Charging

Do you have a problem? Here is the place to appeal for help
Post Reply
User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Charging

Post by FWLR » Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:49 am

I need some help quickly. I am going hopefully to my 1st steam up since the start of COVID on Monday. So I went to check my loco to see how she was, give her a run and check her over. I filled her with water and gas, then switched everything on and went to try give a pre-check, you know the basic things before you start and I found that nothing worked, nothing. So I thought it must be the battery in the loco, so out it came and onto the charger, but now the plugs that are now on the battery is one of the smaller type, I forget what they are called. The charger I use is a Imax B6 and I have forgotten how it works now. It has now been on for 4 hours.....
What setting should it be on, this is mainly a question for Rick
C86BE061-2B5E-4A81-825E-EE730627DE43.jpeg
C86BE061-2B5E-4A81-825E-EE730627DE43.jpeg (1.83 MiB) Viewed 4763 times
4459516C-37CF-46FC-B59D-DEFFC69FDC0D.jpeg
4459516C-37CF-46FC-B59D-DEFFC69FDC0D.jpeg (1.95 MiB) Viewed 4763 times

If I can't get the battery charged up it will stop me from going to the steam up and I am so looking forward to it.

User avatar
philipy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5033
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:00 pm
Location: South Northants

Re: Charging

Post by philipy » Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:15 pm

You need Rik's guide to the Imax B6
https://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2017/0 ... arger.html

I printed out the relevant bits and keep it with the charger, it's invaluable.

However, if the batteries are completely flat and haven't been used for 18months or so they may be beyond redemption.
Philip

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: Charging

Post by FWLR » Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:33 pm

Thank you Phillip. :thankyouyellow :thankyouyellow

I was struggling, I forgot that you need to hold the start button down and wait until it beeps..... :roll:

User avatar
philipy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5033
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:00 pm
Location: South Northants

Re: Charging

Post by philipy » Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:52 pm

FWLR wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:33 pm I forgot that you need to ....
Yep, been there, done that, etc. Thats why I printed it out as a handy guide... With me, I keep forgetting to plug in both the charger leads AND the balance leads, with LiPo's.
Philip

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: Charging

Post by ge_rik » Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:44 pm

Glad you seem to have got it sorted out, Rod. I've been busy all day and so only just caught up with this thread.
I hope you enjoy the steam-up

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

User avatar
Lonsdaler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue May 20, 2014 9:50 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Charging

Post by Lonsdaler » Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:30 pm

Bring it along anyway, even if it's still playing up. Many minds and tinkerers will help I'm sure.
Phil

Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds

My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: Charging

Post by FWLR » Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:52 am

Sorted thanks Phillip...





Been told by Anne to get some more battery packs .... :oops:

User avatar
Andrew
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3247
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:33 pm
Location: Bristol, UK
Contact:

Re: Charging

Post by Andrew » Mon Jun 28, 2021 9:53 am

FWLR wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:52 am Been told by Anne to get some more battery packs
That sounds like a plan!

Glad you got it sorted Rod...

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: Charging

Post by FWLR » Tue Jun 29, 2021 5:17 pm

On the subject of battery packs, is this the correct one for my Roundhouse Billy.
31AD458A-D705-4F84-AE6C-F71AB63B769B.png
31AD458A-D705-4F84-AE6C-F71AB63B769B.png (470.27 KiB) Viewed 4632 times
It the same has the one I have now, a 4 cell with the Futaba plug. The one I have doesn't have any readable information on it unfortunately......it does have NI-CD though I think.

User avatar
philipy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5033
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:00 pm
Location: South Northants

Re: Charging

Post by philipy » Tue Jun 29, 2021 5:46 pm

FWLR wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 5:17 pm On the subject of battery packs, is this the correct one for my Roundhouse Billy.

It the same has the one I have now, a 4 cell with the Futaba plug. The one I have doesn't have any readable information on it unfortunately......it does have NI-CD though I think.
I can't answer as to whether it is actually the correct one, but it sounds about right, but I am slightly surprised that your existing one says NiCd?.
Philip

User avatar
Lonsdaler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue May 20, 2014 9:50 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Charging

Post by Lonsdaler » Tue Jun 29, 2021 11:13 pm

Hi Rod,
So long as the existing batteries are AA and not AAA, that set should suit perfectly. If the old batteries are Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium) that would explain the lack of charge - Ni-Cd's were notorious for developing a 'memory', where just boosting the charge rather than discharging them and then recharging resulted in them 'forgetting' they have a larger capacity. Ni-Mh (Nickel Metal Hydride) don't have the same issue.
Phil

Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds

My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: Charging

Post by FWLR » Wed Jun 30, 2021 9:24 am

Thanks guys. I have put an order in.... :thumbright:

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: Charging

Post by ge_rik » Mon Aug 02, 2021 8:02 am

FWLR wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 9:24 am Thanks guys. I have put an order in.... :thumbright:
I hope you got it sorted out, Rod.

BTW (probably a bit late now, but might be useful later), there are two types of NiMh batteries, standard ones and Low Self Discharge (LSD) cells. The LSD cells keep their charge for longer when stored ( eg will still have 80% of a full charge after a year), whereas ordinary NiMh cells lose their charge quite quickly when stored.

LSD cells are also known as Instant, Ready to use or Eneloop cells

Eg
https://www.vapextech.co.uk/batteries/s ... -discharge

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: Charging

Post by FWLR » Mon Aug 02, 2021 9:40 am

Hi rik,

I am sorted now thank you. :thumbright:

Good to know about those batteries though, I seem to always be charging them, especially the AA's and the prices seem to be getting more expensive everyday for the ones I have bought previously from other companies.

User avatar
GAP
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 686
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:34 pm
Location: Bundaberg QLD Australia
Contact:

Re: Charging

Post by GAP » Mon Aug 02, 2021 11:18 pm

ge_rik wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 8:02 am
FWLR wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 9:24 am Thanks guys. I have put an order in.... :thumbright:
I hope you got it sorted out, Rod.

BTW (probably a bit late now, but might be useful later), there are two types of NiMh batteries, standard ones and Low Self Discharge (LSD) cells. The LSD cells keep their charge for longer when stored ( eg will still have 80% of a full charge after a year), whereas ordinary NiMh cells lose their charge quite quickly when stored.

LSD cells are also known as Instant, Ready to use or Eneloop cells

Eg
https://www.vapextech.co.uk/batteries/s ... -discharge

Rik
A bit more on Eneloops batteries.
I was told by my local battery store there are 2 types 1 made in China and 1 made in Japan, the Japanese ones are better in both performance and quality.
I was told that the Japanese ones have a black cover and are labelled with a "Pro" tag plus have a higher capacity while the Chinese ones have a white cover.
https://www.jaycar.com.au/panasonic-ene ... k/p/SB2936
Graeme
From the home of the Ringbalin Light Railway
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... -page.html

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests