iCharger 106B+ balance port problem

[Ultraman]

I used to be able to balance charge, discharge, etc with my 106B+. I now get a false high reading for cell #6 when charging lipo packs. Sometimes it will show actual voltages when I plug in the balance lead, but as soon as charging starts, only cell 6 climbs quickly to 4.95V and I get high cell/balance error messages. I swapped out the balance lead with others, same problem. Anyone with similar experience?

I've never used the USB to pc function of this charger (nor do I know how yet), but I don't know if figuring that out will help. All I'm using now is the basic "charge" function. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[neptronix]

That happens to me although i believe it is entirely my fault. I shorted the end lead on the balance port of my iCharger 1010b+ and now it artificially reads a little high, about 0.015v.

However when i test with a multimeter after the charge is done, the voltages are 100% correct.

Your situation is very strange though and i have never heard of it. Are you within the 1 year warranty period?

 

[Ykick]

Do you know about iCharger calibration procedure? 'can't seem to find my PDF manual but it's out there (maybe HK?) somewhere - I had a couple "channels" go out of whack reading lower than actual cell voltage. 'was able to readjust it using a Lipo brick, DVM and CellLog8, went into a system menu and got it close to agreement between two meters.

It's been fine since but something drifted in my 106B+ and lucky for me I noticed it and had been using 4.1V/cell so that helped - one cell got charged up to 4.22V so it had been reading low by at least 100-120mV.

CellLog 8 is a very handy item to have around. If something doesn't look quite right, easy enough to check with a CellLog.

Found it on an RC site...

 

[Ultraman]

Do you know about iCharger calibration procedure?

I'll try that, thanks for finding the manual. The voltage drifts up as soon as I start charging, maxing out at 4.95 in about 10 seconds, which makes me wonder whether calibration is gonna help, but I'll try.

Are you within the 1 year warranty period?

I got it from HobbyKing in August 2010, so can send it back if I need to. If there was a quick fix or an obvious thing I'm missing, that'd be easier than shipping it back to Hong Kong, but that may be the final solution.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[neptronix]

There are also some updates for the iCharger out there, so try progressiverc.com for those.

 

[Ykick]

I'll try that, thanks for finding the manual. The voltage drifts up as soon as I start charging, maxing out at 4.95 in about 10 seconds, which makes me wonder whether calibration is gonna help, but I'll try.

Much wider variation than I ever saw but perhaps it can be corrected with the calibration menu? Doubt it though...