SkyRC D100neo Charger Set-up

[David Haywqard]

I recently bought a SkyRC D100neo dual-battery charger from UnmannedTech, which is an update of the previous D100 version. It duly arrived and, as far as I can tell at present, it seems to be working well, at least for charging NiMH batteries which is all that I have tested so far (I only fly ic engine models at present).

 

However, can anyone advise me about a technical query I have with setting up the programming for cycling NiMH batteries, namely Tx 6 cell 7.2V and Rx 5 cell 6.0V batteries?  I cannot see anything within the on-line downloadable instruction manual that allows me to set the minimum cell voltage when cycling the batteries, e.g. 1.0V (the manual actually states a minimum voltage range of 0.6-1.0V for NiMH batteries, relative to the ‘nominal’ cell voltage of 1.2V).

 

With the SkyRc imax B6 charger (Version 1) which I have previously used, the menus allowed for a minimum voltage to be selected by the operator before starting one or more discharge and then charge cycles but this does not seem possible with the SkyRC D100neo model - unless a minimum cell voltage is automatically set when selecting the number of cells?

 

I am reluctant to start a cycling operation until I have a satisfactory answer to my query as I don’t wish to risk damaging my batteries.  UnmannedTech has advised me to contact SkyRc but their on-line Chat service seems to be out of action at present.

 

I shall be grateful for any advice anyone can offer.

[RottenRow]

If you select NiMH as the battery type, then one of the CYCLE choices as the task, does the menu not then change to give you the discharge voltage, either per cell or total?

 

The manual isn’t very clear is it? It mentions little about discharging or cycling. The diagrams on page 14 don’t even include DISCHARGE as one of the options under TASK. Perhaps you have to scroll the cursor down below CYCLE.

 

Brian.

[RottenRow]

Further to the above post, I was correct in my assumption.

 

Select battery type NiMH.

Select number of cells.

Select task Discharge (scroll down to find it after clicking on ‘task’).

Select condition… default is 0.90V (per cell) but is selectable between 0.60V and 1.00V.

 

Then select start (after connecting your battery).

 

Brian.

[Frank Skilbeck]

0n my older D100, the cycle program uses the values from the charge and discharge settings, so in the charge screen set the charge rate, move to the discharge screen, set the rate and cutoff value, then in the cycle screen set how many cycles you'd like.

[RottenRow]

The neo does the same, and you can also change the charge / discharge current settings in both of the cycle screens, but they are the same settings as for normal charge and discharge, as if you then go back to those screens the settings will have changed too.

 

They are just different routes to the same settings.

 

Brian.

[David Haywqard]

Thank you for all your comments. I have now got through to SkyRC and they have replied. Having first selected NiMH as the battery type, it turns out that the ability to select a minimum discharge voltage in the range 0.6 to 1.0V per cell, whether just discharging only or undertaking a continuous discharge + charge cycle (or the reverse) is indeed buried within the Condition part of the menu.

 

The menu options using the scroll button from top to bottom are 1) Battery Type, 2) Battery Cell (i.e. no. of cells), 3) Task (which expands to Charge, Re-Peak (the same as Charge except that the battery is re-peaked twice in a row automatically confirming the battery is fully charged; there is no Re-Peak sub-menu), Cycle_C_D, Cycle _D_C and Discharge), 4) Condition (see below), 5) Charge Current (or Discharge Current or both, depending on what sub-menu item is selected under Task), 6) Cycle (i.e. no. of cycles for 1 to 3), 7) Rest Time (i.e. between discharge & charge cycles), Start and finally 9) Back (to the Home display).   

 

The Condition item is the one that foxed me at first.  When Task is set to Charge, Cycle_C_D or Cycle _D_C, the subsequent Condition setting displays the selected delta mV setting in its sub-menu within the range -3mV to -12 mV (with -6mV being the default setting). However, when just Discharge is selected in the Task sub-menu, Condition automatically changes to minimum discharge cell voltage, Condition’s sub-menu then offering a choice in the range 0.6 to 1.0V (with 0.9V being the default setting). The selected minimum discharge voltage is retained in the memory but not retained on the display if the Task item is then changed to Charge, Cycle_C_D or Cycle _D_C as the Condition display shown reverts to the selected delta mV.

 

The downloadable instruction manual is certainly limited being dominated by reference to LiPos and not much else. Also, the image of the charger showing minus and plus buttons is not up-to-date. The current D100neo dual-battery charger combines these three features into a single button which can be scrolled to left or right (equivalent to minus and plus) or pressed to enter a sub-menu, confirm a choice or stop the charger when its running. A second button (Port) above the scroll button simply allows switching between the two battery ports (A & B) or showing both displays side by side together.

 

All in all, I am so far very pleased with this charger, especially being able to charge two batteries at the same time as well as having both AC and DC power sockets available to enable me to recharge at my club flying field if required, using a 12V lead acid battery. I had to purchase a suitable charge lead for this (4mm  (male) with crocodile clips to XT60 (female) as well as charge leads to connect up two batteries (XT60 (male) to, in my case, a Futaba connector (female)). 

[RottenRow]

I’m not sure which download of the manual you have, but the one I downloaded the other day definitely has the scroll wheel shown.

 

It is this one:

 

D100neo Instruction Manual_V1.3.pdf
 

Brian.

[David Haywqard]

Thanks Brian for your comments. I downloaded my manual from the SkyRc website but it seems I somehow got into the S100neo section inadvertently and so downloaded the wrong manual by mistake. The S100neo manual is Version 1.21. Thanks for putting me straight and supplying the correct manual for the D100neo charger....!!