HI Alan, sure, I guess what I meant to ask, or meant to explain was, I thought the optima 9 would power up via the dual batt/channel 9 port (of coarse the SPC port is the best way to power it) , but in my case, it seems i may have a bad optima 9, because it will NOT power up via a direct battery connection from a 5-cell 6v pack into the batt/channel 9 port, nor into any other port?

Sure, always use the SPC for safety, but it seems my optima 9 is bad?

for example, all my 7-channel optima 7's power up fine on the 3rd channel via an ESC or via the batt/channel 7 port and then I optionally solder in a connection for the SPC port off the direct battery connection, but the optima 7 still powers on and functions 100% perfect in any port when the SPC is not powered, but here on my first optima 9, my optima 9 will not power on, except via the SPC port, so it seems I have a bad optima 9?

Does this make sense what I am asking? trying to determine if I have a bad optima 9?
Thanks again!!