Taking Bets: how long to top balance?

[SendIt]

My charger is on order, but I figured I’d start top balancing with my chineesium psu. We are currently at 3.315 volts with the psu set to 3.65 @ no load.

Bets on how many months it takes???

 

[TomC4306]

It will go faster if you replace the black and red wires that came with the power supply.
Heavier gauge wire and ring terminals.
What capacity cells?

 

[Ampster]

It could take months is lf you are using alligator clips and banana jacks. As mentioned above, the safe bet is that it will take less time and be more accurate if you use ring terminals. At 5 Amps the wire size might not matter.

 

[TomC4306]

Assuming 280ah cells, x8 = 2240 ah.
Assuming you charge at 8 amps = 280 hours.
Assuming 50% state of charge, about 6 days.

 

[SendIt]

Wow, so upgraded to ring terminals and a short run of 10g wire and we are current limited at 10A. Crazy.

 

[Bud Martin]

Your power supply is not even in CC mode right now, it is in CV mode, did you turn the current setting pot to the max? you need to change to lager wire gauge and ring terminals, your setup is limiting the charging current, there are so many thread about issue due to poor wiring.

 

[Ampster]

a short run of 10g wire and we are current limited at 10A. Crazy

A short run of 10 AwG should be good for at least 30 Amps. The alligator clips and banana jacks are probably losing Amps from the 5 Amps your PSU says and what is probably getting to cells.

 

[Bud Martin]

Example of what good size wires and connectors can do:

Thicker Wires Top Balancing makes huge difference!!

I made thicker leads for my Bench Top Power supply, and this made a huge difference while charging the batteries. Went from 3.6 amps in Constant Voltage with the tiny terminals that came with the power supply to 10 amps in constant current mode for the 10 AWG wires. This should cut down charge...

diysolarforum.com

 

[RV10flyer]

None for me since I bought good cells and JK BMS’s.

 

[SendIt]

Wow, so upgraded to crimped terminals and a short run of 10g wire and we are current limited at 10A. Crazy.

A short run of 10 AwG should be good for at least 30 Amps. The alligator clips and banana jacks are probably losing Amps from the 5 Amps your PSU says and what is probably getting to cells.

*current limited to 10A by my crappy PSU after upgrading the wiring.
I'm trying to find a manual for my BMS, and then I'll set up a pre-charge in parallel. This is just a temporary setup while I work out the kinks in the charger.