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e-Electric Batteries & Chargers > Alpha 4 questions

wargor
Heliman
Location: Chicago, IL

I have a 1500 Nihm transmitter pack that every time I connect it I get the “V.HI” message. I have tried to charge it using “I” and it still tells me “V.HI” I have tried C and get the same message. I’m not quite sure what else to do to get this to work. I get the same message when trying to the same above but using a 2400 NICD pack. Any help would be appreciated.

Warren

11-03-2003 Over year old.

HelicopterJohn
Key Veteran
Location: Seffner, Florida (Just East of Tampa, Florida)

“V.HI”

What type of transmitter do you have or are you trying to charge a pack outside of the transmitter?

The Futaba 9ZWC2 has a diode in the transmitter that will not allow you to use the Alpha 4 to charge it unless you bypass the diode by installing a jumper or rewiring the circuit board contained in the battery pack module as has already been described on this forum.

Typically you have to decide what function you want the Alpha 4 to do and then on some screens it asks for the number of cells you charging. If you understate the actual number of cells you will get the V HI message.

Hope this is of some help.

OC Bob's Gathering #2 was a Premiere Event. Pictures in my Gallery

11-03-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

MHawker
Heliman
Location: San Diego, CA

Cell Count

Be sure you have the correct number of cells. As was stated above, the Alpha will check the voltage v.s. the number of cells you enter.

The diode will only prevent you from Discharging. You can charge your TX pack with any charger without disabling the diode.

Mike

11-03-2003 Over year old.

wargor
Heliman
Location: Chicago, IL

Actually I figured it out. I was thinkning I had four cells when I actually ahd eight. Thanks for the responses though.

11-03-2003 Over year old.

Ace Dude
Elite Veteran
Location: USA

One of the reasons I love my Alpha 4! It lets you know when there's a problem! I just hate the V.lo error when the pack is flat.... Would be nice if it automatically charged it a little and then rechecked the voltage.

11-04-2003 Over year old.

HelicopterJohn
Key Veteran
Location: Seffner, Florida (Just East of Tampa, Florida)

V.lo error

Ace Dude

Yep, that happens to me sometimes when I want to charge my two 6 cell battery packs for my starter. I fool the charger by telling it that only 11 cells are connected instead of 12 and the V.lo error goes away. After it charges for 10 to 20 minutes I reprogram it for 12 cells.

You have got to be smarter than the machine?? Well, Maybe?? That automatic quick charge at first would be nice.

I think you can push and hold the voltage #7 key and it will put a quick charge in the battery, but that is a real pain. You have to do that if you are only charging 1 battery and it is flat or like you say the whole pack is flat.

OC Bob's Gathering #2 was a Premiere Event. Pictures in my Gallery

11-04-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

Ace Dude
Elite Veteran
Location: USA

Yup, I run the test under load program and hold down the program key to pump in enough current to eliminate v.lo error message. It's just annoying to keep changing the port programming to get it to charge. I like the idea of changing the number of cells, I never thought of that.

11-04-2003 Over year old.

HelicopterJohn
Key Veteran
Location: Seffner, Florida (Just East of Tampa, Florida)

Ideas

Ace Dude

That is why I like this forum. We all exchange ideas and hopefully help each other.

I said:

Quote
I think you can push and hold the voltage #7 key and it will put a quick charge in the battery, but that is a real pain.

I was too lazy to look in the manual and guess I had a senior moment.

Here is what the manual says to do for V.LO error:

The battery should be connected to a port programmed with "V" device. Next "R" (RUN) key should be depressed and HELD. When "R" key is depressed and held the load is removed and 1000mA quick charge is substituted as long as the "R" key is held. The second four digit reading now represents the battery voltage under charge rather than under load. This reading should be carefully observed. If this voltage reading increases quickly over 1.2 Volts per cell then the battery is probably OK. If the voltage reading hesitates to increase above 1.2 volts per cell the battery is defective.

If the battery appears OK, hold the "R" (RUN) key for another 30 to 60 seconds and then press "P" key and reprogram the port to desired device or simply switch the battery to a port that has been previously programmed with the desired device.

OC Bob's Gathering #2 was a Premiere Event. Pictures in my Gallery

11-04-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

Ace Dude
Elite Veteran
Location: USA

That's exactly what I do when I get the v.lo error message.

11-05-2003 Over year old.

Tulsaboy
Senior Heliman
Location: Tulsa, Okie-la-homie

Alha 4

Hello fellow Alpha's........good post....never thought of charging at a lower cell count.....great idea......Always had to go back to the manual on that rare occassion that I ran into the V-Lo demon......and it takes a little while to thumb through the man trying to find the quick charge/bump it up key stroke info, can't seem to remember it for my life....let's see voltmeter/run........sure wish they would have put that info in as seperately listed function, instead of just tucking it in obscurely...............thanks

11-13-2003 Over year old.

HelicopterJohn
Key Veteran
Location: Seffner, Florida (Just East of Tampa, Florida)

Low Voltage

Tulsaboy

Yes, I use the lower cell count all the time. I tend to let my starter batteries (two 6 cell packs) get low and when I plug it in to charge it gives me the Lo V message.

Maybe they will improve that feature on the Alpha 5?

Love mine. Matter of fact I bought a spare about a year ago and never even opened the box. I was afraid he would stop making them and I would have to go to something else.

OC Bob's Gathering #2 was a Premiere Event. Pictures in my Gallery

11-13-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

Tulsaboy
Senior Heliman
Location: Tulsa, Okie-la-homie

Helicopter John

I hear ya....usually I will order a litco when the site opens up for orders...as u know that's about a 5-10 min window frame, what, about 3 times a year?........I will sell it locally here to a heli pilot....just because it's fun to do...no profits, I'm not motivated by that sort of thing......Just nicer to have some fellow Alpha's around me....HA!

11-13-2003 Over year old.

Tulsaboy
Senior Heliman
Location: Tulsa, Okie-la-homie

Ace dude

That sounded like a bitch about the Alpha on the tools section, under sirrus charger problem....What's up?

11-13-2003 Over year old.

HelicopterJohn
Key Veteran
Location: Seffner, Florida (Just East of Tampa, Florida)

Alpha 4 Purchase

Tulsaboy

Yes buying an Alpha 4 is almost as much fun as having one. Ha Ha

The last one I bought I got a complete set of cables for it. They have really nice ends on them with the proper size wire in the cable. I originally made some from plugs I bought a Radio Shack. The Radio Shack Plug ends I purchased were too small and I had to leave the outer cover off and seal with heat shrink.

Moral to the story. If you decide to purchase and Alpha 4 make sure you order plenty of cables for your different applications.

OC Bob's Gathering #2 was a Premiere Event. Pictures in my Gallery

11-13-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

Ace Dude
Elite Veteran
Location: USA

Tulsaboy, not sure what you're talking about....

HelicopterJohn, Why do you need to order plenty of cables? Just do what I do. Put Anderson Power Poles (APP) on everything and you'll never be w/o the cable you need. I have several chargers and here's my setup. Do this and you can use any charger with any charge lead.

For the Alpha 4:
I have 5 of the following:
2.5mm-----------------------------------APP

Several of the following (each is about 6" long):
APP---------------------------------------Deans Ultra
APP---------------------------------------JR/Futaba Male
APP---------------------------------------JR/Futaba Female
APP---------------------------------------McDaniels Glo Charger End
APP---------------------------------------Large Aligator Clips
APP---------------------------------------Small Aligator Clips
APP----------------------------------------JR TX
APP----------------------------------------Futaba TX
APP----------------------------------------Cigarette Lighter Plug
APP----------------------------------------Banana Plug

11-14-2003 Over year old.

Tulsaboy
Senior Heliman
Location: Tulsa, Okie-la-homie

Ace Dude

11-22-2003 Over year old.

Ace Dude
Elite Veteran
Location: USA

Okay, I'm confused. I don't have a problem with my Sirius Charge Pro Plus. Judging by everyone else's post the Sirius is rock solid. My Sirius is less than a year old and I haven't used it much yet. No complaints with the Sirius here.

My Litco Alpha 4 let out a random smoke circuit that cost me $40+ to get fixed which was a bit of a disappointment. The lifetime warranty on the Sirius is a great feature.

On my Litco Alpha 4 I don't know what happened. I plugged it in and a little puff of white smoke came out and it smelled like burnt electronics. I sent it in for repair and had it fixed. I've had the Alpha 4 for about seven ix years. Only once while fast charging at the field did I notice that it didn't catch detect the peak.

11-22-2003 Over year old.

Tulsaboy
Senior Heliman
Location: Tulsa, Okie-la-homie

Acedude

This is the first ever problem I've heard about with a Sirius charger. Most owners swear by them. It's supposed to have a lifetime warranty (unlike my Alpha 4 which cost me $40 to get fixed once after it let out a random smoke circuit) so if in doubt send it in.
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Another senario, I purchased a "smart charger", the patent that ace bought from sirius for a peroid of time back in the 90's...It would false charge batteries left and right after about 1 yr...Sirius buys the patent back in the mean time, changes the name back to Sirius charger..Ace won't honor the lifetime warranty neither would Sirius...What if a company sells the patent and someone else then manufactures and sells the exact same product.....A lifetime warranty now means nothing....or at least that's what the manufacturer's are claiming.....

11-23-2003 Over year old.

Ace Dude
Elite Veteran
Location: USA

If Ace doesn't warranty their product that's their fault. You need to take that up with Ace. Also, you need understand what's covered by the Ace warranty.

You can't expect Sirius to warranty something they didn't manufacture. You wouldn't provide free repair/warranty service for something you didn't manufacture and didn't generate any revenue from would you?

Check the Sirius website. I recall seeing some explanation there a while ago.

11-23-2003 Over year old.

Tulsaboy
Senior Heliman
Location: Tulsa, Okie-la-homie

Acedude

You are right, why should Sirius stand behind a charger they designed and patented? .......

11-24-2003 Over year old.

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