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e-Electric Batteries & Chargers > New Triton results.....dissapointing!!!
 
 
hpilotrc
Veteran
Location: NY--->>Mooresville, NC USA 8/2005

Received a new Triton Charger yesterday from Hobby Services. They replaced the one I sent back that wasn't charging Li-Io packs at the full current that was selected.

Well I asked to make sure that the charger works correctly before sending it back to me.
Apparently they just sent a new one assuming that nothing was wrong with the firmware or programming.

The charger still only goes up to 0.8 to 0.9 Amps with 1.2 Amps (1C rate) being selected! This is very dissapointing and I believe shows that the Tritons firmware or programming needs an update. I even forced the 7.2 Vdc 1200mah Li-ion pack to discharge to 5.0 Vdc (by selecting a lower 3v discharge voltage and shutting of the discharger at 5vdc). Still the charge current only went up to 0.9A.

I will call Hobby Services up on Monday and see what can be done to correct the Triton so that it charges at the current I select.

What's also puzzling is the 7.2 and 7.4 volt
battery selection for the Li-ion and Li-Po cells. No where is there any reference to which voltage to select and the charge is much worse if I select the lower 7.2 volts, which is what the battery is.

Tonight I will discharge the Li-Ion pack and select a charge current of 1.5 A and see what happens as far as where the Triton charges at.

I still like the Triton Charger very much and believe that this problem can be corrected by them.

Michael
09-21-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
hpilotrc
Veteran
Location: NY--->>Mooresville, NC USA 8/2005

Additional Triton charging results.....

After discharging the 7.2 volt pack to a level of 5.0V I tried charging the pack at 1.5 A and still the charger would not charge above 0.9A. The charger stayed at 0.9 A for only a minute or two before further lowering the charge rate.

Can anyone tell me at what voltage the Triton
should start backing off charge current ???

For all other battery types the Triton seems to work well.

Michael
09-22-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
d_wheel
Senior Heliman
Location: Deep in the heart of Texas.

For a 2 cell pack, set it for 7.2 volts. According to my information, you should not discharge the pack below 3 volts/cell, or 6 volts in your case. If you have discharged it to 5 volts, you may have damaged the pack.

The charger should slowly ramp up to the current you have selected and remain at that level until the pack voltage reaches 4.2 volts/cell (8.4 volts). At that point, the current should ramp down while the voltage remains at 8.4 volts. It should take about 1.5 to 2 hours to charge a fully discharged pack.

Later;

D.W.
09-22-2003 Over year old.
 
 
hpilotrc
Veteran
Location: NY--->>Mooresville, NC USA 8/2005

Triton charging results with Li-ion batteries

DW,

The Li-ion battery pack I have says do not go below 5.0V which seems reasonable.

My Triton's current folds back way before 8.4V is obtained. Actually if I remember somewhere around 7.2 to 7.6 volts or so as it gets up to the 8.4 volts.

I will see what Hobby Services has to say. I would really like to talk to the people who designed and programmed it.

To be fair to Great Planes....It is still possible that the problem is with my battery pack. I may just go out and buy another and see what happens with the new one.

The Triton is still a great charger.......

Michael
09-22-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
tabbytabb
Elite Veteran
Location: seattle

How long are the leads that go to your battery connector of choice. This can impact your charge rate, also what is your power supply/battery you are powering the triton from. Mine charges at 1.2 amps all the time.

I select the 7.4 to charge a 2 cell pack and 11.1 to charge a 3 cell

Should charge 2 cell to 8.4ish and 3 cell to 12.6ish

try shortening your leads and or different power supply, I would guess the problem is not with the charger

Hope this helps
Tabb
09-22-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Jason Merkle
Senior Heliman
Location: Champaign, IL

I guarantee the problem is your battery pack - NOT the Triton.

I have 2 Tritons and have used them for 6 months now charging LiPo of various sizes and it always will reach the full amps I set...as long as the pack is low enough in charge of course.

If your pack is damaged, the charger cant get the amps up because the cell is already rejecting the input amps and voltage. This is common for a pack that has lost capacity due to abuse (ie - overdischarging).

Your pack WAS damaged when you discharged it to 5v. Anything below 2.6v per cell (5.2v) WILL damage a Li Ion or LiPo cell. Usually, this results in a 10-20% loss in capacity - meaning your 1200 pack is now only a 900-1000 mah pack.

You should also no longer buy Li Ion cells. They are far more dangerous than LiPos and provide less power out. You can get Thunder Power 1320 mah LiPo cells which will weigh less than your current 1200s, provide more power and a tad more flight time - and the Triton always will ramp up to 1.3 amps with these cells when it is set to do so.

Jason
09-22-2003 Over year old.
 
 
3De
Senior Heliman
Location: Australia

The current setting is a 'maximum' current setting, not an 'actual' current setting.

If your batteries have high internal resistance (and is sounds like they probably do) they will reach the voltage limit before they reach the current limit you select. The only way the charger could force the current you want into the cells it to go past the voltage limit.

Tabb may also be on the right track, make sure your charge leads are short and good quality, and the plugs are in good condition. Even a very small voltage drop in the leads will dramatically reduce the charge current.
09-23-2003 Over year old.
 
 
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e-Electric Batteries & Chargers > New Triton results.....dissapointing!!!
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