TK22 & lipo

[Davarama]

Hello all, struggling to get my new TK22 up and running in my HL IR Stug (more on that later if I can't figure it out!) and noticed an old thread warning of possible damage to the board from a fully charged lipo but that thread just sort of fizzled out.

Just wondering what the current (!) advice is? I'm testing on nimh but space issues dictate I need a smaller battery. I'm looking to try servo recoil and elevation as well as cramming a new speaker box and Tarr using the Clarke, and save my new ubu2u for either my Mato JT or my new Taigen Panther G.

Thanks, Dava.

[MichaelC]

Dava,

I had a long running discussion with Clark on this, and basically the main things that came out of it:

- Tk-22/24 series has no lipo detection so in theory you really shouldn't use them with lipo, at a minimum with a lipo warning device attached.
- Freshly charged lipo should be avoided as you can get as high as 8.2v which is significantly higher than the designed voltage for Clark
- Older Clark boards will be more susceptible to burnt out with lipo because of older electronics.

The whole conversation started when I was burning Clark board left right and center with lipo. It turns out it was a combination of older boards and freshly charged lipos. I have not really have much of an issue since then and I am exclusively on lipo.

MichaelC.

[c.rainford73]

Hello all, struggling to get my new TK22 up and running in my HL IR Stug (more on that later if I can't figure it out!) and noticed an old thread warning of possible damage to the board from a fully charged lipo but that thread just sort of fizzled out.

Just wondering what the current (!) advice is? I'm testing on nimh but space issues dictate I need a smaller battery. I'm looking to try servo recoil and elevation as well as cramming a new speaker box and Tarr using the Clarke, and save my new ubu2u for either my Mato JT or my new Taigen Panther G.

Thanks, Dava.

Dava I have several Clark boards all running on 7.4v LiPo's and they are all very reliable. What are you struggling with as far as the setup or programming or is it as simple as not starting properly?

Cheers

Carl

[jarndice]

Dava Hi,
The usual practice when using a new CLARK TK22 Board is to hook up a NI-MH Battery and run the TK22 on that until the NI-MH is discharged and then use a LI-PO,
It appears to harden the board and makes the LI-PO acceptable.
Its a bit like learning to ride on a 125 and then riding a 1200 if you get my meaning.
Shaun.

[Davarama]

Thanks Michael, answered perfectly. As I seldom run a tanks for very long I will use a partially charged lipo and alarm.

Clark issues are that I did not know I needed to do some rewiring and programming to get the functions for a non-airsoft tank. I have rewired the 2 pin on the smaller of the multi-plugs with a micro plug and I believe I need to plug these into J3 and CN3 for recoil and flash? Larger multi and other wires are in the right places and when testing it drove well and smoked like I have programmed board with my preferences.

It was due to these issues I came across the Lipo thread so that confused me more! I suspect my elevation unit is dead as it was patchy on the RX18 so when I can only hear the sounds for elevation/traverse the lack of a turret doesn't help me work out what channel is doing what! It drove and smoked well but gun functions are needed before I can call the project done.

Any/all help appreciated, even if its to get another hobby!

Dava.

[MichaelC]

Thanks Michael, answered perfectly. As I seldom run a tanks for very long I will use a partially charged lipo and alarm.

That was exactly my scenario. I never run tanks for long either, but being type A and used to NiMH I used to charge up the lipo all the time. Now I just let it run down and only charge it when I can see that it is slowing down but not below safety level.

[Davarama]

Hello all, quick update. Did NiMH thing then charged lipo to just under 8v then ran Stug with lipo alarm and it works great.

Will either continue with this or go to full charge now board has bedded in, thanks for advice. Still issues with functions on Stug/Clark Tk22 but will start new topic detailing my woes.

Cheers, Dava.