Create power supply question

[gimmetwofingers]

Hi,

I have a question on the DC input power for the Create. I have a spare AC-DC converter lying around where the plug seems to fit. It supplies 19V and 5 amps. Can I safely attach this to the Create? (I accept voiding the warrenty). I do not have the original cable and also not the APS battery, but I am planning to buy one.
Related question: Which is the best battery solution for the Create? Telling from the customer reviews in the iRobot store, the original battery seems to be of very poor quality.

Thank you!

G.

[mfortuna]

You probably can attach it but I would be wary about the Create's battery charging circuit, which I think is the same as other 400 series bots. The 5Amp current may blow out the U2 and U4 charging system MOSFETs.

A Li_ION battery made for the 400 series is probably a good choice for a battery. That is what I am running in my Create.

[gimmetwofingers]

Ok, thank you so far. So you say that the voltage is fine, but the current is to high. But I thought that the current adjusts itself to the demand, is that wrong? What current would be appropriate for the create?

[mfortuna]

22V, 1.2A max.

[TechGuy]

Mike is right. One of my client used a 2.5A Canon laptop charger to charge his 400 series Roomba and killed the U2/U4 MOSFETs. I think the 400 series Roomba will draw as much current that the charger can supply.

[gimmetwofingers]

Ok, thank you both for your replies.
I have another question on the battery. Mike said that a Li Ion battery is a good choice for the Create. However here:
http://www.notanon.com/gadgets/why-lith ... 010/06/08/
it is explained that the charging system in the Roombas (and probably also in the Create) tends to overcharge LiIon batteries.
Would you say that it is stil ok to use LiIon batteries? I understand that the problem is the system in the robot, so external charing with a better charging system should increase battery life, right?

[mfortuna]

I didn't read that article in detail but in my experience the 400 series works fine with Li-IONs as long as the packs have the protection circuits. I have 4 robots with Li-IONs, two reds and 2 dirt dogs. One of the dirt dogs is a security bot and doesn't get much use. The other 3 have been used for years and the Li-IONs are going strong. They have outlived the APS NIMH batteries I used previously. I have not had any cell balance issues. When my create was the security bot platform I used a Li-ION in it with no issues.

[vic7767]

I build LI-ion batteries for the Create, Dirt Dog, as well as 4XX, 4XXX and earlier model Roombas. They are built using cell phone LI-ion batteries that contain the Power Control Boards (PCBs) which are built with a higher level of overcharge/undercharge protection than the LI-ion cell with optional PCBs offered by some vendors. Check out my website for LI-ion battery options.

[mfortuna]

I can back vic7767 on his packs. They have worked fine for me. He is a trusted vendor!