Charging with a single LBA 10 in “Connection Mode”, using a Compatible Charger, for 2S to 6S
First, set your charger cell count and charge rate appropriately for your battery pack. For example, if you have a 11.1V LiPo 1200mAh pack, set
the charger for “lipo mode”, 3S (11.1V) and 1.2A (“1C” for 1200mA pack). The LBA can be used at charge rates up to 10.0 amps. Note: All
Hyperion Lithium Polymer support 2C max charge rates (2.4A for a 1200mAh pack) but other brands may be limited to “1C”. Consult documentation
before exceeding 1C rate with LiPoly. (see A123 notes, last page)
CONNECTION SEQUENCE (after step 5, push MODE/RESET 2 seconds if A123 Battery)
1) Check to be sure that the LBA Network Switch is in MASTER mode
2) Connect the LBA 10 INPUT LEADS to the Charger, via the two male 4mm gold plugs
3) Connect the appropriate 2S-6S balance harness to the LBA 10
4) Connect the Balance Harness to your Lithium pack
5) Quickly (within 12 seconds) connect your pack Main Wires to the Red/Black LBA OUTPUT wires
At this point, the sequence is the same as before: We start in “Disconnection Mode. You should see a solid STATUS LED, and at least one blinking
CELL LED. If so, push the MODE/RESET Switch on the LBA to enter CONNECTION MODE.
After a brief pause, the STATUS LED should start single flashes to indicate that connection mode is active. Check to be sure the STATUS LED is
blinking in one-second intervals before continuing.
Now push the “START” button on your charger. There’s nothing else to do, until your charger indicates the charge has completed. At that time,
press the MODE button to enter DISCONNECT MODE, then detach components in this order:
1) Disconnect your lithium pack Main Connector from the LBA Output Wires
2) Disconnect the Balance Harness from your Lithium pack
3) If desired, disconnect LBA 10 from the charger
NOTE: if you start with a very closely balanced pack, the LBA may power off shortly after the battery is connected. In that case,
push the MODE button TWICE to enter connection mode for charging.
NOTE: Chargers which do not have a start button will begin charging when you start Connect Mode by pushing the MODE button (or pushing MODE
twice if the LBA has already shut down with well balanced pack)
NOTE: If you have connected your LBA 10 to a DataPort equipped charger (EOS5i DP, EOS 1210i...), via the optional DataPort Cable,
you need not press the MODE button to disconnect when charge/balancing is finished. The charger automatically tells the LBA to disconnect… The
DataPort cable and supporting charger allow you to monitor the voltage of each cell during the charge process, via the charger’s LCD screen. If
Charger and LBA Battery Type Setting (LiPo vs A123) do not match, the charger will error: DATA RANGE OVER ERROR
Using a single LBA 10 in “Connection Mode” with Discharge Load
If you want to speed the discharge balance process (compared to Disconnection Mode), you can attach an appropriate load to the LBA Power INPUT
4mm Gold Connectors. While this could be a simple as a 12V light bulb, you do need to be sure that the current drawn is appropriate for your pack,
and does not exceed the LBA’s 10A limit. Any charger which has Discharge capability can be used, even if it does not have an Auto-Cut function,
because the LBA will properly limit discharging of the pack, assuming all cells are above minimum voltage to start.
Procedure is the same as with Connection Mode Charging. Make the appropriate settings on your discharger, and select the appropriate LBA
Harness to match your pack. Connect the Discharger (or light bulb, or other load you have chosen), via the LBA’s two male 4mm gold banana plugs.
We start in Disconnection Mode by connecting the lithium pack to the LBA’s multi-connector harness, and then quickly attaching the Main Pack
Wires to the LBA Output Wire set. Push the MODE/RESET Switch on the LBA to enter Connection Mode. After a brief pause, the Status LED should
start single flashes to indicate that connection mode is active.
Now push the “START” button on your discharger. When the LBA completes balancing, or shuts down because one cell is getting too low, the circuit
will be disconnected. Many Dischargers (such as the EOS series) will sound an alarm when the circuit is opened. If using a Light Bulb, the bulb will
light when you push the MODE/RESET Switch to enter connection mode, and bulb will go off when the LBA completes balancing and shuts down.
Using Two LBA 10, Networked to Balance two similar packs as a single unit
ETWORK CHARGING NOTES:
The two packs must be from the same maker, of same capacity and
Ideally, the two packs should have similar history. That is, they are
* A lithium charger rated to suit the total SERIES (S) cell count of the
As an alternative to a single high-S charger connected as below, you
N
*
type (ex: VX3700-3S, VX3700-4S to make 7S)
*
both new, or they have both been used in the same model, separately,
for about the same number of flight hours before. You simply want to
avoid pairing tired or old packs with fresh, new packs.
two packs is required. That is, to charge a 4S and a 4S pack as 8S,
you need a charger rated for 8S or higher.
*
could use two chargers each connected separately to LBA10 and pack.
After each pack is balance-charged separately, check cell voltages of
each pack. If within 0.05V/cell, connect and fly. If not, connect the
two packs as in the Master/Slave example below, and balance them via
DISCONNECT Mode as a unit. Only the high cells are reduced in
voltage, and effect on capacity is negligible…
Two-Pack System Advantages
5S packs flown in 2.5Kg model can be
Damage to one pack means replacing
Two packs can easily be rearranged to
Versatile: change from Series to Parallel
*
combined to 10S to fly a new 5Kg model,
for example.
*
only ½ the battery system.
*
fit in a model, to provide proper CG
without adding weight
*
connections effortlessly
