2006Batteries/Power forum
Hytron batteries displaying single flashing bar on fuel gauge when mounted
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A single flashing horizontal bar on the battery display can indicate an over-current draw condition causing the battery to shut down for protection.
- Resetting the LCD display using a paperclip-sized reset button can restore normal display function, though the reset button location varies by battery model.
- An over-current shutdown can occur even when no devices are connected, suggesting a potential short circuit in the mounting equipment or sled wiring.
- Loose connector contacts that create electrical shorts when lemo connectors are inserted can trigger the over-current protection and cause the single bar display.
- Placing a battery under load on the sled can help stabilize the display after the over-current condition has been addressed.
- The condition often appears after fresh charging when the battery has been sitting through the cell balancing phase.
Depends on
- The reset button location differs between battery models; it was found on Dionic 90 batteries but not on Hytron 120 or Hytron 50 models.
- The symptom and its cause were not documented in the Hytron manual at the time of this discussion.
- The condition was ultimately resolved in one case by identifying and replacing damaged connectors, not by a software fix.
- Different users experienced the issue under different circumstances, suggesting multiple potential causes.