RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging
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RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 2:29:20 AM   
Panzlflyer



Posts: 1940
Joined: 2/28/2002
From: Goldsboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Ive got one and it works fine.
Let me say that the Shultze I had that was 5 times the price could not tell the correct cell count if you Topped off and they caution against topping off and expecting it to peak detect.

(in reply to Geistware)
       Post #: 26

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 2:58:06 AM   
azvmax



Posts: 54
Joined: 10/24/2003
From: Snottsdale, AZ,
Status: offline 		Is anyone else experiencining the forum as being super slow.
Is it just me?

Yes I called Hobby services and explained it was intermittent.
They said to send it in and explain that I can,t trust it and request a new one.

I did some tests last night.
I arranged 4 AA NiMih cells so I could move the charge probes between them.
This way I could change from 1 cell , 2cell , 3 cell and 4 cell.
This was done while charging was in progress.
The charger instantly changed to the proper voltage.

I also topped the pack off 4 times after full charge was achieved.
Every time it ran for another 10 mins. or so.
Then it terminated on its own, without heating up the pack.
The last time out of 4 the pack got warm not hot.
I also monitored voltage with a Fluke DMM.

The drop off happened so fast the you could not really see how low it went before the charger terminated.
I really need an analog meter to see it ( 1 that does not load the circuit).
The Fluke meter I have is damped on the read out.

Now tonight I will top the battery's off a couple more times.
After they are topped off I will try my 1st test again.
Moving my charge wires to change amount of cells.
This test will prove whether it see's more or less cells.
Fortunatly the charger allows you to change cells while charging.
You have about 2 second before it shuts down with error.
I also briefly hooked up a variable resistor and it tried to charge it based on resistance.
It tried for 4 seconds at a set voltage then terminated with error.

< Message edited by azvmax -- 3/12/2004 8:02:22 PM >

(in reply to Panzlflyer)
       Post #: 27

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 6:17:37 AM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Keep testing, I would like to know the outcome.

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(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 28

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 10:41:23 AM   
azvmax



Posts: 54
Joined: 10/24/2003
From: Snottsdale, AZ,
Status: offline 		Some more test results.
Battery fully charged I can still change number of cells.
It will still terminate.
I did it several times of coarse I could not simulate the problem I'm having.
It is surely intermittent.
Im using a Pyramid 20amp 13.8 Power supply at home.
I have the problem when charging in my van going to the field.
I arrive at field start talking to someone then go back and find pack getting hot.
Most of the time it works perfect.
I have a Brand new Car battery too.
I set up a lighter plug in the back of my van.
I wired it with 8 gauge THHN from the Battery with a 30amp fuse.
Yes overkill, but anything worth doing is worth over duing to (Tim Allen It)

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< Message edited by azvmax -- 3/13/2004 3:52:14 AM >

(in reply to Geistware)
       Post #: 29

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 1:05:19 PM   
JNorton



Posts: 3137
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I suspect charging in the Van (going to the field) is powering the charger with more than 13.8 volts, more likely 14.2 - 14.5. I'd be curious if you've checked it. You sure aren't getting any voltage drop to the unit using #8 wire!!!!

Now you've got me curious. I've a few more Fluke meters at home than you ie 4. I'll attempt the same setup. What I don't have is a variable high current supply capable of more that 13.8 volts to test the 14.2 volt theory. I guess I could whip one up but I'm in the middle of building a Somethin Extra and want to finish my Hog Bipe before spring. Work has been getting in the way of play this winter. I've spent too many weeks out of state at job sites integrating welding robots.

John

(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 30

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 1:56:00 PM   
Wayne Miller


 

Posts: 978
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: DrumboOntario, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi,

Thanks for letting us know about the testing, I'm really curious about your final outcome and will be following this thread. Hopefully we will all have a better understanding when you are finished.

I was wondering if the meter being in the circuit while testing will have any affect on the testing, that is, draining off any excess "top up" voltage. I'm making the assumption that you have the meter connected when doing the testing, but not while charging at the field.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 31

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 2:56:19 PM   
laryboy



Posts: 719
Joined: 7/16/2003
From: wilmington, MA, USA
Status: offline 		you seem to have checked every thing except the voltage at car battery when car is running and when not runnuing

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 32

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/13/2004 4:59:52 PM   
GOT GAS


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 2/17/2004
From: MTMORRIS, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I have the MKII and like it .
It is almost foolprof,the only probelm I have had is
toping off a RX battery. I set it @ 1.amp (on a 700mah battery)
and about 30 min. later it was so HOT it melted the TX case and the shrink wrap.
My advice is NEVER top off a fully charged battery and ALWAYS
properly set charge rate.

Go to this site it anserd a lot of ?? for me.

http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/articles/battery_charger.htm

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 33

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/14/2004 4:54:05 AM   
Hangtime



Posts: 346
Joined: 6/5/2002
From: Babylon, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I wonder if voltage changes on the supply side while the charge is in progress is causing problems. I had an Astro charger that would false peak routinely and once nearly fired a known to be good pack; all only when powered from a moving, running RV.. was more stable when engine rpm and source voltage remained constant, worked best when on a 12v battery; 'clean', alternator and/or generator off line.

_____________________________

Steve Anthony
www.hangtimes.com
NoBS Batteries

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 34

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/14/2004 7:34:30 AM   
azvmax



Posts: 54
Joined: 10/24/2003
From: Snottsdale, AZ,
Status: offline 		I checked the van voltage:
While off I get 12.6VDC
While running I get 13.8-14.2VDC
When I start the van it drops down to 10.5VDC

< Message edited by azvmax -- 3/14/2004 1:14:05 AM >

(in reply to Hangtime)
       Post #: 35

RE: RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/14/2004 1:51:29 PM   
JNorton



Posts: 3137
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		To summarize - you have...
1. An intermittently bad charger.
2. A noisy voltage source from the running van that is fooling the charger.
3. Other people verifying their chargers are fooled if their packs are topped off.
4. Finally most all the posters seem to love their Mark II chargers.

I haven't much to add except you ran an 8 gauge wire to power the charger in the van. If the wire is fused at the battery I have no problem with this at all. If it is not fused and shorts to ground because of it's high ampereage carrying charateristics you will have major arcing. The least of your worries will be warping the plates of the battery and causing it to fail. The worst of my fears would be losing your car to fire. If I'm repeating this to one how is knowledgeable and it is fused - I'm sorry I'm preaching to the choir. If it isn't fused, please do so. Along the same vein of stating the obvious. What did you run for the ground wire? I've seen people run a heathy size wire for the positive (usually #10 ) and then connect their ground through some #18 wire to any hunk of metal handy! Obviously thinking it would be a sufficient ground!

I've totally enjoyed these postings. It has made me want to get back to electronics as a hobby. I'm going to renege on doing the battery charging tests. I stayed at work till late Friday night, spent 6 more hours at work Saturday. I tell you paying for this hobby is cutting into my building time! I just want to get my Somethin Extra finished by spring. It's in the bones yet. I need to finish hinging it, I'm using Robart hinge points and then covering it. I had also wanted to get my Hog Bipe done but it is still in the box!

Later,
John

(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 36

RE: RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/14/2004 2:48:16 PM   
bentgear


 

Posts: 2742
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: Brandon, MS, USA
Status: offline 		Heeeeeeey Norton, keep stoken, you'll get there before good weather, if you take a few days off.

Good advice on the fuse and ground. Some vehicles have a fuseable link (wire) coming off close to the battery, at least make sure you have it attached after that if you don't have a fuse. Saw a pickup burn down from where the guy had run 4 gauge wire back to the back, no fuse block, straight off the battery, but I don't think the little fuseable link would have worked in his situation.

I have had to charge while traveling before and have had good results, but I made sure I started charging after the vehicle is started. I have found it easier now just to dedicate one of the 7ah gell cells to the task and bring it in every once and a while and charge it up.

Ed M.

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 37

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/14/2004 2:48:43 PM   
laryboy



Posts: 719
Joined: 7/16/2003
From: wilmington, MA, USA
Status: offline 		one last test. connect a volt meter that has a built in load to your rx batt. make sure voltage is no more than 4.8 volts then connect charger.mk 2 should work every time if topping off battery is problem. if charger still fails intermittently return it.

(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 38

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/14/2004 11:30:09 PM   
Wayne Miller


 

Posts: 978
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: DrumboOntario, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi JNorton,

Please excuse, I'm going to go just a little off topic. If your interested in building electronic RC projects, you may want to check out the following site:

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/
Click on the above should take you to the site, if not, go to
http://www.google.com/u/guelph?q=gadgets&domains=uoguelph.ca&sitesearch=uoguelph.ca
go down the page and find Index of /~antoon/gadgets click on it and then select parent index

Enjoy,

Wayne Miller

< Message edited by Wayne Miller -- 3/14/2004 6:30:44 PM >

(in reply to laryboy)