther.
Not sure if your asking about a multi cell lipo pack or a single 18650 cell

Agree with zamazam, you can pick up a rc charger at hobbyking for $20 or less with built in power supply to charge multi cell lipo packs and pick up a single cell 18650 battery cradle for your quick single 18650 charge.

Unless you just want to make a DIY charger for something to do

 

[fq06]

Played the video, this is like what he is describing. There are a ton of them to find, some more $$, some less but this will bring the pack into balance on its own and then you can charge it up with a balance charger.

http://www.hobbyking.com/mobile/viewproduct.asp?idproduct=26136

 

[Cincikid1]

"Single and unbalanced cell don't go togther.
Not sure if your asking about a multi cell lipo pack or a single 18650 cell"

Its an unbalanced cell in a "3 cell 1300mAh 30c series 11.1v" lipo pack...

Yeah i like to hobby around.
From what i understand about balance chargers they are slow to balance when a cell is off a good amount.

Thanks for the help and links guys

What i ended up doing was taking a wooden dial about the same size as a 18650 attaching pos and neg contacts then soldering wires with pin headers. Attaching the pin headers to the weak cell of the lipo and sticking the dial into my 18650 charger while monitoring the charger with a multimeter.. like a charm. I spent a total of $2.70 for the headers and 5 min of time.

 

[fq06]

Got it... lipo pack.

Yeah, you can get the low cell up to a close level with the others or pull the others down with a lipo balance tool and then balance charge. Either way gets the job done.

 

[Cincikid1]

That was my plan b. Taking a 12v bulb and draining the full cells down to the unbalanced. while I had the iron hot i whipped up that rig also.
Shout out to dwcraig1 on DNA forum for the dial idea.