Can I top balance a new lifeP04 pack with a 30amp DC bench power supply that does not have a current adjustment.

Pack is a 2P4S 12v built with 8 New 304ah Eve Cells.

"Charger" would be my trusty old regulated bench power supply that is voltage adjustable but NOT current adjustable. It's "rated" at 30amps and fused with an 8amp fuse on the input power side. Would hate to go buy another power supply when I have this one that works fine.

My math is 8 cells 2p4s configuration would be 608ah, the power supply would be set at 3.5vdc to start so even if it pulled 30 amps it would be just over 100w.

Don't want to fry my PS, please advise if I'm asking for trouble. Will the cells try to suck more current than the PS can tolerate and fry?

Thanks John

jcoop0001 said:

Pack is a 2P4S 12v built with 8 New 304ah Eve Cells.

"Charger" would be my trusty old regulated bench power supply that is voltage adjustable but NOT current adjustable. It's "rated" at 30amps and fused with an 8amp fuse on the input power side. Would hate to go buy another power supply when I have this one that works fine.

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As long as you can adjust the voltage, 30A is well under the charge max of a single cell. I see no problem, and I'm a little jelly.

jcoop0001 said:

My math is 8 cells 2p4s configuration would be 608ah, the power supply would be set at 3.5vdc to start so even if it pulled 30 amps it would be just over 100w.

Click to expand...

Good math. Would still follow the guide... and build the battery with the BMS installed and then charge the battery at 14.0V until BMS cut off.

jcoop0001 said:

Don't want to fry my PS, please advise if I'm asking for trouble.

Click to expand...

Ss long as you KNOW your PS can tolerate being connected to a battery, and it won't backfeed current into it (some sort of internal diode protection), should be fine.

jcoop0001 said:

Will the cells try to suck more current than the PS can tolerate and fry?

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Doubt it. The power supply can't provide more than 30A, so the voltage should just simply drop to just above battery/cell voltage and hang out there - slowly... VERY slowly creeping up as the cells/battery takes on charge.

You'll need to make some beefy leads for it.