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Old 05-24-2010 | 12:30 PM
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Default Astro Blinky Balancer Help

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?.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 01:17 PM
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That means it is balancing.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 01:49 PM
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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.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 05:48 PM
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Thanks for the help guys. It's been blinking for about 45 minutes now. I was told it only took about 2-3 mintues to balance.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 05:59 PM
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Have you checked to see how much diff there is in cell voltages? As long as its taking would imply your Blinky is dealing with a big voltage imbalance.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Duster_360
Have you checked to see how much diff there is in cell voltages? As long as its taking would imply your Blinky is dealing with a big voltage imbalance.
I have an ONYX 230, and a Blinky Balancer. When I put it on my 2S lipo 2 lights light up for about 5 seconds. The the blinking starts.

How do I check the voltage? i do not think an ONYX 230 can do it.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 06:17 PM
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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.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 06:28 PM
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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
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Old 05-24-2010 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Duster_360
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
I will get a DVM now.

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.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 06:47 PM
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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??
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Old 05-24-2010 | 07:23 PM
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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.

Last edited by DriftWoof; 05-24-2010 at 07:34 PM.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 07:33 PM
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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.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 07:34 PM
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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.
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Old 05-24-2010 | 07:51 PM
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It's blinking random, thanks for all your help bud!!!

Last edited by DriftWoof; 05-24-2010 at 08:14 PM.
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