Limited Amps on Input

[Batfish]

Here's my email to FMA and their response:

----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Young
To: Support
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 10:09 PM
Subject: BalancePro Packs


Hello,

I recently purchased the BalancePro 2s charger and two of the 2s2p BalancePro battery packs. In reading the manual I noticed that it states the packs' wiring limits current draw to 60 amps, even though the cells are rated higher.
What happens if I put the packs in an application that normally spikes above 60 amps? I planned on using these packs in project vehicles, one of which is a 1/8th scale buggy electric conversion. This vehicle, with it's brushless ESC and motor, can easily spike 100 amps and may draw more than 60 amps during racing conditions.
If my application asks more than 60 amps from the BalancePro 2s2p pack, will the pack fail? will the wiring fail? or will it simply only offer up 60 amps for my application to work with?

I look forward to your answer and explanation/description.

Thank you,

Joe

------------------
Dear Joe,

The limitation is set by the connector, it can handle a maximum continuous discharge of 60 amps. It can handle more current for momentary spikes but be careful not to overheat the wiring. You can parallel another connector to pull the maximum current from the pack. I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Howard G. Matos
Technical Support
301-668-4280


FMA Direct, Inc.
5716A Industry Lane
Frederick, MD 21704
Website: www.fmadirect.com

This sounds to me like he's saying the Dean's-type battery connector won't handle more than 60 amps. I don't think he's talking about the wiring inside the pack.
Anyone know if parallel-ing another connecter (as he mentions) just means to splice another into the battery leads?
Lastly, I'm assuming that since my PowerPole connectors already handle the amps I'm putting through the system with nimh, if I put PowerPoles on the lipos I won't have any troubles.

Thoughts?

Thanks for your help.

[RC-Monster Mike]

The Deans will handle the amp spikes as well.

[Batfish]

Originally posted by RC-Monster Mike
The Deans will handle the amp spikes as well.

Yep - I'm aware of that :)
I've become a PowerPole guy, though. Also, since they don't specifically say that the connector is a "Dean's", it may be that they are of inferior quality and a knock-off.

Now that the weather is actually cooling off, I've come down with some sort of plague ...don't know what I'll be able to get done this weekend.:P:

[Batfish]

I sent another email to FMA support asking if the internal connections would have any problems keeping up with the amps, provided the battery connector could keep up.
The reply I received was "It will not effect the other wiring."

So, for anyone else concerned about the 60 amp limit listed for the FMA/Kokam packs - as long as you have a capable battery connector you should be able to get the full draw out of the packs and ignore the 60 amp limit issue.

I'm glad I got this settled with FMA.

Thanks to all who responded.