New featherweight (DMBLBIT)

[JamesDavies]

IMG_20140905_110749.jpg

Got problems charging. Using an Imax b6ac charger and a turnigy 3000mah 22.2v (6s) lipo.

Error message reads "low voltage".

Battery voltage is 14v on my multimeter. I'm worried I might have knackered some cells in there...

Obviously I now won't use it until I know what's going on. I'd it something stupid I'm doing wrong or is the battery done?

James.

[overkill]

As long as none of the cells have completely died, its possible to recover the battery by giving it a partial charge to bring the voltage up to a point where the Lipo charging program recognises the pack as having 6 cells. The best thing to use is a current limited bench power supply but as they are rare, you can use the Imax charger in it's Pb (lead-acid) mode.

* Set the charger to an 18V Pb battery and low charging current, 0.5A or less. Don't connect the balancing cable at this point. The charger should accept the pack as a

* When the charge current drops down to almost nothing or the charger finishes its cycle, the battery should be charged up to around 18V.

* Disconnect the battery and check the voltage. Wait around 15 minutes and check again; if the voltage is the same or only a little lower, the pack is savable, if the voltage is heading back to 14V, its dead.

* Assuming the pack holds its voltage, set the charger for a 24V PB battery and start charging again. You don't want to complete this charge cycle, you just need to raise the battery voltage to around 20V so that the lipo program recognises the pack. Charge for 15 minutes, check the battery voltage and repeat until the pack holds around 20 to 21V.

* Set the charger to the Lipo mode, connect the balance cable, set the current down low and try charging. If the charger still indicates low voltage, try more time on the Pb charge mode. If the charger accepts the pack, monitor the individual cells by pressing the DEC button (described on page 30 of the manual). If any of the cells are wildly different voltages, you probably need to switch over to balance charging.

To stay safe, do all this outside on a non-flammable surface. I have brought back several packs this way and while they may have balancing problems or a shorter life span, its worth trying.