Hyperion 1420 charger Now declared officially Junk by me!

The R/C folks were the first to notice these problems and there is a ton of information on their problems that are similar to mine. No solutions except speculation and the upgrade (or even downgrade) for the Firmware. Crazy!
otherDoc
 
I was looking at purchasing the Hyperion 1420 as I've read good things about them last year while on a search for charging solutions. I was just about to purchase when I decided to research to see if they were still the "ONE" or not.

I'm looking for charging solutions for my LiFePO4 batteries.
I purchased a lot of stock of 13.2v nom 4s4p and 4s3p (9.2 and 6.9ah) A123 to sell here and as Motorcycle/ATV/Snowmobile start batteries. Oh, and to experiment with electric vehicles too! lol :D

Each battery has JST-XH.

When putting 6 in series (24s) gives me 84v HOC (79.2v nom).
To charge, I have 2 taps at the first 3 in series (39.6v nom) and then the second 3 series.
I use a 12s LiFePO4 bulk charger (43.8v) with 3 Battery Medics on the JST-XH (one on each 4s4p battery)put into Discharge mode of 3.6v, so the minute that a cell group see's 3.6v, it starts to discharge that 4s group.
My chargers are isolated so I can charge both 12s 39.6v groups at the same time without breaking the pack down, but for extra safety while I charge, I only charge one 12s group at a time.

Doctor Bass is using the BC168. I believe it charges at the CELL level.

Nice charger, but do note that YOU MUST break your pack down if charging multiple batteries simultaneously. Packs CANNOT be in series if you want to charge more than one pack at a time. So, If I decide to charge in this manner, I must adopt a mind set of Pack Breakdown. :)

I'm sure that the RC guys would really like this charger. Because it charges at cell level, you can put different capacity batteries (up to 6s) into the paraboard simultaneously :)

Tommy L sends......
mosh.gif


images

[youtube]bv0U92W8FMY[/youtube]
 
Hyena (Jay) really likes those chargers too and I will consider one for my backup. I do like the Thunder as it can charge at 12 S without battery breakdown to parallel.
otherDoc
 
The Thunder is a reasonable price. Longevity?

Which Model do you have Doc?

Tommy L sends.....
 
My Hyperion 1420 has been a great charger. Best I have ever used for a rc charger.

Having worked on TVs for a living I think a lot of modern electronics is made to fail junk.

Samsung class action suit.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400675,00.asp

Sony

https://sites.google.com/site/sonylcdrptvproblems/sony-class-action-lawsuits

lg

http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/1726-defective-lg-plasmalcd-tv-class-action-lawsuit

I could go on and on.
 
docnjoj said:
The R/C folks were the first to notice these problems and there is a ton of information on their problems that are similar to mine. No solutions except speculation and the upgrade (or even downgrade) for the Firmware. Crazy!
otherDoc
Click to expand...

I have firmware version 5.58 and it works great. I have updated 14 Hyperion Chargers with this firmware, and almost without fail the driver-download is a nightmare every time. I too fussed with getting the Hyperion to link-up for an update... multiple times. One of the times my computer thought the driver-download was for some sort of "pen" device, upon installing, the mouse would jump all over the place when the Hyperion was plugged into the computer. LOL. Did the exact same procedure multiple times and got different results.

Anyhow, if you are interested in trying firmware 5.8 and can't find it on their site, just send me a pm with your e-mail and I can send it to you.

Good luck dude.
 
EBJ said:
Anyhow, if you are interested in trying firmware 5.8 and can't find it on their site, just send me a pm with your e-mail and I can send it to you.

Good luck dude.
Click to expand...

Are you happy with the 1420?


Tommy L sends....
mosh.gif
 
Tommy L said:
Are you happy with the 1420?
Click to expand...

Yep. I've set up 14 of them for charging e-bike sized packs. Of those 14, I had 1 give V readings that were 0.020 off. That one was replaced without question by the supplier. All of the others were within 0.010V, which I deemed perfectly fine for my use. If you were trying to set-up multiple chargers to be used on the same battery-pack, I can see 0.010V difference being an issue for the sake of then having to wait for each of the charger to "balance" out the difference of the other charger if you were going from one-charger to the next and back again (like charging at work and then at home with a second hyperion). Other than that, I see no reason not to use a Hyperion 1420.

I've been using my personal Hyperion 1420 for a little over a year and a half. I've had it "alarm-out" twice. I can't remember the warning I was given, but I believe it was the same warning talked about earlier in this topic. On both occasions I re-connected and re-started the charger and it then worked fine. Those two rare-occasions tell me that they mean it when they say you should never charge un-attended. I leave mine charging in the garage with the house door open such that I can hear when it has finished charging. I have not yet had any problems with the other 13 Hyperion 1420's.
 
ThanksEBJ but I do have 5.82 installed now and it was fussy! Still the error message was changed and now says "balance Wire error." and basically does not charge and balance.
@ etriker
I wish I had good luck with the upgrade but not so far.
@ TommyL I have the Thunder 1220 and it works fine without drama. Just charges at about 6 amps and balances to very good accuracy. I have only had it for 3 weeks however so no long term assessment yet.
otherDoc
 
docnjoj said:
ThanksEBJ but I do have 5.82 installed now and it was fussy!
Click to expand...

I have 5.58 (the prior updated firmware). One step between what yours came with and what you now have.
 
Mine too. I was charging my 12s and it wouldn't read cells 5&6 after doing all connection a few times it came back and read 3.33-3.35v so charge again but shut off three times before it finish charging. Has anyone have a 1420 that over charged a cell ? As this is my fear. I wish I could download that firmware but is way above my level.
 
been using mine for months
no problems @ all
the jst stuff tends to be crap- and wears out- making a solid harness for these is the key
 
davec said:
the jst stuff tends to be crap- and wears out- making a solid harness for these is the key
Click to expand...
What do you suggest for a solid harness? I'm thinking about hooking the balance wires to a db-15, but am open to any good suggestions.
Thanks.
 
davec said:
been using mine for months
no problems @ all
the jst stuff tends to be crap- and wears out- making a solid harness for these is the key
Click to expand...

I've been doing electronic/electrical projects for years. The CONNECTION issues can/will always be there and
one must never assume that if you have connected it together, that it is connected/terminated.

On a brand new controller with brand new Anderson connectors for the phase wires, I had a bad connector/connection while performing the 36 combo phase/sensor. Did all 36 combos with nothing smooth running forward. I started checking connections and BAM a bad Anderson.

The JST are very poor, but not bulky. All of my projects now have Anderson connectors (that I check for good connection...lol), even for the Sensors :)

I guess to keep the package small, Hobby chargers use the JST. But that doesn't stop one from making a breakout box or harness :wink:

Tommy L sends....
mosh.gif
 
I've been using my 1420 for about 1.5 years without a problem. I even upgraded to 5.8 last fall with no problems. I also refuse to use Andersons anymore.
 
itchynackers said:
I've been using my 1420 for about 1.5 years without a problem. I even upgraded to 5.8 last fall with no problems. I also refuse to use Andersons anymore.
Click to expand...


What do you like? I'm using the XT60/XT150 variety. I'm also trying the big bullets.

Tommy L sends.....
mosh.gif
 
I use xt60's, xt150's, and I'd like to try the xt90's. I used 4mm bullets for a long time. I never had any problems, but they are just too long. Don't get me started on Andersons. Total crap. People keep saying "its the way you solder it", or "you don't know how to crimp it". This is total BS. There are 2 kinds of Anderson users, those who have had problems with them, and those who will. They are trouble waiting to happen.
 
@dg

check out this thread
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=23362&start=75

sacman made a beautiful harness - my goal is use the jst end terminated with anderson on the plug end- i've never had andersons fail-
 
I got my1420 a yr. ago and had litle problems yes had the 11s reading on the 12s a couple times. but it's been getting worse for last 5 weeks. Don't know if it just takes time or cycles or the unit. Where the best and cheapest place for the 7s boards and 7s connection wires ?
 
etriker said:
http://media.hyperion.hk/dn/pc/eosfw586.html

Did you try 5.86 ?

They are still getting the bugs out ? :roll:
Click to expand...
The latest I could get was 5.82 but it didn't help. I am returning it and will not use Hyperion products any more. I will say AllEr/c has been really good about this but it seems this really is a produce defect. Perhaps the smaller Hyperion chargers work better but i would rather not take the chance.
otherDoc
 
That is good he is taking care of it.

I really like the way it can show what is going on during the charging and discharging of the batteries on a display.

Makes it much more fun to attend while charging. :)

It is a great learning tool and very useful when building battery packs !

I have had mine for a year and a half and it runs a lot testing cells and charging for rides.
 
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