Uh oh! TP 8000's problem

[fitenfyr]

Ok here is my "problem"
Took my ION out last Saturday and flew it for about 10 mintues between 2 flights checking out the new gearing and taking some photos.
I brought the packs home charged them with my 109's like I have done a dozen times before using my Cosels.
Both packs took 3300mah and were at 21v + . something. Everything was normal.

Now took it out today and did a 6 minute flight. Packed it up and moved to a different location about 30 minutes away for another shoot.
I noticed when I went to plug in the packs that I had only unplugged one pack by accident. No big deal plugged in the other and flew. Everything was great the heli flew just fine the packs, motor and ESC were not even warm when I got done with another 3:30 minute flight. Ambient temp was about 45 deg today. Brrrr.....:D

Put them on the chargers off the deep cycle in the truck. Went inside for about an hour and came out to find the chargers had tripped off due to low source voltage (10V), but both showed only .555 mah as being put in.

Took them home plugged them into the Cosels again and started charging.

One pack took 1550mah and was at 21.23v and the other took 4400mah and was at 21.02v.

Could the pack having been plugged into the ESC been discharging somehow even though it is a series system?
I mean how could it have completed a circuit? I don't have a BEC on there or anything that could draw power that I know of.
Even if that was the case I have found that 10 mintues will usually pull out about 3000mah out of the packs so why only 1550?

I am going to try a 5 minute flight in the coming days and charge them again to see the results before I send them in for a checkup.

Anybody have any suggestions, input or expereince with this?

[JonMann]

Jason,

My guess is that when the source voltage dropped, one of the chragers cut out sooner than the other (I have two 109's and one always drops out alot sooner than the other) so one pack was charged more than the other. I think the .555mah you saw on the chargers is bogus, I've seen that exact number on mine before when they experienced a low source voltage, apparently these chargers go into a weird mode when the source voltage drops (at least they stop charging and don't re-start or something like that).

One pack being plugged in alone is no problem, these are wired in series so there is no complete circuit for one of them to be drained.

I think you'll find that everything is OKay, if the voltages are good, the packs should be good.

[ChrisS]

Hi Jason

I concure with what Jon said and would also add to just do a very short test hover first when you "test" the system. Then plug the packs back into the charger and re-level them. The voltmeters on the chargers are not very accurate, I seriously doubt your voltages were anywhere even close to 21 volts/pack.

Something else to be aware of is that Lithium Polymer batteries loose a lot of performance when they are operated below 50 degrees (maybe even a little higher). They will still work just fine and you won't do any damage to them, but performance will fall off.

CHris

[fitenfyr]

Thanks guys.

I was pretty sure it was a charger error, but wanted someone else to tell me that. :D

I will stick with the plan and run about 5mins out of them then re-charge and see what I get.

Yeah you are right Chris the Ion was really sagging for the first couple minutes yesterday. Then the system warmed up and she got much better, but still not the good punch of the warmer temps.
I am just hauling the camera around so the little drop in power is not a big issue for the first few minutes.
I have been trying to keep the ship in the truck till the last minute though.
Yesterday I didn't plan on the second flight so she was in the back of the truck.
Poor thing was chilly. :D

[ChrisS]

It's ironic, the motor and control will love the cooler temps but the batteries will not...bummer. What you can do is keep your batteries on your defroster vents until ready to fly and then put them on the heli at the last minute.

Chris

[fitenfyr]

Good idea.
I will have to try that one.
I have just been keeping the whole ship in the truck till I am ready to put it on the mount, but that usually takes more time than slapping in the batteries.

[Tomas Ahl]

You could carry the batteries in the inside pocket of your jacket too, of course. Should keep them warm until they have to perform.

[fitenfyr]

Well looks like my "problem" really was one....

Went to charge today and found a swollen cell on the pack that was consitantly taking more charge.

Looks like my problems with TP are not over.
I suppose after all the ruckus I made earlier I will get these back around Christmas.

Anybody want to buy a set of TP 8000's for cheap and deal with TP?

[skippy]

Good luck with trying to get them repaired in a timely manner. The only way I solved the problem was switching over to Tanic. Great customer service and you don’t wait for months on end.

[fitenfyr]

Yep been there done that recently.

I am shopping for a new brand.
I think I have found a very reasonable priced cell with all the features I need.
If they work out well I will post my results here.
Should have something to post in a week or so.

[misskimo]

Good luck with trying to get them repaired in a timely manner. The only way I solved the problem was switching over to Tanic. Great customer service and you don’t wait for months on end.

hey , skippy , you mentioned great customer service , did you already have a problem ?
Im still debating on getting a set of cells , 13s2ps , 2 5s2ps and 1 3s2p for my Fury E , just because they wont back it up , even though Im not high amping what the cells can discharge.

Tony

[fitenfyr]

Tony,
Brian seemed pretty willing to back up the cells when I talked to him.
Now that is not to say that he will replace a cell for nothing, but he seemed to be willing to diagnose if the cell was the problem or the application pretty easily.