Electricians / Electrical Engineers: Help!

"BLCKSTRM" (BLCKSTRM)
11/12/2016 at 13:20 • Filed to: None

So, my kids have a Razor drifter. It’s been a ton of fun. See below screenshot...

Dab of oppo, natch!

However, for the last couple years it keeps killing batteries.

I finally gave up and took it to an actual shop, and after replacing EVERYTHING it is still doing it.

In detail, it has two 12 volt batteries in series. It kills ONE of those batteries after a couple charging cycles.

I plug it in and charge it overnight (as recommended) when the batteries are new. It runs fine that first time. After I recharge it the second time (again - always at least overnight), it seems a little slower than the first time, and it doesn’t run as long.

When I plug it in after that, it won’t even take a charge. The light on the charger remains green (it doesn’t turn red to indicate it’s taking a charge). I’ve left it plugged in anyway to see if it will “trickle” charge, but no dice.

I’ve replaced the batteries (both at the same time) a total of FIVE times now. I’ve replaced the charger three times, and just replaced ALL the other components (controller, throttle, etc).

And it’s still doing the same thing (just killed another battery).

The only thing still original is the motor itself, and I can’t imagine how something in the motor could affect it’s ability to charge.

I have read on a couple forums of people having the same problem - but not one of them ever found (or at least posted) any resolution to their issue.

Can anyone think of anything else I could try?

Thanks!

DISCUSSION (15)

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > BLCKSTRM
11/12/2016 at 13:29

convert to 5hp motor

jariten1781 > BLCKSTRM
11/12/2016 at 13:29

Have you tried just harging them off the vehicle with a generic battery charger?

That’s where I’d go if I Theseused the whole lot and it was still failing.

BLCKSTRM > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
11/12/2016 at 13:44

Yeah. Or not convert, but just give up on it and get a gas powered go kart.

This electric stuff is for the birds.

Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV > BLCKSTRM
11/12/2016 at 13:44

Have you tried a different kind of battery? Maybe a single 24v battery (assuming they are in series)?

I really know nothing but these things come to mind...

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > BLCKSTRM
11/12/2016 at 13:56

Is it the same battery position each time? Or is it random between the two which one fails? It is possible that they are not being charged to the same point by the charger. Try charging them individually off a standard 12v charger (take them out of the kart to do this) instead of charging them together. They may be coming out of balance. Charging them together isn’t a great idea if they don’t have a balancing circuit on board which I doubt this thing does.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > BLCKSTRM
11/12/2016 at 15:18

Like some others asked, does it have some kind of balancing ciruit? Because charging two batteries in series without balancing can destroys batteries quite rapidly. A solution could be to charge them separately if that is possible.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > BLCKSTRM
11/12/2016 at 17:36

There’s some wiring diagrams (you want a technical schematic, not that multi-colored diagramatic BS) available via GIS. Can you search for your part number and post here? That might help the sparkies in the crowd help you diagnose. Do you own a multimeter?

The Lurktastic Opponaught > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
11/12/2016 at 17:39

Congrats on your recent upgrade to Sparky.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > BLCKSTRM
11/12/2016 at 18:44

oh yea or an ATV. I rode my first blaster when i was 7

BLCKSTRM > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
11/18/2016 at 15:38

Sorry for the massive delay - I was a bit swamped this week with the LA Auto show going on.

I read a little more about what you talked about, and I’m going to try this. I have 5 individual batteries left over, and I’m sure at least 2 of them are good. I’ll try charging them individually and we’ll see how that goes.

Makes me kind of wonder how these ever functioned properly from the factory.

BLCKSTRM > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
11/18/2016 at 15:38

Sorry for the massive delay - I was a bit swamped this week with the LA Auto show going on.

Makes me kind of wonder how these ever functioned properly from the factory

BLCKSTRM > Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV
11/18/2016 at 15:39

I may try that next if charging each battery separately doesn’t work.

BLCKSTRM > The Lurktastic Opponaught
11/18/2016 at 16:27

Sorry for the massive delay - I was a bit swamped this week with the LA Auto show going on.

I’ll have to look for that stuff.

After reading about them getting unbalanced and the idea to charge them separately, I think I’ll give that a try. I have 5 individual batteries left over after all the sets I’ve purchased, and I’m sure at least 2 of them are good. I’ll try charging them individually and we’ll see how that goes.

Makes me kind of wonder how these ever functioned properly from the factory.

But if that fails, it may be time to finally buy a multimeter. Actually, it’s probably already time.

Going off Jason’s (or whoever wrote that poser post) list of tools to make you look like a pro, that’s the only thing I’m missing. I’ve almost gotten one several times, and actually need one to figure out why one of my fog lights is dimmer than the other. But I’ve never pulled the trigger because I’m one of those who looks at wiring diagrams and thinks “electricity” is actually just a code-word for “magic.”

Maybe the time has come to bite the bullet and figure it all out.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > BLCKSTRM
11/18/2016 at 21:53

No worries. If you were attending: cool! if you were working it: my condolances. Trade show duty is awful.

If you’re looking for a good meter, Extech makes good meters at some very reasonable prices. There’s little reason to spend more than $50-60 usd on a home use dmm. If you’re patient, some good deals can be had on some very nice Fluke, Agilent, and Rigol gear on ebay, but those are overkill unless you’re getting seriously into electronics as a hobby. If you want to do any reading in the meanwhile, I strongly recommend reading through the learning resources at sparkfun, adafruit, and the like. They do a great job of making the pixies accessable.

BLCKSTRM > The Lurktastic Opponaught
11/19/2016 at 21:49

Working it remotely - the only way to go! I learned my first year at CES where I only got 8 hours of sleep over the course of the whole week that I was far better off working from my own desk.

That definitely helps - I just need it to chase the odd short and for other home stuff like this go kart. My old M3 has had very few electrical gremlins (none, actually, that weren’t just an old component failing), but it’s an avenue for troubleshooting that I’ve too often wished was available to me.