Ashley Cobb

iTrader: (28)

I have a fairly simple question, I have bought 6 matched intellect 4200 cells, and after I assembled the pack I noticed that the entire pack was dead (0.0V).

I attempted to charge the pack and they will not take a charge...

Is it normal for matched batteries to be at 0.0V when you first get them?

xrcbuggy

No it is not normal. But here is what you can do, use a 12v bat. & zap you pack with it( say 2 to 3 sec., not more), you might have to zap it 2 or 3 times, then use your charger to charge & discharge the pack 5 to 10 times. Good luck!

Desolas

iTrader: (2)

Check the voltage of each cell before you determine the pack has 0 volts. Put a volt meter on all of the cells individually, you might just have a poorly soldered bar.

Ashley Cobb

iTrader: (28)

I thought of that originally, so I went back and retouched all my solder joints with a hot iron. The resistance I'm getting from measuring from + to - from the battery leads is 5.5ohms... thats the whole pack...

So if it were a dud joint it would show up in that measurment?

Zapping the pack with 12v sounds a dangerous? anyone else tried it?

forum fodder

Take the pack back to where you got it from. The cells have gone bad as Intellects are prone to do. Most people will only find the odd cells that is zero volts from new if they are unfortunate, but a mate of mine who is typically unlucky with cells bought 3 packs of matched cells and 12 cells were zero volts.

I would not recommend you hit them with a 12volt charge as you will most likely screw up your claim for replacement cells

Ashley Cobb

iTrader: (28)

wouldn't the matching process weed out the bad cells?

forum fodder

Matching weeds out the poor cells, but the cells that come through with zero volts when they come out of the packet have gone wrong since the matching process. When i say 'bad' i dont mean not very good performance, I mean they are faulty.

Ashley Cobb

iTrader: (28)

I will return the batteries.

Thanks heaps guys

GymBeam

iTrader: (4)

sounds like a sick joke.

BigDaddyT

Most likely you're looking at a shelf-life issue there. The self discharge on IB4200's is insane. If they are left sitting for any extended period of time they will 0v themselves and may or may not be recoverable.

Quante

iTrader: (6)

I ask myself what would be the use of this???? if its a brand new pack you should never do this or recommend doing this. It should be returned immediately....

Even if you could get some life out of this with this manner, you have an 'expensive' matched pack with about 2000mAh runtime and bad voltage....

mauromj

iTrader: (26)

Hey guys, I have a 4200 matched pack and it will have to sit untill onroad season (winter). Whats the best way to store it? Should I add a nice charge and let it sit or what?

Xray To The Max

iTrader: (4)

I would discharge the pack, on CTX-D (or simular) to get the voltages the same, then just pump about 3000 mah's into them. When you get them out to race again just discharge them down and they will be as good as new!

Quante

iTrader: (6)

You need to check the voltage and add a little charge (600mAh) every 2 weeks is what I have been told.

But I doubt they will survive as good packs untill then, the IB voltage and capacity numbers drop a lot during a few months and putting batteries to rest wont help too much.

thats why I bought GP4600 atm cause till the bad weather is over I'll be driving em in my 1/12th and then they wont be driven till its winter season...

I hope yours survive and with good numbers!!

forum fodder

I wonder if the xrcbuggy also has a lump hammer in his toolbox to remove tweak from his chassis?