Mr Floppy said:
The difference is 3.6V is lithium cobalt, the 3.7V is lithium manganese. On the above mentioned turnigy hobby charger, there will be a LiCo setting and a LiPo setting. Respectively 3.6V and 3.7V. The difference there is the LiCo setting will charge to 4.1V and the LiPo will charge to 4.2V. I only use the LiPo, even for my 3.6V.
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Most of this is not correct. I can't speak to the specific charger, but everything else is general.
First, lithium polymer (LiPo) is a method of construction, which can be used with multiple cell chemistries. A LiPo could be LiCo, or lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), or something else. You CANNOT assume that a LiPo has a certain voltage without knowing the chemistry of the cell.
There is NO difference between 3.6 and 3.7 volt cells. It is simply a NOMINAL voltage, because every cell needs a reference point. In fact, either 3.6 or 3.7 volt cells have a fairly wide range. Fully charged, they are at 4.2 volts, and they can usually be discharged down to 2.75 or even 2.5 volts.
Lithium manganese (LiMn) and lithium cobalt (LiCo) both have a 3.6 or 3.7 volt nominal rating. You cannot tell which chemistry it is by that number alone. Some manufacturers have different nominal voltage ratings FOR THE SAME CELL. Why they do this, I don't know. 3.7 volt nominal allows a higher watt-hour rating, so most companies seem to use this, but there is no actual difference either way.
3.6*mAh = 12.2 watt-hours
3.7*mAh = 12.6 watt-hours
My Xtar VP2 has three settings:
3.2 volts (for LiFePO4) which actually charges to 3.6 volts max.
3.6 volts (for LiCo, LiMn) which actually charges to 4.2 volts max.
3.8 volts (for higher voltage cells, the LG D1 and E1 are examples, but there are others) which actually charges to 4.35 volts max.
You have to simply realize the rated voltage is a point within a broad range - you need to know the chemistry of a cell to determine which charge setting is appropriate. But the 3.6/3.7 volt debate is a red herring...there is no real difference.
Most of this is not correct. I can't speak to the specific charger, but everything else is general.First, lithium polymer (LiPo) is a method of construction, which can be used with multiple cell chemistries. A LiPo could be LiCo, or lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), or something else. You CANNOT assume that a LiPo has a certain voltage without knowing the chemistry of the cell.There is NO difference between 3.6 and 3.7 volt cells. It is simply a NOMINAL voltage, because every cell needs a reference point. In fact, either 3.6 or 3.7 volt cells have a fairly wide range. Fully charged, they are at 4.2 volts, and they can usually be discharged down to 2.75 or even 2.5 volts.Lithium manganese (LiMn) and lithium cobalt (LiCo) both have a 3.6 or 3.7 volt nominal rating. You cannot tell which chemistry it is by that number alone. Some manufacturers have different nominal voltage ratings FOR THE SAME CELL. Why they do this, I don't know. 3.7 volt nominal allows a higher watt-hour rating, so most companies seem to use this, but there is no actual difference either way.3.6*mAh = 12.2 watt-hours3.7*mAh = 12.6 watt-hoursMy Xtar VP2 has three settings:3.2 volts (for LiFePO4) which actually charges to 3.6 volts max.3.6 volts (for LiCo, LiMn) which actually charges to 4.2 volts max.3.8 volts (for higher voltage cells, the LG D1 and E1 are examples, but there are others) which actually charges to 4.35 volts max.You have to simply realize the rated voltage is a point within a broad range - you need to know the chemistry of a cell to determine which charge setting is appropriate. But the 3.6/3.7 volt debate is a red herring...there is no real difference.
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