Difference between Opus BT-C3400 & BT-C3100 v2.1?

I noticed plug came with my charger is only rated 3A. So, if I charge 4 batteries at 1A each. Wouldn’t this be bad?

I like this charger however the one I have the fan is on all the time while powered on.

Occurred after I inserted the dc plug several times directly into the charger when the adapter was plugged into AC.

The ac/dc adapter having power apparently caused an electrical spark to occur between plug and charger, (while inserting the dc plug) causing damage to some of the fan control electronics of the charger’s PCB.

You shouldn’t ever plug in this type of charger when the AC/DC adapter has power as doing so may cause sparking between the DC plug and charger.

Charger seems to charge batteries ok, only the fans run all time never stopping or starting.

How do I get the fan to turn on and off via it’s thermistor or temperature sensor? Currently the fan hasn’t ever stopped running while the charger is turned on (plugged in) and charging batteries.

The fan began running all the time just after I plugged in the AC/DC adapter DC plug several times, afterwhich I noticed the sparking between the dc plug and charger.

IIRC, the Opus instructions state to first plug the dc plug into the charger before plugging the power adapter into AC.

Interesting to say the least about the fan running non stop. I’ve only plugged my opus in one time and its never been unplugged since. Same with my opus nihm charger. One in the bathroom other on the kitchen counter.
The one in the kitchen I strategicly placed right next to a window unit air condition. So there’s especially for the next 7 months of southern heat wkll be cold air blowing right on the charger and batteries. Even if my fan does break I believe it wouldn’t come close to overheating or thermal shutdown inside not being three feet from the cold air source. The 2.2 version seems to have most of the bugs worked out.
Guess I’m not big on plugging and unplugging chargers. Unneeded wear and tear. Hell even my vc2 stayed plugged in for about 4 months straight before I moved it. In the past I’ve had issues with USB cords wearing out in the cord and the device so now I limit it.

I did purchase a replacement fan in case mine ever hits the crapper. For $1.50 I need another actually. Opus is my go to charger. I just ran 70 cells through it the past 4 days. From pack pulls to test out. Runs like a champ. I gets used daily to charge 4-8 cells usually. If under 4 cells I’ll just uses a lii202 or bc2

Back to bugs, I have the 2.2 version I’ve noticed mine foes this at times. Say I have 4 cells at 3.20 and I put them all in and press 1amp across all 4 sometimes a few minutes in the unit will reset itself. Like a reboot and all 4 will start at 500mah. I’ve witnessed it a couple times. The whole screen lights up like you just plugged it in then goes to default charge. It only does this occasionally not very often. And only at 4x 1amp. Never seen it at 4x700mah or even 2x2amp. I don’t know if the low voltage of 4 cells is drawing to much for the power supply so it resets like a internal fuse going off. And seems only st low cell voltages when the current draw is the highest. The 2.2 version is set at 4.7 not 5volts like the other to limit the pulse spikes under load

I must have gotten the instructions mixed up with the SkyRC MC3000.

From MC3000 manual:

“First connect the 11~18V(60W or more) DC power adapter plug to the device, then plug the 110/220V AC power cable plug into the mains wall socket. In this order.”

I seem to remember a couple other chargers that used power adapters having the same sort of instructions.

Perhaps I’m wrong, but I’ll have to disagree with you and say it’s more likely the sparking did cause a problem with the PCB’s fan thermostat circuit. However I’m not going to rule out a flaw, bad circut or defect was either the main cause or contributed to the failing thermostat. I think minmally the sparking may have initiated the problem because of an existing defect or flaw of the PCB.

I had an option to return the unit to the seller, however since the shipping was too expensive I just kept it and bring it along with me when I travel. At home I mainly use the MC3000, but in some ways I prefer the simplicity of the Opus which is lighter and not cumbersome as the MC3000.

The chargers I’ve looked at inside at their PCB the power inputs in relation to the PCB don’t appear to be very well protected. Not much expense if any was put into protecting and/or isolating power input of the PCBs.

There was some discussion about it a while back on one of the forums. Not really a wild guess. I’ve owned and been using PCs and various types of smaller electronic equipment for more than 35 years. I sometimes get intrinsic thoughts and feelings for electronic equipment it’s behavior. Many times while troubleshooting and repairing electronics these intrinsic thoughts and feeling have proved to be correct.

However I’m not saying my intrinsic thoughts and feelings can’t be wrong. I’m open to ideas, possibly procedural testing methods that can be performed to eliminate and prove possibilities that are wrong.

I no longer have my electronics lab setup with various types of electronic testing equipment and only perform modest electronic repairs using a DMM when able.

I currently have problems with heart disease and breathing, along with past heart surgery that prevents me from doing things I use to be able to do without any problems.

You know, my v 2.2 has done what sound like the same thing on occasion when doing 4 cells (18650’s) at 1A each. I just figured it had something to do with heat or the load being to much for it…… That would be a “wild guess” too, no hard data or scientific theory to back it up………. :slight_smile:

So, I just started using the Lii 500 in those situations.

Simple solution for me, but I would like to find out for sure sometime what causes that.

:slight_smile:

So far mine has NOT done that.Neither the returned or New Opus.

I spoke too soon. That was yesterday! Did a Discharge/Test @ 1amp. I came in the room right after the 4 X 18650 Orbtronic were discharged and just went into CHARGE cycle. I noticed it was charging @500mAh and the Capacity data was NOT there. I set it back to 1000mAh. Came back in room 5 minutes later and it was @ 500mAh again! Set it back to 1000mah and this time I watched it. Three[3] times in a row the unit reset[shut off] and defaulted to 500mah again!

I am not sure whether it is the power supply , failing thermal sensor[?] or just over heating inside.The charger NEVER feels hot.

I think it is overheating because the power supply should be plenty according to HKJ. I asked HKJ earlier today if 12v/3a is enough for 4 batteries @ 1amp?:

"Easily, 12V 3A is 36 watt, 4 batteries with each 4.2V charged at 1A is 16.8 watt, there is a lot of spare power for display and heat".

I am disappointed because this one had more accurate results w/ capacity tests and gave me a slightly higher charges. I called Jon from LIIONWHOLESALE and am getting another one on Monday! He is a very nice guy. So this will be my third one since March 2,2017!

If the Third one fails I am done with these chargers! He told me he does not get reimbursed for these. I feel bad for him.

People can say what they want about the less technologically advanced FENIX ARE-C2. They have longevity[3 years plus] and are consistent w/ no issues!.Must be the simpler technology!

[quote=wolfdog1226]

[quote=wolfdog1226I asked HKJ earlier today if 12v/3a is enough for 4 batteries @ 1amp?: Easily, 12V 3A is 36 watt, 4 batteries with each 4.2V charged at 1A is 16.8 watt, there is a lot of spare power for display and heat.[/quote]

What I did not say was that it requires that the charger know how to handle the power. The first versions of the C3100 charger was very bad on that, in later versions it was improved, but not perfect. This means that a sensitive power supply may give the charger problems.

But you have the problem during discharge and that do not make any sense, the charger is not supposed to be loading the power supply when doing discharges.

[quote=HKJ]

[quote=wolfdog1226]

The discharge process was over and it was transitioning to charge. that is when it kept turning off and defaulting to 500mAh.

That means you power supply is rather sensitive, try a more powerful one. The opus charger do have some nasty spikes in its power draw, a large capacitor in the power supply will handle it (or a slow over current limiter). The problem is not the average current draw, but the peak current draw, the power supply supplied for my test had no problems with the “fixed” version of the Opus, but a power supply with very fast over current protection will have a problem.

A guess would be that Opus has change supplier of power supply, without checking if it can handle the requirements of the charger.

YEP)!!! That is exactly what mine does. :+1:
Which I really would not mind so much….
…BUT for the fact that ALL the Capacity data is lost and resets each time it does it. :person_facepalming:
.
:slight_smile:

EDIT……….

+1 on this too.

I do not have a more powerful power supply.

The picture will have to wait until tomorrow as I am testing again to see if it gives the same results!

I am getting another Opus on Monday! If that one fails I give up on Opus all together or buy another power supply which I do not want to do.

I love the longevity, simplicity and reliability of my FENIX ARE-C2! :+1:

Jon from Liionwholesale’s guess is that it is overheating and/or may have a failing/bad thermal sensor?

EDIT: The theory about over heating makes no sense to me because the charger NEVER feels hot. The power supply gets warm but not hot like Opus number 1!

I doubt it, in my opinion the most likely cause is the power supply. The Opus will draw more than 3A in peak current, in my test I measured 6A for nearly 0.02 second. Then 0A for 0.03 seconds, bringing the average below 3A

ok,If I go that route I do not want to order online. I have to find a place that sells them where I can bring my charger to make sure it works.

If it is indeed the power supply the new one I get Monday will probably have the same issue!

Hey wolfdog…… what size is the plug that goes into the charger?
I am not home right now to look.
But I am gonna try to pick up a used power supply at the electronics shop in town before I go back to the compound. :wink:
But I need to know the “plug to charger” size………

Thanks in advance for any help given here………… :+1: … :wink:

Let me look,not sure if I can decipher while it is charging!

I looked on line for these and they were $15 and up,I do not want to pay half the cost of my charger for a power supply! I am not confident If I ordered one online that it would be the right one,when I can just get another opus,probably w./ the same issue!!

My bad, don’t worry about it if you can’t. I’ll just try tomorrow when I find out the plug size. :wink: