V6 discharging batteries too far?

mbanas

I use a "smart charger" (Accupower IQ-328) for my (3rd gen) Eneloop rechargeables. Recently, the charger has registered "null/ unchargeable" for two batteries pulled from two different V6 units. Both were 3 month old batteries with less than 4 recharges on them, and they had been sitting in the V6 units for a month of occasional use. Curiously, both were in the "+ up" slot of each V6.

According to Accupower support, the batteries had been drained beyond their minimum voltage. Putting them in a "dumb" charger for a while revived them. However, I've never had this happen with any other AA-powered device in many years of using Eneloops.

Do the V6 units have any lower limit for how much voltage is required to be powered up?

Admin

Thank you for your feedback.

You said, " both were in the "+ up" slot of each V6.".

When you put the batteries in both + position, the electrical circuit doesn't flow in one direction. That would cause resistance and drained the battery.  I doubt that is the reason why it dropped to unchangeable level.

We also use eveloop for test of V6 and we didn't find such problem. All batteries are able to charge again. Just for your information. Putting the battery in wrong direction may damage the V6. It is abnormal and against our product warranty due to improper use.

You said, "Do the V6 units have any lower limit for how much voltage is required to be powered up? "

The V6 requires two AA batteries to power up , which is 3V. The voltage will drop a little during operation, but it is absolutely normal.

I hope that is helpful. Cheers!

mbanas

Just to be clear, the batteries were always installed in the correct direction (polarity) for each slot. One "+ up" and another "- up" following the (almost impossible to read) labels, in order for the V6 to operate.

What I mean is that the two batteries of mine that were discharged too much were in the same position (the slot nearest the door hinge, or the "+ up") in two separate V6 units. One AA Eneloop from each V6 was drained too far, while the other ("- up") remained fine. This points to a fault, not a coincidence.

Class A

Since the batteries are in series (in electrical terms) their ordering cannot matter. In other words, I'm sure your observation is due to coincidence.

I've been using Eneloops for my V6 all along and never had an issue. I doubt that the V6 is capable of draining batteries beyond their capacity to recover. I would pair the two weak ones you identified (if they have reduced capacity, they will prevent other good cells from delivering their full potential) and keep an eye on them.