Alan wins the long distance diagnostics award.
One of the wires was held to the switch with shrink wrap but the connection broken. Repaired and just test ran. Powered up, the timer started blinking this way and that and whoo boy we got POWER!
Had set the timer for 5 miinutes, let it run about 2 minutes then decided I did not like the way the spinner was blurring. Did not really feel like it was vibrating but I did not like the blur. So I will remove spinner for next test, and probably fly without it. That should help motor cooling anyway.
MIKE:
Thanks for posting the timer instructions - I made sure not to lose mine, and even broke down and READ them when I was having trouble before! My bigger problem was with the instructions for the balancer. It is hard to dtermine exactly WHAT is supposed to be happening with it. Is there an enhanced version of the instructions for the battery balancer that shows:
* WHEN should the balancer be used? Is it to be plugged in BEFORE starting the charge, then let sit for awhile then start charging?
* What is the balancer supposed to show - at start of charge and later into the charge?
* My balancer keeps screaming when it is attached to one of the batteries, indicating a major voltage imbalance, yet that pack measured 12.51 volts versus a target peak of 12.6 - is the balancer that sensitive? What should I do to balance the pack?
* How does the balancer go about its job, does it bleed off high cells to boost the low cells? If so should the charger be attached whenever the balancer is on to provide the make-up voltage?
* If the balancer starts screaming (conitous tone) should I immediately DISCONNECT everything?
Iknow, to paraphrase the old SNL routine, I ask a lot of questions for someone from MI but heack, I just want to SAFELY charge these things without grenading the battery, the charger or my garage!
BTW have any of you tried the Li-MN batteries from Apogee? they sound like a easier to handle alternative, albeit at a slight weight penalty...
- showing what should be happening during the charge cycle?