Can LiPo batteries be charged in parallel?

General project help for Adafruit customers

Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit

Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
Locked
foodini
 
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:08 am

Can LiPo batteries be charged in parallel?

Post by foodini »

I have a project that needs a fair amount of power, but there's no way to fit a battery the size I need into a single space in the device (it's a torus.) I'd like to use 4-8 smaller batteries, wired in parallel. The discharge should be fine - I think - but I'm more fearful of the charging question. Am I ignorantly scheduling my demise by even thinking about this, or are lipos just as happy to operate in parallel as other battery types?

Thanks...

User avatar
dastels
 
Posts: 15662
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2015 3:22 pm

Re: Can LiPo batteries be charged in parallel?

Post by dastels »

LiPos in parallel is not a good idea unless their charge/discharge characteristics match perfectly. There are batteries containing multiple LiPo cells, but they are made in the factory where there is the selection of cells to pick from and the ability to measure them as required. It's not something that can be done safely at home.

Dave

Locked
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.

Return to “General Project help”