Hunter

iTrader: (7)

Last night was charging a 3800 6 cell pack when the charger started smoking and alarmed too hot. Quickly disconnected the pack and allowed things to cool. One message I remember seeing was it problem continues, contact your hobby dealer. So I hooked up another pack and immediately it started smoking. This time I disconnected everything, packed the charger up and shipped it to the service department today. It is only 2 months old. Hopefully they will fix or replace quickly as I am going to a race the end of August and need this charger back. Just thought you guys should know.

Jack Smash

iTrader: (35)

Thanks, glad you told us before it was too late.

(sorry, i am having a really stressful day)

RodneyB

iTrader: (7)

Maybe you should try 5 cells???

Hunter

iTrader: (7)

Nope to 5 cells. Just think it was defective.

Jack Smash

iTrader: (35)

OMFG that was awesome!!

kuzo

iTrader: (11)

Better watch it, pretty soon everyone will accuse you of hijacking threads to 5 cell like us lipo guys get all the time...

sjenkins97

iTrader: (7)

I thought that lipos were the only thing that randomly smoked and caught fire.... seriously though that sucks abou the charger. hope they stand behind it.

SkeeryJones

let me guess, you used 30amp or 20amp discharge prior? on a very hot day?

remember the size of the checkpoint charger is the same as the Duratrac ice and the ice only does 10amp disch, so only use 30amp or 20amp disch on a cool day. the charger is not big enough fans/heatsink to cope

cheers

Hunter

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the info Skeery. That was the kind of help I was looking for. As far as lipo's go, I hear they go up in flames w/o warning. That's why I won't own them. I guess I could use an external fan on it on hot days. I used to do that when I owned my Victor.

Jack Smash

iTrader: (35)

I have never heard of a LiPO going up in flames with no warning. They start to swell first and you have to keep current going into them to get them to flame. If you look at the youtube videos of Lipos blowing, the leads are firmly attached to the battery so that they cant come apart and stop pumping current into the pack.

Frank Root

iTrader: (25)

IMHO - If a charges says it can discharge at 30amp, it should be able to do it no matter the ambient temp without blowing up. The Orion Advantage Discharges @ 10amp, and on a hot day in the sun, it might get to hot, so it has a temp sensor, and *Pauses Charger TOO Hot.* I would expect the Checkpoint Charger is made with the same precautions?

johnnyboy

iTrader: (28)

One of the best responses ever...hahaha.

avrcguy

iTrader: (11)

I've run full 30A/6A cycles on my Checkpoint on hot days and not had any problems. I would assume you just had a bum unit. At least that's what I'm hoping.

Keep us posted.

Hunter

iTrader: (7)

I'm hoping that too and they fix or replace it quickly. As far as Lipos, maybe people aren't using them because they are an unproven technology. Maybe some day, but not now.

Hunter

iTrader: (7)

Received word today that my charger is all fixed and on it's way back to me. It was a FET that burnt up. All covered up the waranty. Quick turnaround too. Shipped on Wednesday, should be back by Thursday or Friday.