TFT smart stir “reset” when Inop from sitting

[mxxmikexx]

This happened a few seasons ago when it sat not used in the winter come spring it isn’t working. Yes I installed new batteries. But I could swear there was like a button sequence to press and hold when they do this? The led light doesn’t even come on when pressed and magnet isn’t spinning
It did this before and I don’t remember the trick
Anyone know?

 

[PoolStored]

Trick is new batteries...and they must be alkaline.
I don't know how many times members said, "I put in new batteries" when they were not new...or not alkaline. Happens all the time.

 

[mxxmikexx]

Trick is new batteries...and they must be alkaline.
I don't know how many times members said, "I put in new batteries" when they were not new...or not alkaline. Happens all the time.

I just put in brand new batteries and no dice. I did find an old email from 2 years ago when I had this issue and they said to leave batteries out overnight and then try new batteries next day. Maybe that’s all I did back then. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow if it magically starts working!

 

[Buggs]

In February, I had a similar issue: When I pressed either the power or light button on the SpeedStir, the unit ran for about a quarter-second and then shut down. I replaced the batteries with new Duracell alkalines - no change in the symptom.

When I emailed Nate, he suggested the overnite rest. I tried that and the SpeedStir worked just fine the next day!

 

[DrewLG]

FWIW, the non-rechargeable Energizer Ultimate Lithium (L91) batteries will maintain a higher voltage for far longer than alkalines.

I don't know at what exact voltage the SpeedStir starts to get sluggish, but let's say it's when the battery voltage has dropped 20%, from 1.5V brand-new to 1.2V. Compare these discharge curves -- look at how long the voltage stays above 1.2V under various scenarios.

Their best alkaline batteries (graphs from https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/E91_Max_NA.pdf):




The lithium batteries (from https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/l91.pdf):

 

[PoolStored]

@DrewLG do you use these in your smart stir?

100% of the time, new alkaline batteries have solved the problem in working units (both reported by TFTestkits and all the threads I've replied to).

It is almost always the batteries. I've recommended alkaline every time and it has worked, along with leaving the batteries out for a couple hours.

Now with your post, it actually has me thinking that people that are using lithium (rechargeable), likely just have really bad rechargeable batteries. It's about the voltage, not the lithium.

Aha moment.

 

[DrewLG]

@DrewLG do you use these in your smart stir?

I do. They work great and last a very long time.

100% of the time, new alkaline batteries have solved the problem in working units (both reported by TFTestkits and all the threads I've replied to).

It is almost always the batteries. I've recommended alkaline every time and it has worked, along with leaving the batteries out for a couple hours.

Makes sense. Unlike an incandescent-bulb flashlight or something, which will just get dimmer and dimmer as the battery voltage drops to 0, the stirrer clearly has a voltage threshold below which it just won't work at all.

Now with your post, it actually has me thinking that people that are using lithium (rechargeable), likely just have really bad rechargeable batteries. It's about the voltage, not the lithium.

Yeah, could easily be rechargeables that have lost their capacity -- rechargeables start at a lower voltage than alkalines anyway (the non-rechargeable lithiums that I recommended actually start at a slightly HIGHER open-circuit voltage than alkalines).

Or it might just be old expired alkaline batteries -- they don't last forever on the shelf.

Or it could be that thing people are always doing with pool brushes, where they sort by price on Amazon and choose the cheapest one -- and are then astonished when the brush falls apart. Lots of shady battery dealers online.

 

[PoolStored]

Makes sense. Unlike an incandescent-bulb flashlight or something, which will just get dimmer and dimmer as the battery voltage drops to 0, the stirrer clearly has a voltage threshold below which it just won't work at all.

No question, from the evidence.

I think, for general speed stir battery advice, getting new, name brand, alkaline batteries, and to leave batteries out for a period of time, is the safest, broad advice to get a speed stir to work. (The batteries you quote are $2/per, name brand AA alkalines are $0.6 to $0.8/per.)

Thanks for your input!