Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging
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Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 8:28:43 PM   
azvmax



Posts: 54
Joined: 10/24/2003
From: Snottsdale, AZ,
Status: offline 		Is anybody having overcharging problems with there MKII ?


I have been using this charger successfully with NiCad’s.
Recently I was charging my Futaba 9C on the left charge port .
And I noticed that the battery was getting hot (stock 700mah NiCad).
I purchased a larger battery for my ¼ scale Cap 232 (2700mah NiMH).
I charged it once with no problem, this was done after cycling it several times on a Triton ( Cell balancing to measure capacity)
The battery had left over charge from the last use (only 2-8min flights).
I started the charge and checked it approx. 30 minutes later and the battery was super hot,
So hot when I took it out of the plane the shrink wrap ripped off of it from the heat.
I never charge my battery’s faster than 1 C . This particular time a charged it at 1.0 amp(approx 1/3 C)
to top it off. My power source is my car battery lighter plug.
Again the battery in my 9cap Radio was hot 150 degrees 3/6/04
I now cannot trust this charger to be unatended for more than 15mins.

It appears that the charger is having trouble sensing peak on both NiCad and NiMH.
       Post #: 1

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 9:46:33 PM   
JNorton



Posts: 3134
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		You could be having a problem with the charger. It could also be that if you try to top off a battery that is fully charged with an automatic charger it will assume the battery has one cell more than it does in actuality. Now the charger will overcharge the pack!!!! I don't know for sure what is causing your problems but I do know that "topping" off a pack is a very bad idea.
John

(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 2

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 9:52:52 PM   
azvmax



Posts: 54
Joined: 10/24/2003
From: Snottsdale, AZ,
Status: offline 		Thx for the input JNorton
I was only topping off because it had 2- 8min flights and several days in between.
Why is topping off bad?

Also has the same problem when charging a pack that has had 6 to 7 flights on it (down to 9.5 volts)

Even if it assumes an extra cell as the cells peak then drop 20mv (approx) on NiCad setting it shd terminate,right?

< Message edited by azvmax -- 3/10/2004 9:56:12 AM >

(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 3

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 10:14:32 PM   
JNorton



Posts: 3134
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		"Also has the same problem when charging a pack that has had 6 to 7 flights on it (down to 9.5 volts)" - Yup you definitely have a problem with the charger.

Damn - I should know better than to repeat heresay. On the surface it seems it should terminate. I'm to research this a bit more.

John

(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 4

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 10:24:04 PM   
azvmax



Posts: 54
Joined: 10/24/2003
From: Snottsdale, AZ,
Status: offline 		Thanx John

I appreciate the response

My goal is to gather Infomation.
Are others having the same problem?
I have allready sent this back to Hobby services.
Where they tested it and stated there is no problem.
I brought the battery pack to hobby shop that this charger tourched.
Telling them what hobby services said which the battery was at fault.
They called the battery manufacturer and they said that there is a know problem with some of these chargers.
I was told by my local hobby shop that there is a problem with a batch of these chargers, essecially on the NiMh portion.
The hobby shop has 3 client with the same problem.
I Am trying to build up some info on these chargers before I reapproach Hobby Services.
I love the charger but I simply cannot trust it now after several overcharging problems.

I welcome a response from Hobby Services.
I have herd nothing but good responses based on there services.

Hobby services tested 6 packs per port with no problem.
My question is did you monitor these packs to see where the peak was detected?
Where the packs NiMh or niCad ,this was not stated in the return letter I recieved?

< Message edited by azvmax -- 3/10/2004 10:39:58 AM >

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 5

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 11:10:31 PM   
4*60


 

Posts: 1265
Joined: 3/10/2002
From: Blind Bay, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		I have just finished charging packs that were close to fully charged and the charge was terminated after a few minutes and the packs were not warm. I have had no problem with nicads with thte charger and have done a few(very few) nimh's with no problem.

Anybody else with problems?

(in reply to azvmax)
       Post #: 6

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 11:31:50 PM   
Wayne Miller


 

Posts: 969
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: DrumboOntario, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Azvmax,

There has been a lot of discussions on the MKII charger here at RC Universe. You should do a search, and take a look at them.

A lot of the posts have good information about the pros and cons of the charger.

Best regards,

Wayne Miller

(in reply to 4*60)
       Post #: 7

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/9/2004 11:38:33 PM   
JNorton



Posts: 3134
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Azvmax,
I've had mine a year with zero problems.
John

(in reply to Wayne Miller)
       Post #: 8

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/10/2004 2:33:23 AM   
JNorton



Posts: 3134
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Azvmax,
I don't remember exactly where I heard that the newer chargers could be fooled into thinking the number of cells was one more than the pack actually had and thus the overcharging. Upon reflection since these are current devices in series you would think it wouldn't matter. The only thing that makes any sense to me is if the charging rate was also based upon voltage before the charger looked for a "knee" to optimize charge time. But this could just be wishful thinking on my part.

So upon further reflection please except my apologies for handing out some bad information. It is never my intent to mislead anyone. I've had all kinds of help in this sport. Trying to contribute to these forums is my way of trying to repay my fellow club members for all the help they've given me.

John

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 9

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/10/2004 6:54:39 PM   
Wayne Miller


 

Posts: 969
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: DrumboOntario, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Azvmax,

I found the site that has posted the information on the MK II regarding over charging, ratings etc. it is:
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/articles/battery_charger.htm

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Wayne Miller

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 10

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/11/2004 3:13:47 AM   
Hangtime



Posts: 346
Joined: 6/5/2002
From: Babylon, NY, USA
Status: offline
quote:

I don't remember exactly where I heard that the newer chargers could be fooled into thinking the number of cells was one more than the pack actually had and thus the overcharging.


I'd heard something along those lines myself...

quote:

So upon further reflection please except my apologies for handing out some bad information. It is never my intent to mislead anyone. I've had all kinds of help in this sport. Trying to contribute to these forums is my way of trying to repay my fellow club members for all the help they've given me.

John


It's thanks to guys like you that these forums and this community is the exceptional resource it is... there ain't a day that goes by reading this stuff that I don't learn something new.

Thanks for all your input.. including your best guesses.l. It's all part of OUR learning curve too.

<S!>

_____________________________

Steve Anthony
www.hangtimes.com
NoBS Batteries

(in reply to JNorton)
       Post #: 11

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/11/2004 5:23:13 AM   
JoeAirPort



Posts: 6976
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Status: offline 		Don't top off batteries and your problems may be less. Make sure they are at a voltage that needs charging (4.8 for a 4.8 volt battery).

Joe

_____________________________

Joe AP

(in reply to Hangtime)
       Post #: 12

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/11/2004 6:40:19 AM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		If the pack is near full charge and you try to charge it, the charger will think the pack has one additional cell due to the highter initial voltage. Just don't try to charge full packs.

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Information on the building and flying of Radio Control Aircraft.
Site for hobbyist in the R.C. Aircraft modeling world.

(in reply to JoeAirPort)
       Post #: 13

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/11/2004 5:04:58 PM   
nedyob


 

Posts: 1190
Joined: 2/5/2002
From: NORTHWOOD, IA, USA
Status: offline 		Hello Geistware,
Is the new Hobbico Field Charger MKII fool proof? Im debaiting on getting one.
NEDYOB

(in reply to Geistware)
       Post #: 14

RE: Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII overcharging - 3/11/2004 5:15:37 PM   
JNorton



Posts: 3134
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Montague, MI, USA
Status: offline 		nedyob,
I'm not Geistware but I've had mine a ye