For those that haven't come across a DC16 it is basically a very powerful hand-held vacuum cleaner. It uses cyclone technology, but is powered by a 22V Li-Ion battery pack.
The main issue(s) with the DC16 (and it appears, the DC30 & DC31 as well) is the really naff battery supplied with the machine.
Li-Ion cells tend to degrade if not used and over 3 years they can die completely. Now, when you consider that these hand-helds are considered 'Slow-Moving Consumer Goods', then it may come as no surprise to find-out that the brand new machine you just purchased may have left the factory 18 months previously. That means the battery pack is already on it's last legs before you even plug it in to charge it.
As even a fully-charged battery only powers the DC16 for 10 minutes in between charges, it is, by it's very nature of design, a 'quick clean-up' device rather than a serious hoover. This alone does not help the battery which will spend more time in the permanent charger unit than in use.
There is a 2nd well-documented issue which can also cause the machine to act like the battery is dead though. This is a failure of a small sensor (known as a 'hall-effect sensor). This is in place to prevent the machine working if the pre-motor filter is missing. It is basically a fail-safe device put in place to prevent the machine becoming damaged by dust going were it shouldn't.
This sensor can be bypassed if you are handy with the soldering iron.
The problem I have is trying to work-out if the pack is dead or if it is the sensor. Looks like I will be digging-out my multi-metre this weekend to check the state of the battery.
Yet another job to add to my task list.
2 comments:
i'm also having the same problem. just dug it out the cupboard after it sitting there for a year and cannot work out if the battery is failing to charge or it's the sensor. it's been on charge for 19hrs now and still has the 2 green & a red light while charging. maybe check the voltage on the battery, any less than 21v then battery is dead otherwise solder pins 1 & 3 when the IC is desoldered from the PCB.
I just had a similar problem with mine and it turned out to be a bad connection onto the contacts on the vacuum from the charger.
After my first battery died after a year I've had mine on a time switch that just comes on for an hour a day to keep it topped-up rather than charge continuously and the current battery has been fine for over 6 years now. I bought a new one as I thought that was the current problem but old one is still fine and probably holds around 2/3 of its original charge when it was new. Dave
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