Heat damage to batteries.

SmokeysDad · #1 06-26-2003, 11:49 PM

I did the duel cell mod to my car, but it doesn't seem to have added the speed. I double checked the batteries. One battery is good at 1.2, the other however is only 0.3, even though it is a 1.2. Is this battery maybe damaged by the heat? does it need to be fully charged to read 1.2V? Or is it just a lemon??

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Sinful6 · #2 06-27-2003, 12:12 AM

It should be fully charged to read 1.2V, however I would assume that you know that the factory controller can not recharge 2 batteries in series. You may opt to hardwire the battery pack in the controller to the charging "pod". Questformadness has a handy diagram for this if you haven't already done it.

email: dcc@japan.com

-DC

SmokeysDad · #3 06-27-2003, 07:53 AM

I have made a spare controller into a charger. It has 2 AA batteries to use. I measured the specs to be near 3.1 V and 4.0 A. So it should charge it fine.... I'm wondering if I got a dud... I bought three cars, two 4.2 motors, and two 1.2V 150mA batteries from toyeast.com. One car was a dud. One car worked. One car I could fix. One of the two motors worked. Both batteries measured in at 1.2V. But after soldering one, the voltage measures in at a mere 0.35V. Do you think the heat from the iron damaged the battery? Or do I have to just buy another... Plus, is there a duel cell upgrade that makes a "container" that you put the battery in, and don't have to solder the battery itself (if the the heat was the cause of the battery weakoning).

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Sinful6 · #4 06-27-2003, 12:35 PM

SmokeysDad,

It is possible, however not probable, that you received a "dud" battery. What is more likely, I think, is that you applied excessive heat to the battery during soldering. There is a dual cell that uses 2 buttons cells, however, I do not think that they are rechargable, but they do not require any soldering, just pop them in. I hope I have helped you some.

email: dcc@japan.com

-DC

SmokeysDad · #5 06-27-2003, 12:48 PM

I think you're right. The battery was warm after I got done soldering. Thanks for the help. I'll get another battery and try it again

hogjowlz · #6 06-27-2003, 02:34 PM

all batteries are gona be warm after soldering.

as far as modifying a controller to charge a dual cell

this part costs a buck and can be inserted into your controller with no solder and a piece of cardboard. also increases range.

PseduoRooter · #7 06-27-2003, 04:28 PM

A 1.2v cell is always 1.2 volts, even without a charge. It is amps you are supplying the battery during a charge, not volts. The voltage will fluctuate slightly during a charge, but if your cell reads .3v it is definately dead. I would return it.

SmokeysDad · #8 06-27-2003, 06:11 PM

I wish I could send it back, but shipping costs as much as the battery. So I'm gonna buy another battery. But definitely not from toyeast!! There stuff is junk...in my humble opinion...

Ovgron · #9 06-27-2003, 08:55 PM

i know what you mean, a couple months back, i ordered from ToyEast and took long enough to get to me (2 weeks airmail) and plus my package was bent. The cars i ordered (some lxx that were on sale) came in a plastic container, 2 of the 4 car packaging was smashed in. Luckily the cars actually worked (not for long though, did some extreme modding) and drove somewhat ok. It just pisses me off that of the 7 bits ive had, not a single one has driven straight, even right from the package.

PseduoRooter · #10 06-27-2003, 09:48 PM

I have heard of people that have a tweaked chassis. Meaning slightly twisted and by appling some pressure to untweak it resulted in better straight line performance. Some also use two steering springs for better centering. I haven't had one track straight yet. I feel your pain.

SmokeysDad · #11 06-28-2003, 05:12 PM

I actually got one that steers straight. It was a shen that came in yesterday. it has great range(15-20 ft) unmodified. long run-time 20-30min unmodified. The only thing that keeps it from being perfect is that the steering for one side is not the same as for the other side. One side is tighter. It takes a little time to get used to. How do you make a turn tighter???? Add more revolutions to the coils???

Murcielago659 · #12 06-28-2003, 07:48 PM

Mine has that problem too. I would be interested in knowing how to fix it. I do have rare earth magnets in there tho, so I may just try switching it back.

TypeZer0 · #13 06-28-2003, 10:20 PM

ok, here's from my own experience. i've gotten batteries hot enough that u could barely touch them cuz the wire i was soldering was being a biznatch and not staying put long enough for the solder to cool and harden (stupid helping hands aint always helpful

) anywayz, i had the same "dead" battery thing in two dual cell jobs. i had a dual cell charger ready to go before i even did my first dual cell mod and one battery had 0 volts the other had 1.2 volts after charging them at 6 volts (which i later found out was NOT necessary, you only charge at or slightly above the total voltage rating, which means 3 volts for dual cells, any more and it kills the battery and heats it up) well, the solution was to cycle the batteries to try to "jumpstart" the second cell that had no voltage. all i did was charge it up, run it until it's completely dead, charge it again and i did about 3 cycles and the second cell suddenly sprang to life after the third charge and i was blazing around my table after that. so basically, charge and discharge it at 3 volts until ur "dead" cell comes to life

SmokeysDad · #14 06-29-2003, 06:54 PM

thanks for the info. I'll try it out. I kida disconnected the bad battery so I could play it with my family, so I go a tiny more work to do, lol.