sanyo 3600 help

[rcboy201]

ok i have brand new orion v-maxx pluss RDS matched sanyo 3600 battery, i was at the track and in my first qualifier i put it out there and it dumped, so i thought it was just a palse peak(since its a new battery) so i charged it back up, re-peaked it 3 times, and put it out there, but as i was comming around for my last lap, it dumped on me, i finished but i knew something was wrong. we tested each cell on one cell was .6 volts lower than the others, so today i cycled it and it helped but that same cell was still weak but now only .2 volts lower, what should i do, cycle it again until the equal it out, or run it unitl it get better, or send it back?

[pinolelst]

Cycle it a couple times and if you're still not happy with it I'd call them and tell them about the lower voltage cell.

[highroller]

Are you discharging the pack before charging it? First discharge the pack down to 5.40 volts for 6cells or .90 volts per cell, then use a 2amp load (1- 1157 lightbulb or equalizing tray) to bring the cells down to a level that gets cells closer to the same voltages. Allow the cells to cool properly at room temperature (do not use a fan to speed up cooling) then charge. Pack is probably false peaking because cells are charging at different levels, so pack is not completely charged when you use it - that one reason you aren't getting good runtimes. For stock racing you can almost get two runs out of one charge but it's not done for competitive reasons. You get about 2 uses in one day on the third cycle you loose about 40seconds of runtime.

The only way of determining if cell is going bad is to take a voltage reading of cells while the pack is being charged or discharged for good matched cells the voltage doesn't vary more than .01 of a volt, stick pack or unmatched cells may vary by .05 but .10 or more is when you encounter problems with false peaks, runtime is not consistant or you notice the weaker cells are getting warmer during the charge cycle. A cell can go bad in as little as 6 uses or last as long as 6 years.

[Cain]

do you equalize your cells on a discharge tray before charging?

It is possible that one cell is bad. Not too many people running those Sanyos as the GPs are still better so really can't tell you how well they should hold up.

[rcboy201]

neither, i just charge them like i do my GP's(which i have never had a problem with)

[highroller]

The proper way of taking care of any rechargeable battery is to remove all remaining voltage from the cell(s) or pack by discharging it even NiMh. The statements made about NiMh not needing to be discharged or having no memory is wrong. After running the pack in vehicle use something to discharge the pack (resistor, bulbs or specially made discharge unit). Over time one or more cells will begin charging and discharging to different voltage levels over time a cell may have higher voltage levels leading to cell overcharging or possibly problems with false peaks.

[gizmoguy303]

I would put in on an equalizing tray and get all the cells at the same voltage. Then try charging it up again. Only repeak once before your race. What charger are you using?

[rcboy201]

i dont see why its necessory to discharge them because i have done it before and have not noticed a power increase. my GP 3300 have ran strong for 5 months of racing and never discharged once

but i will try and put my sanyos on a tray and see what happens, BTW i am useing a quasar pro charger

[highroller]

While the packs may be working okay, by discharging them down to .90 volts then using something else (single bulb or equalizing device) to take each cell to a lower voltage where cells are more closer in voltage. A couple of things should happen, it may take 2 cycles for a noticeable change in how pack now charges if cells are still in good condition. Since cells are now being closer in voltage packs should charge better, some of if not all the problems encountered with false peaking should be reduced, there should be noticeable increase in runtime and packs should have a little more snap if you use 20 to 25amps as a discharge load. When you store the packs discharge them down to 5.40volts for 6cells, then before using them place a single bulb or in equaling tray for 5-15 mins (the longer the stay in the more voltage they produce at a slight decrease in runtime) the charge. Note: if cells are of the matched type it should keep cells closer to the same voltage levels with unmatched stick packs or cells that haven't been assembled from cells that are closer in voltage characterics it may be harder to get them to the same voltage levels or to see a big gain in how they work - there may be small changes.

Use your Quasar Pro and run a cycle through a couple of you packs to see what numbers are coming out of a pack (set charger to do a charge, then discharge cycle @ 20amp with a 5 min rest between the charge and start of discharge) write down the numbers, then wait 2 days deep discharging each cell in an equalizing tray and repeat the process compare the results.