Bad Excalibur Battery Pod

[snook]

Went to go use the EXcal today and the battery is flat after a full recharge two weeks ago. Unloaded I get 11.75 volts, when I turn the machine on it goes to 6.32 volts. Mustbe an open/shorted cell in there. Supposedly, this pod only had a few recharges on it, SN# 102548. I'm thinking of using this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180225020132 . What do you guys think?

 

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[Montauk3]

Is it the Excal or the Excal2?

I would try another recharge cycle.

I have the newer Excal2 and recharge every two times use. I charge till I get at least 14.28 vdc

 

[billinstuart]

I just installed one of those in my Excal 800. Super deal, over twice the life of the original, no battery memory. Only problem was it was a tight fit, but popped right in with a swift tap. Go for it!

 

[snook]

This is the second time this happened, I'm done. Thanks Bill, I just bought it.

 

[billinstuart]

Are you sure your charger is working properly? I bought my unit used, and the charger with it didn't work when I got it. Seller had just put a new battery in thinking that was the problem.

 

[snook]

Chargers ok, it's the battery pack.

 

[gold-digger]

Snook - Montauk3

Got the same problem. After 2 days recharging, Im lucky if I get 5 hours of use out of it if I hunt asap after unplugging. If I leave it unplugged overnight (after full charge) I would be lucky to get 2 hours out of it. Seems like it drains faster now and is less that a year old.


How do you test the loads ?

I just ordered a pack from onlybatterypacks, that should do it.

 

[ronald99]

Did i read correctly you charged 2 weeks ago, I have 4 excal batteries and if there not used within a week the batteries are very week.To me this would seem normal. Maybe i misread your statement but i always recharge mine the day before use so im not disapointed.

 

[snook]

Ronald99, it's not normal to have a dead NiCad a few weeks after being fully charged. I have nicads in my pro digital SLR that last for months after a charge and my whites 6000 DI pro plus SL with nicads was the same. The surface charge will go away, but the sustainable voltage should be enough to drive the electronics for awhile. The battery pack uses 8 nicads at 1.5V each for a nominal 12v. Float voltage was 11.75 volts, about what I would expect. With the machine turned on, it went to 6.32V. That tells me that a cell or cells have issues. G-D I checked the drop using a digital multi-meter connected in parallel with the pack connection. Turn on the machine and watch what happens. I made up a battery set with some alkalines I had laying around and ran the machine with no issues. It's definitely the battery pack.

 

[ronald99]

G-D

 

[snook]

G-D = Gold-Digger. What, you thought I was cursing?

 

[ronald99]

 

[gold-digger]

NO. didnt think you were cursing. Sorry if the bold green was misunderstood.

Just asking how to test the pods. Took mine to batteries plus by me and guy there had no idea how to test the load. Said I need a special unit to test for ohms.

 

[snook]

Gold-Digger, the cursing deal was for Ronald man. Was not intended for you, I know that you wanted to know how I tested the voltage drop. It was a simple mis-communication dealing with my abbreviation of gold-digger as G-D. Man, this internet stuff is taxing.