TDR down last week.

[CyprusFlyer]

Suspect Lipo failure if the voltage is low, beware that most chargers like to see the balance connector and the supply leads, check with a normal voltmeter.

[Danny Dugger]

Originally Posted by otavon

Hey guys,

I purchased the Ultraguard like 4 months ago. It was working fine and now no there's no power going to it, I can't charge it and Optipower is non responsive to my inquiries to them.

I try to charge it with my ICharger 3010 but it says low voltage. Any thoughts?

You're not plugging the circuit board output to your charger, are you?

I have found that mine will not charge itself on the 6V BEC. I don't know if that's normal or not, but I always check it and charge it with the charger when needed. Maybe yours wasn't charging and it got way too low?

[Mercuriell]

Sounds like the lipo run right down, connect up the charger on Nicd mode until the voltage is over 6v then change to lipo mode. If your charger insists on the balance lead connected you'll have to make up a charging/balanced combined lead. I think the BEC would have to be 7.4V plus to charge the lipo, not enough circuitry on the Ultraguard to step up voltage. You could PM a question to Linus, the designer ...

[Danny Dugger]

Originally Posted by Mercuriell

I think the BEC would have to be 7.4V plus to charge the lipo, not enough circuitry on the Ultraguard to step up voltage. You could PM a question to Linus, the designer ...

Yes, I believe that is the case. I did send Linus a message this morning, though, to see what he says.

[Danny Dugger]

OK guys, I heard back from the man. The Ultraguard should be able to step up and charge with an input of 5.3V or above without a problem. Here's a chart from the manual I never read. Lol

[Mercuriell]

WHat's a manual ??

Interesting info though !

[smsodhi]

Originally Posted by Mercuriell

WHat's a manual ??

Interesting info though !

A waiter in Fawlty Towers

[CyprusFlyer]

Originally Posted by smsodhi

A waiter in Fawlty Towers

ROFLMAO, more seriously I can confirm that the UG does step up and charge perfectly using the default 5.6v from the Kontronic ESC.

[Danny Dugger]

Yeah I'm sending mine in for replacement. The step-up voltage regulator burned on it for some reason - actually melted the heat shrink.

[Mercuriell]

Noticed something funny with my U/G,,it was hooked up, when I was fixing some servo gear damage. No other power source present. I was moving a servo arm when I saw its LEDs light up, then a few seconds later, smell of electrical burning. I unplugged it's lipo and all seemed well, I guess I can understand voltage generated by the servo triggering it to life but not sure what caused the burning smell, have to go back and check it with a magnifier ..

[mkovalcson]

Sounds like nothing I want on my helis.

[wblombard]

+1...i do however have one but still in its original packaging. I do however prefer R2 prototype buffer....only 40s of servo power once main power source fails...which honestly I think is enough should something go wrong. Maintenance free unit but not so pretty

[otavon]

Originally Posted by Freeko

You're not plugging the circuit board output to your charger, are you?

I have found that mine will not charge itself on the 6V BEC. I don't know if that's normal or not, but I always check it and charge it with the charger when needed. Maybe yours wasn't charging and it got way too low?

There are only two connectors; the balance plug and the one J plug that goes to the receiver. Where should I connect it to so it charges? I'm lost. Sorry

[Danny Dugger]

The battery only has a balance tap and no other connector so you either have to make or buy a harness to charge from the balance connector. I just used servo connectors


The external pins of the female Futaba J connector (without the extension housing) plug into the balance tap. The other two connectors are male Futaba J connectors: one is connected to all three leads and is for the balance board, the other is only connected to the black and red wires and is connected to a Futaba J charging connector. It's pretty easy to make and the Futaba connector will not allow you to plug into the balance board backwards

[HedgeHeli]

Moved to another thread as it's not TDR specific.