Intermittant Charger

[JohnB13]

It appears that the charger circuit in my Velo 1 has an intermittant in it. The charge light on the front stays on for only a few seconds then it goes out. I imagine it should stay on until fully charged. If I am correct, can anyone tell me how to get into and fix the intermittant? If I am incorrect, please tell me also.

[pbruring]

I think it is more likely that your battery has reached it end of its life.

The Velo uses NiMH rechargeable batteries, these can be cycled (charged & discharged) about 1000 times. Since the first Velo came out in 1997, it's very probably that your battery has finaly given up.

I case you live in Europe I can send you (for a small fee) a self constructed, improved and new pack for your Velo. For outside Europe, the postage will be too expensive I'm afraid.

[lowtech]

If it does turn out to be your battery and you are looking for replacement options in the US, I had pretty good luck with my local Batteries Plus. They dissected my old fairly dead battery, took out the contact strip and wiring and built a new battery for me. It looks a little ugly but it fits into the Velo 1, recharges on both the travel and regular charger, was a reasonable price, and lasts longer than the old battery ever did when it was new.

[ktdan1]

Originally posted by lowtech
If it does turn out to be your battery and you are looking for replacement options in the US, I had pretty good luck with my local Batteries Plus. They dissected my old fairly dead battery, took out the contact strip and wiring and built a new battery for me. It looks a little ugly but it fits into the Velo 1, recharges on both the travel and regular charger, was a reasonable price, and lasts longer than the old battery ever did when it was new.


what type of batteries did the replace them with?

[lowtech]

Sorry for the delay in response, I was on the road and out of email range.

I'm not sure on the battery type, they shrinkwrapped the new battery and there is no brand visible.

Basically, I told them what I was looking for they said they didn't have anything like it, but might be able to put something together with the rechargeable batteries they had in stock (maybe blue and silver exterior on the batteries but I'm guessing).

It looks like they took two AA size rechargeables, ran a wire to the old contact strip, taped up the batteries, and refastened the strip in the same position as on the old battery.

Bottom line: Frankenstein is still alive and working fine.

[mike.oliver]

Check the voltage at which you are charging. If you have a variable setting switch, make sure it's on 9 volts. I inadvertently left my charger on 6 volts and got the same result you did.

Cheers,

Mike