can you run 2p using different C ratings?

[WhatRLaws4]

I asked in the battery thread, and no response. I have a set of Dinogy 65c packs, and a set of Turnigy 40c packs. All 4s 5000mah. Could i run a 65c and a 40c parallel, then series it with the other 65c and 40c parallel for 8s2p 10000mah, or do they all need to be the same C rating?

[lenny]

No, That is not a good idea to do.
They need to be all the same C, And Brands, And Mah, To do that right.

[kwiktsi]

From what I always understood, you CAN mix C rating and mah in PARALLEL but the voltage has to be the same. To run in series, they must be the same or the smaller pack will be destroyed. In parallel, you are combining the capacity, so one 4000 and one 6000 would still be 10000mah total capacity.

[driftah]

personally I would never do it, Asking for a ball o fire

[ozzie-crawl]

From what I always understood, you CAN mix C rating and mah in PARALLEL but the voltage has to be the same. To run in series, they must be the same or the smaller pack will be destroyed. In parallel, you are combining the capacity, so one 4000 and one 6000 would still be 10000mah total capacity.

If draw is equal from each pack the 4000mah could go below its safe discharge before the low volt cuts in as the esc would see total voltage. This could cause the lipo to self destruct.

[keithbradley]

If draw is equal from each pack the 4000mah could go below its safe discharge before the low volt cuts in as the esc would see total voltage. This could cause the lipo to self destruct.

Doesn't work that way Ozzie. Packs connected in parallel are equalized. They would both be the same voltage at the end of the run.

[WhatRLaws4]

There is enough speculation for me not to try it. Looks like I gotta get more lipos.

[kwiktsi]

What Keith said is the truth. Heck, you can even google search it and I'm sure you'll find plenty of info on it. When in parallel, they combine the amperage. You are thinking of them as two different packs when in all reality, it is one larger pack once paralleled. The only way you would overdraw the "smaller" pack would be if the larger pack became disconnected and taken out of the loop altogether. Just like you can have two different packs at two different states of charge- say 11.5v and the other at 12v and once you parallel them together, the voltage equalizes between the two packs in short time. We are not talking about series, we are talking parallel, it's basic electricity 101 :D. I personally don't do it "just because", but in actuality, it is perfectly fine.

Just to reiterate- this does NOT hold true for packs in series, series will only give you what the smallest pack puts out :).

[ozzie-crawl]

Doesn't work that way Ozzie. Packs connected in series are equalized. They would both be the same voltage at the end of the run.

No I was talking in relation to what was qouted about 2 packs in parallel 1x4000mah and 1 x 6000mah.
I could still be very wrong but when I run 2p setups both packs discharge the same amount (close enough)
Would not both packs discharge the same allowing the smaller capacity battery to use more than 80% of its capacity.
Or will it draw more from the larger pack ?
My thought would be if a 6000mah pack has 50% more capacity it would then have to discharge 50% more power than the 4000 pack ???

[ozzie-crawl]

What Keith said is the truth. Heck, you can even google search it and I'm sure you'll find plenty of info on it. When in parallel, they combine the amperage. You are thinking of them as two different packs when in all reality, it is one larger pack once paralleled. The only way you would overdraw the "smaller" pack would be if the larger pack became disconnected and taken out of the loop altogether. Just like you can have two different packs at two different states of charge- say 11.5v and the other at 12v and once you parallel them together, the voltage equalizes between the two packs in short time. We are not talking about series, we are talking parallel, it's basic electricity 101 :D. I personally don't do it "just because", but in actuality, it is perfectly fine.

Just to reiterate- this does NOT hold true for packs in series, series will only give you what the smallest pack puts out :).

I understand parallel as I have equalized plenty of same amperage packs by connecting them togethor.
Under discharge they must still be constantly equalizing then ??

[kwiktsi]

I understand parallel as I have equalized plenty of same amperage packs by connecting them togethor.
Under discharge they must still be constantly equalizing then ??

Exactly :). I just noticed Keith said "series", I'm going to assume that was a typo. You can run different MAH in parallel, not in series. I have run them in series in a pinch before, but you have to mind your run time and it puts a whooping on the smaller pack! In series, the smaller pack will always discharge first so if you were to run to LVC, you'd trash it.

[ozzie-crawl]

Well the days I learn something new are good days. I have gotten a few of those lately ;-)

[kwiktsi]

We all do :).

[keithbradley]

Exactly :). I just noticed Keith said "series", I'm going to assume that was a typo.

Yup. I only noticed it when Ozzie quoted it...amazing what I can type when my mind wanders. One of these days I'm going to put my bank account number in a post without knowing it.lol

[kwiktsi]

Yup. I only noticed it when Ozzie quoted it...amazing what I can type when my mind wanders. One of these days I'm going to put my bank account number in a post without knowing it.lol

Feel free to PM me that info :D.