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Lithium Ion Battery Troubles

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by Lockman, Feb 3, 2024.

  1. Feb 3, 2024
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    So.....Being the thrifty, adventurous Jack (A$$ :confused:) that I am, & researching as best as I could under said description , I Decided to forge ahead & try to remedy this .
    The Story :

    I recently bought a backpack Leaf blower. Upon arrival , the 80V battery showed no lights & would not start the machine . The charger would light up green , turn on it's fan , & after 30 seconds or so it would quit & would start flashing red. The MFG said it was a bad battery & sent me a replacement ( That was Nice of them ).
    The replacement showed one light, ( Getting Better :susp: ), but in the charger it did the same thing ?????
    MFG. then took 5 days to get back to me to state that because I bought this from an "UN- certified vendor " , they would not warranty it any longer. I Immediately went to PayPal for ongoing Litigation , but that's another story , for perhaps another time ;)
    I researched & studied other's limited available problems with this & Decided to purchase this Power supply , for $99 :
    A Saving Lithium Fix.jpg What I had learned is these batteries have a BMS, that can tell the charger not to charge, when asleep. :confused: Slow charging with an external Power supply can often wake them up ? ....... Lo & behold, It worked on both batteries ; got 2 lights showing on both & they each power the Blower now . ( :bananatool:)

    Alas , neither will charge on the OEM charger , as it does the same thing as mentioned above with both .
    ( :confused: )

    As I'm more of a Tradesman / Mechanic type vs an Electrical Enginneer, I would appreciate any knowledge that Y'all could offer. :)

    I can buy a New replacement charger for $ 40 , most likely from another "UN- certified vendor ",
    'Cuz their certified vendors want $ 100 - $ 150 for one , & try my lousy luck , ( :banghead: ) ...... or I can just continue to use my new Power Source. I am going to try waking up some other 20V batteries latter today.

    What has any one else done with these & what do Y'all suggest I do ????????
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2024
  2. Feb 3, 2024
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Nov 22, 2003
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    8,124
    You need to be careful with these batteries. The "normal" charging regime is to apply a constant current until the pack reaches a certain voltage & then hold that voltage.

    With a constant voltage source you may be exceeding the ampere charge rate when the pack is discharged which is bad, & probably eventually fatal, for the cells. Worst case your garage goes up in flames. :(

    With that PSU you should be able to set the max current output & final voltage if you can find out what the right values for your pack are.

    The battery monitor may be as simple as a temperature sensor to shut things down if the cells get too hot or it may be trying to signal the charger to control the current output, that would make sense if the charger is intended to work with different sized packs.
     
    Stakebed likes this.
  3. Feb 3, 2024
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thanks Howard.
    Yes Sir , I made myself aware of these settings and I did use them while charging . Watched closely for any heat build up , too.
    The BMS does have a too hot temp sensor, but mine did not operate at all & were@ room temperature when I attempted to charge them on the Factory charger.
    The factory charger is only to charge 80v Batteries , from 2 amps up to 4 amps . My batteries are 80V _ 2 amp & 2.5 amp.
     
  4. Feb 3, 2024
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Sounds like you're more of an electrical engineer than you think :)

    Pending a return to the vendor I'd open the charger up- probably something stupid like a bad solder joint on the monitor.
     
    dozerjim, Stakebed and Lockman like this.
  5. Feb 3, 2024
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    What has any one else done with these & what do Y'all suggest I do ????????

    I've posted here before about my experience of cheap Li-Ion batteries and defective chargers.

    In brief, a tool battery exploded without warning and came within seconds of burning down a building I'd been restoring for several years. It made a super-effective firebomb beyond anything I could have imagined. I'm not joking. My knees go weak when I think I used to leave them
    'on charge' in my own home.

    I would STRONGLY advise not screwing with Li-Ion batteries or chargers, and most especially not using discount brands.
     
  6. Feb 3, 2024
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Thank you for your tutelage ( :) ) Howard . KISS principal usually applies, Eh?
    Take a look at the bottom of the board , just north of that heat sink board, if you may. Obviously , this Brand New unit was in water ( :censored: ) . I'll clean all of this ' debris ' out & see what I can do about soldering this.
    I'll Report back later .
    A broken Charger wire.jpg :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
     
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  7. Feb 3, 2024
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    I hate to say it but it's probably not worth the effort :(

    There's going to be crud & corrosion under the components you won't be able to reach.
     
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  8. Feb 3, 2024
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Correct Sir. Just discovered that & came to same conclusion . I'll buy the other one under a 3 year warranty.
    Thanks for your support on this , Howard......I've missed the All Star game , to Boot :banghead:
     
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