Equinox problem?  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Equinox problem?
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Equinox problem? - 7/4/2007 8:37:06 AM   
xlr82v2



Posts: 327
Joined: 9/21/2002
From: Ellis Grove, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Got an Equinox LiPo balancer back in April, but just got around to using it here a few days ago.

Here's the problem I'm having:

I plug in the Equinox to the balance plug on my 3S Lipo, and the Eq. only shows "Cell 3" for the "2 second cell detection display". Cells 1 and 2 are not detected. I've plugged/unplugged the balance plug from the adapter numerous times as well as plugging/unplugging the adapter from the Equinox. The unit will only detect Cell 3, or sometimes no cells at all.

I've checked all the plugs with a DMM, and there are voltages present at all the contacts in the plugs(both the balance plug and the large adapter plug that connects to the Equinox), so I'm confident that it is not a "bad connection" problem.

Anybody else have this issue with an Equinox?

And, my DMM says that each cell in my battery pack had 3.7 volts at the time I was doing this testing. So, the pack may not need balancing, but the Equinox should still detect all 3 cells, correct?

I guess I need to get this thing ready to ship to Hobby Services.


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Brian
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RE: Equinox problem? - 7/4/2007 9:27:56 AM   
Bad_Daddy



Posts: 529
Joined: 1/27/2007
From: Tracy, CA, USA
Status: offline 		A simple phone call to them would be a lot cheaper, and quicker. On both of mine, if the cells are already balanced, the detection cycle happens so quickly that you have to be staring at the LEDs while you plug the battery in by Braille. Look down, look back and you're too late.

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bad0daddy

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RE: Equinox problem? - 7/4/2007 10:23:01 AM   
mrasmm


 

Posts: 4422
Joined: 1/9/2007
From: Sometown, Northern Utah, USA
Status: offline 		when you plug the battery in your EQ should light up the led's on cell 1 2 and 3. After you start balancing they should just start blinking on whatever cell you are on, it could be potentionally solid if that one cell is way out of balance. If you want to reset your EQ without unplugging the battery just hold the button down for like 5 seconds, or until it blinks, then start over.

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RE: Equinox problem? - 7/4/2007 11:49:17 PM   
xlr82v2



Posts: 327
Joined: 9/21/2002
From: Ellis Grove, IL, USA
Status: offline 		OK, I checked the Equinox again, just to be sure. No "Cell detect" LED's at all this time. But the unit powers up, and does go into "Quick Balance Mode", as well as "Interface Mode." I let it sit on QB mode and it sat there with the QB LED flashing for about 2 minutes, then went into standby (as I said earlier, my LiPo was reading level across all 3 cells... and today it was fresh off the charger).

I'll give Hobby Services a call tomorrow, and then likely ship it off to Champaign. I wish I had more LiPo's to check it with, but at the moment I've only got one...


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Brian

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RE: Equinox problem? - 7/5/2007 12:14:46 AM   
mrasmm


 

Posts: 4422
Joined: 1/9/2007
From: Sometown, Northern Utah, USA
Status: offline 		if it just goes into QB for like 2 minutes, and then goes to standby, then you pack is done and balanced =)

double check that by hitting the button one time. LED's # 1 2 and 3 should blink like 3 or 5 times indicating that the pack is balanced.

try running QB again by holding the button down until the EQ blinks, about 5 seconds. Then wait a few seconds and press the button one time and it will go into QB mode.

To me it sounds like your unit is working properly =)

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RE: Equinox problem? - 7/5/2007 6:20:23 AM   
xlr82v2



Posts: 327
Joined: 9/21/2002
From: Ellis Grove, IL, USA
Status: offline 		mrasmm,


I did all that... When pressing the button while in "finish mode" to re-display the "cells balanced" indication (CELL 1, 2 and 3 LED's should flash 5 times), nothing happened. No flashes from the cell LED's.

I DON'T think the unit is working properly. When I initially plug the battery into the Equinox, it doesn't show the cell count. Sometimes, the "CELL 3" LED (and ONLY the CELL 3 LED) will illuminate for the 2 second cell count display, most of the time, nothing at all will illuminate. The CELL 1 and CELL 2 LED's have never illuminated, ever. When going into QB, no flashes, flickers, nothing, just the QB LED flashes. Which, with a balanced pack, you would somewhat expect. I tried charging the pack yesterday through the Equinox in Interface Mode, and there was no activity on the CELL LED's at all, even though the pack was charging after a 15 minute flight. I only left it on the charger through the Equinox a few minutes... since I didn't see the cell count, and no activity at all on the cell LED's, I removed the Equinox from the equation before it could have done any damage and charged the pack through the power lead.

So, I have a feeling that the circuitry in the Equinox may be working properly, but the Cell 1 and Cell 2 LED's (and possibly Cell 3 as well) are inop. But what puzzles me is why there was no activity shown when I tried charging the pack on interface mode(assuming that the cell LED's actually do work). The way I understand the instructions is that whatever cell is receiving power from the charger should have it's respective LED illuminated. So, knowing that the CELL 3 LED is capable of illuminating, I would have thought that I would have seen some activity out of it. But the Equinox just lays there, like a little brick, with the Interface Mode LED flashing, and nothing else going on letting you know that this thing has a clue as to what it's doing.

The one thing I know for sure that isn't working correctly with it is that it will not show that it sees Cells 1 and 2, and sometimes cell 3. That's enough for me to send it back... especially when the instructions have a shaded balloon saying DO NOT PROCEED if all the proper cell LED's do not illuminate.


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Brian

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       Post #: 6

RE: Equinox problem? - 7/5/2007 11:30:30 AM   
mrasmm


 

Posts: 4422
Joined: 1/9/2007
From: Sometown, Northern Utah, USA
Status: offline 		ahh, I musta misunderstood what you were saying =)

if you think it's bad, then definately send it back =) don't want a liability on your hands

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       Post #: 7

RE: Equinox problem? - 7/18/2007 4:47:39 AM   
xlr82v2



Posts: 327
Joined: 9/21/2002
From: Ellis Grove, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Got my equinox back a few days ago, just tried it out tonight... Hobby Services replaced it with a new one.

Now that's more like it!! This one does what the instructions say it should do.

Good service from Hobby Services, thanks guys!


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Brian

(in reply to mrasmm)
       Post #: 8

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