batteries dying....

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 11:01 AM

Hey guys,

Well I seem to be having an issue I can not solve and need your help. Recently I purchased a couple zippys from hobby king along with a new charger, the GT-A6 with the 6 cell adapter so I can charge 2 batts at once. Well recently it seems the rpms on my 400 while hovering are goign up and down, probably an indication of bad battery packs? It does not do it on my new zippys (yet) but has started to do it on all 4 of my eflite packs. The only other upgrades I have done recently is a align 6v 35x esc and aluminum tail. Could my new charger be killing all my batteries somehow? I hope I am not doing something wrong. My charger if set to balance always takes 120 mins, whether its one pack or two.....

I don't know, but hopefully all my packs are not dying at once...kinda weird eh?

Thanks for any help,

Slyster · 03-30-2009, 11:14 AM

How far are you discharging them? Should stop after 6 mins or so of flying.. .or better yet to 80% discharge...that's a real common cause of dead lipos. That.. and storing them fully charged more than a couple days!

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 11:22 AM

I don't think I discharge them too much. I normally only fly 4-5 mins/pack. Normally they check out at 3.8v/cell when done.

Could it be my new charger do you think?

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 11:23 AM

I forgot to mention, it does this immediately even when the pack is fully charged.

mr2mkii · 03-30-2009, 11:36 AM

So is it ONLY doing this with the new zippy's or all battery packs you have? If it's all, then I would start by ensuring your throttle signal itself was good, and connections to the RX are good. If those are functioning properly, I'd look into the ESC next. Does it do it on the ground, or just loaded in the air?

Slyster · 03-30-2009, 11:58 AM

Oh yeah... if the ESC is getting really hot.. you lose power... feel it after it stops and see if it is too hot to touch. Can you spin the main rotors pretty freely? They should spin at least 3 maybe even over 4 times before they stop when spun fast by your finger.

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 01:01 PM

I have 4 old eflights (1yr) and 2 new zippys. It only started off doing it on 1 of the eflights, and is now doing it on all 4. The zippys have not started yet, but they have so much juice I am wondering if I am just not noticing it yet.

ESC is only warm, so I am pretty sure thats not it.

Could my new charger be overcharging the cells? It seems cell3 is lower on all of my packs when charged.

Man, what a frustrating problem.

BIG-BOB · 03-30-2009, 01:10 PM

How many cycles do you have on your eflite packs?

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 01:22 PM

not sure, I might guess 100 times approx. I have used them for about 1.5 years. I don't expect a lot more life.....but them all dying at once makes me wonder about the charger...

Penguin · 03-30-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlsider@rogers.com

not sure, I might guess 100 times approx. I have used them for about 1.5 years. I don't expect a lot more life.....but them all dying at once makes me wonder about the charger...

Sounds like you got your money's worth from them. You got a lot more flights out of them than I got out of my eflight packs. I got about 25 flights on one and 15 on the other. I suspect yours were losing punch all along and you never noticed till you got the new Zippy's to compare them too.

My 1800 eflight pack had a cell go bad so I desoldered the bad cell and made a 2S receiver pack out of it. The 2200 lost its punch so now it just runs my nitro starter.

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 02:11 PM

Yes, you may be right. Is there anyway to tell if it is my new charger?

would balancing for 2 hours hurt the cells in anyway?

BillH · 03-30-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlsider@rogers.com

Yes, you may be right. Is there anyway to tell if it is my new charger?

would balancing for 2 hours hurt the cells in anyway?

From what I have read the slower you can balance and charge a pack the better off it will be. Can you read MAH remaining in your pack? You say voltage is 3.8 per cell, what is it after a charge does it come up to 4.2 per cell? If you have gotten over a hundred charges on your eflites you are doing great. Most dont last half that long. I have about 80 charges on my one eflite and it shows signs of not being as strong as all my zippy's What size are your zippys? are they 2200mah? Do what was suggested earlier on this tread and check every thing for the right tension, mesh etc.

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 03:08 PM

thanks for the help guys, I will check it out tonight after work

Penguin · 03-30-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlsider@rogers.com

Yes, you may be right. Is there anyway to tell if it is my new charger?

would balancing for 2 hours hurt the cells in anyway?

What amps are you charging at? I noticed that when I use the 2x3S to 6S adapter with my Accucel 6, it takes a good bit longer for the final balance. How long does it take to complete the charge when you charge one 3S at a time?

Slyster · 03-30-2009, 05:41 PM

5 amps with adapter. Measure the voltages and match two as close as you can.. otherwise it works.. but takes a LONG time at the end to balance.

Sky1trek · 03-30-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slyster

5 amps with adapter. Measure the voltages and match two as close as you can.. otherwise it works.. but takes a LONG time at the end to balance.

? with that adapter (I haven't tried mine yet) it hooks the bats in series? So at 5 amps wouldn't you be charging a little over 2c? ... or do I have my math wrong. Thanx for the explanation.

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-30-2009, 06:28 PM

I am charging the elights @ 1.8 amps 3cell 11.1 volts,

When I have 2 at the same time, same amps, I just doule the volts for 6 cell. 22.??V

It takes 120 minutes for 2 batteries, and the same for one, if I balance.

If I fast charge it does it in 30 mins.

It charges 2 cells to about 4.15 volts, and the 3rd cell is always a little lower, like 3.8.

Its weird, beacause when I got my new zippies all the cells were bang on 4.20 volts/cell, and after a couple charges teh 3rd cell is lower than the rest. Don;t know if that is normal or my charger.

Penguin · 03-30-2009, 10:48 PM

I'd say your charger has issues. My accucell always charges all of my batteries to 4.19 to 4.20V/cell except my eflight 1800 with the bad cell. Do you have a buddy with a good charger who can test charge your batteries and compare final cell voltage and time to charge.

jlsider@rogers.com · 03-31-2009, 08:42 PM

Hey Guys,

I am still having troubles. Maybe I should take a trip to the LHS. I charged up an old eflite battery and a new zippy. Just to compare batteriesto see if that was my issue. Well, looks like both batteries are doing the same thing. I just notice it more on the eflites bacause they are slightly older.

Right after I lift off into a hover it sounds like teh rpms drop a little and there is a different noise to it. Not a mechanical noise. but more like a voltage drop or something weird like that. I really am stuck on this one. Could it be the new align esc I put on?

I checked the blades, and they spin freely and belt is adjusted near perfect.

Can;t think of anything else....

Jer

03-30-2009, 11:01 AM	#1
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2008	batteries dying.... Hey guys, Well I seem to be having an issue I can not solve and need your help. Recently I purchased a couple zippys from hobby king along with a new charger, the GT-A6 with the 6 cell adapter so I can charge 2 batts at once. Well recently it seems the rpms on my 400 while hovering are goign up and down, probably an indication of bad battery packs? It does not do it on my new zippys (yet) but has started to do it on all 4 of my eflite packs. The only other upgrades I have done recently is a align 6v 35x esc and aluminum tail. Could my new charger be killing all my batteries somehow? I hope I am not doing something wrong. My charger if set to balance always takes 120 mins, whether its one pack or two..... I don't know, but hopefully all my packs are not dying at once...kinda weird eh? Thanks for any help,

03-30-2009, 11:14 AM	#2
Slyster Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maplewood, MN	How far are you discharging them? Should stop after 6 mins or so of flying.. .or better yet to 80% discharge...that's a real common cause of dead lipos. That.. and storing them fully charged more than a couple days! __________________ It's not just a hobby... it's a lifestyle! Outrage Fusion & 550 / Goblin 700 / SK540 / Kontronik / DX8 / Quantum / RJX / 4010 Duo Pete Team Outrage.

03-30-2009, 11:36 AM	#5
mr2mkii Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Shippensburg, PA	So is it ONLY doing this with the new zippy's or all battery packs you have? If it's all, then I would start by ensuring your throttle signal itself was good, and connections to the RX are good. If those are functioning properly, I'd look into the ESC next. Does it do it on the ground, or just loaded in the air? __________________ Blade mCX / mCPx / 130X / B400 HS-65MGs FBL CopterX w/3400g CCBEC 440H B400 HG-5000 w/5083, CNC Head, HS-65HBs / B400 GY401 w/3400g, JR285s T-Rex 600E / 600N Pro

03-30-2009, 11:58 AM	#6
Slyster Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maplewood, MN	Oh yeah... if the ESC is getting really hot.. you lose power... feel it after it stops and see if it is too hot to touch. Can you spin the main rotors pretty freely? They should spin at least 3 maybe even over 4 times before they stop when spun fast by your finger. __________________ It's not just a hobby... it's a lifestyle! Outrage Fusion & 550 / Goblin 700 / SK540 / Kontronik / DX8 / Quantum / RJX / 4010 Duo Pete Team Outrage.

03-30-2009, 05:41 PM	#15
Slyster Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maplewood, MN	5 amps with adapter. Measure the voltages and match two as close as you can.. otherwise it works.. but takes a LONG time at the end to balance. __________________ It's not just a hobby... it's a lifestyle! Outrage Fusion & 550 / Goblin 700 / SK540 / Kontronik / DX8 / Quantum / RJX / 4010 Duo Pete Team Outrage.

03-30-2009, 11:22 AM	#3
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	I don't think I discharge them too much. I normally only fly 4-5 mins/pack. Normally they check out at 3.8v/cell when done. Could it be my new charger do you think?

03-30-2009, 11:23 AM	#4
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	I forgot to mention, it does this immediately even when the pack is fully charged.

03-30-2009, 01:01 PM	#7
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	I have 4 old eflights (1yr) and 2 new zippys. It only started off doing it on 1 of the eflights, and is now doing it on all 4. The zippys have not started yet, but they have so much juice I am wondering if I am just not noticing it yet. ESC is only warm, so I am pretty sure thats not it. Could my new charger be overcharging the cells? It seems cell3 is lower on all of my packs when charged. Man, what a frustrating problem.

03-30-2009, 01:10 PM	#8
BIG-BOB Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Luis Obispo / Fallbrook	How many cycles do you have on your eflite packs?

03-30-2009, 01:22 PM	#9
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	not sure, I might guess 100 times approx. I have used them for about 1.5 years. I don't expect a lot more life.....but them all dying at once makes me wonder about the charger...

03-30-2009, 02:11 PM	#11
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	Yes, you may be right. Is there anyway to tell if it is my new charger? would balancing for 2 hours hurt the cells in anyway?

03-30-2009, 03:08 PM	#13
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	thanks for the help guys, I will check it out tonight after work

03-30-2009, 06:28 PM	#17
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	I am charging the elights @ 1.8 amps 3cell 11.1 volts, When I have 2 at the same time, same amps, I just doule the volts for 6 cell. 22.??V It takes 120 minutes for 2 batteries, and the same for one, if I balance. If I fast charge it does it in 30 mins. It charges 2 cells to about 4.15 volts, and the 3rd cell is always a little lower, like 3.8. Its weird, beacause when I got my new zippies all the cells were bang on 4.20 volts/cell, and after a couple charges teh 3rd cell is lower than the rest. Don;t know if that is normal or my charger.

03-30-2009, 10:48 PM	#18
Penguin Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL	I'd say your charger has issues. My accucell always charges all of my batteries to 4.19 to 4.20V/cell except my eflight 1800 with the bad cell. Do you have a buddy with a good charger who can test charge your batteries and compare final cell voltage and time to charge. __________________ B400 - 122/10 \| T250 - 142/5 \| T450 - 123/6 \| T450 Pro - 67/2 \| T600N - 52/0 \| O550 86/0 \| T700EC - 116/2 \| T500 - 314/2 \| L500 3D - 169/1 \| L600 SE - 43/0

03-31-2009, 08:42 PM	#19
jlsider@rogers.com Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2008	Hey Guys, I am still having troubles. Maybe I should take a trip to the LHS. I charged up an old eflite battery and a new zippy. Just to compare batteriesto see if that was my issue. Well, looks like both batteries are doing the same thing. I just notice it more on the eflites bacause they are slightly older. Right after I lift off into a hover it sounds like teh rpms drop a little and there is a different noise to it. Not a mechanical noise. but more like a voltage drop or something weird like that. I really am stuck on this one. Could it be the new align esc I put on? I checked the blades, and they spin freely and belt is adjusted near perfect. Can;t think of anything else.... Jer

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