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Author Topic: DC44 Battery/body issue  (Read 8211 times)

Offline matrixresonator

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DC44 Battery/body issue
« on: October 09, 2018, 10:50:23 am »
Got a DC44 in for repair which is dead (charger is good)

Fitted a new battery still dead.

Fitted the new battery to a new body I have on shelf, as well as others I have in for repair and still dead (wierd)

Tried a battery from another machine on the one im repairing and still nothing.
Now this battery won't work on any machine.

I'm presuming theres a fault with the machine thats killing batteries, anyone else had this??


Offline MVacs

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2018, 04:32:39 pm »
I'm presuming theres a fault with the machine thats killing batteries, anyone else had this??

Yes, it happens from time to time. Occasionally a faulty main unit kills a new battery the moment its connected.

Offline matrixresonator

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2018, 08:51:21 pm »
damn, guess I just fried 3 batteries lol

Was hoping there would be a way to some home ‘reset’ the battery

Offline ryevac

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2018, 11:10:19 pm »
sounds like there could be a dead short on the main hand unit.
The battery internal pcb must have a fuse by the sound of it, the other models batteries i have cracked open had a surface mount fuse on the pcb.

I heard of this issue, but a long time ago, this thread helped me recall it.

Would be interesting to break open a faulty hand unit in this condition and have a probe about, (and if it has the two long connectors in the handle when battery is removed) - does it read short or very low resistance on the ohm meter ?
The only way to fail is not to try.


Offline matrixresonator

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2018, 09:06:25 am »
Just tested all the good main united I have, the long probes give a reading for a split second then read open circuit after that.
The faulty main unit gives a permanent reading of closed circuit (about 1ohm)

As soon as the customer gives me the ok to scrap the units i've rip them apart and check the battery for a blown fuse.

Offline matrixresonator

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2018, 09:50:43 am »
Managed to open up a battery, will go back together but will look a bit messy.

Inside the battery is outputting the correct voltage, but along the black cable is a small fuse (says 15A I think) that has blown.

So before replacing a battery test the long prongs on the body to make sure it’s not OC!

Will try get hold of another fuse and test this battery when I get chance, prob won’t be till next week now.

Some photos I took here:

ila_rendered

ila_rendered

Offline ryevac

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2018, 11:48:31 am »
Good work.

Oh yes just spotted it, in green body.
the earlier model batteries had a fuse on the pcb i think.

Well that proves a point, that the main unit has failed, one to avoid in future !
Thanks for taking the time to reveal this, as it happens i have a dc34 with exactly same problem, i haven't got the right to crack it open yet but may do in the future. I purchased an aftermarket battery to try and still dead.

problem is with these units / batteries is any attempt to open up leaves them looking like they have been chewed by a wild dog. A lot of heat on the casings helps as well as plastic spudging tools.
I now refuse to take any dyson cordless on, unless it is reported working and just requires deep cleaning and filter.
The only way to fail is not to try.

Offline matrixresonator

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2018, 12:01:30 pm »
I’ve got a pile of 4 batteries that I tried on the faulty unit before we realised what was happening, I can experiment with ways to take them apart as I’ve nothing to lose with them!

Offline ryevac

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2018, 01:38:49 pm »
 :icon_nod:
The only way to fail is not to try.

Offline matrixresonator

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2018, 01:54:16 pm »
Nobody in the area has any inline fuses, so I used the only other thing I could get my hands on which was a car fuse.

Fitted it and reassembled and machine working just fine.

Doesn't look as bad as the pics show, and i'm sure being a bit more careful and with better technique it could look much better!

ila_rendered

ila_rendered

Offline ryevac

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2018, 02:30:24 pm »
Good stuff, get that old hand unit cracked open if possible in future once written off, and interesting to see where the s/c is.
I reckon a s/c power diode or fet, not a small component as that wouldn't take out a 15a fuse logically.
The only way to fail is not to try.

Offline matrixresonator

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2018, 09:14:43 am »
Found these online which look to be about the right thing if anyone else fancies repairing a dudd battery:

https://uk.farnell.com/littelfuse/0251015-mrt1l/fuse-quick-blow-15a/dp/9922059

Offline ryevac

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2018, 10:55:18 am »
 :thumbsup:
The only way to fail is not to try.

Offline IanT

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Re: DC44 Battery/body issue
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2021, 06:23:14 pm »
Sorry to revive such an old thread, but as it possibly fits so perfectly the issue I seem to have with my DC34 Animal, I thought I should post.

My machine was working fine on its original battery, but the life was very poor, I inherited it from my late parents and having never considered buying one, I tried it out and found it to be pretty useful.  So my next step was to buy an aftermarket battery, which worked fine and restored the run time.  Seeing that this was a good solution I bought a second battery and on fitting that, the whole machine was dead.  Original battery also doesn't run the machine.

Looking a little deeper, I checked the (Type A) batteries and they both have over 23V at the large terminals and the body evidently has large capacitors inside as the terminals in the handle stay at higher than 20V for a good long time after unplugging the batteries.

I had the motor/handle apart and stripped it down completely and can see no damaged parts, the electrolytic capacitors still have almost all their rated capacitance and I can see no signs of damaged components, though my attempts to go through and examine the components themselves are somewhat hampered by the lacquer coating the components on the board.

Back to the batteries - does anyone know the function of the three terminals?  I'm not seeing any Volts on them (indeed I wouldn't expect to given they are not physically protected).

Assuming the body must be faulty, I bought a replacement from eBay that was described as fully working.  Same deal, no function.

Thanks for any help.

Ian.

 

 

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