Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!!  
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Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/16/2006 10:47:07 PM   
Heli-Bum


 

Posts: 8
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: West Sussex, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		I bought my D36 from China because it was cheaper than in the UK. Just beware that if you do the same, the instructions can be either in very bad chinese translated english or no instructions at all. I plugged in my Li-Po battery to recharge it and within 4.5hrs it was sitting in a pile of flames in my living room with the fire alarms doing their thing (thank god!). I went downstairs and caught the fire before it took a proper hold of the carpet. The carpet is now being replaced through insurance, but what if I hadn't heard the alarm, was asleep or was outside somewhere. I'm sure there are rc'ers that have kids, pets, etc in the house that would be at risk. These chargers have no auto-cut-off so please beware.
H-B
       Post #: 1

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/16/2006 11:01:18 PM   
j-son600


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 2/16/2006
From: neosho, MO, USA
Status: offline 		I don't think your supposed to charge them more than 2hrs. Also a good idea to be close by when charging LiPos.
Good to hear that there was no serious damage

(in reply to Heli-Bum)
       Post #: 2

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/17/2006 1:07:03 AM   
mantis*tw*


 

Posts: 125
Joined: 10/18/2005
From: pasco, WA, USA
Status: offline 		if you use li-po then get a high quality charger. li-pos need to be handled properly.

(in reply to j-son600)
       Post #: 3

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/17/2006 2:58:00 AM   
atkinsona


 

Posts: 1
Joined: 3/17/2006
From: , MI, USA
Status: offline 		I just bought a dragonfly #36 from hong kong for $167 plus shipping which was about $15. But anyways when i went to take off the the rotor wouldn't spin so i switched the fight mode then it took off with so much power that it crashed so i assesed the damage and then when i tried to take off again the heli popped then started smoking so i checked to see if the motor went bad but it wasn't. So i tried to take off one more time the rotor spun one time then it stopped and the reciever popped and it was fried. so i ordered new parts and i will not use the 3d switch until i am experienced.

(in reply to Heli-Bum)
       Post #: 4

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/17/2006 3:40:59 AM   
i01231


 

Posts: 40
Joined: 10/21/2005
From: , CA, USA
Status: offline 		the same happened to me. the lipo charger didn't shut off as described in the manual and the Lipo did swell up twice the size. I noticed that in time and turned it off. Luckily nothin was damaged.


(in reply to atkinsona)
       Post #: 5

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/17/2006 12:05:21 PM   
J_D



Posts: 2810
Joined: 8/18/2005
From: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		did u check the voltage input on the charger...

theres 120V and 240V

I don;t know what u use in the uk . but 120V is the US and here in australia we use 240V

So if u plugged it in- and it was the wrong rating - u need a transformer, as well as an adaptor.

and it sound slike u overcharged it too... 4.5 hours on a lipo is ages, whats the mah output of the charger, and what amp rating is the lipo?

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(in reply to i01231)
       Post #: 6

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/17/2006 10:34:12 PM   
spitter


 

Posts: 21
Joined: 1/15/2006
From: Elgin, OK, USA
Status: offline 		Ive had a walkera 36 for a while now it take alot of new parts to get it in the air. Ive spent so much money on it could have bought a nitro. had to replace servos new brushless motor. I have went through 4 lipo batt. I think that i have found a good one. bought a procell 1500 and a smart charger 2500 seems to be ok now I hope.

(in reply to J_D)
       Post #: 7

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/19/2006 3:27:55 AM   
BLACKHAWK DOWN


 

Posts: 8
Joined: 3/9/2006
From: Columbia, MD, USA
Status: offline 		are u freaking serious?!
lipos are very very sensitive
4.5 freaking hours..ur lucky it didnt blow in 3
my god lipos are only supposed to be charged 11/2-2 hours max and all cells have to be charge individually and balanced
the slightest over charge or over voltage could be caterstrophic
no matter what lipo charger
u always watch lipos like a baby

(in reply to spitter)
       Post #: 8

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/19/2006 4:21:44 AM   
credence


 

Posts: 2518
Joined: 5/19/2005
From: Brampton, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		The length you charge a lithium battery at is directly proportional to the charge rate you use. A 2000 mAh battery that is charged at 500 mAh will take 4 hours to charge. The problem here is using a proper charger designed for lithium batteries. If you charge at 500 mAh but the charger doesn't cutoff charge once the battery is full, you start getting overcharge after 4 hours. This is when batteries start to explode and catch fire.

Moral of the story is, never ever use a cheap charger when charging lithium batteries. Those wall chargers rarely have auto-cutoff on full charge, and will continue supplying voltage to the battery untill it explodes.
Likewise, never leave a charging lithium battery unattended, even if it is connected to a good charger.

_____________________________

Daniel
True Northern Hobbies, Inc.

(in reply to BLACKHAWK DOWN)
       Post #: 9

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/19/2006 6:23:06 AM   
J_D



Posts: 2810
Joined: 8/18/2005
From: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		and always use a cell balancer when charging - they only cost $20 or so

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(in reply to credence)
       Post #: 10

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/19/2006 2:30:21 PM   
Heli-Bum


 

Posts: 8
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: West Sussex, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		I appreciate all the comments and advice. As I say, I've never been into rc equipment or how to charge the various types and without any instructions with the pack, I didn't know any better. Since the fire (a mind warning to me considering what could have happened), I will try to understand the differing types of batteries and their chargers and charge times. I don't yet know about cell balancing, the charge rate of my charger (although I will be getting an 'official' UK charger). I'm obviously on a steep learning curve and thought charging batteries would be the least of my problems! I was wrong! Thanks for all the help though...

(in reply to J_D)
       Post #: 11

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/19/2006 8:13:35 PM   
credence


 

Posts: 2518
Joined: 5/19/2005
From: Brampton, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Lithium batteries are an awesome source of power. Just make sure you read up on them and their handling and charging procedures. Under proper care you'll rarely have a problem with lipo batteries. If you start to push them though, watch out.

_____________________________

Daniel
True Northern Hobbies, Inc.

(in reply to Heli-Bum)
       Post #: 12

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/23/2006 11:58:41 AM   
HP03 BlackHawk



Posts: 129
Joined: 1/7/2005
From: NLR, AR, USA
Status: offline 		You charged your new li-poly for 4.5 hours with the supplied charger? I wouldn't recommend that.... Here is a link to the new updated manual, it's 5mb and may be a little slow but it's worth it if you haven't already downloaded it. You will need the adobe acrobat reader to view PDF files.

http://www.walkera.com/cn/download.jsp?la=en&file=/cn/upload/explain/Z30360104_expe.pdf

(in reply to credence)
       Post #: 13

RE: Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!! - 3/23/2006 6:07:55 PM   
thecheatscalc



Posts: 1228
Joined: 8/13/2005
From: fayetteville, GA, USA
Status: offline 		That's not good.... four HOURS! just to say if charged around the tollerable current, it will take two hours no matter WHAT size the li-poly is.

Just to mention, if you ordered from the US, it's still coming from china so nothing's different. you MUST MUST check it over before flying.

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All stock located in the U-S of A!

(in reply to HP03 BlackHawk)
       Post #: 14

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All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> Walkera Helis - Dragonfly, etc.. >> Dragonfly 36 - Warning...!!
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