Blade 400 e-flite charger issue?

[dornier]

Hi everyone,

I have the Blade 400 kit and have a question about the charger supplied with the kit. I plugged in the battery and had three solid green lights and one red solid light. Later in the charge process I had three flashing green/red lights and a solid red light which indicates a charge error. Anyone have the same issue?

Thanks,

GP

[BKF]

What's supplying the 12VDC power? A car battery?

[dornier]

What's supplying the 12VDC power? A car battery?

I'm using a 20amp 12volt (13.8 volts) power supply that I used for my ham radios. It works perfectly with my cellpro 4s.

Thanks,

GP

[BKF]

I was hoping you were gonna say you were using some 1.5 amp 12VDC PS, but no such luck...

Just for the heck of it, have you tried hooking it directly to a car battery with the supplied clips and see if it takes a charge?

I don't have an AC charger yet (I've got one of those portable jump starters on order), so I've been using my car battery and it's worked for 3 charges now. I also made sure to keep the charger on its side, since it's got the fan on the bottom to exhaust heat. You don't want it laying down on the fan side, or it can't exhaust.

[LockMD]

I've been using 7amp 12volt alarm panel batteries and periodically charge them too. Maybe the voltage is too low from your source and needs recharging in itself?

just a thought.

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

You can use an old computer power supply , it has a 12V output on it. Cost? Free. most people have an old unused PC around somewhere. As far as the charger is concerned, call Horizon Hobby and explain the problem to them, Im sure they can resolve it.

[LockMD]

You can use an old computer power supply , it has a 12V output on it. Cost? Free. most people have an old unused PC around somewhere. As far as the charger is concerned, call Horizon Hobby and explain the problem to them, Im sure they can resolve it.

I've heard this mentioned many times, could you explain this in greater detail? I'm not good with electronics but do have some old pc's laying around.

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

Remove power supply and all its wiring from the PC, plug it into the wall. Get a multimeter and set it for DC voltage,. check the wiring for 12volts ( It usually more like 14 volts) and use those wires you found to power the charger. Its very easy, but you have to use a meter to find the correct source as the power supply also puts out other voltages on different wires. As long as you dont take the power supply apart you should be very safe to use it.

[fixit]

dornier
You mustn’t have read the manual first; it tells you what the leds are for

[LockMD]

You can use an old computer power supply , it has a 12V output on it. Cost? Free. most people have an old unused PC around somewhere. As far as the charger is concerned, call Horizon Hobby and explain the problem to them, Im sure they can resolve it.

So its safe to touch? Your not talking of cutting the end of the chord off, but something from inside the pc yes? got any pics, that would be very helpful. Thanks.

[LockMD]

I'm using a 20amp 12volt (13.8 volts) power supply that I used for my ham radios. It works perfectly with my cellpro 4s.

Thanks,

GP


How do you like that cellpro 4s? I was thinking of getting one, can you actually hook it to your pc and keep a database/log of your individual batteries' status/performance?

[dornier]

dornier
You mustn’t have read the manual first; it tells you what the leds are for

Hi,

I read the manual and it states a charge error has occurred. I just wanted to see if anyone else has seen the same error.

Thanks,

GP

[dornier]

How do you like that cellpro 4s? I was thinking of getting one, can you actually hook it to your pc and keep a database/log of your individual batteries' status/performance?

I like the charger since all I have to do is plug in the battery. By the way, FMA is awesome! I ordered the adapter for the e-flite battery on Thursday and got the adapter today (Saturday). Charged the e-flite battery today and it charged it perfectly.

I'm not sure if I can connect it to my PC.

Thanks,

GP

[dornier]

I was hoping you were gonna say you were using some 1.5 amp 12VDC PS, but no such luck...

Just for the heck of it, have you tried hooking it directly to a car battery with the supplied clips and see if it takes a charge?

I don't have an AC charger yet (I've got one of those portable jump starters on order), so I've been using my car battery and it's worked for 3 charges now. I also made sure to keep the charger on its side, since it's got the fan on the bottom to exhaust heat. You don't want it laying down on the fan side, or it can't exhaust.


I haven't tried the charger on the side. You might be on to something since the fan is on the bottom and the supplied feet are really short. I will give it a try next time.

Thanks,

GP

[b400]

yeah it happen to me the same thing today. It was my very first charge. A 1800 mah 11.1v Blade 400 battery. 3 flashing light and 1 solid red, so I read in the manuel. Charging error. I call Horizon Hobby, I explain the problem and they resolve it by shipping me another battery, the 2100 mAH. :lol:

b400

[dornier]

yeah it happen to me the same thing today. It was my very first charge. A 1800 mah 11.1v Blade 400 battery. 3 flashing light and 1 solid red, so I read in the manuel. Charging error. I call Horizon Hobby, I explain the problem and they resolve it by shipping me another battery, the 2100 mAH. :lol:

b400

I better call them.

Thanks,

GP

[fdrotormedic]

I have only had this issue with the ac/dc charger. The 12-voly alligator clip charger works fine.

[fdrotormedic]

By the way, the AC adapter for the Blade 400 charger is not yet available. It needs to be a 3amp 12volt converter. The previous E-Flite charger is only 1.5amp and it overheats when used with the newer balancing charger.

[hondahirny]

It's also possible that the battery is badly imbalanced and confusing the charger. I had that happen with the new Align battery that came with my trex kit. After I ran it on my balancer for an hour, things have been fine since. If you're able to properly charge and discharge that pack with your Cellpro, try the eflite charger again. It may become happy with the battery again. If cycling that battery a couple of times with a quality charger/balancer doesn't fix it, then definitely get Horizon to make this right.

Your 20amp supply is more than enough for your RC charging needs. I use a cheap 10A switching supply with great success. 73's from N9ZTZ

[Hawk_Sport]

i have the same one and i plugged my battery in and all i get are all the lights blinking. the green ones go green and red flashinin and the charge one blinks red. ? i am using a 12 battery in my field box to use on the charger. the fan does not spin up on this either. what could be a problem with it? or would i have to send it in? if i have to send it in i'll just throw it out and wait till my new charger shows up on friday. thanks all.

[ENDO1]

I had the same problem. The 12v supply was bad