Anyone else having sparking with flat tops (VTC5) .

[ltrainer]

I am getting sparking with my 1 ohm coils with Sony vtc5s. I put Noalox on and that gets rid of it for about a week. Anything I should check or do? Not a big deal but it would be nice not to have to Noalox it. SO kit is installed.

 

[Quigsworth]

It's called arcing, It's not a big deal, in fact it should be expected...1 ohm coil, 4.2V fresh batt, when you press the button down and make contact with the battery, you've just made a connection where 4A+ (the initial surge notwithstanding) is instantly flowing through a coil. The button press arc is caused by any microscopic crud on the contact (left from he last time you pressed/released the button) and the arc when you let go of the button comes from the coil's (inductor) magnetic field collapsing, backfeeding and attempting to keep the current flowing. It's just the simple laws of physics at play here...blame Michael Faraday

Noalox isn't stopping the arcing, it's simply hiding it, it's still happening (at least the arc from letting go of the button)...the only way Rob could possibly minimize his mechs from arcing would be to somehow incorporate what's known as a fly-back-diode into the circuit (or somehow shroud the batt top/contact from view)...every tube mech does this as well, it's just never been an issue cause peeps can't see it

edit: I really shouldn't just say mechs...any enclosed switch on any mod also arcs which is why switches eventually wear out, the contacts pit from arcing...you'd be shocked to see what goes on inside the light switches of your home...especially if that switch turns a motor on/off...

now that I've freaked everybody out...

 

[ltrainer]

So is there anything detrimental going on such as pitting of the battery surface? Will it get worse over time? Just ignore it and don't bother with the Noalox?

 

[Quigsworth]

Just ignore it, it's a fact of life...your batts will be waaay past their prime and ready to be replaced long before you burn through their top caps...as for the Grands contact strip, meh, in a couple years there'll be the new Grand SL/SO/LP/RS/TR/JC/WD/YX (with the nano carbon door)...and will be time to move on anyway

 

[pwheeler]

I just checked mine. I am running .8 ohms on my rm2 with a vtc5 and can't see any arcing at all. I even took it into a closet with the cover off and I don't see any. I know exactly what Quigsworth is saying and as an electrician by trade, I've seen my fair share of it, even with ordinary switches. I know mine has to be arcing somewhat, it's just not visible to me. It's nothing to be concerned about. It's normal, unless the arcing gets bad, then the battery is experiencing a large load, such as too low an ohm reading or a short.

 

[ltrainer]

ONe more question Mr Faraday. Why does mine arc and other Reonauts say theirs do not if its such a law of electron flow?

 

[Quigsworth]

arcing is basically a combination of a difference in potential (voltage between to points), current flow, reverse EMF, contact surface conditions, humidity...the list goes on and on. Duplicating an arcing condition is like trying to duplicate lightning

 

[BlueSnake]

The one thing you can try is making sure the nipple is tightened securely on the post.

 

[Filthy-Beast]

The one thing you can try is making sure the nipple is tightened securely on the post.

^^ this. I run .7 to 1.3 with no arcing

 

[Quigsworth]

^^ this. I run .7 to 1.3 with no arcing

They all arc, it's just a matter of conditions and how visible it is...

...if your Reo Grand can "break" a circuit with a 3 to 4.5A DC flowing through a coil, mechanically, without producing an arc...you either live in an alternate universe or submit it on Rob's behalf so that he could be up for a Nobel prize in physics for his invention.

 

[ltrainer]

I have checked that and it seems tight to me. Thanks

 

[Filthy-Beast]

They all arc, it's just a matter of conditions and how visible it is...

...if your Reo Grand can "break" a circuit with a 3 to 4.5A DC flowing through a coil, mechanically, without producing an arc...you either live in an alternate universe or submit it on Rob's behalf so that he could be up for a Nobel prize in physics for his invention.

Ok let me rephrase it. Mine produces no visually verifiable arcing even when cheched in the dark with Sony VTC5

 

[BlueSnake]

Ok let me rephrase it. Mine produces no visually verifiable arcing even when cheched in the dark with Sony VTC5

Same here.

 

[Rmcgloth]

Mine only arcs with vtc5. The aw has no visible arcing. Does the internal resistance of the battery factor into this at all?

 

[FACE MEAT]

I run AWs exclusively in mine. The first button press with the SO kit produced an arc. (I got arcing with the old contacts as well)

A dab of Noalox on the battery nipple eliminates any visible arcs. One dab lasts a week with 2-3 battery changes per day. I wipe the Noalox off the drained battery with my finger and apply it to the charged battery. Whether or not the Noalox extends the lives of my batteries or firing pin, I have no idea.

 

[Ian444]

I had some arcing on my Grand with a button top battery and a 1.7 ohm coil when I first installed the kit. Now a week or so later it doesn't arc, even with a fresh battery. Maybe there is some bedding-in going on, I don't know.

 

[Justice]

you could run a 5 ohm coil and it would still arc it wouldn't be as drastic of course but its what switches do it is why with high voltage circuit interrupters you never stand directly in front of them when opening or closing the circuit you stand to the side in case the arc decides to jump out and get you Not really so funny when ya think about it

 

[SLIPPY_EEL]

after you've finished buffing your nails you could use the nail buffer on the battery terminal's and all the other contacts on your reo, give it a good scrub lol

I don't ever see any sparking! maybe the spark is faster then the eye

 

[yaypudding]

I get intermittent sparking from any battery but I'm running sub .5ohms so it's to be expected. i keep checking the firing pin for oxidation, but haven't found anything visible. I will get some slight blackening of the battery's contact, but it wipes away.

 

[Filthy-Beast]

Do not file the new contacts, you'll remove the gold plating.