Dead La Crosse BC-900 Charger

[lewong]

I bought a La Crosse BC-900 in February 2008 and it's worked fine until I plugged it in today.

When I plug the AC adapter into the charger, I get a brief, full display then it blanks out, as when there is no power connected. Wiggling the plug in the jack doesn't do anything.

I measured the voltage on the AC adapter @ 3.024 VDC. I measured 0 VDC between the charging terminals when it's plugged in. I almost always charged everything at 200ma or 500ma, mostly Eneloops. The charger and batteries never got hot.

I searched and found that early chargers (2005-2006) had problems, but I think mine has the latest firmware. On the bottom it says, 8N7 V12 U.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[Mr Happy]

I'm sure the voltage on the adapter is supposed to be more than 3 V?

As with anything not working, contact the manufacturer and send it back for repair or service. Or cut your losses and buy another.

 

[viorel00]

I'm sure the voltage on the adapter is supposed to be more than 3 V?
...

IIRC (I sold the replacement after the first one melted), the AC adapter is rated 3V 4A DC

 

[Mr Happy]

IIRC (I sold the replacement after the first one melted), the AC adapter is rated 3V 4A DC

Really? Then I stand corrected. The adapters for most things have higher voltages than that.

 

[Norm]

IIRC (I sold the replacement after the first one melted), the AC adapter is rated 3V 4A DC

This seems to confirm it http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1081501&postcount=5
Norm

 

[lewong]

I was just posting to see if anyone had a similar experience with this charger.

Since it's out of warranty, I opened it up and found a couple of cold solder joints which I reheated.

I put it back together and when I plugged it in, the display was very faint but each bay was reading "null" - the normal display. So I took it apart again and cleaned the contacts for the LCD strip. The display is much brighter, though I have to read it at a very low angle for the characters to have the normal black. At least it's working again.

 

[Mr Happy]

Ah, you did what I would have done. I like trying to fix broken things.

I don't own a BC-900 myself, but I have heard stories that make me suspicious of the build quality. Unfortunately many electronic things tend to lack durability these days.