SMC 3000's and Duratraxx Intellipeak Pulse Charger

[Apache]

Now that I've found out about the ESC recall on my brand new E-Maxx, it might be a good time to ask this question.

Yesterday, my LHS sold me 2 SMC 3000ma packs and an Intellipeak Pulse charger for my new E-Maxx. He told me to just hook the packs up for around 25 minutes each, and I'll be ready to go. Well, I did that and only got around 2 minute run times. I just read an article on Radical RC's site that says I needed to trickle them the first time otherwise they won't get a full charge. Who's right?

I intend to set the charge rate up to .5 amps for my NMHD's which is the lowest charge rate the charger can go (not the 6.5 amps that the charger is capable of for Nicads) and leave it on charge for 24 hours. Any thoughts?

Once I do this first trickle charge, can I then boost the amp output higher for shorter charge times later on?

Thanks.

[ 05-03-2001: Message edited by: Apache ]

[ 05-03-2001: Message edited by: Apache ]

[ 05-03-2001: Message edited by: Apache ]

[SirSpeedy]

Hey there,

I have heard that brand new 3k's will false peak occasionally. SMC does not recommend trickle charging 3000's.

Hook them back up to the charger and try again. Are the packs getting warm? If not, the charger may have not fully charged them.

Good luck.

[very low budget racer]

charge the NiMH at 3 amps, then keep an eye on it once the charger begins to trickle take them off, if you miss them and they go into trickle charge for a little while, try to re peak them at 3 amps so they dont lose their mojo, NiMH hate trickle charging, if you want the best charging for the NiMH go for the intelli peak delux which has the Zero delta peak which is for NiMH.

[Gutter Ball]

I usually charge my NIMH's at 5 amps...sometimes even at 6.5 on my Apex. They do get very warm, so I usually charge a near dumped battery in 4 cycles. I just watch the read out(awesome...every charger should have one!) and once it hits 1000 mah, I disconnect the battery until it cools, and then do it 2 more times. The last cycle is to get whatever else will go into it(usually 100-300 more mah). Gotta love the charge anytime feature!

[Interceptor]

Intellipeaks seem to be prone to false peaking. Just hit the button again

[Isky]

I hate my Deluxe intellipeak charger. You are better off just buying a Novak Millenium charger. My batteries were crud after charging on this charger. Otherwise, wait for the Ionic.
-Isky

[Apache]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll try a 3amp charge and see how long a run time I get. I'll hit the peak charge button a couple of times just to make sure I get a full charge.

[Apache]

I now have a love/hate relationship with my new E-Maxx! I love it when the batteries charge up correctly, and hate it when it looks like they have charged but I only get 2 minute run times.

This is kind of a pain in the butt after having spent $62.50 each for 2 SMC 3000's and an $85.00 charger. I tried charging them at 3 amps, they peak in 10 minutes, don't get warm, then I hit the peak button again, they repeak in 2 minutes, get a little warm, then I hit peak again and they peak in a minute, but then I put them in and only get a 4 minute run time. The charger itself gets absolutely red hot and I can't even touch it after a 10 minute charge. Seems like a big waste of time when all I have to do with my T-Maxx is peak the EZ Start battery, pour some fuel in, and I'm rockin.

The e-Maxx would be a sweet machine, and I might like it as much as the T-Maxx, but not with this charging crap. I called the LHS where I bought it, and told him the problem. He told me to bring it in next week and I told him I wanted a better charger even if it cost more money.

This is getting frustrating!

[ 05-05-2001: Message edited by: Apache ]

[Gutter Ball]

That's exactly why I gave up on my other chargers. Could never really tell if they were peaked or not. The digital readout rocks!!! Trade your pulse in and pay the extra $15 for the Digital Pulse...it'll save you lots of problems.

[GTboy]

Apache:

First of all does your charger use a linear charge or a pulse charge? If you charge your 3000's with a pulse charge they will crap right out. 3000's should ONLY be charged with a linear charge. I charge at 5 amps, takes about 38-43 minutes.

****If your LHS does not know that a linear charge only should be used for 3000's you have been sold the wrong charger for your 3000 packs and you may have ruined them already. I'd make sure you get new packs and a good linear charger from them as replacements.

goodluck!

:)

[noobie]

i agree with gtboy. NiMHs should only be charged with a linear charger. The intellipeak is a pulse charger, i believe, and the LHS should not have sold it to you for use with NiMHs. I would be adamant about getting compensated for the LHS's improper advice. That is the reason for using the LHS in the first place.

[Obi112]

Actually, it should be Duratrax's fault. They label all of their chargers as Ni-Cd and Ni-MH compatible. If the NiMH cells should not be charged with a pulse charger (if that is what the Intellipeak is), then Duratrax should not have labeled it so.

That said, I believe the top two Intellipeak chargers are the best, since they have NiMH specific charge modes, where the lower two do not.

[Isky]

All the Duratrax Chargers stink..and you know what bites even more? We can't do anything about it!! I spend over $120 on 2 batteries, soon to realize that they dont work because of that dang duratrax charger. Dont buy these chargers, sell 'em, or better yet, complain to duratrax and say you want a refund!!!!!!!!!! My batteries will never live to drive in a car again. :mad:

[Apache]

Well I'll go talk to the guy at the LHS who sold me this stuff. He told me that he was not really into electric stuff, but he also told me that lots of his customers use this charger on their 3000's. Based on what you guys are saying, I wonder how many of them ruined their batteries prematurely.

So, I need a linear charger, and I should hope I didn't fry the batteries. Any chance that I did fry them?

Any suggestions on brands of Linear Chargers? I'll see which kind he has.

Thanks for the advice.

[Apache]

One more question before I go and see my LHS guy. What's the difference between Linear and Pulse charging? How can Duratraxx advertise their chargers as "NIMH" and "NICAD" chargers if they really shouldn't be used for NIMH's? Again, I'm new to trucks and cars, so that's why I'm so annoyed at my LHS and Duratraxx for mislabeling their stuff.

It wouldn't be the first time I bought something that was advertised to do soemthing it really wasn't designed to do. It goes into the Bill Gates school of logic. Sell something that doesn't work right, then charge your customers to upgrade it.

[Apache]

Oh, by the way, this is the same LHS guy that sold me a spur gear for my E-Maxx which turned out to be a spur gear for a T-Maxx. They are not interchangeable, are they? If not, I guess I'll have something else to return to him...

[GTboy]

Apache:

Most of the linear peak chargers out there will charge nimh's even though they don't advertise it. That is because the charger is not set for the proper cutoff for nimh cells and your nimh batteries could get overcharged because the peak detection did not cut the charger out when the pack is fully charged. It could be dangerous and expensive so that is why. Just get a charger that is linear ( will charge at least to 5 amps) and watch the temperature on the pack. When the pack gets slightly warm in your hand its ready to use. You must be on top of this though otherwise your batteries could vent (explode) and this is dangerous.

If you have the money then I'd look at a Tekin 112BC, Novak Millenium, Competion Electronics turbo 35 or Pit Bull. These are all good chargers that have proven themselves.

As to ruining your packs with the pulse charges, usually the packs will go flat ( seem like there is no power even though they are charged). There could be a chance to restore them, but its usually not effective.

As to your LHS, If they won't, can't, don't want to fix the situation I would get some legal help and I would never shop/buy there again. Any business that does not stand behind its products and service does not deserve your hard earned money. I try to always shop local but sometimes it doesn't work out that way for whatever reasons.

Goodluck and let us know what happens.

:)