Battery Guarantees

[Old Timer]

no it doesn't, just ACHTUNG ! and a few other bits in German

When I charge my other lithium battery devices, such as Iphone, IPAD, DS, PSP, even my ancient Tapwave Zodiac - I don't have to put the device on the charger, then plug the charger in.

So it's either a fault or by design.

I leave my chargers plugged in all the time but turned off at the socket, I then(as instructed) plug the charger into the battery and then turn on the power.

 

[dan]

no it doesn't, just ACHTUNG ! and a few other bits in German

When I charge my other lithium battery devices, such as Iphone, IPAD, DS, PSP, even my ancient Tapwave Zodiac - I don't have to put the device on the charger, then plug the charger in.

So it's either a fault or by design.

When charging any battery operated device regardless of battery type, it should always be pluged in before you start to charge

 

[Mussels]

When charging any battery operated device regardless of battery type, it should always be pluged in before you start to charge

Genuine question - why?

 

[flecc]

Genuine question - why?

If the charger is already primed, plugging it into the battery results in the full load suddenly applied to the battery or BMS circuit, together with any pulse released from charged capacitors that may be in the charger output circuit. This is therefore a sudden potentially high load shock to the cells or BMS.

If the charger is connected to the battery first, when the charger is switched on the impedence of the charger switched mode circuit results in a longer rise time in the current reaching the cells or BMS, giving a gentle start to the charge.
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[eddieo]

Blimey......

 

[flecc]

Blimey......

That's what the battery said when the charger had been switched on first!
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[Mattyduk]

so Apple, Sony and Ninty are going to advise all their customers with docks, that they just can't put the device in. They have to unplug the dock, put the device in, then plug it back in again.

And as stated, it doesn't say anything about this on the charger despite and awful lot of German

But I can understand why it should be done in this case, and that's the way I'm going to do it from now. i.e battery in first, then switch on charger

 

[Mussels]

so Apple, Sony and Ninty are going to advise all their customers with docks, that they just can't put the device in. They have to unplug the dock, put the device in, then plug it back in again.

I'm certainly not turning my computer off before plugging my mobile phone into the USB cable!

 

[flecc]

so Apple, Sony and Ninty are going to advise all their customers with docks, that they just can't put the device in. They have to unplug the dock, put the device in, then plug it back in again.

A huge difference, both in the current levels involved and in the capacity of the receiving battery.

I'm certainly not turning my computer off before plugging my mobile phone into the USB cable!

There are fuses on the motherboard for USB outlets and they can blow. Fortunately that's rare, and USB PCI boards are available to take their place.
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[Mattyduk]

A huge difference, both in the current levels involved and in the capacity of the receiving battery.
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fair enough, but for a fledgeling industry that's trying to make inroads, the general public are so use to dropping batteries/devices into poweredup docks to charge, that I think the charger/battery suppliers need to implement some additional protection (apart from the fuse) or at least plaster their chargers/batteries with warnings/instructions.

 

[Patrick]

There's another issue I've noticed with my battery and charger. The battery has a female XLR socket, which makes sense because there would be a risk of accidentally short circuiting the battery if it was a male connector with exposed live pins.

This does however mean that the plug on the charger is such a male XLR with live pins. I managed to short it on the battery case once when I was plugging it in, there was a spark but no damage was done and I learnt my lesson. So I now connect the charger before switching on the mains.

 

[flecc]

fair enough, but for a fledgeling industry that's trying to make inroads, the general public are so use to dropping batteries/devices into poweredup docks to charge, that I think the charger/battery suppliers need to implement some additional protection (apart from the fuse) or at least plaster their chargers/batteries with warnings/instructions.

Yes I fully agree, the charger should be labeled and the instruction in the bike's manual should be clear.

Having said that, I've often plugged in the other way round when working on chargers/batteries and have never had a problem. Well designed chargers and batteries generally won't have a problem, but the precaution is sensible overall.
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[HarryB]

Whatever is best practice it shouldn't blow a fuse if you get it wrong. So something is faulty and best get a replacement from 50 cycles?