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-   -   Glow Igniter issue, I think. (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/beginners-85/7523532-glow-igniter-issue-i-think.html)

jentzsch 05-21-2008 12:07 PM

Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
I bought the Hot Shot 2 igniter and charged it all last night.

I have been tuning the engine this morning for about 30 min, no problem. ( used the igniter about a dozen times while tuning) Now it seems like the igniter is dead, as I can not get the engine started anymore.

Does that seem normal? Being that it is a new igniter, does it need to by cycled like any other battery to give it a full and complete charge, as well as hold the charge?

opjose 05-21-2008 12:25 PM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 


ORIGINAL: jentzsch

I bought the Hot Shot 2 igniter and charged it all last night.

I have been tuning the engine this morning for about 30 min, no problem. ( used the igniter about a dozen times while tuning) Now it seems like the igniter is dead, as I can not get the engine started anymore.

Does that seem normal?
Yup perfectly normal especially if you left it plugged in.

The HS has about a 1300mAh 1.2v NiMH battery.

If left continuously connected to a glow plug you would get about 15-20 minutes time out of it.

Since normally we plug the ignitor in, crank the engine over, and remove the ignitor, a single charge may be good for an entire weekend ( though I carry several and charge them each night before flying... ).

I've often done exactly as you, with a stubborn engine ( usually a fuel problem ) trying to tune an engine, only to discover that the ignitor was depleted by the time I got the engine tuned up fully...

The very first charge as the manual states is supposed to be much longer. I believe it states 24 hours. It doesn't sound like you did this though.


jentzsch 05-21-2008 12:28 PM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 

ORIGINAL: opjose


The very first charge as the manual states is supposed to be much longer. I believe it states 24 hours. It doesn't sound like you did this though.


It only said to charge it for the first time 10-12 hours. Subsequent charges 10 hours.


I like your idea of getting a few igniter's. I need to get a new plug for the engine, so I think I will pick up another igniter as well.

Also, is it possible to get a more powerful battery?

opjose 05-21-2008 12:41 PM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
Re: Battery

The HotShot 2 has a small grub screw that permits you to open the "CAN".

I believe you can change the battery, but I have never done so.

I do have the (GP?) anodized ignitor with indicator in the scew off cap from Tower too.

On this one I took a 2200mAh battery from a new RX pack I had, which had a bad cell, and cut off the tabs, then stuffed it into the ignitor.

It lasts quite a bit longer now.

TH sells loose battery cells to make your own packs.

These make excellent replacements for the cell in your ignitor.

In your shoes I'd just buy a second ignitor and carry two.

Use one primarily, and next year or so, look at changing out the battery.

Why waste what you already have?


MinnFlyer 05-21-2008 01:13 PM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
I only buy the type that you can replace the battery in. I have about 3 of them, and I have replaced the batteries in each of them at least once.

Much better than throwing them away when the battery is shot.

Gray Beard 05-21-2008 04:52 PM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
This thread got me to wondering so I had to go out and see what size battery I had in my igniter. I always thought it was A 2300mah but it was only A 1300mah. I tend to forget it's on the charger and leave it on for days, I would like to say it's an age thing but I always forgot them so it's just A me thing.
Anyway, I don't leave them on the engine very long and they seem to last me A long time between charging.
A safety thing here, I have had and seen them shake off the engine, hit the prop and go flying off into space. I have also seen the leads from the igniter run off the power panel get caught by the prop, that gets ugly real fast too. ;)

opjose 05-21-2008 04:55 PM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 


ORIGINAL: Gray Beard

A safety thing here, I have had and seen them shake off the engine, hit the prop and go flying off into space.

You were lucky... mine elected to hit me right in the middle of the forehead.... much to the delight of on-lookers. :D

The bump was fairly small and went away quickly.


2HI2C 05-21-2008 06:05 PM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
I have one that you charge & one that takes a AA battery for a backup.

piper_chuck 05-22-2008 07:31 AM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 

ORIGINAL: opjose



ORIGINAL: Gray Beard

A safety thing here, I have had and seen them shake off the engine, hit the prop and go flying off into space.

You were lucky... mine elected to hit me right in the middle of the forehead.... much to the delight of on-lookers. :D

The bump was fairly small and went away quickly.
This is one, among many, of the reasons I don't use the things. I charge the sealed battery that supplies my power panel a few times a year and it never lets me down. I wrap the igniter cord under and then over the wing to keep it away from the prop and so if it falls off, the wind from the prop will blow it harmlessly away. The power panel also comes in handy for charging other people's dead glow igniters. :D

speedair 05-22-2008 07:37 AM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
Check your glow plug to make sure. If it doesent work try charging the battery again

number40 05-22-2008 08:10 AM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 


ORIGINAL: opjose



ORIGINAL: jentzsch

I bought the Hot Shot 2 igniter and charged it all last night.

I have been tuning the engine this morning for about 30 min, no problem. ( used the igniter about a dozen times while tuning) Now it seems like the igniter is dead, as I can not get the engine started anymore.

Does that seem normal?
Yup perfectly normal especially if you left it plugged in.

The HS has about a 1300mAh 1.2v NiMH battery.

If left continuously connected to a glow plug you would get about 15-20 minutes time out of it.

Since normally we plug the ignitor in, crank the engine over, and remove the ignitor, a single charge may be good for an entire weekend ( though I carry several and charge them each night before flying... ).

I've often done exactly as you, with a stubborn engine ( usually a fuel problem ) trying to tune an engine, only to discover that the ignitor was depleted by the time I got the engine tuned up fully...

The very first charge as the manual states is supposed to be much longer. I believe it states 24 hours. It doesn't sound like you did this though.
i agree ^^^

i also keep a spare ignitor on hand as my backup to my pluginthewall rechargable unit that uses alkaline batteries and that way if it dies too I can pop in a new battery quickly that's fully charged and keep right on keeping on with whatever i was doing

bkdavy 05-22-2008 09:44 AM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
This year I gave up on the battery powered igniters and went with the corded igniter that plugs into the power panel. Now I can judge the health of my glow plug, control the heat of the plug on startup, and it lasts as long as my field battery. No heavy weight to flop around when the engine is running either.


Brad

gboulton 05-22-2008 11:36 AM

RE: Glow Igniter issue, I think.
 
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