My Einstein started giving me LOW milliamp readings on the discharge cycle. I pulled the 9v dry cell and it read only 8.2v. I replaced it with one reading 9.2v. It improved some but still reads 100 to 150 low on packs I knew should have been higher. I double checked with a pack my buddy had just recycled and sure enough it's too low.

What's up? Is it time for a new charger? I boughT this unit on Red's reccomendation about 3 yrs. ago and have been very pleased with it.

GRAYEAGLE

The 9 volt battery doesn't have anything to do with your readings. It just keeps power on the electronics in case of a power failure. It just seems that your setting for the minimum cut-off voltage is set low from the factory. Personally I would not worry about it so long as the readings are fairly consistent.

Geistware,

I would have agreed with you before I changed the battery but there is a significant effect on the readings. I just replaced the old battery into the unit and it reads only 225 on the same pack discharged with the 9.2v battery it read 448. Go figure. The instructions say it will affect the discharge cycle but they do NOT say how.

As I was posting my question this AM, I had 2 packs discharging in order to store them at 1.1v in the fridge for future use as I have done in the past. I watch the unit carefuly and pull the pack off just when it switches to charge. This time both packs are sitting at 3.0v. So the the unit is no longer completely discharging a pack. oH WELL.

GRAYEAGLE

What packs do you have that are setting at 3 volts? This is even low for a 4 cell pack. Or did you make a type. I would expect the Einstein to switch from discharge to charge at around 4.4 volts for a 4 cell pack. Make sure your programming jumper is making good contact and is in the right position.

Red,

Thanks for the tip. Don't pay any attention to me on this one. I was having a senior moment this A.M. BIG time. Hope you don't know that felling yet!

GRAYEAGLE

From what I understand from FMA, the discharge cycle only require power for the electronics and during discharge, the unit will register the register the discharge cycle only.

The only thing that I can figure is that the timer is effected by the 9 volt battery voltage. WHen the voltage drops, the clock slows down. Did you have power applied when you ran this discharge cycle?

Geistware

Thanks,I think you have hit the nail right on the head. On Red's suggestion I checked for continuity across the little shunts and cycled 'em several times for a good connection.

Yesterday I had 1.1v on the brain. When checking the pac I thought IT should be 1.1v in stead of each cell ....... I can't believe I did that! Furthermore, the pacs are discharging TOO LOW not the other way round. I'm going to start over and double check everything including where I parked my brain!.

This is begining to sound like a soap opera...........Will Dan help Einstein, can he learn to read a digital volt meter, will he ever be able to interpit the reading he gets, and what about his brain? Listen in next week folks.

Thanks for your time guys,

GRAYEAGLE

What I did was to determine the current drain and time the discharge cycle with a stop watch. I found that my capacity will always read about 3-5% too low.