Topic: Walmart LiON, V3, so many questions...

[John Kelly]

So I picked up that Walmart LiON battery and it is just awesome.  I've done about 6 shows this week and so far haven't had to recharge the battery yet.

However, I've been thinking of picking up a V3 (I'm turning into a regular gear slut).  Would it be possible to power the V3 with this battery?  I love it because it's so small and seems to pack a ton of power.  However, it's 9.6V and the V3s are either 6v or 12v.  I really don't know much about powering stuff so I have no idea if it's possible or not, but I know there'll be at least 100 people here who do.

So, possible?  No?

[caymanreview]

i think the v3 is 6 to 12 v isnt it, it will just make the battery indicator light not function correctly, and would ahve to be calibrated to the 9.6v?

[F.O.Bean]

i wouldnt trust that, id use a 6v sla and be done w/ it, because youd prolly have to step the voltage down to 6v anyway

[Brian Skalinder]

My understanding is any V3 will run on 6v-12v, only question is to what voltage the low batt and shut-off are calibrated.  If not calibrated for your particular voltage, the V3's low batt indicator and shut-down won't function correctly.  Only potential problem I can think of is you may discharge your batt too much.  I don't know of any reason you wouldn't be able to calibrate the V3 for a 9.6v power source if that's what you wanted to run.  Graces has the calibration procedure posted on their website in the support area. Wanna make sure and not trust us hacks?  Give Grace a call, quality customer service, IME.

[John Kelly]

My understanding is any V3 will run on 6v-12v, only question is to what voltage the low batt and shut-off are calibrated.  If not calibrated for your particular voltage, the V3's low batt indicator and shut-down won't function correctly.  Only potential problem I can think of is you may discharge your batt too much.  I don't know of any reason you wouldn't be able to calibrate the V3 for a 9.6v power source if that's what you wanted to run.  Graces has the calibration procedure posted on their website in the support area. Wanna make sure and not trust us hacks?  Give Grace a call, quality customer service, IME.

I'll do that after I buy one.    +t

[F.O.Bean]

suite, let us know whats up john

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

My understanding is any V3 will run on 6v-12v, only question is to what voltage the low batt and shut-off are calibrated.  Wanna make sure and not trust us hacks?  Give Grace a call, quality customer service, IME.

I just traded some emails with Jamie.  There is some question that the adjustment range may not be wide enough to cover the 9.6V point from either above or below.  It needs to be tested. 


Be aware that the discharge curve for NiMH or LiON batteries is different from SLA batteries, so you need to rethink the trigger points for low voltage indication and shutoff.  LiON has a fairly flat discharge curve so it will go from good to gone pretty quickly compared to SLA when it gets close to the end so don't expect 45min runtime between low and shutdown like with an SLA.

[VA_TAPER]

My understanding is any V3 will run on 6v-12v, only question is to what voltage the low batt and shut-off are calibrated.  Wanna make sure and not trust us hacks?  Give Grace a call, quality customer service, IME.

I just traded some emails with Jamie.  There is some question that the adjustment range may not be wide enough to cover the 9.6V point from either above or below.  It needs to be tested. 


Be aware that the discharge curve for NiMH or LiON batteries is different from SLA batteries, so you need to rethink the trigger points for low voltage indication and shutoff.  LiON has a fairly flat discharge curve so it will go from good to gone pretty quickly compared to SLA when it gets close to the end so don't expect 45min runtime between low and shutdown like with an SLA.

this is really a non issue with the walmart pack for two reasons

LiOn cells are not damaged by deep discharge like lead acid cells so the auto shut off is not needed.

and

The battery meter on the walmart cell is much better than the V3 indicator anyway.

I would get a 6v calibrated unit and run it with the walmart 7.2v cell, it will last about 6 hours.

peace, chris

[John Kelly]

My understanding is any V3 will run on 6v-12v, only question is to what voltage the low batt and shut-off are calibrated.  Wanna make sure and not trust us hacks?  Give Grace a call, quality customer service, IME.

I just traded some emails with Jamie.  There is some question that the adjustment range may not be wide enough to cover the 9.6V point from either above or below.  It needs to be tested. 


Be aware that the discharge curve for NiMH or LiON batteries is different from SLA batteries, so you need to rethink the trigger points for low voltage indication and shutoff.  LiON has a fairly flat discharge curve so it will go from good to gone pretty quickly compared to SLA when it gets close to the end so don't expect 45min runtime between low and shutdown like with an SLA.

this is really a non issue with the walmart pack for two reasons

LiOn cells are not damaged by deep discharge like lead acid cells so the auto shut off is not needed.

and

The battery meter on the walmart cell is much better than the V3 indicator anyway.

I would get a 6v calibrated unit and run it with the walmart 7.2v cell, it will last about 6 hours.

peace, chris

That's what I was thinking.  I still have to get the v3 first.  Once I do I'll give a call to Grace just to be sure...

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

The battery meter on the walmart cell is much better than the V3 indicator anyway.

I would get a 6v calibrated unit and run it with the walmart 7.2v cell, it will last about 6 hours.

peace, chris

I didn't know the walmart packs had a level indicator.

[Mojowill]

Be aware that the discharge curve for NiMH or LiON batteries is different from SLA batteries, so you need to rethink the trigger points for low voltage indication and shutoff.  LiON has a fairly flat discharge curve so it will go from good to gone pretty quickly compared to SLA when it gets close to the end so don't expect 45min runtime between low and shutdown like with an SLA.

Yes be aware that the L Ion bat will drop off very suddenly  I had an intersting experience with mine I ran it for 8 shows at all good and at the end of the 8th i turned the rig off and was switching tape and then tried to power up again and the bat had nothing left  I checked the light meter on it and it was flat out dead, no lights at all.  but it ran it's wittle heart out like a champ and got me a ton of music, love this thing!!

[silverbullet]

I would get a 6v calibrated unit and run it with the walmart 7.2v cell, it will last about 6 hours.
peace, chris

Is there a 7.2v Walmart battery? I saw a bunch at my store. Grabbed one and took it home. On the back of the walmart battery box it says 5400mAh, 9v. I didn't see any 7.2v batteries at the store but then again I didn't search through all of them.

Anyone routinely using the walmart 9v battery with a 6v V3 model (not the 12v V3) ? Do I need to step down the voltage or do anything special?

[MattD]

Is there a 12V walmart battery? My ULN-2 needs 9-24V, so I'm worried that 9.6 would be too close to the shutoff point to last long.

[keepongoin]

LiOn cells are not damaged by deep discharge

I don't know where you read that, but I have read just the opposite.  Deep discharge kills lithiums, or so it says in the product info in the Li battery i bought.

[dnsacks]

http://www.fact-index.com/l/li/lithium_ion_battery.html

An interesting link -- says another drawback of li-ion batteries is that they lose capacity as they age, but that storing 'em in a cold environment (refrigerator) will slow the aging.

Re Deep discharge -- research also suggests that another key requirement of Li-Ion batteries is to have an electronic regulator running 'em to assure proper charging/discharging.  I strongly suspect that the electronics in the battery will cut it off before it's discharged too deeply.