New Bantam e-Station Support Forum

[RC Accessory]

Welcome to the Bantam e-Station Support forum. I would like to thank Helifreak for the opportunity to share information regarding the Bantam e-Station product line with everyone.

The intention of the support forum is to help anyone who needs questions answered before a purchase of a Bantam product or post sale support. All questions are fine as long as they pertain to the Bantam products and not flamatory towards other products or brands.

I ask that everyone be respectful of each other as the creed for which Helifreak was founded, "Fun, Learning, Friendship and Mutual Respect".

As time goes on I plan to add FAQ's, helpful tips, and other useful information that I hope everyone does find useful.

Welcome. :lol:

[WayneBrown]

where's the free samples? :)

[RC Accessory]

where's the free samples? :)

We'll have to work on something...:thumbup:

[JEEPWORLD2002]

i have a bantum 902 charger it is about 2 yrs old. I dont see any where how to charge or update my charger for a123 batteries. It does have a secection for 3.6v lipo/ion and 3.7v lipo.ion. But nothing on the a123 or life ? or does the above selection do it ?

[WillJames]

where's the free samples? :)
:roll::arggg:

[RC Accessory]

i have a bantum 902 charger it is about 2 yrs old. I dont see any where how to charge or update my charger for a123 batteries. It does have a secection for 3.6v lipo/ion and 3.7v lipo.ion. But nothing on the a123 or life ? or does the above selection do it ?


If you go to the User Setup, Lithium Type, you should have 2 or 3 options. If you only have 2, Li-Ion and Li-Poly, then you have either V1 or V2 of the charger. If you have the Fast and Storage charge programs, then you have V2.

To update to V3, the 902 does have to be sent back into the factory for the update. The charger is also recalibrated too.

The update is at no charge, you just have to pay freight. You can send it to your dealer to send in for you or I can send it for you myself. Please contact me privately if you would like to do the update.

[WayneBrown]

:roll::arggg:
what? I'm innocent :)
Evan sells a good product at a reasonable price, and his customer service is outstanding.
I got what I expected with that post, some traffic in here. :):)

[RC Accessory]

i have a bantum 902 charger it is about 2 yrs old. I dont see any where how to charge or update my charger for a123 batteries. It does have a secection for 3.6v lipo/ion and 3.7v lipo.ion. But nothing on the a123 or life ? or does the above selection do it ?

Jeep, I have a great "trick" for you.

If you have the 902 V2, you can do this. To know if you have the V2, go to the lipo function and if you have the Fast and Storage programs, you have the V2.

Set the Lithium Type to Li-Ion in the User Setup. Charge your A123's using the Storage charge function. The Storage Charge function will terminate the charge at 3.75V per cell. A123's normally terminate at 3.6V per cell, but they do not have any issues accepting a slight over charge. 3.75V per cell will not damage them at all.

[JEEPWORLD2002]

yup I have a v2. cool thanks for the tip. Do you also sell the heli tachs from them. if so do you have any ? How much I have been wanting one but havent got one yet ? Does it come with the li-ion upgrade or what batt comes with it ?

[RC Accessory]

yup I have a v2. cool thanks for the tip. Do you also sell the heli tachs from them. if so do you have any ? How much I have been wanting one but havent got one yet ? Does it come with the li-ion upgrade or what batt comes with it ?

Helimaster: http://www.rcaccessory.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=135

This is the latest version. Not Li-ion, but 1000 mah nimh.

Evan

[kevinvandeusen]

Evan, I just got my BC-6, it looks good. How do I know when it is done charging, also what is the number that counts up as it charges?

[RC Accessory]

Evan, I just got my BC-6, it looks good. How do I know when it is done charging, also what is the number that counts up as it charges?

When done, the charger will beep and display "FULL".

That is the total mah that was put in the battery or removed (discharged) from the battery.

[kevinvandeusen]

thanks for the quick answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kevinvandeusen]

whoops, one more, when it is done, what is the problem of leaving it connected, is it harmful if I do not get right to it?

[RC Accessory]

whoops, one more, when it is done, what is the problem of leaving it connected, is it harmful if I do not get right to it?

Not at all. I would not leave it on the charger all day, but it won't be an issue.

[tricky dicky]

I have a Bantam BC8. I was trying to charge 6S 2500Mah lipo batteries (25C) today. After I set the charger up to charge, I then pressed the start button (battery check) and the charger comes up with the same error message on ALL the batteries - as per the manual saying that there are dead cells/cells with very low voltage. I tried this with all 6 batteries and the charger showed this error message each time. I then changed the connections on the connector, and then the charger charged the battery - I think. The problem is that the display showed the voltage of C5 and C6 as zero but C1 to C4 all showed various voltages?

So why isnt the voltage displayed for C5 and C6?

[RC Accessory]

I have a Bantam BC8. I was trying to charge 6S 2500Mah lipo batteries (25C) today. After I set the charger up to charge, I then pressed the start button (battery check) and the charger comes up with the same error message on ALL the batteries - as per the manual saying that there are dead cells/cells with very low voltage. I tried this with all 6 batteries and the charger showed this error message each time. I then changed the connections on the connector, and then the charger charged the battery - I think. The problem is that the display showed the voltage of C5 and C6 as zero but C1 to C4 all showed various voltages?

So why isnt the voltage displayed for C5 and C6?

Sounds like a defective balance board on the 6S socket.

[tricky dicky]

I hear what you say, but the batteries were run through two BC8's, with exactly the same problem - could this be possible? BTW, I have previously successfully charged batteries on the BC8.

[RC Accessory]

I hear what you say, but the batteries were run through two BC8's, with exactly the same problem - could this be possible? BTW, I have previously successfully charged batteries on the BC8.


Did you use the same balance connection board on both chargers? You need to elliminate the components one by one to see what is known to be good.

The chances of multiple batteries being defective or 2 BC-8 both showing the same issue is slim, so it must be some other component. Charge cable, balance connection board, ect.

[wannaheli]

I have an Align battery. Which balance board do I need for the BC6? The EAC124, EAC128, or EAC144. If I get the EAC144, would it be ok to charge just one battery or do I always have to charge two 3S batteries with it. I have never used Lipo before and my head is spinning from all the plugs out there.

[RC Accessory]

I have an Align battery. Which balance board do I need for the BC6? The EAC124, EAC128, or EAC144. If I get the EAC144, would it be ok to charge just one battery or do I always have to charge two 3S batteries with it. I have never used Lipo before and my head is spinning from all the plugs out there.

EAC124 is for Align
EAC123 is for Polyquest
EAC128 is for Kokam
EAC129 is for Thunderpower/Flightpower

The EAC144 is for Align which can do 2 3S packs or 3 2S packs. You can use it for 1 3S or 1 2S as well. I would not recommend that you not get the EAC144 board as this board was designed for situations where you discharge 2 identical packs in the aircraft at the same time so you can charge them together. For single battery use, I would not recommend it.

[wannaheli]

Talk about service! Thank you for the fast, Evan. Based on your recommendation, I think I will get the EAC124. Since I'm new to Lipo, this is probably not the time to charge two packs at the same time and getting something wrong. I'll take baby steps. Safety first.

[tricky dicky]

Evan thanks for the quick reply. Now I have done more investigation and can explain to you more closely the problem.

1) I have had the batteries all checked on a voltmeter this morning and all are around the 25V mark, which indicates they are fully charged.

2) So I used the one battery on my Heli this morning and then decided to re-charge it.

3) I put the battery on the charger and this is what happens - The charger gives me an error message - "BATTERY VOL ERR CELL HIGH VOL". The 2 connections from the battery was made on the connection board in the 6-8 series ports (side by side)

4) Then I changed the connections on the connection board to the 1-3 series port and the other battery connection went into the 4-5 series port (one behind the other)

4) The battery then charges, but it indicates C4, C5 and C6 has having ZERO voltage.

Why I am I having these problems? I cant understand this? It's probably a simple error but I cant fathom this one out.

Please help me.

Cheers.

[RC Accessory]

Based on youtr last post, I would guess that you are using either a Thunderpower or Flightpower lipo.

For a 6S pack, you MUST use the 6-8S sockets (2 of them). Do not use the other ones. If you use the other ones you do not have the last 2 cells connected to the balancer. Hence, the balancer is seeing 4 cells, the charger is seeing 6 cells, the charger creates the error message.

I still think that you have a EAC139 board that needs replaced.

[tricky dicky]

Evan, thanks buddy, at least I know which ports are the correct ones to plug into. I will get the connection board replaced - pity, as they are brand new.

You are 100% correct, I am using Evo Flight power batteries.

Just as matter of protocol, what is the correct procedure when charging the batteries - what is plugged in first and when is it appropriate to switch on the power i.e. do you make all connections, then switch on the charger, or is it OK to have the charger on before making the connections to the battery/connection board?

I will check with my friend the model code of the connection board, but the code you mentioned sounds familiar.

Cheers

Richard Cohen