Got my first HK,Turnigy Lipos. Doesn't look good....
 

Well, I guess...I dunno what to think. Do I even dare/bother hooking it up or even trying to return it or did I spend $91 on nothing and learned a valuable lesson or what? Damnit..... i just wanna drive my Flux. So much for good first impressions thats fot sure, this blows hard.


http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...Flux/turn1.jpg


http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...Flux/turn2.jpg

Is it puffed or just an irregular shape?

The left one doesn't look very happy. Does it feel soft?

Try to charge and discharge them with your charger and keep a close eye on them.

That could be heat expansion. Quit the hand wringing and run your truck. A puffed cell puffs a lot, not a little when damaged. Seriously, go to the doctor, get prescribed some Valium, drive your truck, and have fun.

What do the cell voltages read?

What does the LHS think? they'll be doing the soldering right?

Well, its easy to squeeze, doesn't take much pressure and if I press hard enough, I can feel firm cells beneath the cushy wrap.

The guys gone on an emergency so I actually and went and picked up stuff to solder everything myself

I need to get deans on it first before I can check voltages. I just got my Thunderpower AC6 in as well, but the instructions suck major ass.

Step1: solder plug/bullets on

Step2: charge

Step3: insert into vehicle

Step4: run

They're not quite intuitive are they...hang in there, it's worth using

I received two of the exact same lipos as you, instead of one being slightly puffed, both are.
Cell voltages checked out, I charged, discharged, cycled at least 3 times, everything checked out perfectly.

Ran my trucks flawlessly.

When it starts to flame, then start worrying, til then, don't worry about it!
LiPos are built hard, I know Mike (eovnuwhatever) has a humungous puffed lipo he bashes like crazy.

Bummer Frezzy! I got one a little more puffed than that one. "Costumer service" requested pictures and still wanted me to send it back. Same cell type and config. Cells were balanced so I threw it in my lipo sack(coffee can) and charged it up. No change in size, I have yet to discharge it although. I feel ya, what can you do with the one good non puffed cell?

Sorry to see your first HK purchase look like that, hopefully it'll be OK ?

Wonder if theres a RCM record for most threads started by one member in a week ?

Run it already.

Well, I had no idea the wires would be so thick on these Turnigys that I don't think my little radio shack soldering iron is gonna put out enough heat to get it attached to the deans plug. Plus the deans plugs heatwrap is to small to even go over the wire. Grrr...........


I'll just take em to the LHS and see what they think of the puffy pack and get the deans attached. For now I'm gonna get some dinner, 6 pack of beer and play Starcraft 2 till I pass out.

That sucks, but OTOH I have an old 10C True RC pack that puffs like that everytime I run it. Its really old, ut still works fine.

You do have a lipo sack right? Just put in in there to charge and watch closely. I'd just go w. it and be careful, but you should be ok.

If not, there is always MA. USA built and shipping and awesome CS..

Make sure you get a high wattage soldering iron. A crappy 30W from ratshack will make your welds crappy and your life miserable.

RS does have a asst pack of heashrink thats worth getting. You'll find the right size in there. Don't get the colored stuff, the blk is much better.

Yeah, maxamps cs...

Few years ago it went something like this:

Customer: I need a good 2 cell lipo for my touring car.

Jason: Our 3000mah 2s pack should work fine, and it is only 259.99.

A few days later:

C: I just ran that 3000mah pack and it puffed.

J: What, those are decorative packs, kinda like the guest towels that your wife buys for the 2nd bathroom, you were not supposed to actually use it... your warranty is voided.

From what I have heard their CS is much better now, and you can actually use the packs, all the way to 60c too!!!

You really should invest in a volt meter.

There are SO many times when you're going to need one.........like now.

I have to agree, even a cheap $5 from Harbor Freight, just get pinpoint (pen shaped) red/white thingies, and clamps.
Saves my butt all the time.

From Harold ?

Of course, what else do you use em for?
I use the clamps to clamp stuff down so he can't get past them, then poke him with the needle connections!

Then I test the resistance his body is with the multimeter....
...what do YOU use it for? :oops:

yeah, rawbuns likes to experiment.

I'm ready for a full physical Dr. Buns.....:na:

Man I have to be the luckiest guy on the planet regarding Lipos (not much else really:no:). Got around 30 Zippy, Turnigy and Rhino packs from Hobbyking and not one puffed or dead cell on arrival. The only lipo I ruined was the one I accidentally left plugged in my mini Revo for a whole week. Doh!!!

Anyway to keep an eye on what state my lipos are in I use one of these things. CLICK It's a great little tool and makes life a lot easier when you are out in the field. It gives you readings of each cell and then (for those that are mathematically challenged) gives a reading for the whole pack. It's pretty accurate too.:yes: Just love it. Much easier than dragging my multimeter with me to the track.

I hope you have shoulder lenth gloves Dr. Buns, your gonna need them with the wallowed out backside. Maybe a tether around your waist would be a bit of insurance in case you loose your footing.

I just bought this the other day, $2.69 shipped to the door.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Bare in mind these aren't exactly precise or 100% accurate but dam close enough for the money.


Heres a auction ready to end
http://cgi.ebay.com/LiPo-Battery-Vol...ts_Accessories

And another
http://cgi.ebay.com/Li-po-battery-LE...ts_Accessories

I use the 1st gen of this tester:

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store..._Generation%29

In fact it has been plugged into every pack I have ever owned, repaired or reconfigured. Great tool to check your lipos before you run them, if they have sat a while. Plus in a few seconds you can check any packs you are storing. I like it as it lists all of the cells on one screen, not individually like the one you linked to.

I have a few different ones, including the one you linked bondo. All are great tools, and for a few bucks you cannot go wrong. That and a cheapo harbor freight multimeter are all I have used to build packs. I have nicer tools, but these work fine and are always lying on the bench ready to go.

I'm hearing ya James, I'm eye ballin' this one as well.

It's similar to yours;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Well SOB, got the LHS to get the deans soldered on and went to charge the puffy pack and I got a low voltage reading error with or without the balancing plug plugged in. LHS guys said I might be able to revive it charging it as a Nicad but I have to watch the bejesus out of it to prevent a fire which aint worth the risk IMO. Now im out a deans plug and cost for LHS labor for a damn Lipo that never worked, I hate this crap

I hope my other HK lipo order has better luck. Whenever it gets here, stupid international air mail..............

Sorry for your loss, I've ordered dozens of packs and never had a problem. Don't let it discourage you, it was a fluke.

Hope you dont commit fraud on the customs ??? :whip:

Charge it as a nimh or nicd, and wait about 5 minutes, just sit there, read a book for 5 minutes or something.

After 5 minutes, try it again as a lipo.
Or try it as a liion, since the chemistry is near same, but liions are simply a .1volt lower, IIRC.

Same exact threads on multiple forums for something that can be easily resolved...

ive done it, its easy and not scary at all. i just have a duratrax charger it tells you where the voltage is at in nimh mode, just did it until it was over 9 volts. never had a problem since
Danny

freeze, since yours are 2s lipos, you want to stop charging once they get above 6v. 9v will likely cause a fire:lol:

what amp should I charge it at? My LHS said 1 amp should be fine. I"m so freaking scared of doing this in my apt thought....

1amp is fine, though I'd do it at .5amps if you're really worried...

you really should invest in a lipo sack or at least use an old pot if youre that worried. Violent lipo fires don't really occur unless you overcharge and puncture them. So keep a watchful eye and once the voltage is above 6v throw it into balance charge lipo mode.

Just tried charging at 1 amp for 5 mins on Nimh up to 4v. Nothing, it still sees low voltage when it does battery check for lipo balance charge for 2S . I can only charge it as a Lipo if I set it as 1S and non balance charge mode.

the minimum voltage for a lipo pack is ~2.75v/cell anything less the charger wont pick up. most probably wont take anything less than 3.0. You seriously don't have a multimeter?