Originally Posted by CowtownPeddler

I just picked up the same set, but I also got the 36v 6a charger. See my thread http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...my-first-eBike for lessons learned. I have a lot of hardware hacking experience and Morph did provide some good advice. I didn't get the balancers because my plan was to use an RC Balancing Charger designed to charge 4 banks of LiFePO4 cells (6 hooked in series per bank). I did otherwise and pulled the packs apart and rewired them to make the batteries of 6 cells each. I then used Anderson 30A connector cables I got with my kit to make a wiring harness to put the two batteries in series to bring it up to 36v. The 6 cell count is because the RC charger will balance 6 cells at a time per bank.

Again, I'm "learning as I go", so I'll be updating the thread....

Balancers (as I understand it) act to equalize the cell voltages within each pack whereas a BMS will prevent a cell from discharging below 2.8v and cut the cell off from charging when it hits 3.85v.... Balancing would still be required for a BMS-equipped system (again, I may be wrong.)