IKELITE li-ion charging issues

Hello guys,

I'm a happy Ikelite user from 10 years ago. Housings, ports, and strobes.

My last change, one year ago, was moving to the Li-Ion batteries and chargers. Very happy, less weight, less space and more performance.

Well... my problem is that, suddenly, I can't charge two of my three batteries. Just the charger stay flashing all the time. Never stop and don't charge. I've two Li-Ion chargers and therr batteries and tryed a lot of combinations...

I found this:

The center contact of the receptacle into which you plug the charger has a split pin that can get squeezed together preventing good electrical continuity. Take something like a small screwdriver and spread the center pin slightly so it provides a snug fit with the plug. The socket is diode protected to only allow electricity "in" so you do not need to worry about a short circuit if you touch the side of the socket.

http://www.ikelite.com/support/faq/ds-strobes.html

But don't solve my problem.

I found an article about Li-Ion explanng that this batteries can protect the circuit and "sleep" until a smart charger wake up again the battery.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/low_voltage_cut_off

I googled a lot and can't find the solution. I know, I've the Ikelite support but I'm almost sure is not a manufacturer problem, something strange with the charging process.

any advice??

Thanks in advance.

Carlos

Hi Carlos,

I'm sorry to read of the issues that you're experiencing with your Li-ion packs. It sounds like there may be some cell balancing issues with the packs. Please send the packs and chargers back to us for evaluation and repair/replacement at your earliest convenience.

http://www.ikelite.com/support/service/

Regards,

John Brigham

Ikelite

Just experienced this issue this weekend myself. Apparently, there is an issue with the cells in the batteries. Luckily, I have some of the older battery packs still. I will be returning mine to Ikelite.

Yup - having some real issues with these Li-Ion batteries (2nd Gen), just had one purchased last year, working fine until a month or so ago until battery would strangely charge for just 15 mins - showing nearly a full charge but within 10 TTL activations died. Unfortunately out of warranty when problem arose. Now my 2nd Batt is showing signs of pending failure. Dies at the end of a 2nd dive (both dives about 1hr with about 50 TTL flash activations). Battery is now out of warranty also. This is despite adhering to the manufacturers guidelines. Now thinking of returning to NiMH !

Hello,

I have exactly the same problem. My DS 161 have two years, and I used it a hundred times or less. And I do have the same symptoms as you. It only charge 30 minutes, the strobes itself says it's fully charge, but after 10 lights, nothing at all. I regret not to have choose the cheaper inon Z240 with work with standard battery. (at least, I have my DS 51).

I get the battery out of the strobe. The li-on battery seems easy to replace at first sight but I went to a battery store telling me that this is shi*.

Underwater device use lowcost battery and moreover, li-on are explosif battery difficult to manipulate. This specialized store won't touch to that at all.

And the battery have a special size, and ordering only six of them will cost too much.

So I have to buy a new one, and I think this is done on purpose. I'll go with Ni-mh battery, cheaper, and I don't care about charging it after each dive.

If you have other advice.

Emeric