Peak Char-G'd! - Page 4

#46 12-08-2002, 11:35 PM

I've been adjusting my charging rates, and I usually now charge at 300 ma to 500 ma. Typically this charges in about 20 minutes give or take and will run close to 2 hrs. I've charged up the car, ran it for about 20 minutes, let it sit overnight, and all the next day and driven for about 5-10 minutes the next night before recharging. I use the supernova 250 charger and use 150 NiMH cells. 2.2 motors and a variety of gears. Any of the smart chargers that can do NiMH (Or Nicad if you use them), peak detect, can charge down to 1 cell, and can charge down to .1 amp should be ok.

Ovgron · #47 12-12-2002, 08:25 PM

I built the charger that I posted about earlier. I finally figured out how to adjust the timing to about 5 mins. with the jumpers and pot. After an automatic discharge (nice feature) and two 5 min. charges on a stock LXX clone with a LXX 80 mAh NiMh cell @ 750 mA I set the stop watch and went at it. It drove for about 15 mins, better than ever, with no change in power seen. At 15-17 min it started to slightly lose power, and was performing as it would with a controller charge. It stayed suprisingly consistant till the 24 min mark, then just abruptly lost power for the next 30 secs till it was dead. Pretty impressive for some stock clone and a 20-something dollar charger kit. Ill try a 2 button cell 2.4v 70 mAh and a dual button cell 2.4v 180 mAh sleeper. I can fit a bunch of 70 mAh buttons, so mabye a 4 or 5 1.2v cell sleeper could be made up. Who knows?

Rogue · #48 12-12-2002, 09:15 PM

Hey Ovgron, how were the instructions on assembling the kit? I am not an electrician, but can follow instructions. My wife says that I don't follow hers very well, but that is a whole different matter. Are you satisfied with your new charger or do you wish you had tried something different?

bdebde · #49 12-12-2002, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ovgron
Ill try a 2 button cell 2.4v 70 mAh and a dual button cell 2.4v 180 mAh sleeper. I can fit a bunch of 70 mAh buttons, so mabye a 4 or 5 1.2v cell sleeper could be made up. Who knows?

Where you getting the button cells? I take it they are rechargeable.

Ovgron · #50 12-13-2002, 06:50 PM

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bi...300&type=store <====Thats the batteries. Look on the bottom for the button packs.

The instructions were very complete. I have no complaints. Everything was i order. Even the resistors. They come in a ribbon that corresponds with the assembly order. No counting bands or anything. It was easy and took me about an hour, but i took my time. All I used was my 25 watt weller soldering iron, some 60/40 solder, and some end cutters (my leatherman was brought out a time or too, also). If anyones interested, ill post how i got 3 to 5 min charge time (rather than 1 or 14 hour) with it.

Ovgron · #51 12-13-2002, 06:52 PM

it would be a lot nicer with an enclosure, and the proper 15 volt, 800 mA power supply.

kenny_dilger · #52 12-17-2002, 11:15 PM

Are you guys using your peak charger with the battery in the car and the PCB connected so that the charge would also go through the PCB in the car? If so are you doing this with multiple cells?

Thanks,
Kenny

#53 12-18-2002, 07:15 PM

FWIW,

I use my DuraTrax Piranha Digital peak charger ($50) to charge my batteries. I set it for 100mAh capacity, and 200mA charge rate, 6mV peak detect. It takes about half an hour to charge the cell, and the car will run for well over 15 minutes with the red (2.6?) motor. I also installed a small on/off switch, so the battery doesn't drain down all the way when I'm not using it.
I had to cycle the cells a few times before I got close to the rated capacity (100mAh, and 80mAh). I used a #112 flashlight bulb as a discharger, the #112 is designed to run on 1.2V, it draws about 220mA, so it'll drain a cell in less than 30 minutes.
I guess I could bump up the charge current to charge them faster, but I figure the batteries will last a whole lot longer (more total charge cycles) with the lower charge current.

kenny_dilger · #54 12-18-2002, 09:44 PM

Thanks for the info. Are you charging the batteries while they are in the car so that the charge is also going through the PCB? If so are these dual cell cars or single? Does it matter if the peak charger goes through the PCB? It won't burn anything up will it? I have a Robbe Infinity II and will be peak charging my dual cell cars.

Thanks,
Kenny

#55 12-19-2002, 08:05 AM

I modded the controller so I can select the controllers internal charger, or an external charger. All it took was a Radio Shack SPDT switch and female coaxial power connector. The power jack is also how I connect the bulb discharger. I was thinking of mounting the flashlight bulb inside the Tx, so it can be used as an "emergency" flashlight when your helping someone else look for that lost steering spring.

My mod will be able to charge a 2 cell (or more) BCG no problem, because it totally bypasses the internal circuitry.

zzz · #56 12-19-2002, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by arceeguy
I modded the controller so I can select the controllers internal charger, or an external charger. All it took was a Radio Shack SPDT switch and female coaxial power connector. The power jack is also how I connect the bulb discharger. I was thinking of mounting the flashlight bulb inside the Tx, so it can be used as an "emergency" flashlight when your helping someone else look for that lost steering spring.

My mod will be able to charge a 2 cell (or more) BCG no problem, because it totally bypasses the internal circuitry.

Could you give us a pic of your controller. I notice that you got the Duratex is that from Hobbico? I was considering in picking one up. Why did you set it @ 6mV?

zzz · #57 12-19-2002, 11:40 AM

has anyone tried this with a dual 150mAH mod Zip?

#58 12-19-2002, 02:49 PM

As soon as the "holiday rush" is over, I'll post pix of the mod. Just getting through the holiday shopping, and picked up a Hot Wheels K.I.T. racer to use for parts. ($6 for a motor and battery, and maybe some other useful parts aint bad!)

Also, anyone know of a program I could use to illustate the schematics? (nothing expensive like PhotoShop, something less than $50 would be nice!)

tory_103 · #59 12-28-2002, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by arceeguy
As soon as the "holiday rush" is over, I'll post pix of the mod. Just getting through the holiday shopping, and picked up a Hot Wheels K.I.T. racer to use for parts. ($6 for a motor and battery, and maybe some other useful parts aint bad!)

Also, anyone know of a program I could use to illustate the schematics? (nothing expensive like PhotoShop, something less than $50 would be nice!)

dude, just download a demo of PhotoShop or download the whole thing......... there are all sorts of nameless ppl who just love nothing better than to give this stuff away....... just what i heard *wink wink*......l8r

#60 12-28-2002, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tory_103
dude, just download a demo of PhotoShop or download the whole thing......... there are all sorts of nameless ppl who just love nothing better than to give this stuff away....... just what i heard *wink wink*......l8r

I've been tempted to download some packages from Kazaa or WinMX, but I want to keep things legal. (I know, I'm a party poooper!) Heck, I'm still running Windoze 98! I do have a couple of PC's running Linux, because Linux is free - and most of the apps are free. Maybe I can find something suitable that will run in Linux.
Time to hit http://www.tucows.com!