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Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: frank26080115 on January 03, 2008, 06:46:10 PM

Title: Li-Ion Charging 4 Parallel Cells at Once
Post by: frank26080115 on January 03, 2008, 06:46:10 PM

Can I use a single MCP73831T-3ACI/OT li-ion charger chip to charge 4 parallel li-ion cells at once? Or should I charge them one at a time?

Title: Re: Li-Ion Charging 4 Parallel Cells at Once
Post by: HDL_CinC_Dragon on January 03, 2008, 07:19:00 PM

im pretty sure your supposed to charge them on separate circuits

Title: Re: Li-Ion Charging 4 Parallel Cells at Once
Post by: frank26080115 on January 03, 2008, 07:20:18 PM

But I'll be using them together in parallel too, wouldn't the charge in each cell be equal?

Title: Re: Li-Ion Charging 4 Parallel Cells at Once
Post by: HDL_CinC_Dragon on January 03, 2008, 07:33:55 PM

If your charge was designed specifically to be able to charge multiple batteries at once then there shouldnt be a problem but if im not mistaken, trying to charge multiple batteries in parallel or series on a circuit designed for only one can increase the risk of damaging the batteries. Im not extremely familiar with Li-ion batteries so im not sure how they would react to an over charge or something of that nature...

Title: Re: Li-Ion Charging 4 Parallel Cells at Once
Post by: Admin on January 07, 2008, 12:34:15 PM

Li-Ion batteries are sensitive to charge current, so putting cells in parallel changes the current. Most Li-Ion chargers actually detect the cells before charging.

The datasheet should specifically say how many cells it can charge and the cell configuration/voltage.

If you aren't sure, send us a datasheet link . . .