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Author Topic: Hobby King Battery ALERT  (Read 10452 times)

Offline Jeff Traxler

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Hobby King Battery ALERT
« on: May 29, 2015, 11:06:48 AM »
ATTENTION HK battery users: I have never had a problem with my HK batteries until now.Just bought 3 Zippy Compact 4s 25c 2700Mah packs from the US Arkansas warehouse.They arrived with REB(rebuilt????) stamped on them and after a careful break-in period they won't finish a pattern with 650 Mah left in them.All 3 have the same problem and HK wants a vidio of them on the charger and a cell checker BEFORE they will even consider a refund.Needless to say,with customer service like that they don't need my business anymore...........BEWARE HB~> HB~>
If you wanna sing the blues(Fly Stunt) you gotta pay your dues and "I know it don't come easy"

Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2015, 11:22:34 AM »
Given my experiences with the vast range of customer competence levels, the part about wanting a video of them on a charger and a cell checker isn't entirely out of line ("My doors won't close" (on a roadster body, almost the floppiest car body Ford made).  "Is the frame straight?"  "Oh yes!"  "Did you measure it?"  "Oh, it's straight!"  "Did you measure it according to the directions in the catalog?"  "Well no, but it had a Tudor sedan on there" (almost the stiffest Ford body made) "and that one's doors worked fine!").

However, selling you rebuilt parts as new is both slimey and actionable.  I'd double check the language on the web and on the order sheet.  If they did not make it quite clear when you ordered that you might be getting rebuilt parts, I suggest that you call them up again.  Tell them that you want to clarify the wording of the letter that you're planning on sending to the attorneys general of Arkansas and wherever they are registered as a corporation (find this out before you call).  That may get you some action.
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Offline Mike Scholtes

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2015, 01:43:44 PM »
This post interests me since I have been intending to buy exactly this battery to supplement some regular Zippy 3000 batteries.

Are you saying you finish the pattern with about 650 mAh in the battery? If so, that is about 25% of capacity and would appear to be within the normal expected range. I have about 800-900 mAh left on my 3000 batteries after completing the pattern with a full size Legacy, using about 2100 for the pattern and about 30 seconds of cushion at the end. Any possibility these batteries are just undersized for your power consumption needs?

The part about "REB" is more concerning, especially if it really means "rebuilt" or something other than "new and unused." I assume there was nothing in the HK ad warning you were not getting a new battery? Of course, it would be nice to get an explanation from HK before concluding you  were sold something not as warranted. They should be able to tell you what "REB" means. If you hit a wall with HK customer service I imagine your state has a department of consumer affairs that would look into this. There are Federal "unfair trade practices" laws that apply in all states and most states have some version of "unfair competition" laws, usually with some penalties for untruthful advertising or unfair practices.

Offline Fred Underwood

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2015, 03:40:22 PM »
My old Zippy compact 25C 5S are not coded, a slightly newer one is RAB and the new 6S are RIB.  Sounds like Zippy's coding.  What airplane and weight, motor, line length, lap time....?
Fred
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Offline Jeff Traxler

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2015, 09:46:00 PM »
Hi Mike,I have over 300 flights on the ship with the same size/brand batteries.Three of them still have some life but I wanted the 3 new ones for Brodak so I had fresh blood for competition.I have been putting back 2050-2200 consistantly.
If you wanna sing the blues(Fly Stunt) you gotta pay your dues and "I know it don't come easy"

Offline Motorman

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2015, 10:46:51 AM »
What do you mean it won't finish the pattern, do you get a low voltage cut off or something? You say you're normally putting back 2050 - 2200 from a 2700mah battery that's 650 - 500. 80% is about 540 so it seems normal. What does it do that it won't finish the pattern? What is your ESC setting for voltage cut off?


MM
« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 11:05:36 AM by Motorman »

Offline Jeff Traxler

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2015, 11:23:34 PM »
What do you mean it won't finish the pattern, do you get a low voltage cut off or something? You say you're normally putting back 2050 - 2200 from a 2700mah battery that's 650 - 500. 80% is about 540 so it seems normal. What does it do that it won't finish the pattern? What is your ESC setting for voltage cut off?


MM
It does not produce enough power to fly the manuvers.The last flight it started to lag in the hourglass and would'nt complete the overhead 8 and clover.
If you wanna sing the blues(Fly Stunt) you gotta pay your dues and "I know it don't come easy"

Offline John Cralley

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2015, 06:23:13 AM »
Sounds like you have hit the low voltage cutoff (soft cutoff). If you have or can borrow a data recording ESC, you can check the battery voltage when this happens and verify if the ESC has gone into cutoff mode.

If the new batteries have a voltage curve that drops off earlier in the discharge cycle than you old batteries, sounds like something has been changed in the make up of the new ones. Not all products live up to their claimed specs.
John Cralley
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Offline Curare

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2015, 02:10:17 AM »
I think I can count myself as one of the few guys to EVER get a refund pack from Hobbyking.

I had to explain the issues with the pack MULTIPLE times to MULTIPLE people, effectively one cell had a rediuculously high IR, and would get bad cell depression under load. I ended up showing them photos of the battery under a 30 amp load (about 10c) and you could see one cell fall down to 3.5v where all the others were 4.11v.

After a lot of tooing and froing I got another pack.

Sad to say though I thought that the zippy compacts were OK, time has shown that they're kinda crappy.

After a few months of use you can expect to have a reduction in useable capacity of at least %25. That means that if you're landing now with about 25% in the pack, sooner or later, the pack wont get you to the end of the schedule.

I'm now trying REVOLECTRIX packs which are phyiscally the same size and capacity, but cost about twice as much. I'm happy to pay that if they last more than 4 months.
Greg Kowalski
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Offline Russell Bond

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2015, 07:00:17 PM »
Hi Greg,
Yes I use REVOLECTRIX batteries and they work very well.
I've had them for over a year with no problems.
I use the 30c Black Series.
Bandolero

Offline Curare

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2015, 10:04:40 PM »
Russell, I'm using the same ones.

John in singapore is a good guy to deal with too!
Greg Kowalski
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Offline NED-088

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2015, 04:42:54 PM »
I use REVOLECTRIX batteries and they work very well.
I've had them for over a year with no problems.
I use the 30c Black Series.
4cell packs I presume? What capacity?
'If you think there's something about my English, you're right. I'm Dutch... '
But I DO play Stunt and I DO fly Bluegrass.

Offline Target

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #12 on: June 09, 2015, 07:49:23 PM »
I found Thunder Power 4S 2700's at Atlanta Hobby for $54.95 each......
Regards,
Chris
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Offline Crist Rigotti

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #13 on: June 09, 2015, 08:59:49 PM »
I found Thunder Power 4S 2700's at Atlanta Hobby for $54.95 each......

What version?
Crist
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Offline Target

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Regards,
Chris
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Offline Crist Rigotti

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #15 on: June 09, 2015, 10:16:31 PM »
Thanks.  Current version too!
Crist
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Offline Russell Bond

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #16 on: June 10, 2015, 07:56:04 AM »
Ned, they are the 3900 Mah 4s 30c.
Bandolero

Offline NED-088

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #17 on: June 10, 2015, 12:47:30 PM »
Thanks!

And how many mAh's do you need for a flight? Just to figure out the discharge percentage.



Regards,

Bruno (for you I put on my proper T shirt.... ;D )

'If you think there's something about my English, you're right. I'm Dutch... '
But I DO play Stunt and I DO fly Bluegrass.

Offline Target

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #18 on: June 10, 2015, 01:11:15 PM »
Crist-
You're welcome sir.
NED- Awesome looking plane!

R,
Chris
Regards,
Chris
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Offline Russell Bond

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #19 on: June 11, 2015, 12:35:15 AM »
It depends which prop I use.
Anywhere between 2600 to 3000 mah.
Bandolero

Offline Howard Rush

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #20 on: June 11, 2015, 12:47:53 AM »
(for you I put on my proper T shirt.... ;D )

Careful, Bruno, you don't want to wear any clothing that could get Russell excited.
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Offline Igor Burger

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #21 on: June 11, 2015, 01:00:19 AM »
however better to be deshirted than depanted  VD~

Offline NED-088

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #22 on: June 11, 2015, 03:51:38 AM »
however better to be deshirted than depanted  VD~
You mean, I'd rather put on a one piece suit, when he's around?
Naahh. We'll send Barry Robinson after him.... ~>
Anyway, I'm working the model -and myself  ;) -  back in trim.
@ Igor: Didn't fly for 7 years, so no qualifying for Bulgaria.  Won't make it this year.
But there's a good chance I'd qualify for next year.
« Last Edit: June 11, 2015, 05:06:05 AM by NED-088 »
'If you think there's something about my English, you're right. I'm Dutch... '
But I DO play Stunt and I DO fly Bluegrass.

Offline Russell Bond

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #23 on: June 11, 2015, 06:21:52 AM »
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I don't have to "de-pant" Barry, I've seen him naked!!!
It's not a pretty sight!!!  %^@ %^@
Bandolero

Offline NED-088

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #24 on: June 11, 2015, 04:16:34 PM »
Never ever let a Dutchman and an Australian on a thread about battery alert, because.... mw~
Well, you've seen.... LL~

By the way Russell, I need about 2350 mAh for a flight, so I'd recken, 125% of that would be about 2940.
A 3100 battery would be on the safe side. The 3300 Zippy doesn't flinch. Anyway, post flight voltage is still 15.3
Back in the old days (WCh 2006) I was firing up an AXI 2826-10 and boy, was that thing inefficient... %^@
Needed 4200 batteries for that.
As soon as you bring down the current (look how neat Igor solved this) even AXIs start to behave.
'If you think there's something about my English, you're right. I'm Dutch... '
But I DO play Stunt and I DO fly Bluegrass.

Offline Dean Pappas

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Re: Hobby King Battery ALERT
« Reply #25 on: June 11, 2015, 07:32:14 PM »
Hello Jeff,
It sounds like you are running out of voltage, but not necessarily battery capacity.
If you were to get too close to fully depleting your battery then you'd expect to run into the ESC's low battery cutoff (LVC) at maybe 3.4V per cell.
On the other hand, if your combination of running RPM times Kv is a voltage that is too high a percentage of the nomuinal battery voltage, then your ESC governor loop could run out of voltage headroom, and you'd drop out of regulation and lose power ... but not necessarily trigger the LVC.
Remember that we typically lose ~ 1V in resistive losses.
What is your motor Kv, cell count and actual running RPM? That is, tached, not the setting.
take care,
 Dean P.
Dean Pappas


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