Unable to recharge or connect to CM5

[llivloc]

Apologies if solution to this is obvious; I am new to this. Not sure what relevant, so i will list all things I did to screw my bioloid up:

Downloaded spider demo behaviour program. Forgot to download motion data. Started program offline and battery then ran out of charge i assume. Tried to recharge battery exactly as in manual (never charged it before); pressing u button does not start the light blinking, does not recharge. With DC connected, CM-5 cannot connect to computer, is this always the case? Connection to battery looks fine (not sure how to check this more thoroughly).

How do I fix this?

Thanks,

Alex

[srobot]

Let me ask you a few questions.

Have you turned the robot off, plugged in the charger, turned the robot on, then press U?

Have you dropped the robot?

Do any lights turn on at any point now?

[llivloc]

Have you turned the robot off, plugged in the charger, turned the robot on, then press U?

Yes. Doesn't start charging. Power light does not blink.

Have you dropped the robot?

No.

Do any lights turn on at any point now?

When I connect DC, yes. I get all the normal lights - when switch on I get the flashing play light and the power light on all the time. I can change mode and the lights do too. I can start the program and play light goes solid. When I attach computer link the receive, transmit lights flash for a bit. Also flash when I attempt to download program (but as stated previously computer cannot connect to CM-5).

[srobot]

It sounds like your battery is not dead (flat) since the lights still turn on.

What happens when you press U?

[llivloc]

My bad, I meant that lights came on if and only if mains cable attached. That makes the battery flat in my book. Whilst I hold U, the play light goes solid. Otherwise nothing happens after I have pressed it.

[srobot]

Do you have any other type of charger for 9 volt batteries you can use to charge it with for now? Most chargers for RC cars (7.2V) have a setting to change it to 9V.

[llivloc]

No, I would have to buy one.

[srobot]

Try calling the store where you bought the kit from. See what they say. If they can't get it to work, ask for a replacement. From what you say, you did nothing wrong. Although in the future, it is good to charge batteries before using them.

[llivloc]

OK, thanks for your speedy help.

[srobot]

Let us know if you need anymore help!

[StuartL]

Have you checked the fuse? Sounds like you may have suffered a blown fuse inside the CM-5. Take the four small screws out from the inside of the CM-5 and carefully separate the two halves. There's a fuse mounted onto the CM-5 PCB. Check it with a multimeter.

[llivloc]

OK, so it was something obvious. Sorry for wasting your time, thanks for your help. Alex

[StuartL]

Faults are always obvious in hindsight, no shame in finding them

[limor]

For future readers of this tread, there's a video showing how to go through the process of charging. you can download the video here:
http://robosavvy.com/RoboSavvyPages/Support/Bioloid/