@Will Prowse @FilterGuy @snoobler
Looking at the operation of these bench top power supplys, you can either use as a regulator source or a steady flow source. In the regulator mode, you adjust the current knob clockwise to maximum, adjust voltage to the value required then connect the load. In this case the CV led is illuminated.
In steady flow mode, you adjust the voltage knob to the required voltage, adjust the current to minimum, connect the load, then adjust to the current value you wish. In this case the CC led is lit.
Now, in Will's video(at around 3:20), he appears to do the first, by cranking up the amps to full, before connecting the load/battery bank.
When i done this in my top balance, the current/wattage continually fell all the way through the charge, whilst the voltage climbed up to the set point.
I had been expecting the current to remain static up until the set point was reached and then see the expected fall off in current, but that didn't happen. However, i felt i was following the instructions given....so this had to be correct.
Looking at charging charts, the first phase is the CC phase where the current remains constant.....so, this begs the question, did i set up my bench top supply wrongly? Should it be set up for steady flow, so that the current remains the same till the voltage hits the 3.65v, then expect it to drop? Unfortunately, having zero experience in all this, i made the assumption, that the falling current/wattage input all the way through was a function of the bench top power supply providing less than the needed 0.05C end point charging current, not that i had screwed up following the instructions provided in wills video.
Hoping this makes sense and that someone can illuminate. When top balancing, should the CV led or the CC led be lit up until the voltage reaches 3.65v?