Battery Length - 3 Minutes Max

Jet Black · #1 01-18-2003, 05:00 PM

Just got my first Microsizer yesterday - no add on kits, just a stock Celica 27Mhz.

I've run it a few times already, and I've noticed that the charge isn't lasting nearly the 5 minutes the manufacturer states. I timed it a couple times, and it seems to be a consistant 3 - 3 1/2 minutes.

I read in the FAQ that that is normal, but I tried a double charge of the battery and still got 3 minutes out of it. I thought that a double charge would have significantly increased the length?

I'll probably switch to NiMH eventually, but I'm going to try to get a full life out of this one first. Just wondering if I can expect any more than 3 minutes out of this.

Thanks!

P.S. My motor seems to not like reverse as much, if I run it upside down in reverse for a while will that fix it?

Thanks!

BabyKiller · #2 01-18-2003, 05:02 PM

do u have crapy batteries in ur controller?

Jet Black · #3 01-19-2003, 02:14 PM

I wouldn't say they're crappy, but they're not the best duracell/energizers around.

Does that make a big difference?

Jet Black · #4 01-19-2003, 02:47 PM

I took the advice and put brand new Energizers inside, and it seemed to last longer (though it still could have been 3 minutes, I didn't time it - but it did seem longer).

I also found that hairs and such get caught up in the gears and can cause it to stop ... it is like it's out of charge, but it's not. Cleaning up the gears seemed to improve things.

Too bad the gears are so exposed, but I guess for easy assembly it needs to be that way.

**PS How do people remove the back axle from their Bits? I have been pulling it off by grasping both wheels simultaneously, but I'm worried this will cause the axle to warp and give my car wobble when it drives (it already wobbles some).

nrmcj · #5 01-19-2003, 02:56 PM

i just pull one wheel, then the other... try not to put too much pressure too fast.. just increase slowly til it pops off.... you may find that in time, the wheels will come loose... time for crazy glue! ^_^

welcome to the micro RC world...

funkymonkey · #6 01-20-2003, 06:44 AM

You're not running on carpet are you? Cos that will drain the hell out the batteries. Its like driving through a long grass for a bit

NoPropMan · #7 01-20-2003, 10:21 AM

A couple points.

First, double charging the battery will do nothing except wear out the battery quicker. NiCads don't like being overcharged.

Second, it's virtually impossible to keep the gears in a Bit/MS clean during running. It's just the nature of the beast. The best you can do is try to run it on a very clean surface, and dust it off often.

The time you're getting per charge is about normal. I run my MicroSizers (unmodified) on hardwood floors, and they last anywhere from 3-4 minutes typically.

PWalk · #8 01-20-2003, 10:45 AM

As far as your battery question, I have the stock battery in my car still and it runs well over 10 minutes on a double charge.

As for the batteries wearing out? These things are made to take over a thousand charges and up, so don't worry about it dying on ya as their cheap and easy to replace.

AzNRocket · #9 01-20-2003, 12:06 PM

My 2 speed car boosted seems to run out of juice faster than my 1 speed car.

Jet Black · #10 01-20-2003, 01:11 PM

Thanks for the welcome and the posts!

It seems that I get my best run if I rip the car apart and take out all the dog hair and dirt, then run on my hardwood floors.

Had a strange steering problem today, but it corrected itself eventually (car would only turn right for some reason).

Also tried covering the rear axle with tape so hair couldn't get in, but it seems to crawl up the big orange gear on the rear wheel, so like you said - it's inevitable... I'll just make sure to swiffer my floor just before driving.

MiZer · #11 01-20-2003, 02:16 PM

i have odd steering issues as well somtimes, usually its a little sliver of metal thats stuck to the bottom of the car under the steering magnet.. pain in the but to remove. bit of tape pulls the shards out well.