Trakpower 4900 udc 20

[bald eagle]

Hi, I have just tried to charge my 3 week old stick pack on my core udc20. All i get it it starts to charge for approx 5 secs then it comes up with batt vol err cell low vol. the pack has been run last thursday with no problems, and stored un connected to anything, with well over 7 volt in..... It wont charge... I have a core lipo 3250 and that has no trouble. Is the trakpower goosed? HAve spokent o the shop where I got the lipo and they told me to phone flighttech, phoned them and all I get is an answer phone... :confused:.. help.

[super__dan]

Are you trying to balance charge it with no balance harness connected?

The Core lipo has the right balance lead for the charger but you need an adapter harness for the Trakpower 2mm plug.

[bald eagle]

Yeah, using the harness too..:(.. like i said, it was all working fine last thursday....must have a dodgy lipo pack I think... I may be wrong..?

[mark christopher]

does it charge without using balance (balance lead removed from charger too?) whats the voltage on each cell? plus to balance and minus to balance?

trakpower/.flightpower/flighttech are very busy at the min suffering form staff off work

[Body Paint]

Give Trakpower a ring, they are very helpful.

Most likely the battery is a tad lower than you thought and the charger/balancer is being a little over sensative. I'm sure Mac or any of the tech boys at TP will find you an easy fix.

Or Mark C..... he's quite handy aswell :)

[blue_pinky]

Have you got a meter to measure the pack's voltage independantly of the charger? You can measure each cell via the balance port and see what they are each reading.

[bald eagle]

trying to sort out multi meter to test individual voltages now....will update asap...

[bald eagle]

As far as I can tell I have everything set up correctly, I have set the meter to 20, under dcv, and the results showing 1404?? no dots in between to indicate voltage? dont know if the meter is any good?.. used the same settings on the other lipo i have and it shows 1567? stressed now..lol

[bald eagle]

right, changed the battery in the multi meter, the pack is reading 7.34v but, not getting any readings at all from the individual cells? the meter stays at zero....?

[blue_pinky]

Hmmm, have you tried charging without the balancer?

I wonder if the balance port has gone open circuit for some reason then?

[bald eagle]

Not tried that, a little pessimistic to mess about with it if it's faulty. Dont want it to go bang or anything...:(

[bald eagle]

Just tried it quickly for about 30 seconds.. it all seemed fine charger did not cut off....., I guess the balance "port" has gone for some reason... strange...!

[blue_pinky]

Certainly sounds like it! Time to call in the warranty then. How annoying!!!

[dave-p]

i had this, turn down the ampage on the core to under 1 amp and try it leave it on that setting for 5 mins or so then try to charge normally i think the volts are a tad low.

[Belsten]

if you are using the core udc 20 charger, I have had the same message even with band new lipos, when I queried this with microtech, they advised me that schumacher had informed them that this fault occurs through incorrectly installing the balance leads and to return the charger to schumacher, which I havent done yet

[mark christopher]

Just tried it quickly for about 30 seconds.. it all seemed fine charger did not cut off....., I guess the balance "port" has gone for some reason... strange...!

to measure the volts of each cell put red probe in the + and black probe in the centre balance port ( if digital meter) then swap the red probe the the - hole, you should get same reading as red to + but will be minus.
if you have no readin posible a poor internal connection.

what balance lead do you have for your core? bought or home made? fair to say your charger is ok.

you have two options, return the pack to shop with multimeter in hand as your evidence, or return it to trakpower who will replace it, MAC is in australia for a month so make to attention of IAN, include your contact details and they will sort you out, print and enclose this thread and mention this what ive told you to do re voltages.


please note as above, they are at the min extreemly busy, so bear with them.
pm me and ill give you ians email if you want to pre email him

[mark christopher]

if you are using the core udc 20 charger, I have had the same message even with band new lipos, when I queried this with microtech, they advised me that schumacher had informed them that this fault occurs through incorrectly installing the balance leads and to return the charger to schumacher, which I havent done yet


i belive it can pop the track on the pcb board inside, i had a similar fault while playing on my bantam :blush: repaired it my self tho :thumbsup: but as his other pack is ok im sure thats not his concern

[Tyson]

Mine did exactly the same 4weeks ago whilst charging on my Bantum BC6 once I connected the Balence lead i could charge normally, some fault somewhere but i have raced twice since then no problems. If i try to charge without balance lead it come up with CELL VOLTAGE ERROR. After charging i checked the readout of each cell and both were 3.7 so whi knows must be a Trakpower fault.
One interesting thing was that i change my ESC to a LRP TC and X12 this combo sucks the LIPO dry to 6.99 at cut off, next week i had this fault !!:confused:

[mark christopher]

if you are using the core udc 20 charger, I have had the same message even with band new lipos, when I queried this with microtech, they advised me that schumacher had informed them that this fault occurs through incorrectly installing the balance leads and to return the charger to schumacher, which I havent done yet

Mine did exactly the same 4weeks ago whilst charging on my Bantum BC6 once I connected the Balence lead i could charge normally, some fault somewhere but i have raced twice since then no problems. If i try to charge without balance lead it come up with CELL VOLTAGE ERROR. After charging i checked the readout of each cell and both were 3.7 so whi knows must be a Trakpower fault.
One interesting thing was that i change my ESC to a LRP TC and X12 this combo sucks the LIPO dry to 6.99 at cut off, next week i had this fault !!:confused:


your fault is that you have left the balance lead in the charger and not in the pack, the charger knows this and gives the error message, unplug balance lead from pack and charger and the message will disapear!!

[Tyson]

your fault is that you have left the balance lead in the charger and not in the pack, the charger knows this and gives the error message, unplug balance lead from pack and charger and the message will disapear!!

Hi Mark

Sorry pal this makes no differance any other ideas ??

[super__dan]

And you've changed back from lipo balance to normal lipo charge?

[bald eagle]

Well , just got back from racing, and I had no problem with the charger and the core 3250 lipo. I balance charged the pack all night (topped up after each race) and it was with out fault. I have emailed flighttech and directed the email in Ian's direction as i spoke to him earlier on in the day. I had problems with the mutli meter (low bat). I am awaiting his reply now, I will phone them again tommorrow if no response by say 12pm. we shall see...

I am using the harness/lead from dms racing vr1006. Have used it on the trakpower pack last week with no problems.
I guess I will just have to wait and see. A bit frustrating, but hey ho, s**t happens ay. :(

[bald eagle]

Spoke to Ian @ flighttech today, the pack is off for repair/replacement under warranty. Happy days. :thumbsup:

[mark christopher]

ok good news had no doubt that thay would sort it for you

[bald eagle]

Many thanks for all your help guys. :)

[bald eagle]

Wow... I recieved my new lipo stick pack under warranty on Saturday, just opened the pack now to charge it up ready for tonights racing... guess what.. it must be faulty.. not a happy bunny now.
I keep getting a short error on the charger . This is a brand new pack, on its very first charge. I have checked to see if it is the udc charger, and all seems well when charging anopther pack of lipos.... any ideas guys? trying to phone flighttech as I type this....:thumbdown:

[jono83]

Any luck?

[bald eagle]

I got through, waiting for Ian to phone me back now. All this is well and and good, and I dont suppose it's anyones fault, but I am not very happy with the quality of Trakpowers right now. :(

[mark christopher]

your balance charging them all same on same leads?

[bald eagle]

How strange.. I cant explain this, but.. when I got to racing, I had no problems at all with the pack... dont know whats going on.. It charged fine, and performed pretty well too. Weird...!!!:bored:

[mark christopher]

100% sure you dont have a dodgy connection on the balance lead?

[bald eagle]

No idea Mark. That would explain the problem, but it all llooks fine, its new. Got it from dms, the vampire racing one.