TLP-15 Charger problem

PoFF · November 9th, 2009, 08:57

I know it's not gun related, but it is somewhat airsoft related, to I'll give it a shot.

I've had this TLP-15 charger for quite a few years now, but I didn't use it much for the past two years. What's happening with it is that when I set it to fast-charge mode, it charges maybe 400-500 mah into a 5000 mAh NiMH then falls back into trickle mode, like if it already detected the voltage peak. I press the fast charge button again, once again it charges 4-500 mah, then back again to slow charge. The charge rate is set to the recommended rate of 3 amps.

First I tought that this might had been related to the fact that my batteries were old and defective, that's why I threw them away and got two brand spaking new Elite 5000, one being a 9.6V, the other being a 12V, both were bought from cheapbatterypacks and are wired with 14AWG and Deans.

Any help here?

coach · November 9th, 2009, 10:14

what voltage reading are you getting when it stops fast charging? have you tried doing a discharge cycle?

isparkthela · November 9th, 2009, 12:37

3 amps seems quite high. I was told to charge at .5-1 amp. That means at 3 amps, you are charging a 5000 mah battery in a little over 1.5 hours. Once again, I may be wrong, since you are charging your cells at a high rate, maybe they are heating up too quickly causing the charger to kick off...

Amos · November 9th, 2009, 12:39

Charging a 5000 MAH battery at 3 amps is fine, it's reccomended you don't go over 1C (that's equal to mah/1000 = amp)

So in his case, he could charge up to a maximum of 5 amps.

PoFF · November 9th, 2009, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by coachster

what voltage reading are you getting when it stops fast charging? have you tried doing a discharge cycle?

Yep, I've discharged both batteries before charging (was quite fast as both came pretty empty, less than a minute of discharging in both cases).

In the case of the 9.6V battery, the voltage reading when the fast charging stopped was 13.5 volts. *Edit* The cut-off voltage for the 12.0V battery was 16.9V. *Edit*

Quote:

Originally Posted by isparkthela

3 amps seems quite high. I was told to charge at .5-1 amp. That means at 3 amps, you are charging a 5000 mah battery in a little over 1.5 hours. Once again, I may be wrong, since you are charging your cells at a high rate, maybe they are heating up too quickly causing the charger to kick off...

The charging recommendations written on the cells are 3A for normal charging, 6A for fast charging.

Crunchmeister · November 9th, 2009, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoFF

Yep, I've discharged both batteries before charging (was quite fast as both came pretty empty, less than a minute of discharging in both cases).

If you discharged them, I do hope your cells are NiCad. Discharging NiMH cells basically ruins your battery pack.

PoFF · November 9th, 2009, 13:59

They're NiMH, but this charger stop discharging before inflicting any damage to the cells, basically, when the voltage drops below 7.5V in the case of the 9.6V batt.

And also, as stated before, the batteries were pretty much already discharged, couldn't take a single shot out of any of them.

Crunchmeister · November 9th, 2009, 14:29

NiMH shouldn't be discharged AT ALL. As in NEVER. It ruins the cells. NiMH are best kept fully charged at all times.

coach · November 9th, 2009, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crunchmeister

NiMH shouldn't be discharged AT ALL. As in NEVER. It ruins the cells. NiMH are best kept fully charged at all times.

haven't had an issue with a discharge cycle on any of my NiMH batteries.

The TLP-15 stops before it is fully discharged or goes into polarity reversal. (yeah I had to look it up to remember)

Now, you don't want to be doing a discharge cycle with NiMH all the time but I haven't had any adverse affects or longevity issues with the occasional discharge.

Lithium-Ion batteries are the ones that like to be charged and topped up 100% all the time. ie Cell phone and camera batteries.

PoFF · November 12th, 2009, 21:28

Well, all this discussion about what the charger can do didn't cover what that charger of mine can't do ; properly fast-charge my batteries...

Back on topic, anyone has any idea of what might cause this behaviour? It's doing it with both brand new and old batteries.

Styrak · November 12th, 2009, 21:59

Well the topic of discharging your NiMH batteries can screw them up, that's one scenario that could have happened.

coach · November 13th, 2009, 10:47

try not fast charging the battery. let it trickle charge over night.

reading your first post again, it seems like you might have a bad cell or something in the pack.

so once fast charging is completed, you tried it again and it stopped after 400-500mah. cut off voltages sound about right but the batteries still don't have enough juice to fire the gun?

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November 9th, 2009, 08:57	#1
PoFF Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Laval, QC	TLP-15 Charger problem I know it's not gun related, but it is somewhat airsoft related, to I'll give it a shot. I've had this TLP-15 charger for quite a few years now, but I didn't use it much for the past two years. What's happening with it is that when I set it to fast-charge mode, it charges maybe 400-500 mah into a 5000 mAh NiMH then falls back into trickle mode, like if it already detected the voltage peak. I press the fast charge button again, once again it charges 4-500 mah, then back again to slow charge. The charge rate is set to the recommended rate of 3 amps. First I tought that this might had been related to the fact that my batteries were old and defective, that's why I threw them away and got two brand spaking new Elite 5000, one being a 9.6V, the other being a 12V, both were bought from cheapbatterypacks and are wired with 14AWG and Deans. Any help here? __________________ Founding member of the S.A.T.T - That's right, were BACK! The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never laid down Visitez Arme ?* Feu.com - Le site des amateurs d'armes ?* feu francophones

November 9th, 2009, 12:39	#4
Amos Trader rating Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tokushima, Japan	Charging a 5000 MAH battery at 3 amps is fine, it's reccomended you don't go over 1C (that's equal to mah/1000 = amp) So in his case, he could charge up to a maximum of 5 amps. __________________ Custom Builds: FA3674U Krinkov G3SD6

November 9th, 2009, 13:59	#7
PoFF Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Laval, QC	They're NiMH, but this charger stop discharging before inflicting any damage to the cells, basically, when the voltage drops below 7.5V in the case of the 9.6V batt. And also, as stated before, the batteries were pretty much already discharged, couldn't take a single shot out of any of them. __________________ Founding member of the S.A.T.T - That's right, were BACK! The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never laid down Visitez Arme ?* Feu.com - Le site des amateurs d'armes ?* feu francophones

November 9th, 2009, 10:14	#2
coach aka coachster Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: T dot	what voltage reading are you getting when it stops fast charging? have you tried doing a discharge cycle?

November 9th, 2009, 12:37	#3
isparkthela Trader rating Join Date: May 2009 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota	3 amps seems quite high. I was told to charge at .5-1 amp. That means at 3 amps, you are charging a 5000 mah battery in a little over 1.5 hours. Once again, I may be wrong, since you are charging your cells at a high rate, maybe they are heating up too quickly causing the charger to kick off...

November 9th, 2009, 14:29	#8
Crunchmeister Trader rating Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In your bedroom going though your underwear drawer	NiMH shouldn't be discharged AT ALL. As in NEVER. It ruins the cells. NiMH are best kept fully charged at all times. __________________

November 12th, 2009, 21:28	#10
PoFF Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Laval, QC	Well, all this discussion about what the charger can do didn't cover what that charger of mine can't do ; properly fast-charge my batteries... Back on topic, anyone has any idea of what might cause this behaviour? It's doing it with both brand new and old batteries. __________________ Founding member of the S.A.T.T - That's right, were BACK! The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never laid down Visitez Arme ?* Feu.com - Le site des amateurs d'armes ?* feu francophones

November 12th, 2009, 21:59	#11
Styrak Trader rating Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Saskatoon, SK	Well the topic of discharging your NiMH batteries can screw them up, that's one scenario that could have happened. __________________ Airsoft Sales and Repair/Upgrade Services

November 13th, 2009, 10:47	#12
coach aka coachster Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: T dot	try not fast charging the battery. let it trickle charge over night. reading your first post again, it seems like you might have a bad cell or something in the pack. so once fast charging is completed, you tried it again and it stopped after 400-500mah. cut off voltages sound about right but the batteries still don't have enough juice to fire the gun?

TLP-15 Charger problem

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