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Gear / Technical Help => Remote Power => Topic started by: Patrick on March 20, 2006, 02:15:44 PM

Title: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: Patrick on March 20, 2006, 02:15:44 PM
I've got a typical wally battery that charges fine, and displays the 4 lights when the button is pressed.  However, it will no longer power my UA-5 or my jb3 (through a voltage regulator contraption).  I've got two identical other batteries that are giving me no problems. 

This particular battery was actually the first one I bought last summer, and hasn't given me any problems until now.

Thanks for the help in advance.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 20, 2006, 02:35:36 PM
I'm not fully understanding what you are saying.  have you tried it on another device?
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: Patrick on March 20, 2006, 02:44:14 PM
I'm not fully understanding what you are saying.  have you tried it on another device?

I've tried it, unsuccessfully, on:

1: My Ua-5
2: A voltage regulator that is used for external power for the Jb3.

So it is not sending power, but it charges and shows a charge (the 4 level lights illuminate).

Does that help?
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 20, 2006, 02:48:02 PM
do you have a volt meter?
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 21, 2006, 11:20:50 AM
did you get it figured out?
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: Patrick on March 21, 2006, 12:14:02 PM
do you have a volt meter?

Yes, I do have a volt meter, how do I test the output without blowing myself up  :P
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 21, 2006, 12:38:44 PM
do you have a volt meter?

Yes, I do have a volt meter, how do I test the output without blowing myself up  :P


should be able to just stick it in the output.  test a good battery first


this will not hurt anything...not even you  :P
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: Patrick on March 21, 2006, 04:05:14 PM
well, as expected, it is putting out nothing.  while the other batteries are putting out about 9.21 volts.

Any way to "reset" these things or do I have a paperweight?
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 21, 2006, 04:37:21 PM
Any way to "reset" these things or do I have a paperweight?

I'll take a look at mine when I get home, but I think you might have a paperweight
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 22, 2006, 09:24:46 AM
Patrick.......I did't see any way to reset this thing.  before you decide to dump it, give it a good smack on a hard surface (concrete floor maybe).  I have done this to a different type of battery that was giving me a similar problem.  It made it work for a little while.


  Tommy
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: Todd R on March 22, 2006, 11:06:33 AM
These Li-ion batteries have built-in protection circuits that will essentially shut them down if they have been shorted.  And there is a reset if this happens -- you need to plug them back in to their wall-wart charger.  This should reset them and allow them to act normally. 

I'm not sure if this is the problem you're having, but I'd try this first before giving them a good smack.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 22, 2006, 11:11:01 AM
These Li-ion batteries have built-in protection circuits that will essentially shut them down if they have been shorted.  And there is a reset if this happens -- you need to plug them back in to their wall-wart charger.  This should reset them and allow them to act normally. 

I'm not sure if this is the problem you're having, but I'd try this first before giving them a good smack.

good info!

+T
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: Patrick on March 22, 2006, 11:24:35 AM
These Li-ion batteries have built-in protection circuits that will essentially shut them down if they have been shorted.  And there is a reset if this happens -- you need to plug them back in to their wall-wart charger.  This should reset them and allow them to act normally. 

I'm not sure if this is the problem you're having, but I'd try this first before giving them a good smack.

I've done that before, but it hasn't seemed to fix it.  How long should I leave it on charge?

Thanks.  If that doesn't work, I'm going to smack the hell out of it  :smash:
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: spreadheadtom on March 22, 2006, 11:27:59 AM
These Li-ion batteries have built-in protection circuits that will essentially shut them down if they have been shorted.  And there is a reset if this happens -- you need to plug them back in to their wall-wart charger.  This should reset them and allow them to act normally. 

I'm not sure if this is the problem you're having, but I'd try this first before giving them a good smack.

I've done that before, but it hasn't seemed to fix it.  How long should I leave it on charge?

Thanks.  If that doesn't work, I'm going to smack the hell out of it  :smash:


<beavis>  yeah yeah smack it <beavis>
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: Todd R on March 22, 2006, 11:43:35 AM

I've done that before, but it hasn't seemed to fix it.  How long should I leave it on charge?

Thanks.  If that doesn't work, I'm going to smack the hell out of it  :smash:

Looks like it's time to go ahead and smack it. :D  The one or two times I've had it happen, plugging the battery into the charger reset it immediately.  Too bad the shut-off protection didn't turn out to be the problem, looks like the battery may have gone bad.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on March 22, 2006, 11:53:29 AM
Dropping a car battery is a common technique to dislodge deposits that may be shorting cells.  I've done it and had it work..

I don't think I'd do anything like that with a battery type that is prone to explode..
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: tonyvt on June 28, 2006, 10:00:27 PM
My Wal-Mart battery also crapped out.
Title: Re: Wal-Mart battery woes?
Post by: greppson on July 14, 2006, 09:32:58 AM
These Li-ion batteries have built-in protection circuits that will essentially shut them down if they have been shorted.  And there is a reset if this happens -- you need to plug them back in to their wall-wart charger.  This should reset them and allow them to act normally. 

I'm not sure if this is the problem you're having, but I'd try this first before giving them a good smack.
'

Great info. I was at a show last night and was double checking my wires before the opener came on. I must have done something weird as the battery would not work at all after I replugged the wires back in after checking a few things. I was so pissed. Luckily, I was still able to run mics > batt box > jb3. But, I was really surprised when I got home last night and plugged in to find it would work fine. Not sure why the ua-5 shorted it out though...