Triton....What problems have you had???  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Triton....What problems have you had???
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Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/13/2003 8:37:18 PM   
NavyE6FE



Posts: 174
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Status: offline 		I'm currently on my 3rd triton, every 3-4 months they quit monitoring or can't read the battery. Last night I set it up to discharge/charge(4 cell 1500, .5 dc, .5 c, 1.1v, 10mv, no safety time, ni-cad) this battery had been fully charged and then flown a couple of times, still showed 5.09 on esv. This morning I look at the triton and it shows 37ma and 4 min, I check the discharge and it had taken out 1200+ mah. So I set it to charge again... same thing 37 & 4. Changed some settings and got a 100mah input and then a 200mah input but still nowhere near what should be going into the battery. Am currently discharging the battery to see if that side of the house is still working. The 2 previous tritons would come up with very odd numbers when set to cycle(x times) like 100dc-59c, 200dc-100c, 66dc-40c. Even doing single discharge or charge did not work right.

My LHS has been very good about exchanging the bad units but this time I thought I would give GP a chance to see if they would call me and see if there is something I'm missing or are these unit truly bad. I sent them an e-mail staying that I was on my 3rd and that I would like for them to call me or when I go to my LHS this evening I will be turning in the triton and will be coming home with a different brand. Well I got a reply e-mail basically saying if I think its broke send it in.(standard canned answer) So I guess I will try a different company battery cycler/maintainer

Steve
       Post #: 1

Return your Triton Chargers.... - 10/14/2003 3:54:04 PM   
Hpilotrc


 

Posts: 50
Joined: 8/26/2003
From: Mooresville, NC, USA
Status: offline 		I am also on my 3rd Triton. Hobby Services keep on sending me new units, but if they all are programmed the same way and don't work....that will not fix the problems.

The Triton does not charge my Panasonic LC-R127R2P1 12V 7.2AH battery correctly. It does not perform the Constant Voltage correctly. If I set it to charge at 2A..it will ramp up to it...stay there and then as it starts to decrease current 1.8A it shuts off and says "END" which is end of charge. This is a FLAW.

Also when charging LI-Ion cells it does not go up to the selected max charge current (assuming the pack is discharged to the min allowed). The length of the wire should not be all that critical - the Tritons program and electronics should provide sufficient gain to do so. Another Triton Flaw!

Great Planes needs to correct these problems NOW! Stop playing games and sending us new ones that are no different!!!

Michael

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 2

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/14/2003 5:20:15 PM   
Bax


 

Posts: 12439
Joined: 4/26/2002
From: Champaign, IL, USA
Status: offline 		We think that something about Lithium battery pack charging is not quite understood.

It is a grave mistake to believe that the behavior of Lithium cells during charging is in any way similar to that of NiCd or NiMH. They must be charged in a completely different way to insure proper charge, longevity, and safety. Forget how you handled NiCd and NiMH cells when you're charging Lithium cells. The differences are taken care of in the Great Planes Triton Charger's software.

Quite literally, current to the battery is ONLY being regulated during "constant current" mode. And, only voltage to the battery is being regulated during "constant voltage" mode. It's never vise-versa.

During constant voltage mode, ONLY output voltage is regulated. The current being delivered to the battery is not being regulated. Here, the battery is only going to take what current that it needs. So, even though the current may be set at 2.0A, for example, it is NORMAL for the actual current being delivered to the battery to be lower than this as the battery progresses into the charge process because the battery is resisting this current naturally. The internal resistance of lithium batteries will increase as they charge, and therefore cause charge current to decrease.

During "constant current" mode, the charger's voltage will take care of itself in order to deliver the amount of current set. That means that as the battery charges, and its voltage ramps up, then the charger's voltage will also ramp up to maintain the constant current.

When the charger's properly-set for the number of Lithium cells being charged, it will sense the pack's voltage (about 4.1 to 4.2 V per cell) and automatically go from "constant current" mode to "constant voltage" mode. This is a safety feature, and will make sure that the amount of current provided to the pack is what the pack will take.

Unlike NiCd and NiMH cells, LIthium cells cannot be run in "constant current" mode to their peak. You will most certainly guarantee battery damage if you try that. The Triton senses when the pack is nearing full charge and goes to "constant voltage" mode, which will allow the current going into the pack be regulated by what the battery pack can accept. This means that you're not "cramming" current into the pack, but allowing it to take what it can.

Without this type of charging, a Lithium battery pack can become severely damaged.



_____________________________

Bill Baxter, Manager Hobby Services/Futaba Service/North America
3002 N. Apollo Dr. Ste. 1 Champaign, IL 61822 USA
Service Phone: 217 398-0007
Email: hobbyservices@hobbico.com

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 3

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/14/2003 6:16:34 PM   
Hpilotrc


 

Posts: 50
Joined: 8/26/2003
From: Mooresville, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Bill,

When charging my Lead Acid Battery assuming that the Triton is in CV mode....the charger should keep the voltage constant and ramp down the current slowly to approx. 0.1A. It IS NOT doing this! When the current starts dropping from max. after about only 0.2A, the Triton displays "END" and terminates the charge cycle.

I have another Lead ACid battery of a difference size and it so far seems to work OK.
Why should it matter what pack I have.

The Tritons software needs to be checked and to make it work right...changed!

Michael
631 344-8586 W

(in reply to Bax)
       Post #: 4

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/15/2003 5:18:14 PM   
Bax


 

Posts: 12439
Joined: 4/26/2002
From: Champaign, IL, USA
Status: offline 		With Lead batteries, the diameter of the cable used to connect the Triton charger to the battery can be an issue. We normally use at least a 14 gauge wire. With smaller wires, especially if they're 18" long or more, you can have difficulty with the charge process. The wire DOES make a difference. A too-small or too-long wire can have enough of a voltage drop in itself to affect what the Triton charger circuitry is sensing.

If one battery pack works out on the Triton charger, and a different one doesn't, even though they are allegedly the same capacity and type, it doesn't mean that there's a problem with the charger. It's more likely that the pack with the odd behavior has a problem. This would be more so if one pack has a few years of unknown treatment on it.

< Message edited by Bax -- 10/15/2003 11:24:12 AM >

_____________________________

Bill Baxter, Manager Hobby Services/Futaba Service/North America
3002 N. Apollo Dr. Ste. 1 Champaign, IL 61822 USA
Service Phone: 217 398-0007
Email: hobbyservices@hobbico.com

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 5

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/16/2003 12:45:44 AM   
lsnover


 

Posts: 629
Joined: 4/29/2002
From: Bath, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Bill:

What charger do you recommend for Lithium packs then?

Thanks,
Lee Snover

(in reply to Bax)
       Post #: 6

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/16/2003 1:16:47 AM   
walton


 

Posts: 321
Joined: 1/29/2003
From: Harriman, TN, USA
Status: offline 		I just ordered one of these chargers for my nicd batterys and liy-polly batterys. Hope I made the right choice. Also to charge my planes over night slow charge in the house what kind of AC to DC converter do I need? How many amps does it need. Thanks James

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 7

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/16/2003 4:16:41 PM   
Bax


 

Posts: 12439
Joined: 4/26/2002
From: Champaign, IL, USA
Status: offline 		The Great Planes Triton charger is a fine charger for NiCd, NiMH, Lithium, and Lead packs. You just need to take some time to understand how your battery pack works as well as go through the Triton's instructions so that you understand how it works.

With Lithium cells, especially, a good understanding of them is essential because of the hazards caused if they're badly treated.

_____________________________

Bill Baxter, Manager Hobby Services/Futaba Service/North America
3002 N. Apollo Dr. Ste. 1 Champaign, IL 61822 USA
Service Phone: 217 398-0007
Email: hobbyservices@hobbico.com

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 8

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/19/2003 4:15:34 AM   
NavyE6FE



Posts: 174
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Status: offline 		Here's what I found out... It may have been the charge cord, but my LHS had already taken care of the triton so I have no way of double checking. Here is how I found it.
I traded the triton for the MRC Super Brain Pro 969, after I hooked it up and set it to charge, after one second it beeped and showed ERR on the display. I looked at the voltage and it showed 5.2 so I went thru the settings again and when I came back to voltage the reading was jumping back and forth between 2.5 & 4. I thought maybe the batt. was bad so I tried a different batt. and it did the same, so I played with the charge cord and if it was held just right the V reading stayed steady and the charger would work fine but if the cord was layed down it quit. The triton never did this it just tried to charge until it detected a full batt.
Something else I found out today, how does the triton read a TX batt thru a diode????? When ever I topped the TX w/triton it worked and pumped in until it said the batt was full. When I plugged the MRC unit in there was no V reading, so I unplugged the batt from the tx and charged it with no problem. Maybe there is something goofy with the triton programming that needs to be addressed!!

Steve

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 9

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 10/20/2003 4:13:26 PM   
Panzlflyer



Posts: 1940
Joined: 2/28/2002
From: Goldsboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		The leads do have an influence on the charger.
I have had that problem with all 4 of mine (different brands).
The ones I got from LHS all broke internally after a while. Made my own in the end and use an FMA universal connector box. I know this is more connections but it seems to work.
Also Gold plated connectors seem to last better. My regular connectors would cause weird voltage reading until I spun them around a few times (some corrosion).
I know the Futaba 9c does not have a diode but uses a fuse type protector so the Triton works fin thru it.
There was a thread earlier about some charge problems with the MRC and Lithiums which could potentially be troubling.

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 10

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 11/23/2003 11:44:11 PM   
YarSmytheJr



Posts: 26
Joined: 12/23/2002
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I just picked up a new Triton charger today. The one problem I have (so far) is charging my 12volt, 7amp lead battery.

I've selected the battery type, the charging amps (2.3) and the volts (12). However, I placed my amp meter into the connectors and it's only using .2 amps (overnight setting). I've unplugged the charger and tried again, no luck.

The correct charging amp is working when I plug in my NiCds.....just the lead battery.

Suggestions?

-Lee

(in reply to NavyE6FE)
       Post #: 11

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 11/24/2003 1:31:04 AM   
Hpilotrc


 

Posts: 50
Joined: 8/26/2003
From: Mooresville, NC, USA
Status: offline 		You should be asking what problems haven't I had! The list would be much shorter.

Michael

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Triton_vs%25_Orbit_Microlader_V6%2521%25%25%25results%25%25%25pb_Battery_info/m_1297394/tm.htm

(in reply to YarSmytheJr)
       Post #: 12

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 11/24/2003 2:09:03 AM   
wildnloose


 

Posts: 884
Joined: 11/26/2002
From: Owasso, OK, USA
Status: offline 		Triton uses the cc/cv method for charging lithiums and lead acid (just like an automobile charger works). It uses a different method to charge nicd and nimh.

_____________________________

Lawn dart professional...
Revver Bro #200

(in reply to Hpilotrc)
       Post #: 13

RE: Triton....What problems have you had??? - 11/24/2003 4:10:18 AM   
Hpilotrc


 

Posts: 50
Joined: 8/26/2003
From: Mooresville, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Wildnloose,

You mean Triton tries to use those methods to charge the batteries......but they do not work properly!
I have had three brand new ones shipped to me and they were terrible! I now have an Orbit Microlader V6.2
and it works perfectly.

The people I know who says it works OK have not tried using it with all types of batteries. Beware you have
been warned. Depending on the battery type it has problems reaching the current selected and also does not properly charge Lead Acid Batteries. The Orbit I now have charges both of these types of batteries perfectly and fast.

I am an electrical engineer so please don't tell me how a charger is supposed to work. I have talked to Neil Cloud at Great Planes and he says that I have defective batteries - I guess he just can't admit that the Triton has flaws since so many people havethem. Well the Orbit doesn't have any problems with all 4 of these Lead Acid Batteries that I have. It also (using the same charge cord) has no problem reaching my selected charge current (Li-Ion battery). Now what is defective?.....the Triton. Perhaps some day Great Planes will wake up
and fix the program or "code". To be honest I will even buy another Triton in the future to see how it works. It is easy to return them and I will know what to look for. I did not want to return it but had no choice because it didn't work the way it was suppose to.

Michael

< Message edited by Hpilotrc -- 11/24/2003 4:13:03 AM >

(in reply to wildnloose)