Eagle Flyer

My Feedback: (84)

I started cycling some packs and found a couple nicad packs that take way too much. a 500 pack went to 700 then the charger shut down because it was above the packs rating too much. Also have a 1200 pack that took over 1300. These are both old packs that haven't been used for several years. My other newer packs, nicad and nimh seem to come out as they should.
What's up with the older ones?

Red Scholefield

My Feedback: (9)

What kind of charger, what was the charge rate? If the packs are fully discharged they can take as much as 140% more charge than rated before they peak (if you are using a peak detection charger.

Eagle Flyer

My Feedback: (84)

It's an Accu cycle Elite. The rate is what it auto sets. yes it peaks. But I just finished doing the 500 pack again and this time it only went 486(700 the last time). Obviously something wrong with it??
I will do the 1200 again and see how it comes out. Like I said though, they are older packs. I probably won't use them. Just more of a courosity thing while I learn how to use this charger.
All my newer packs come out good and just about right on the numbers.
looks like it will be a nice charger/cycler.
Is it safe to do this thru the switch/charge jack on the plane? Or is it too much load? I have all the way up to 2700 nimh packs and it set 1.1 amps charge on those if I recall correctly.

richrd

Old pack's do'nt behave well, they false peak or do'nt peak well. My friends always give thier's to fix go figure. Always as we say form charge them at least 5 times before testing for capacity. I just do it out of habit Charge your 500mH @ 50mA to 140% to 150% cap or 15 hrs then discharge at C/5 after 5 times I then the last discharge I trust capacity value. After that if looks good I test peak charge at C/2 should peak out at app. 550AH




Two problems the first is becarefull if pack is wraped in lots of foam it could over heat. Charge as slow as you can that peaks. Also the wireing gage are light IMO. I do'nt do anything over 1 amp myself. Of course I always recharge mine in the plane just to lazey to take out. But if any thing is questionable I pull out an do bench test.
Rich

Rodney

Many times, if you treat an old pack that has sat unused for time or if has only had fast charges, you can rejuvinate it by doing a new forming charge (charge at 0.1C for 16 hours). Do this at least two times and chances are the pack will improve significantly. If not, old age has taken its tole.

Eagle Flyer

My Feedback: (84)

The elite has no way of controling the total % of charge or a timer. At least not that I am aware of. I can set the charge peak milliamps and voltage, peak charge milliamps, discharge milliamps, discharge cutoff voltage.
How about I just cycle it using the charge and discharge numbers you mentioned?

richrd

I have not used the elite but the manual states that it calculates the max capacity as most good chargers do. Also if you bought the temperature probe you are safe on all conditions. Just set the 4 cell at C/10 or 50 mA raise delta peak to app. 10 mV battery capacity to 500mAH, set temp at 110 deg and let it charge. Check after several hours and see what it’s doing, if after app. 15 hrs you can stop it if it hasn’t on it’s own. As always it will take a bit to learn the elite. NOTE ( 50 mA times 15 hrs is 750 mAH or 150% cap.)
Which will just begin to warm this battery. Then discharge at C/5 or 100 mA at least 5 cycles before you throw it in the trash if below .8 (80%) x 500mAH = 400mAH cap.