Astro Blinky Balancer Help
#1
I have a ONYX 230 charger and I have Astro Blinky Balancer. I bought 2x, 2S 5000mah Tenergy Lipo Batteries. I plugged the battery in on the negetivie side. It lights blocks(2S0 for 5 seconds and then they go out and 1(1S) block is lit. It just blinks WHat does this mean?.
#3
The blinky balancer works by draining off a tiny bit of power from the cell with the highest voltage and bring it down to the voltage of the lowerst cell. When one of the lights blinks it is actually burning off a tiny bit of power from that cell.
#6
How do I check the voltage? i do not think an ONYX 230 can do it.
#7
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,530
From: Houston, TX
No Onyx can't tell you - individual cell voltages are checked thru the balance connector. You can do it with a DVM or MM thru the balance tab - on the back where the metal is slightly exposed, you can use a set of probes to get the voltages.
You can get a plenty good DVM for about $5 if you don't have one - and you really should have one.
You can get a plenty good DVM for about $5 if you don't have one - and you really should have one.
#8
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,530
From: Houston, TX
I wanted to be sure you have this - make sure you're connecting it like they want it connected -
http://www.astroflight.com/pdfs/106.pdf
http://www.astroflight.com/pdfs/106.pdf
#9
I wanted to be sure you have this - make sure you're connecting it like they want it connected -
http://www.astroflight.com/pdfs/106.pdf
http://www.astroflight.com/pdfs/106.pdf
I noticed the light is staying on longer as it blinks. It stays red for 3 seconds now when it blinks.
I read the whole thing. I understand it now much better it's really simple it's just I didn't think it would take this long. According to thew manual it passed the low voltage test. Both lights stayed on for about 5 seconds.
#10
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,530
From: Houston, TX
I use this one - its more than accurate for general RC use - I was buying some other stuff and this was specially priced, think I paid $1.98. There are plentyy of others like this - cheap and accurate -
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4101_200394101
You may have a weak cell or one that's is just starting low relative to the other. Is this lipo new??
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4101_200394101
You may have a weak cell or one that's is just starting low relative to the other. Is this lipo new??
#11
Brand new. I just looked at it. Their are no lights flashing.
I plugged it in to charge with the blinky balancer. Only one light comes on and blinks.
Unplugged it from the charger.
Did low voltage test, passed. Balanced the battery alone.
Put on the blinky top make sure it's balanced. Stope blinking.
Now I am charging it again and only one light blinks.
It seems I can only get one light to blink.
So now, I am slow charging it at 0.2amps. until they all blink.
I plugged it in to charge with the blinky balancer. Only one light comes on and blinks.
Unplugged it from the charger.
Did low voltage test, passed. Balanced the battery alone.
Put on the blinky top make sure it's balanced. Stope blinking.
Now I am charging it again and only one light blinks.
It seems I can only get one light to blink.
So now, I am slow charging it at 0.2amps. until they all blink.
Last edited by DriftWoof; 05-24-2010 at 07:34 PM.
#12
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,530
From: Houston, TX
That's good, glad your lipo is OK.
You will get a better charge if you use the Blinky while you're charging versus after charging. Blinky can do either stand alone balancing or while charging. This way you should finish up with balanced cells at max voltage rather than all cells at the lowest voltage after charging.
You will get a better charge if you use the Blinky while you're charging versus after charging. Blinky can do either stand alone balancing or while charging. This way you should finish up with balanced cells at max voltage rather than all cells at the lowest voltage after charging.
#13
Brand new. I just looked at it. Their are no lights flashing.
I plugged it in to charge with the blinky balancer. Only one light comes on and blinks.
Unplugged it from the charger.
Did low voltage test, passed. Balanced the battery alone.
Put on the blinky top make sure it's balanced. Stope blinking.
Now I am charging it again and only one light blinks.
It seems I can only get one light to blink.
So now, I am slow charging it at 0.2amps. until they all blink.
I plugged it in to charge with the blinky balancer. Only one light comes on and blinks.
Unplugged it from the charger.
Did low voltage test, passed. Balanced the battery alone.
Put on the blinky top make sure it's balanced. Stope blinking.
Now I am charging it again and only one light blinks.
It seems I can only get one light to blink.
So now, I am slow charging it at 0.2amps. until they all blink.




