Topcon Robot Batts

does the charger have a 'deep charge' option? I have to do that for my geodimeter batts once in a while to slap em around a bit. I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless it keeps happening. mark that batt somehow so you can monitor the situation.

> does the charger have a 'deep charge' option? I have to do that for my geodimeter batts once in a while to slap em around a bit. I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless it keeps happening. mark that batt somehow so you can monitor the situation.

I try to deep charge about every time (hit the refresh button). It is battery B-2. I have them marked so I can switch them every time.

Hey Carl,
Running the Refresh cycle on the battery every time is probably not accomplishing what you are trying to achieve. We normally recommend that you only run that cycle about once a month.

So I should just plug up and charge?

Sorry... I never got any instruction and I'm from the "Old school" NiCad days... That's good info to have. :-O

Thanks Jerry!

Carl,

I have a very similiar setup robot wise.

I number my batteries on the inside (where you cannot see it on the outside of the instrument with a fine permanent marker, numbering 1, 2, 3, etc. I also have a lable machine that I put the same numbers on the outside.

I rotate the batteries in numerical order, and have a special way to put them back in the inst. case so I know which ones need charging at the end of the day.

Now having said all that, I have 5 internal (onboard batteries), and they all are ready for a re-cell. I did not have the cash at the time, so I purchased an adapter/converter from Hayes (about $175 or so), and I can hook up to an external 12V battery. I purchased a sealed battery, similiar to one in the battery powered jeeps that you see toddlers riding around the yard in. It was around $36, and the special charger was $20 or so. I purchased a camera bag to keep the battery and converter in, and I can run the robot for about two days. The special charger won't overcharge the battery, according to the tech at Batteries Plus. I have been impressed.

You will be surprised at how much better the robot will operate with the external battery on a full charge.

I agree with Jerry 100% on the cycling of the batteries. Once a month or so. Drop me an email or give me a call if you have any questions.

Hope this helps,
Jimmy

Jimmy,

I remember you had told me about this before, and I admit, I forgot who had given me the advice. I'm about the same money wise right now, but I will look into it in the near future. I will admit that I got the newest version of SurvCE and THAT has been the best thing going... It finds me in a flash (no RCII for me) and it just flies. I think my battery just didn't get a charge the other day for some reason.

Thanks for the info, I may email you soon!!

Carl

Carl,
I have a rig that is very similar to yours. I have a Topcon 8005A, Surveyor+ with SurvCE 2.09, and I was wondering about upgrading to SurvCE 2.5. I saw your post from a while back about moving from 2.09 to 2.50, and wanted to know if it worked out OK. Do you have the very latest, or did you have to drop back a number? I also have a problem with my GPS reciever taking a long time to get fixed on the network RTK system I subscribe to, but that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Thanks for any insight you can share.

Dale Yawn
Savannah, Ga.

we have a couple of topcon 8000 series robots. the onboard batteries sucked so we migrated to an external battery. the inverter runs about $200 and then the battery is about $50. we use the jump start box from black & decker (i think) that starts a car. walmart sells them. a full charge will run a robot for 2 days. in conventional mode it will run all week or more.

I have a Topcon 8205 with the same battery as Carl. From new I never got very good life from either battery that I had. I had the batteries recelled by Primecell and the battery life is now at least twice what it was from new. I am sorry that I didn't have the recelling done earlier.

> Carl,
> I have a rig that is very similar to yours. I have a Topcon 8005A, Surveyor+ with SurvCE 2.09, and I was wondering about upgrading to SurvCE 2.5. I saw your post from a while back about moving from 2.09 to 2.50, and wanted to know if it worked out OK. Do you have the very latest, or did you have to drop back a number? I also have a problem with my GPS reciever taking a long time to get fixed on the network RTK system I subscribe to, but that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.
>
> Thanks for any insight you can share.
>
> Dale Yawn
> Savannah, Ga.

Dale,

I dropped back to 2.09 for a day until it bogged down to unbearable. I then got back on the horn and talked at length with John Gerber in Boston with Carlson. He sent me a link to the newest version/patch of the SurvCE (SurvCE Patch Version 2.50.32 for the Surveyor+) and it flies!! I had no idea this stuff could work this good. It loses lock occasionally, but not nearly as often as it was. I don't have an RC-II either. It seems that the search function is working better now too. I highly suggest giving John/Carlson a call and see what they can do with you.

I hope this helps.

Carl

I think when I bought my one new battery, Hayes said they were good for about two hours or so. My instrument came with two batteries, and I picked up too more from Cliff Wagner. They were in great shape, and used them for almost a year before re-celling them.

I use the external battery pack, mostly because I am generally ste up in one location for a decent amount of time, and I don't have to run back and forth to the instrument.

I also have a second set of batteries for the satel radios. I generally get about a full day out of each one.

Thanks guys.

I seem to be getting more than two hours of life out of mine, and the one I had problems with I got back to normal. I must not have cycled it right or something.

I'm going to look into the larger battery set up in the near future, but I need to keep that Primecell name on my mind also.

Thanks again guys!!

Carl