Battery issue

[rob2655]

Hi all, I'm a recent convert to the Reo family (and love them so much I've already converted 2 of my buddies ) and I could use a little help with an issue. I noticed poor performance on my TRA Grand + RM5 today, and knowing it had a fresh VTC5 in it, put it off to one of the posts coming a little loose. I got home and checked the posts, and all were tight. I slid the door off and looked at the top of the battery to see if I was making good connection when I fired, and it started sparking off the top of the battery when I pressed the button.

I've been running this setup lower than I normally do, at .25 as opposed to .6-.7 (yes, it has the SO kit installed). Tried another VTC5 and it's doing the same thing. I highly doubt both batteries would fail at exactly the same time, so I'm thinking it must be an issue with the build being too low or it's the mod. Any advice on what it might be? Thanks!

edit: I swapped out the RM5 for an LP RM with a 1.1 ohm single coil, and I'm still getting sparks off the top of the battery and low performance. Pretty sure it must be the mod at this point.

 

[Rickajho]

Yeah - that's pretty low. lol At that resistance you may need to try putting a dab of Noalox on the positive pin making contact with the battery to prevent sparking.

 

[tmel]

Sparking is OK and expected. Just put a dab of noalox on both the firing pin and spring to combat carbon build up from the sparking.

 

[granolaboy]

sparking? Wouldn't that imply the contact isn't connecting properly to the battery? No space = no arc = no spark...

I'd get it fixed, personally...

 

[rob2655]

Thanks Rickajho and tmel, I really appreciate the info!

 

[Rickajho]

sparking? Wouldn't that imply the contact isn't connecting properly to the battery? No space = no arc = no spark...

I'd get it fixed, personally...

Not the way a Reo and the switch in it works. The problem the OP is having is when the switch contact touches the battery positive - that's how a Reo completes the circuit. That can happen in any mechanical switch when you complete the circuit and pull a huge amp load.

 

[rob2655]

The Noalox has significantly reduced the sparking and brought the performance back to normal. Thanks again!

 

[muzichead]

It has been well documented the VTC5's arc at almost all resistances. It has something to do with the composition that they make the posts out of. There was a thread here in REOville a short while back I think Zmauls started. Most people using them don't even realize it unless in the right setting that they even arc at all in the higher resistances.

 

[Filthy-Beast]

Double check that the nipple is tight on the 510 center pin. This holds the firing pin in place and makes the electrical collection. So if it's loose it could cause sparking.