Hi folks. I could use some help. I have a Tower Hobby 12 volt, 4.5 amp lead-acid battery for my field charger, which is the basic Hobbico model. You know, you can only charge either the tx or Rx one at a time.

It has worked perfectly for at-the-field pick me ups on the batteries as well as a quick charger when I'd not planned on flying until the last minute. However, last week when I went to charge my Futaba Skysport Tx, I got a steady power light on the field charger, but only a blinking light on the battery indicator, as if it were in trickle charge. In the past when this happened I just charged up the 12 volt overnight and everything was cool, but this time I got the same results the next day. So, I tried it on my receiver, and while the light remained on as if it were charging, I left it on for a full thirty minutes and measured the battery and it had hardly improved the charge. Usually the receiver only takes about 15 minutes, if that. So, I'm wondering if the 12 volt battery is shot, or if the field charger is defective. I replaced the 3 amp fuse in the charger to no avail.

I don't mind buying a new battery or charger, but I'm afraid that I'll buy the wrong component and have to send it back while waiting for the right one to come in. I have no way of checking the battery. Can you guys help? (By the way, I've tried this on two other transmitters and receivers, always with the same results.... it just won't charge. And, this is with the battery being left on the AC charger for near 24 hours prior.....)

To find out if it's the battery, or the charger, try hooking it up to your car battery. If it works, it's your field battery. If it stil doesn't work, it's the charger.

Do as Dennis Says!

To add to Dennis' post, if your charger works on the auto battery, then you have a bad field battery OR a bad 12V charger. Don't get rid of battery until you're sure!!

If you get to that point, let us know.

- George

Thanks mulligan. I forgot to mention that.

Charger behaves the same way even when hooked onto the car battery. Flashing light when trying to charge the Tx, and steady light when plugging in the Rx battery. Does this mean my little Hobbico has bit the dust?? I guess for less than $20 you can't expect much, but it's only been a couple of years.....

I would suggest that you check the wire leads from the charger on the Tx side and the connector to the Tx pack. If these check out OK then I would suspect that the charger is toast. Take it apart and have a look - can't do much harm. Probably not worth sending it in to be fixed.

Ross