| Author |
Message |
< Airtronics ~ SD-10G 'trickle charge' |
| eajohnson |
 Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:27 am |
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New User
Joined: 09 Jul 2009
Posts: 45
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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| The updated manual explicitly talks about a trickle charge that is supposed to occur even after the charger indicates charge is complete. Does this actually occur? I've had my radio on the stock charger for 30hrs and it's still fluctuating between 8.1/8.2V. The same pack off an external NiMH peak charger holds quite a bit higher voltage after a full charge. (This is my original charger BTW, still haven't received the replacement one.) |
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| Todd Nicholson |
| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:58 pm |
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R/C Guru
Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 2285
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Hi,
Yes, the charger will continue to trickle charge as long as it's left on (20mAH). We recommend that you leave the charger on for 24 hours for the first 5 charges regardless of the status of the indicator light to condition the battery, as explained in the manual.
What you're seeing as far as voltages after charging is perfectly normal. Remember, the stock charger is trickle charging at 20mAH which isn't much. Considering the battery is 6 cells, the voltage will top out slightly above that - around 8.0 volts, maybe a little more. When you're using a peak charger, you're pushing much more into the battery than the stock charger, so you're gonna see a bit higher voltage, but you'll probably also see a quicker drop off from that voltage. I would guess after removing from your peak charger the voltage will drop off rather quickly to around 8.0 volts. |
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Regards,
Todd Nicholson
Global Services
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
EMail: service@globalhobby.net |
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| eajohnson |
| Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:24 am |
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New User
Joined: 09 Jul 2009
Posts: 45
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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| Total runtime before the low battery warning kicked in after the 30 hr charge was 2 hrs 12 minutes, so I don't think it could have put much energy back in over that time. |
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| Todd Nicholson |
| Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:49 am |
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R/C Guru
Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 2285
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| How many times have you cycled the battery? The battery can take up to 5 times of cycling before it reaches its maximum capacity. |
_________________
Regards,
Todd Nicholson
Global Services
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
EMail: service@globalhobby.net |
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| eajohnson |
| Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 7:18 am |
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Joined: 09 Jul 2009
Posts: 45
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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It's somewhere around 10-12 cycles now.
edit: just did another trial, again >24hrs charge; 2hrs 5mins time to low batt warning starting from fresh off the charger. If anything it's getting worse not better. Is Sanwa/Global considering offering an upgrade battery pack using better cells e.g. Eneloop or similar? |
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| crchet |
| Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:21 pm |
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Joined: 17 Oct 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Fruitland, idaho
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| I just got my SD-10g monday I did hte 24 hour charge twice and after each one it would only last about 3-5 minutes and the alarm would go off so put it on a peak charger and seems to be fin now? |
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| Todd Nicholson |
| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:53 am |
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R/C Guru
Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 2285
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Hi,
I'm sorry, but I've never heard of the battery lasting only 3-5 minutes after being charged.
If the battery is working fine using your peak charger, try charging again using the stock charger. After 24 hours, check the voltage. If it's not charged, it's a good indication the charger could have an issue in which case we would replace it for you.
Hope this helps. Let us know the outcome. |
_________________
Regards,
Todd Nicholson
Global Services
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
EMail: service@globalhobby.net |
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| JeffB |
| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:07 am |
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 4
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Todd Nicholson wrote: Hi,
I'm sorry, but I've never heard of the battery lasting only 3-5 minutes after being charged.
If the battery is working fine using your peak charger, try charging again using the stock charger. After 24 hours, check the voltage. If it's not charged, it's a good indication the charger could have an issue in which case we would replace it for you.
Hope this helps. Let us know the outcome.
I just received a new TX of the same model today and the battery only lasts 3-5 minutes as well, which is aggravating. I've not tried to charge the battery on my Triton charger as of yet, but from your experience is this a battery issue or a charger issue?
When I received the radio and plugged the battery in, I turned the radio on and it wouldn't even come on. I plugged it onto the charger and waited for the light to go green (which happened within 15-20 mins) and then turned the radio on. It ran 3 minutes, at most, then went into power off mode.
Additionally I have left it on the charger for hours this evening with no positive results, same amount of run times on the Tx.
I'm going to probe the pack for a reversed cell, but it's pretty disappointing a defective pack could make it into a $500 piece of equipment. I don't really want to send the whole darned thing back for warranty replacement and wait weeks due to a crummy battery pack. |
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| crchet |
| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:41 am |
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Joined: 17 Oct 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Fruitland, idaho
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I don't know, once I charged it on my peak charger and brought it up to full charge once and then followed what they recomend it has worked fine on the charger that came with it since I just think the charger that comes with it doesn't put out enough to bring it up if it is clear down when you get it  . |
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| JeffB |
| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:09 am |
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 4
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crchet wrote: I don't know, once I charged it on my peak charger and brought it up to full charge once and then followed what they recomend it has worked fine on the charger that came with it since I just think the charger that comes with it doesn't put out enough to bring it up if it is clear down when you get it .
I'll try this tonight and see if it solves my problem. It'd be really great if it did. Thanks! Cause these 3 minute flights are killin' me!  |
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| Todd Nicholson |
| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:11 am |
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R/C Guru
Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 2285
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Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about the problem with the battery. If charging via your peak charger doesn't help, please contact service directly at service@airtronics.net. They'll be able to help you further troubleshoot and resolve any problem.
BTW - If you're using a peak charger, we do recommend that you remove the battery from the transmitter for charging.
Hope this helps. |
_________________
Regards,
Todd Nicholson
Global Services
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
EMail: service@globalhobby.net |
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| Stephen M |
| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:12 pm |
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Joined: 16 Jul 2008
Posts: 27
Location: North of Toronto Canada
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NiMH batteries have to be slow charged for 24 hours at C/10 for at LEAST the first 5 charges. I don't know what the battery capacity is but lets assume 2000 mAh. So for the first 5 charges charge at 200 mAh (approx) for 24 hours. Do not peak charge until after these slow charges set the batteries. NiCads require 1 24 hour charge.
You cannot charge the batteries out of the box for a couple of hours and expect any duration.
Stephen |
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| JeffB |
| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:39 pm |
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 4
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I went with the stock charger originally. If the batteries aren't pre-conditioned then they shouldn't expect to include a stock charger and for it to work unless they want to turn folks off of the product. This pack was FLAT when it arrived.
I know the whole 'test one out of x and if it's good they're all good, as well as the x% of livable defect'. Want to have the best product, then test every single unit, and particularly every single critical subsystem of that unit.
I know sometimes it's fiscally cheaper to test only a percentage, but the view from the outside world is simply if it doesn't work, no matter the reason, it comes off as low quality junk. Stupid to make a bad impression over a 4 dollar battery.(cost)
After the fact I have charged it at .1Ah and the pack peaked way to fast, this pack is defective. After leaving it alone for 5 cycles on .1Ah charge and discharge it's most definetly a junk pack. I'd pick it apart, but think that might void the warranty on it.
I built a quick pack out of some Li-Ion batteries and tossed in a generic 'safe charge' circuit and they work great so I'll be going this route for the weekend. Though I'd like to get the pack replaced since I paid for it. I will be contacting Airtronics to do so and I suspect it'll be great. I love the radio to death, but the batteries on the other hand could use a bit of 'in the factory' pre-forming and testing. How many weekends expectations and excitations have been ruined from these crap packs? I've read more than enough forum posts about the problem.
This industry, like any, suffers from 'pick' testing, rather than testing everything they make. The fiscal cost is small for this method, but the reputation cost 'out of the box' is much higher. I've been in the electronics devel industry and know how it goes, I don't hold it against them, really, but could see some improvements. With the new Li-Ion pack the radio is awesome and I can't keep my paws off it!
This isn't limited to Airtronics, I can't count the number of defective electronics products that have landed in my lap. Order 3 servos for a MUST HAVE weekend, better order 4, or if you're unlucky, order 5. If they work, return the spares, if not, smart you. Order 3 servers for a must have project, better order 4, etc.
I think you guys did something really awesome with this radio, and I fortunately know how to find other workable solutions. Don't let people down with their expensive purchases though.
(avg pack capacity after these cycles was 200mAh, I've been flying R/C for 18 years so I'm not quiet inexperienced with these old-chemistry packs ) |
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| JeffB |
| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:23 pm |
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 4
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| Just wanted to say service got back to me pretty quickly regarding my battery woes, I've not been on the forums for about a week plus since I've been setting up models and flying with this great TX. |
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