'arry 'eadspeed
04-20-2008, 07:42 PM
A couple of searches yielded nothing related to my problem, so here goes ....
I mostly use this fine instrument to charge TP 6s 5000 mAh packs at 5.0 Amps at home.
I have been using a Hobbico series 1000 (13.8v, 11.5A) power supply to feed it.
Today I decided to try feeding it from my car battery, so I can fly my TRex 600 for more flts at the flying field by recharging the packs there.
I made up a 5 ft length of thick (poss 14 gage) twin wires with spring clamps at one end and banana jacks at the other, into which I plug the charger.
I start the charge process and the current ramps up as usual, but only to about 4 Amps before the charger drops out with a warning about power supply failure. This drop-out coincides with a measured voltage of 11.77 at the banana plugs/jacks.
I realize I am dropping a bit of voltage along the wires ... inevitable at 5 A ... but this charger is rated for as low as 11.0 volts.
I have good clean car batt terminals and the clamps are new.
It looks like I will not be able to field-charge these packs, and I sure don't want to run the car engine to boost the voltage!
Any thoughts out there?
I mostly use this fine instrument to charge TP 6s 5000 mAh packs at 5.0 Amps at home.
I have been using a Hobbico series 1000 (13.8v, 11.5A) power supply to feed it.
Today I decided to try feeding it from my car battery, so I can fly my TRex 600 for more flts at the flying field by recharging the packs there.
I made up a 5 ft length of thick (poss 14 gage) twin wires with spring clamps at one end and banana jacks at the other, into which I plug the charger.
I start the charge process and the current ramps up as usual, but only to about 4 Amps before the charger drops out with a warning about power supply failure. This drop-out coincides with a measured voltage of 11.77 at the banana plugs/jacks.
I realize I am dropping a bit of voltage along the wires ... inevitable at 5 A ... but this charger is rated for as low as 11.0 volts.
I have good clean car batt terminals and the clamps are new.
It looks like I will not be able to field-charge these packs, and I sure don't want to run the car engine to boost the voltage!
Any thoughts out there?