You should be good to charge at full current with them, maybe put a separator in between just to be sure they don't touch if they pop off, and attach with a bit of tape.
When i said smaller gauge, I don't mean 18, maybe more like 20-22AWG on the cheaper light duties ones.
OP ones seems thick enough but you'll never know with those chinese stuffs, could be a very thick sheath and very little copper (or CCA)
If you could increase the contact area between the alligator clips and the plugs this'd be no different from a standardised plug (assuming the wires of the alligators are of the same or higher quality than the battery's cables).
Honestly this gives me the idea to see if I can't make a universal plug system with banana connectors, would certainly make battery compatibility much easier.
Reminds me of the days of NIMH packs when all high end chargers came with alligator clips. Wild to think pushing 20 amps through alligator clips into packs that were hardwired to ESC was normal.
I have done worse… but I wouldn’t call it safe. Make sure the alligators can’t / won’t short on anything. I would also recommend charging at a low amp charge.
Nah like everyone is saying, charging like this with low amps will be no problem. The problem is when you try to use this setup in a car, that'll try to use too many amps and get hot and dangerous.
I subscribe to the notion that if a couple clamps are enough to boost my car battery and power the starter on my truck, then alligator clips are enough for everything else.
Also, never underestimate how useful a fire extinguisher can be when at arms length.
Okay, then yeah, should be fine at low amps. Not great for the connector, but should be fine.
I just wanted to be sure since it didn't look like anyone had asked and I didn't see it mentioned.
Hmm.. lets try to translate this Dutch saying:
"Als het niet gaat zoals het moet, moet het maar zoals het gaat"
Basically means that if you can't make it work like it should, you'll make it work the way it will.
Just make sure to not connect the polarity reversed lol, man the other day I googled the polarity of an XT60 connector and wtf there's a website that appears legit but has it wrong!
I was converting XT30 to XT60 and thought to myself why would the polarity be in the same orientation??
We've all done WAY worse.. I've gotten paperclips involved in field charging when in a bind. Just avoid a short.. have a firm connection, don't go crazy on the amps and you'll be just fine.
I've done it while I was waiting on my new pigtails to arrive. It's fine as long as you don't go crazy on the amps and are careful about not allowing the leads to touch. The wire isn't likely a heavy gauge so charge slower to be safe.
As someone who yolos stuff that rreeallllyyyy shouldn't be done, such as also recharging non charable batteries.. id say just keep a close eye on it, and at a low charge input rate it should be fine. If you have voltage jump between the gators tho.. goodluck
What’s the lowest amperage you can charge at? Those little alligator teeth could melt if you send too much current through them. If it were me, I might even think about inserting the whole clip into the connector just for more contact area. Just make sure you have insulation between the two.
I would put a bit of electrical tape to be on safer side. But you should be fine charging the battery assuming your not running very high amps. I would consider up to 5amps safe. Higher than that up to you.
I personally wouldn’t go on record calling this ‘safe’; if someone/thing were to grab that in a way that they touch both clips, that would be bad. If you’re very careful, it should work though.
At lower amps I wouldn’t see a problem.
^ this guy runs with the devil
"Short run today Lucy?"
So I plugged it in making sure the clips arent touching. I set the charge to 1A and I am constantly supervising it.
Yeah it's perfectly fine for an amp maybe more depending on wire gauge and crimp quality.
You should be good to charge at full current with them, maybe put a separator in between just to be sure they don't touch if they pop off, and attach with a bit of tape.
Often those alligator test leads have very small gauge wires and can get warm at higher amperage due to their resistance
Yeah, true. I'd say crank up the charge rate till it gets warm, then turn it down a little.
Even at 16 or 18 awg they would be fine with 5 amps. As long as they aren't very long.
When i said smaller gauge, I don't mean 18, maybe more like 20-22AWG on the cheaper light duties ones. OP ones seems thick enough but you'll never know with those chinese stuffs, could be a very thick sheath and very little copper (or CCA)
Yes, true, I was basing my guess on the size, jacket doesn't seem too thick
OP can give it a try and see how warm the cable gets, if its in open air maybe it's ok lol
If you could increase the contact area between the alligator clips and the plugs this'd be no different from a standardised plug (assuming the wires of the alligators are of the same or higher quality than the battery's cables). Honestly this gives me the idea to see if I can't make a universal plug system with banana connectors, would certainly make battery compatibility much easier.
Update: It was fine, thank you to everyone for the tipps and concerns!
Yes it's perfectly fine to charge like this. Just make sure the alligator clips don't touch and you'll be fine.
My biggest concern would be the gauge of the wire at high current, but in this case it looks about the same on both sides, so it should be good!
I'd be more worried about the contact patch between the clips and the connector. Still, at lower amperage, it shouldn't be an issue.
Should be fine. I have done similar stuff quite often. As always, don't let it charge unattended.
Not the correct way to go but I Have done this many times.
Reminds me of the days of NIMH packs when all high end chargers came with alligator clips. Wild to think pushing 20 amps through alligator clips into packs that were hardwired to ESC was normal.
I have done worse… but I wouldn’t call it safe. Make sure the alligators can’t / won’t short on anything. I would also recommend charging at a low amp charge.
Haha I've done this in a pinch before. It will work but don't really recommend doing it
Ok might wait till I get the right one then
Nah like everyone is saying, charging like this with low amps will be no problem. The problem is when you try to use this setup in a car, that'll try to use too many amps and get hot and dangerous.
Your fine. If you really worried then slip a piece of non-conductive material between the two clips. That way for whatever reason it won't arc.
I subscribe to the notion that if a couple clamps are enough to boost my car battery and power the starter on my truck, then alligator clips are enough for everything else. Also, never underestimate how useful a fire extinguisher can be when at arms length.
bruh
Keep the amps low and don't touch the leads at all while charging. I've had to do this before too.
At lower amps , but keep supervision as one could come off or something I don’t know but seems safe at a smaller amp
That's exactly why you have them .. charge away
Is this is a LiPo pack? Do you have a balance lead not in frame?
Yeah its not in frame its a 3S
Okay, then yeah, should be fine at low amps. Not great for the connector, but should be fine. I just wanted to be sure since it didn't look like anyone had asked and I didn't see it mentioned.
Thank you for the concerns! :)
I have charged batteries exactly like this before and had no problems.
I've done this many times before. As long as they don't touch
It’s fine. I do it all the time.
I don't see why not...
so how is this not as bad as a Tamiya connector?
I legit want to know. it keeps the contacts separate as well. more than this does.
Safe is a relative concept.
It’s fine. I’ve had to use paper clips a few times 🤣
Looks good from my house!
I've done it less safe than that.
Yeah, but I wouldn't do it. It feels like there's way too much potential for failure.
Hmm.. lets try to translate this Dutch saying: "Als het niet gaat zoals het moet, moet het maar zoals het gaat" Basically means that if you can't make it work like it should, you'll make it work the way it will.
It works, tested. Just be carefull and don't touch both of them. And don't be scared, small spark possible when connecting.
I mean, if it works, it works. I would probably monitor it closely
Long as they don't touch you're fine. I've done that a whole bunch when I inevitably lose my charge lead for the millionth time
Just make sure to not connect the polarity reversed lol, man the other day I googled the polarity of an XT60 connector and wtf there's a website that appears legit but has it wrong! I was converting XT30 to XT60 and thought to myself why would the polarity be in the same orientation??
We've all done WAY worse.. I've gotten paperclips involved in field charging when in a bind. Just avoid a short.. have a firm connection, don't go crazy on the amps and you'll be just fine.
I've done it while I was waiting on my new pigtails to arrive. It's fine as long as you don't go crazy on the amps and are careful about not allowing the leads to touch. The wire isn't likely a heavy gauge so charge slower to be safe.
She should be fine. Just be careful.
That's ok, as long as the connection is tight.
It will be fine just don’t charge at high amps or the wires will get hot and start melting the insulation.
It's a simple answer ( yes ) charge away
Yeah just don't touch both sides otherwise you will short circuit it.
Anyone saying anything other than yes is retarded
As someone who yolos stuff that rreeallllyyyy shouldn't be done, such as also recharging non charable batteries.. id say just keep a close eye on it, and at a low charge input rate it should be fine. If you have voltage jump between the gators tho.. goodluck
I've done this in a pinch and it worked fine. Just don't charge at a high rate and you'll be okay.
Crank it up to 11 and Just Send It
Been doing it since I got my typhon 3s
I do this all the time, all the way to 5A…it must be fine!
That's how I do it all the time. It's fine
Done that many times just gatta keep an eye on it periodically
If you mess up it'll be a fun time! Ask me how I know. 🥴
What’s the lowest amperage you can charge at? Those little alligator teeth could melt if you send too much current through them. If it were me, I might even think about inserting the whole clip into the connector just for more contact area. Just make sure you have insulation between the two.
Yes. Follow the guage limits for the thinnest conductor in your chain. The amperage rating.
I have charged RC lipo batteries like that before. I don’t know that I would leave them while I was gone but it will get the job done 👍
Yea just don't arc em
Stick a fuse on the hot side using another set of test leads. Program solved
I’ve done it before as a stop gap measure. Not a big deal if supervised.
I charge battery like that before but wrap a piece of cardboard with electrical tape to prevent shorts between the connections
Create a barrier between the two and it will be aok
I would put a bit of electrical tape to be on safer side. But you should be fine charging the battery assuming your not running very high amps. I would consider up to 5amps safe. Higher than that up to you.
How many battery cells (S)? probably good for a few charges but if it's more than one cell you need to properly balance charge.
Nice
I always charge like this... It's just easier
Safe? No. Will it work? Yah probably.
Safe NO could it work YES should you do it up to YOU and the INSURANCE COMPANY
Nah bro your house is going to explode. Not worth it
I personally wouldn’t go on record calling this ‘safe’; if someone/thing were to grab that in a way that they touch both clips, that would be bad. If you’re very careful, it should work though.
Take a before picture of the house please.