Black and Decker Vector "smart" charger

too low voltage will throw a f2 error.

is it throwing a error code or is it analyzing the battery, sometimes it shuts down for up to 5 minutes to check the voltage before starting up again

pianotuna wrote:
ScottG,

Mex hates automatic chargers because they rarely if ever get a bank fully charged.

The battery I'm attempting to charge is a 7 amp-hour in my Yamaha Generator. I foolishly left the switch in the "on" position and the Pinella remote will have used quite a bit of power over the last two weeks. I'm just attempting to "top it up".

Sounds like that tiny battery is so low in voltage/SOC the charger will not run. So charge it from jumper cables at first until the Vector can run--of course at a low amps setting for such a small battery.

The "recondition" mode does not raise the voltage. It is one of those pulse desulfation things that are highly dubious whether they work. Mex says they don't.

The newer Vector models have an Equalize mode too, which does raise the voltage, which works very well. I really like that one, because you can leave it on overnight without having to be there and it will get the job done and shut itself off. (Even Mex might think that is quite clever of it :) )

3 tons wrote:
I have a BD vector and have found that it often will shutdown on even a moderately discharged battery...The solution was to charge the battery a bit with a dumb 40 yr old craftsman charger, then switch back to the finicky ‘smart’ (or is it really dumb?) vector charger for the finishing charge - works every time, but became too much bother to have to deal with...So now I use a TRULY Smart Optimate model 6, diagnostic charger which will do the job every time no matter what....IMO, a better way to go...

3 tons

You may have had the same caps blow that went in mine. They could trick it into thinking wrong.

I have a BD vector and have found that it often will shutdown on even a moderately discharged battery...The solution was to charge the battery a bit with a dumb 40 yr old craftsman charger, then switch back to the finicky ‘smart’ (or is it really dumb?) vector charger for the finishing charge - works every time, but became too much bother to have to deal with...So now I use a TRULY Smart Optimate model 6, diagnostic charger which will do the job every time no matter what....IMO, a better way to go...

3 tons

Was the Vector sitting outside? Or did Vector sense the cold before you got it connected and charging?

ScottG,

Mex hates automatic chargers because they rarely if ever get a bank fully charged.

The battery I'm attempting to charge is a 7 amp-hour in my Yamaha Generator. I foolishly left the switch in the "on" position and the Pinella remote will have used quite a bit of power over the last two weeks. I'm just attempting to "top it up".

Hi,

The battery is not frozen.

The Vector displays 1.8 amps and then shuts down.

Does anyone know if the recondition cycle does any charging?

Batteries could be frozen! Take them inside for a day or two, then put charger on.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi all,

Just a heads up. At -4 c (25 f) the Black and Decker Vector won't charge at all--even on the 2 amp setting.

It more or less instantly shuts down.

The recondition selection does apparently work.

Mine work ok at 32F/0C, but I have not tried below that. I see in the Owner's Manual that they think it should work below freezing. They just warn that the battery at below freezing cannot accept a full rate of charge. "The initial charge rate will be low. The charge rate will increase as the battery warms. Never attempt to charge a frozen battery"

So you may have another "issue". Are you getting any codes you can see before it shuts down? Is the fan blocked by icing? Is the ventilation grill blocked by icing? Is the battery voltage as seen by the charger above 4v or so, as needed for it to run? (Not the actual voltage but the "as seen" in case something is funny there)

Mex thinks smart chargers are silly, but he does not have a Vector 1093 :)

That's interesting Don! I never tried to use it that cold.
I did get a loud pop out of it a couple of years ago with a bit of smoke. Seemed to work fine after that but I'm sure the output wasn't as clean. I took it apart and found a couple of ugly filter caps (Radial lead 35V 4700Uf IIRC) - one was blown and the other was about to go (top bulging).
If I had not been right there I would never have known they blew. I wonder if there's any chance the same thing happened to yours and it's a bit temp sensitive now..?
OTOH, if the filter caps were shorting I would think it would throw a code for shorted battery.

I haven't the slightest idea what the meaning of Mex's post is.