2004Batteries/Power forum
Anton Bauer Hytron 50 battery charging compatibility and software lock changes
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Anton Bauer implemented a software modification in newer Hytron 50 batteries that prevents charging on third-party chargers like PAG and Frezzi units that previously worked with earlier models.
- The software lock was added after Anton Bauer lost a patent lawsuit to a competitor, forcing users to purchase Anton Bauer chargers instead.
- Newer Hytron 50 batteries will not charge on non-Anton Bauer chargers even if those chargers have updated chemistry programs and successfully charge older Hytron 50 models.
- Anton Bauer acquired Aspen and discontinued Aspen products and their compatible chargers without notifying existing customers.
- The physical battery mount uses three golden studs for mechanical contact only, not electrical conductivity, while actual power transmission occurs through separate miniature connectors identical to competing systems.
Depends on
- The discussion involves disputed motivations and business ethics rather than technical specifications.
- The battery reset question at the beginning was not answered in the thread.
- Some claims about Anton Bauer's technical design and reasoning were disputed by participants.
- The extent and timeline of when the software lock was universally applied is unclear.