LaCrosse BC-9009 / BC-900 - The Melt-Downs Continue...

Lynx_Arc

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Prediction from 2009 became reality in 2011 :)
LaCrosse BC1000 appears on site http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/bc1000/index.php
Identical specs in comparison with BC900 and BC9009
Main question - what's inside?

Not remembering things completely it does say it won't charge bad cells (my 900 charges cells that blink on two other chargers), it also states it will halt all operations if a cell overheats. Not sure if the older ones did that or that would prevent meltdowns any better.
 

Bones

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Notwithstanding Lacrosse's assertions they resolved the issue(s) which caused the most recent flurry of BC-9009 melt-downs, I note that it's once again under review at Amazon:



http://www.amazon.com/item/bc-9009/

I also note that ThomasDistributing has completely removed both the BC-9009 and the much more reputable BC-700 from their sales inventory:

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/search/lacrosse/

I imagine these developments go a long way towards explaining the pending release of the version bearing model number BC-1000:

http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/product/bc-1000/

It will be interesting to see whether they make any substantive improvements to the BC-1000, or just base the new model number on cosmetic changes as they claimed was the case when they superseded the BC-900 with the BC-9009.
 

bshanahan14rulz

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I remember you folks saying that the power adapter was suspect, and I remember seeing that LaCrosse was exchanging old with new ones. Does anybody have a source for power adapters that work with these, or can I just use any 3V 4A+ supply? If any of you have had success with another common transformer, please post up! Thanks in advance!
 

VegasF6

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If you have the old model shouldn't they replace it under the recall? And if you purchase a new model it should have the updated power supply anyhow. Without going back through the whole thread, IIRC to tell the new from the old measure unloaded voltage. It seems like the charger is very picky about input voltage so if you were to use your own, make sure it is a regulated, quality power supply.

One dealer I like is MPJA.com. They do carry meanwell and other quality p.s. as well as cheapies. I am looking at a 3V 5A switching transformer for only $8, but then, who knows how good it is. At least it is UL listed, and made by AULT. Should be decent.
 

Mr Happy

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I remember you folks saying that the power adapter was suspect, and I remember seeing that LaCrosse was exchanging old with new ones. Does anybody have a source for power adapters that work with these, or can I just use any 3V 4A+ supply? If any of you have had success with another common transformer, please post up! Thanks in advance!
I think you can only safely use the exact power supply from LaCrosse. It appears that one of the deficiencies of the BC-900/9009 chargers is that they don't have a properly regulated input circuit for the power. They rely on the power supply to perform part of the regulation. So if you use a different power supply you risk problems.

You can tell proper chargers in that they use a 12 V input. The LaCrosse is uniquely insane in having a 3 V input for a high power circuit.
 

KiwiMark

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So if you use a different power supply you risk problems.

3V should be fine IF it is 3V - if its voltage is poorly regulated and it can rise to 3.5V or more then it could lead to a meltdown. Just grabbing a power supply with 3V written on it and trusting that it will not exceed 3.01V or drop below 2.99V may be a bit too trusting!
 

Mr Happy

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3V should be fine IF it is 3V - if its voltage is poorly regulated and it can rise to 3.5V or more then it could lead to a meltdown. Just grabbing a power supply with 3V written on it and trusting that it will not exceed 3.01V or drop below 2.99V may be a bit too trusting!
I don't know if this is sufficient. It may be that if you connected the charger to a regulated bench supply at exactly 3 V but with unlimited current there might still be a problem. Remember that no simple wall wart charger has perfect regulation, and I rather suspect that the charger relies somewhat on current limiting due to voltage sag in the supply.
 

RepProdigious

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I don't know if my Lacrosse BC-RS900 counts as a contender for this great thread but for a point of reference mine has been great for a couple of years now!






wait for it....












However (don't you hate it when any story has a however :devil:) the same cannot be said about the wall plug. I was just charging my eneloops like i always do and for now aparent reason the scharger just... stopped. Here's what i found after a small investigation:



img7308custom.jpg


img7311custom.jpg




Well there's your problem :sssh: If that doesn't count as a :poof: i don't know what does :naughty:

I've been on the hunt for a new wall adapter for quite a while now on cpfmp but i just cant get in contact with anybody who has a broken charger and a good adapter...... so now i'm just running it on my own home-brew powersource:

img7328custom.jpg


Now if this combination goes poof it will be quite something :sssh:
 

shadowjk

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3.3V? Wasn't the only meltdowns, uh, "issues", admitted by Lacrosse related to DC adapter outputting 3.2V instead of 3V? :)
 

KiwiMark

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3.3V? Wasn't the only meltdowns, uh, "issues", admitted by Lacrosse related to DC adapter outputting 3.2V instead of 3V? :)

That is my understanding - the higher than 3V output causes more heat in some components, especially when charging at the maximum rate. As far as I'm aware this is exactly what this thread is about.
 

HooNz

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That picture up a few posts looks like a "Flashover" imo and to see that on a low dc device really confuses me (thats not hard either) as it imply's a substantial over-voltage not a miserable .2v or even 20v .
 

HooNz

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I thought the first version was introduced in 1985 on the Magni "Le Mans."

A bit OT so i'll be quick http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swingarm , so i am corrected by wiki! , i recalled it was in Italy so i just assumed Moto Guzzi , the Italian sold it to Kawasaki first , early 80's , then BMW copied.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Guzzi

Added- since this is the last OT post on this from me , i thought i would mention that FN Motorcycles (Belgium) is listed as the first shafty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_(motorcycle)) , back in the days when riveted belt drives were still common!
 
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Mr Happy

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That picture up a few posts looks like a "Flashover" imo and to see that on a low dc device really confuses me (thats not hard either) as it imply's a substantial over-voltage not a miserable .2v or even 20v .
Ah, but the picture in question is of the mains AC power supply, not the charger...
 

VegasF6

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Ah, but the picture in question is of the mains AC power supply, not the charger...

Exactly, that may be the high voltage side of the supply.

RepProdigious whats on the other side of that board above the burnt area?
 

RepProdigious

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Indeed, the poof picture is the wall adapter, not the charger.

And about that whole 3.3v thing..... It'll be fine (famous last words :naughty:)! I tried one of those 'universal' chargers that should give exactly 3V (which by the way it doesn't) but the best i could find was a 12VA 1A max transformers and that one really didn't cut it. When charging cells at 1000mA the current display on the charger would drop back and forth all the way down to 700mA so that can't be good. I guess the supplied wall adapter really does put out 3A without too much voltage sag, nifty little thing.

Without any proper power supply the charger is useless so i just decided to give the whole 3.3v thing a go and when its actually charging cells the voltage sag from the PSU is plenty to keep things safe. Now i just have to keep an eye on the little LaCrosse to make sure its not running idle (no load = high voltage) so i just treat it like i do my li-ion charger, its in the fire-and-explosion-proof container just in case and i only use it when i can keep an eye on it. And when it does go poof (let's face it, chances are it will the way im treating it :twothumbs) ill shoot some more disaster pics for you guys because i know you like that kind of stuff.... and that will finally give me a proper reason to buy me a new one :thumbsup:
 

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