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crawlmaxx · 10-14-2005, 04:10 PM

http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=531

The run times on my maxx based truck suck and it's cheaper to buy a new battery to see if it a battery or charger problem. Currently I am running a dreadnaught battery which I already know suck and and charging it with a Dynamite Twin Peak charger which some people say suck too. Would this be a good battery regardless of which charger I use and which cells do you guys have experience/opinions/criticism with?

Truck specs:

Maxx based with 55t lathe, 9t pinion, 72t spur EVX

Trailerguy · 10-14-2005, 04:36 PM

Does the charger do both NiCad and NiMH batts. I would suggest a NiMH 3000 batt. with a simple charger with at least a 4 amp. charge. You can use a 3300 batt. but you'll need a really nice charger to get a good charge. I use a basic NiMH charger (does both types of batts.) with a 4amp. peak charge and 3000 batts. I've never had a false charge and with my clod, 55t lathes, and 10 tooths I get about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 mins. of run time easy. The 3000 batts. are not that much either. I think I only pay $25 to $30 a batt. My charger was about $45. Works good for me anyhow.

808TLT1 · 10-14-2005, 04:46 PM

Link doesn't work

crawlmaxx · 10-14-2005, 06:31 PM

http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=531

I think that one will work

Trailerguy

What kind of charger do you have and what are the charging times. I think the reason my runtimes are horrible is becuase of my charger. I just put a battery (NiCD) on that has not been charged in a long time...probably 3-5 months. I did this because my regular battery (NiMH) was giving me crappy runtimes. The charger charger charged the NiCD in 10 minutes MAX. There is no way it could have charged it that fast. Put the battery on the truck and it only lasted about 3 minutes. I think my charger is false peaking my batteries and/or my charger is fubared. Right now I am slow charging the NiMH pack with a 4-5 hr charger to see if indeed I my other charger is false peaking batteries. So all this leads me to believe that my batteries aren't bad and the charger is. I've only had the charger for probably a year now so if the slow charge test proves my theory right I'm gonna cash in on the warranty of the charger.

Oh, by the way the charger is a Dynamite Twin Peak (which I've heard good and bad things about)

Trailerguy · 10-14-2005, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawlmaxx

Oh, by the way the charger is a Dynamite Twin Peak (which I've heard good and bad things about)

The old Dynamite Twin Peak only charged Nicad's, so check the box and/or instructions and make sure it can charge Nimh's. Also, Nicad's sit around long enough and they will die. The Nimh might come back, but I don't know. I can't remember the name of my charger, I'll have to look and try to get back to you. I won't be back on the computer tell Sunday or Monday. If you're still having a problem on Sun., PM me and I'll check my charger and let you know. Getting ready to leave town and I don't have a computer at home anymore (at work right now).

crawlmaxx · 10-14-2005, 07:45 PM

Yeah, it charges both kinds of batteries

wheelhaus · 10-14-2005, 08:15 PM

have you tried cycling the battery? frequent recharging can build a "memory" so the voltage drops earlier than it should.

wheelhaus · 10-14-2005, 08:16 PM

also, try peak charging it multiple times in a row. Be careful you don't overheat the pack!

crawlmaxx · 10-14-2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdsti

also, try peak charging it multiple times in a row. Be careful you don't overheat the pack!

No I haven't tried cycling the batteries because the charger I have doesn't do that. The charger also says not to peak the batteries more than once and I still get the same results.

wheelhaus · 10-14-2005, 09:17 PM

sometimes the peak detection is too sensetive or not sensetive enough. you don't need a special charger to cycle the batteries. Use a set of bulbs or something to completely discharge the pack, completely. charge it fully, discharge it fully. repeat a few times. don't run it dead with the car, the discharging is too intermittent.

crawlmaxx · 10-14-2005, 11:40 PM

*Update on the 4-5 hr charge*

Plugged the battery in that I had been charging on the 4-5 hr plug in charger and I still get the same results...realy crappy run time. I am really discouraged now....I don't know which hoop to jump through now

EeePee · 10-15-2005, 08:57 AM

If the batteries aren't warm to the touch at the end of the charging cycle, they likely aren't fully charged. I've brought all kinds of NiCD and NiMH batteries back to life. The NiCDs were sitting for over 3 years. Charge them at the lowest possible amperage, and run them in the truck until they die. Stick the batteries on 6 or 8 light bulbs (14 - 16 amp draw) until the lights' filaments are just barely glowing. Repeat the whole process until they are alive. After you get some life back in the NiCDs, after the run stick them in the freezer for a few hours. I've read it breaks down the crystals that become the memory. NiMH have no memory effect, so they just need some good cycling.

Worked well for me. The key is the really low amps while charging ( 0.5 amp in my case).

crawlmaxx · 10-15-2005, 09:41 AM

I may have confused you a bit. I put the NiCD on the 4-5 hr charger after my Dynamite said it charged in about 10 minutes, which I knew it wasn't charged after that. Then I put it on the 4-5 hr charger and go the same results. Right now I am charging my NiMH battery and its been going for almost 30 mintues which should be good but I still don't think it will give me longer run times. So I'm back to whether I need a new charger, one that I can manually set the charge rate at or new batteries or both.....I dunno, I'm losing patience

EeePee · 10-15-2005, 10:42 AM

For ~$20 a brand new 3300 NiMH pack is cheap enough to find out if it's the batts, or the charger. But remember, new NiMH bateries need a few cycles to come alive, and are prone to falsing during the first few charges because they've been sitting for an undetermined amount of time.

I don't really think it's the chargers's fault. They only regulate the flow of electricity into the battery, and have a peak detection circuit, not much to go wrong, and if it did, it likely wouldn't work at all.

I'd look at Badger's post about the CPB packs for cheap in the Chit Chat section for a good pack, one that I'd choose over the your Amondotech pack.

crawlmaxx · 10-15-2005, 12:27 PM

Well I was able to get a 30 minute charge, 4 amp charge rate, out of my NiMH pack but it only lasted about 10-15 minutes of good wheeling, the last five were slow and it didn't have any punch to it. The truck would still run on flat ground but it wouldn't be able to crawl over anything.

If/when I do get a new NiMH pack, should I discharge/cycle it after the first few charges?

chafey · 10-15-2005, 05:15 PM

battery has a bad cell.

EeePee · 10-15-2005, 05:52 PM

Charge the new pack, run it, repeat a few times before you should expect normal run times.

crawlmaxx · 10-16-2005, 07:14 PM

**Update**

I bought a new pack, refer to the Radio shack battery post, charged it up and immediately got the right front tire to pull a wheel stand...the old pack never would do that. Then I took it out and ran it, seems to have a bit more wheel speed and punch, however it got dark before I could run the battery completely down. However it did last at least 15 minutes which was all that I was getting with the old pack.

10-14-2005, 04:10 PM	#1
crawlmaxx Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tulsa Posts: 137	Opinions on this battery pack http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=531 The run times on my maxx based truck suck and it's cheaper to buy a new battery to see if it a battery or charger problem. Currently I am running a dreadnaught battery which I already know suck and and charging it with a Dynamite Twin Peak charger which some people say suck too. Would this be a good battery regardless of which charger I use and which cells do you guys have experience/opinions/criticism with? Truck specs: Maxx based with 55t lathe, 9t pinion, 72t spur EVX

10-14-2005, 06:31 PM	#4
crawlmaxx Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tulsa Posts: 137	http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=531 I think that one will work Trailerguy What kind of charger do you have and what are the charging times. I think the reason my runtimes are horrible is becuase of my charger. I just put a battery (NiCD) on that has not been charged in a long time...probably 3-5 months. I did this because my regular battery (NiMH) was giving me crappy runtimes. The charger charger charged the NiCD in 10 minutes MAX. There is no way it could have charged it that fast. Put the battery on the truck and it only lasted about 3 minutes. I think my charger is false peaking my batteries and/or my charger is fubared. Right now I am slow charging the NiMH pack with a 4-5 hr charger to see if indeed I my other charger is false peaking batteries. So all this leads me to believe that my batteries aren't bad and the charger is. I've only had the charger for probably a year now so if the slow charge test proves my theory right I'm gonna cash in on the warranty of the charger. Oh, by the way the charger is a Dynamite Twin Peak (which I've heard good and bad things about) Last edited by crawlmaxx; 10-14-2005 at 06:36 PM.

10-15-2005, 12:27 PM	#15
crawlmaxx Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tulsa Posts: 137	Well I was able to get a 30 minute charge, 4 amp charge rate, out of my NiMH pack but it only lasted about 10-15 minutes of good wheeling, the last five were slow and it didn't have any punch to it. The truck would still run on flat ground but it wouldn't be able to crawl over anything. If/when I do get a new NiMH pack, should I discharge/cycle it after the first few charges? Last edited by crawlmaxx; 10-15-2005 at 12:32 PM.

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10-14-2005, 04:36 PM	#2
Trailerguy Quarry Creeper Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Redding, True Nor-Cal, look on a map Posts: 338	Does the charger do both NiCad and NiMH batts. I would suggest a NiMH 3000 batt. with a simple charger with at least a 4 amp. charge. You can use a 3300 batt. but you'll need a really nice charger to get a good charge. I use a basic NiMH charger (does both types of batts.) with a 4amp. peak charge and 3000 batts. I've never had a false charge and with my clod, 55t lathes, and 10 tooths I get about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 mins. of run time easy. The 3000 batts. are not that much either. I think I only pay $25 to $30 a batt. My charger was about $45. Works good for me anyhow.

10-14-2005, 04:46 PM	#3
808TLT1 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mililani, Hawaii Posts: 31	Link doesn't work

10-14-2005, 07:45 PM	#6
crawlmaxx Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tulsa Posts: 137	Yeah, it charges both kinds of batteries

10-14-2005, 08:15 PM	#7
wheelhaus Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 182	have you tried cycling the battery? frequent recharging can build a "memory" so the voltage drops earlier than it should.

10-14-2005, 08:16 PM	#8
wheelhaus Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 182	also, try peak charging it multiple times in a row. Be careful you don't overheat the pack!

10-14-2005, 09:17 PM	#10
wheelhaus Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 182	sometimes the peak detection is too sensetive or not sensetive enough. you don't need a special charger to cycle the batteries. Use a set of bulbs or something to completely discharge the pack, completely. charge it fully, discharge it fully. repeat a few times. don't run it dead with the car, the discharging is too intermittent.

10-14-2005, 11:40 PM	#11
crawlmaxx Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tulsa Posts: 137	Update on the 4-5 hr charge Plugged the battery in that I had been charging on the 4-5 hr plug in charger and I still get the same results...realy crappy run time. I am really discouraged now....I don't know which hoop to jump through now

10-15-2005, 08:57 AM	#12
EeePee MODERATOR™ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 18,928	If the batteries aren't warm to the touch at the end of the charging cycle, they likely aren't fully charged. I've brought all kinds of NiCD and NiMH batteries back to life. The NiCDs were sitting for over 3 years. Charge them at the lowest possible amperage, and run them in the truck until they die. Stick the batteries on 6 or 8 light bulbs (14 - 16 amp draw) until the lights' filaments are just barely glowing. Repeat the whole process until they are alive. After you get some life back in the NiCDs, after the run stick them in the freezer for a few hours. I've read it breaks down the crystals that become the memory. NiMH have no memory effect, so they just need some good cycling. Worked well for me. The key is the really low amps while charging ( 0.5 amp in my case).

10-15-2005, 09:41 AM	#13
crawlmaxx Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tulsa Posts: 137	I may have confused you a bit. I put the NiCD on the 4-5 hr charger after my Dynamite said it charged in about 10 minutes, which I knew it wasn't charged after that. Then I put it on the 4-5 hr charger and go the same results. Right now I am charging my NiMH battery and its been going for almost 30 mintues which should be good but I still don't think it will give me longer run times. So I'm back to whether I need a new charger, one that I can manually set the charge rate at or new batteries or both.....I dunno, I'm losing patience

10-15-2005, 10:42 AM	#14
EeePee MODERATOR™ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 18,928	For ~$20 a brand new 3300 NiMH pack is cheap enough to find out if it's the batts, or the charger. But remember, new NiMH bateries need a few cycles to come alive, and are prone to falsing during the first few charges because they've been sitting for an undetermined amount of time. I don't really think it's the chargers's fault. They only regulate the flow of electricity into the battery, and have a peak detection circuit, not much to go wrong, and if it did, it likely wouldn't work at all. I'd look at Badger's post about the CPB packs for cheap in the Chit Chat section for a good pack, one that I'd choose over the your Amondotech pack.

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10-15-2005, 05:15 PM	#16
chafey Rock Crawler Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: woods cross utah Posts: 523	battery has a bad cell.

10-15-2005, 05:52 PM	#17
EeePee MODERATOR™ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 18,928	Charge the new pack, run it, repeat a few times before you should expect normal run times.

10-16-2005, 07:14 PM	#18
crawlmaxx Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tulsa Posts: 137	Update I bought a new pack, refer to the Radio shack battery post, charged it up and immediately got the right front tire to pull a wheel stand...the old pack never would do that. Then I took it out and ran it, seems to have a bit more wheel speed and punch, however it got dark before I could run the battery completely down. However it did last at least 15 minutes which was all that I was getting with the old pack.

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