ameyam

Ok, I am close to giving up on a Hobbico LiFe 3200mAh battery rated at 6.6v. Am trying to charge it with a Triton2EQ charger with the balance board in LiFe charging mode. Charger is set for 6.6v and 3200mAh as per battery rating. It either gives me the "open circuit" warning or the "Batt voltage too high" warning. Even when I try to discharge at 0.6A using the NiCd discharge routine it gives errors.

Yesterday, I was able to discharge using the NiCd routine down to 5V. Then when I tried to charge it with the LiFe routine it again gave the "batt voltage too high" warning, which makes no sense[:@]. Any of you who got the same battery has the same problem? Or did I get a dud? I have had these problems since getting the battery

Ameyam

jetmech05

I don't know about your charger....but on mine I charge at 1 amp max just like a lipo

ameyam

There seems to be some loose contact issue- simetimes it takes the charging sometimes it doesnt.

In any case, Hobbico are coming out with their own charger for the battery, so lets see

Ameyam

jetmech05

If there is a loose contact chances are it is the charge lead...try a new one

ameyam

I forgot to get the leads when I bought the charger so I sourced it locally. I will get replacements soon

Ameyam

Mk23socom

My Feedback: (7)

You figured out the problem?... Ihave a Triton EQ2 and was having problems figuring out the LiPo charging state.. hooked up to the balance board and was getting the open circiut message.. figured out after about an hour of head scratching that the Deans connection had to be plugged in to the charger as well so that it could discharge the high cell i assume.. all went well following that..

ameyam

Actually this is with both the Deans and the balance board connected

Ameyam

ameyam

Yesterday, I tried charging it with and without the balacing connection. With the balance connection it always gives the "batt V too high" warning. But without it connected it starts to charge. I dont get it.[]

In any case, I am not charging it for now

Ameyam

brian5

I am on my second one and it's defective too. First one was swollen out of the box, did not charge it. The one I just received as a replacement has a bad connection where the positive wires connect to the battery. I can touch it and make it loose connection. I'm getting scared to put one of these in my sbach. Hate to loose it or have it run away in to a crowd of ppl because of a bad battery.

ameyam

If the battery is good, simply cut off the bad connection part and re-solder to a new connector. If you are not good with the connector, You can cutoff an old extension and use it. That what I did when, on accidentally shorting the battery while checking with a multimeter, the connector on mine melted. It works and if you do it well, you wont regret it. Just ensure you keep the polarity and insulate the soldered connections from each other with either shrinktube or electrical insulation tape

Ameyam

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

I don't know about the LiFePO4 chemestry, but I DO konw shorting the leads on IiPo can cause you some serious problems. Be VERY careful when handling these or any batteries. Shorting the leads together can really ruin your day.

CGr.

ameyam

Didnt do it intentionally. I had the two probes of the multimeter in the tiny leads of the connector when accidentally they touched each other. Wasnt more than a couple of seconds but was enough to feel the heat. CGR is right though, never mistreat these batteries even though they are a lot safer than LiPo in operation. But that does not mean you cant replace the connectors if you do that properly

Ameyam

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

I understand that you would never do it intentionally. But, even for a very short period of time, this can really be a bad thing. Just be careful, that's all.

I accidentally shorted a brand new LiPo battery pack when I was soldering the Deans connector on the wire leads. And, that was for only a fraction of a second. I am an experienced person when it comes to soldering, so I knew what I was doing... but, the result was still the same.. the battery puffed up to about twice it's normal size. I threw it out on the grass in front of my house and let it set there for about a half day before I would go near it. Then, I disposed it in the prescribed way.

CGr.

jimmyjames213

My Feedback: (2)

are you on 2's life not 1's life?
if you only have it set on 1 cell thats why its saying battery voltage too high

ameyam

Where is that setting on the Triton2? I just set it to 6.6v in LiFe mode

Ameyam

scooterinvegas

My Feedback: (1)

What is a actual voltage of each cell?

ameyam

3.3 nominal, 3.6 fully charged. Never actually checked it though

Ameyam

DadsToysBG

My Feedback: (35)

Set the voltage at 3.3. The charger is reading each battery cell, that's why it says to much voltage. Your telling the charger each cell is 6.6. Dennis

ameyam

Then I should get a low voltage warning. Anyway, I now use the dedicated Hobbico LiFe charger for these. I only use the Triton2EQ for discharging (when I want to ensure that the battery is ok) and for cycling NiMh batteries

Ameyam

Mk23socom

My Feedback: (7)

This is also what I would like to do as my RC flyin partner/father has comandeered the Triton and seems to like it.. perhaps I can make some kind of deal with him involving beer and a riding lawnmower?..

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

Hmmm... is that either - or, or both? I'd opt for the beer, myself, as I don't have a lot of grass to cut.

CGr.

Mk23socom

My Feedback: (7)

Well, Mr CG, he is a rather cagey ol guy and if i try to cut a deal with him that leads him to think that he isnt getting anything out of it, he wont bite.. so I sucker punch him with that and maybe I can win.. but then again, he would probably say something like, "damnit, thats MYJOB!.. feel free to use the weed wacker if you must, but bear in mind, it requires two hands and will not be beer friendly."..

jaka

Hi!
NiMH cells should not be cycled!!!

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

opjose

More correctly, they don't need to be cycled, however cycling them does not hurt in any way.

It's actually a good idea to cycle NiMH cells periodically not to eliminate memory effect, but rather to test their capacity and state with a good computer controlled charger/discharger that reports the amount of current put back into the battery....