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HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 4:36 pm
by marbaja252
I am new to this and am helping my 2 older boys. They got 2 HL basic tanks 1/16 for Christmas 1 tiger and 1 T34 both were around $100-$125 each. Both worked fine several times, but now tried to use the other day and neither will start up. I have replaced batteries in transmitter and the tanks batteries show charged, but no lights on the tanks when powered up. I have a bad feeling the boys charged the batteries too long or got plugs reversed and the batterys are shot. Any help or input would be great. Their is no help from HL that I can find. I am trying the forum route for help. Thanks.

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 5:45 pm
by 43rdRecceReg
Were these brand new 2.4G versions? Set that aside one moment, it's actually quite difficult to get the battery connections crossed. Tamiya connectors are designed to make that practically impossible. The positive side has a square profile, and the negative has one side curved.
I guess, the typical charger supplied with the tanks won't have a warning light to indicate a full charge. At least that's how they used to be. That said, I'd hope that even budget chargers out to have some sort of overload feature...
to prevent overheating, and a possible meltdown.
If you have a multimeter, you can check for dcVolts. I just checked the 2000mAH battery that came with my Sherman, and I'm getting 7.6dcV. That's more enough on a 7.2v tank to get signs of life out of it. At the very least, the headlights should flash. A typical 2000mAh battery takes around 4-5 hours to charge with the unit supplied by HL. But what do you mean by 'Tanks batteries show charged'? Have you used a meter? If the batteries in the Transmitter were installed incorrectly, the lights would flash on the Tank when it is switched on, but the start button on the TX would have no effect on the tank. Nor, I imagine would you get a 'red light' when you switch it on.
More info needed..
~At least I don't think they can have done any real damage to the tanks... :) Should be a simple solution, if the boys can tell you what they actually did :shifty:. :D
Have the tanks been out in snow or rain? Just a thought...

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 5:54 pm
by marbaja252
The transmitter shows the red light when switched on. The charger supplied from HL will go from green light to a red until charge is full then back to green. Both batteries show green and I assume they are fully charged. I would have to check out put with volt meter tonight.

The crazy thing is both tanks are doing the same thing nothing, no lights when switched on, no starting up.

The info supplied with these tanks is so basic and no trouble shooting info if you run into problems.

Thanks for the input.

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:01 pm
by rochesb
Maybe a dumb question, but have they swapped transmitters?

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:06 pm
by marbaja252
Good point, the tiger has a light on the front & it does not even light up with switched on no matter what battery I install in it. With out checking with volt meter the batteries act like their dead.

The transmitters are different between them due to the cannon firing systems.

Thank you

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:06 pm
by silversurfer1947
rochesb wrote:Maybe a dumb question, but have they swapped transmitters?
My thoughts as well.

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:26 pm
by marbaja252
May have to step back and start all over from the beginning. Thanks

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:33 pm
by marbaja252
Good point, the batteries that came with these are very cheaply made and connections could be an issue. I have ordered 2 more batteries anyway. Will try more tonight when home. Thank you

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:36 pm
by jarndice
Hi, It has been years since I used a Heng Long Control board and Transmitter But there was a right way and a wrong way to start them,
If I remember correctly you switch on the Tank First and then you switch on the transmitter, If not then it is Transmitter first and then the Tank.
You wont damage anything if you do it the wrong way round but it just wont work.
Shaun.

Re: HELP FOR NEW GUY

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:51 pm
by marbaja252
Thanks guys, these have only been run inside not outside since it has been a snowy winter in Iowa. I will check the connections very closely tonight and see if that improves anything. It really should not be this hard you would think.