Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found the problem!  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found the problem!
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Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 6/30/2003 10:25:36 PM   
BackAfter20


 

Posts: 198
Joined: 3/28/2002
From: Marietta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I recently purchased the Great Planes ProGlo starter with charger.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ803&P=M

I got a Panasonic subC battery free as part of a special.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXTT16

I initially charged the unit for about 24 hours, and it worked fine. I've been charging it for about 12 hours before use. After using it a few times, one day at the field it didn't seem charged, so I hooked it up to my power panel glow charger lug for a few minutes, and that seemed to get it going.

Well, it has gotten gradually weaker and weaker, needing the power panel charge. Yesterday at the field, I got about 5 minutes out of it while tuning a 4-stroke, and it was dead. The power panel lug didn't do anything to bring it back.

What did I do wrong? Should I be charging it for 24 hours between uses? Is there a chance I drained it so low that I killed it? None of my glow chargers do peak detection. Is there a chance I overcharged it in 12 hours? Is that particular battery prone to early failure?

I'm getting ready to buy another battery (Sanyo this time), but don't want to kill another one if I'm doing something wrong.

< Message edited by BackAfter20 -- Jul 10 2003 3:17AM >
       Post #: 1

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/1/2003 1:55:11 AM   
Shortman



Posts: 5971
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Clovis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Well, first mistake.. Panasonic hehehe. Sayno are THE CELLS to use for any battery application.

Glow Ignitors do not last to long when in use, I would say for me mine last (I use the HotShot glow ignitor) 30 minutes of ACTUAL USE...

I know when I broke my Saito 72 in I had to leave the glow ignitor on for 2 complete tanks of fuel before it ran without it on constantly. In those 2 tanks I used the complete glow ignitors juice and had to go to a back up one to continue breaking in the motor.


_____________________________

Steven Carroll
AMA# 738035

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 2

glow ignitor - 7/1/2003 4:05:03 AM   
kadet


 

Posts: 132
Joined: 12/5/2002
From: South Central, KY, USA
Status: offline 		try a peak detecting smart charger for your glow start, it won't kill
the battery the way the others do. I use the Hughes RC glow start charger.

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 3

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/2/2003 8:11:05 AM   
elevator_up



Posts: 298
Joined: 6/3/2002
From: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Status: offline 		I bought a couple 1650 sub c's from radio shack for much less than the sanyo price(and more mah's), just keep them in you traveller as backup in case your primary dies. Swap them around once and a while and you're good to go for a long time - nothing worse than not having power for your igniter. The RS ones also have solder tabs if you want them for something else.

You'll need to check the specks on how long to charge, should be in the new product guide, you can calculate by looking and mah battery has and see how much your charger puts out then figure out the minimum time, including about .4. Better instruction in this forum. Also sounds like a cycle would not hurt if you've already created memory.

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 4

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/2/2003 10:44:32 PM   
BackAfter20


 

Posts: 198
Joined: 3/28/2002
From: Marietta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the tip about Radio Shack. Funny, I get so focused on RC stores I never think of other sources for stuff unless someone here mentions them, like Lowes for the $20 transmitter case and Radio Shack for batteries. R.S. is on my way home, so I'll pick up a battery tonight.

I've put my glow starter cable back into my flight box for emergencies.

Last Sunday, when my glow starter died, everyone else had left the field. I ended up cutting my fuel pump wires, moving the plugs from 12v to 1.2v on the power panel, stripping the ends, and wrapping the strands around the engine and plug tip to start the engine. Back in business! I just had to swap the plugs and wires back and forth to use the fuel pump. Does that qualify me for "Survivor"?

: )

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 5

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/3/2003 6:57:39 AM   
elevator_up



Posts: 298
Joined: 6/3/2002
From: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Status: offline 		Very cool, nothing like the focus of a dedicated R/Cer trying to get that last flight in !! Reminds me of the time I learned my lesson about a dead glow battery. I took a battery out of a maglight in the car(an AA!), grounded the neg to the engine and used a metal twist tie from my son's popcorn bag to connect glow to positive terminal on the battery I held down with my thumb. My son cranked the engine and I had my last 20 mins of flight )

Maybe a flashlight that runs on sub c's would be a good RC toolbox item as a backup to dead glows !

(It might be interesting to post a thread about the most creative ingenious field workaround because of a failure)

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 6

Last Sunday, when my glow starter died, everyone else h... - 7/4/2003 1:58:14 AM   
Flying Geezer



Posts: 1070
Joined: 4/12/2003
From: Bowling Green, KY, USA
Status: offline 		BACKAFTER20,

I showed your comments to marketing here at Hughes RC, about you raiding your fuel pump leads to fly just ONE MORE TIME. They agreed such dedication should not go unrewarded.

They have agreed to send you a CHARGE + glow start charger at NO COST. Sorry, I couldn't talk them into the accessories.

Check your private messages for instructions on placing your free order.

And please, next time you have a problem at the field, don't start ripping the wiring, or any parts out of your car. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET HOME.

_____________________________

Flying Geezer
Hughes RC

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 7

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/4/2003 7:24:25 AM   
BackAfter20


 

Posts: 198
Joined: 3/28/2002
From: Marietta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Flying Geezer,

All I can say is "WOW!"

I followed your instructions.

WOW.

Thanks.

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 8

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/4/2003 3:05:49 PM   
Jemo



Posts: 1927
Joined: 12/2/2001
From: in, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Flying Geezer:

That was nice...

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 9

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/4/2003 7:49:43 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Sanyo and Panasonic both make good batteries.
How far is the cell being discharged before it is charged again?

_____________________________

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(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 10

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/7/2003 9:15:45 PM   
BackAfter20


 

Posts: 198
Joined: 3/28/2002
From: Marietta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I don't know how far the cell was discharged the first 2 or 3 times. I used it at the field for about 7 starts. It would then get a 12-hour charge the night before the next outing (2 to 3 weeks later).

It did get quite a workout a few times when it was used while trying to tune a finicky 4-stroke and my T-maxxs (cars). The cell was discharged to a point where it wouldn't light the glow plug. That would be about 5 minutes on the plug.

A 24-hour charge with the wall charger is now giving me about 3 to 4 minutes of glow time before it won't light the plug.

I bought a Sanyo 1500 mah sub-C at Batteries Plus this weekend ($2.99) I am waiting for the HughesRC charger before I use it.

: )

The guy at Batteries Plus asked if I wanted a 3300 mah NiMh sub-C instead. Would that be a better battery for this application, or is that overkill?

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 11

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/7/2003 9:41:24 PM   
JPMacG


 

Posts: 1183
Joined: 1/2/2002
From: Ivyland, PA, USA
Status: offline 		My 1400 mAh glow starter gives me about half an hour of glow plug "on" time.

Glow plug "on" time may depend upon things like how rich the mixture is, whether or not the engine is flooded, etc. I expect (don't know for sure) that the resistance of the glow plug filament increases as it heats up, so if it is kept cool by fuel it will draw more current and wear out the battery sooner.

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 12

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/10/2003 8:25:43 AM   
BackAfter20


 

Posts: 198
Joined: 3/28/2002
From: Marietta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I found the problem!

The cap with the meter in it has a broken solder connection, which is causing an intermittent open circuit!

The unit wouldn't glow anything after a charge, so I checked the voltage and found it was an open circuit. I had measured it previously and it read 1.28 volts, so I knew this was intermittent. I found the solder connection between the circuit board and the cap broken. Bump the cap one way and it works. Bump it a different way and it's dead. It was just dumb luck that it happened to be making contact at the beginning of each flight session.

A new one is on its way.

(in reply to BackAfter20)
       Post #: 13

Glow ignitor subC dead after only a few uses - I found ... - 7/10/2003 8:32:09 AM   
BackAfter20