Charger or Battery the problem?

[ryanbatc]

I've had my SC LP for a few years now, I had the original HZ 1300mah battery.  Shortly after I bought the SC I purchased another PZ 1300mah battery (http://www.amazon.com/11-1V-1300mAh-LiPo-Battery-Connector/dp/B001JEXYK4/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1432159788&sr=1-1&keywords=parkzone+1300mah).  Been using both for about 3 years.

Spring finally arrived here in the northern part of the world and I wanted to take my SC out.  Unfortunately the charger isn't charging either battery (the two originals).  I had the stock charger (http://www.wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/77548/) with the stock adapter.  I also threw away my HZ battery because it was very puffy just now.

I went to the hobby store and he recommended this reasonably priced Reflex 2-3S charger: www.radientrc.com/reflex/  - I also bought another new battery.

While I was at the shop the guy tested my PZ battery and he said it appeared fine.  At home my stock charger won't charge it.  I plugged in the new charger and that gives me an error when I try to charge it.  I checked with my multimeter and the PZ battery says around 12.35v.  Seems high for a 11.1v battery.  Or maybe I'm measuring it wrong?  FWIW the new battery reads about 11.3v... seems fine.

Anyway, the new battery charges just fine in my original charger and the new charger.  So is it safe to say the shop's tester is giving an erroneous "good to go" reading on my PZ battery?

[Knackered Sailor]

I'm sure you'll get more fulsome replies but for now I'd say get a decent Balance Charger, the stock one is dead basic. Secondly all my batteries when fully charged will be around 12.7v; it's like a a 12v car battery should be over 13v. (don't ask me why) lol Finally without a proper charger you would not be able to long store your batteries at 70% charged so damage can occur if above or below this for long periods.

[flydiver]

May 21, 2015 8:40:04 GMT 1 @thingy said:

Secondly all my batteries when fully charged will be around 12.7v; it's like a a 12v car battery should be over 13v. (don't ask me why) lol Finally without a proper charger you would not be able to long store your batteries at 70% charged so damage can occur if above or below this for long periods.

I hope that's a memory error, not a real voltage reading. Max voltage on a single cell is 4.2v > 12.6v for 3s. Not a huge overcharge but should be looked in to.
NOMINAL (mid-level) voltage is 3.7v > 11.1 for 3S.

***
You just bought a slightly better charger of the same general sort. It's time to step up to a full readout balance charger so you KNOW what is going on. Do NOT buy an IMAX B6 (lots of junk fakes), but an Accucel-6 or other charger of a similar function would work great.
With the stock charger and what you just bought you don't have a clue.

To test the individual cells you need a digital volt meter:
[Measure 1&2, 2&3, 3&4 wires at the balance tap. That will give each individual cell.
DO NOT TOUCH THE PROBES TOGETHER - SHORT! BAD!!!
You should get all cells above 3.0v.
If not you have a lipo problem-bad cell/over discharged or broken tap wire likely
If all cells are OK, and the tap is OK, then you have a charger problem. ]

As KS said, if you store your batteries fully charged for months > you end up with junk batteries. You want a storage function on a charger. Minimally you want to discharge to about 50% when in storage. You can do that with the motor and a voltmeter.