Pulsar XQ38 Battery Pack took a dump...only used 6 times

G

G Anderson

Active member
Are the pulsar battery packs not up to the task? I have used my new XQ38 a half dozen times...always charged the battery when done using and last night after finishing up a set, I noticed it looked like my battery indicator was showing no battery left but the unit was still operating. When I got home I plugged it into the charger and the light came on "red"...left it on charge thru the night and it is still red. Manual says that battery is bad. It was -8 last night and everything was working fine...called in 3 on the first set and got one...I had not used the record function previously, but I did hit the record button for this shot...that is the only thing that I have done differently from previous times out. I did turn the record off after killing the coyote. I know batteries can go bad, but wouldn't think after a half dozen uses it would be done. Probably not a warranty thing either?? Anyone have similar experience? Will now have to order a new battery pack and wait for it to come before being able to use scope again. Should I go with the 20 hour pack? Thanks

Gene
 
My guess is Pulsar will cover it under warranty. It might be a good idea to purchase a spare. I think they are probably warranted for a year as well. You might check your connections to be sure they are making good contact.
 
Pulsar will warranty. Get ahold of the dealer you got it from. I bought a spare from the same place and it worked one night and went dead twice while sitting in the case with the scope off. No struggle to get it replaced for free. My original battery lasts all night. Keep a spare! I would buy another now and they will ship you a new one when they get yours back.
 
Last edited:
Must just be a faulty battery. I purchased a spare for my monocular and for the Trail. My Trail backup is the 20 hour pack. Have charged them all dozens of times. There is nothing you would have done wrong or different that should make it go bad. If in a case, I think the scope can get powered on by pressure from the case and can lead to a dead battery. I have had the adapter show red before but reseated the battery and it was fine so double check that.

The 20 hour is pretty impressive but sticks out from the scope a long ways and is a lot heavier.
 
Originally Posted By: varminter .223No need to get a 20 hr. Ive never ran my factory battery below half even hunting until 2 am from dark. The batteries are good but I haven't seen this type of performance especially in the cold. It seems the 8 hr battery will last about 5-6 hrs in the cold, if left on. I use my monocular to help me navigate to and from the stand, so it is on longer than the scope and will not last a whole night of hunting for me. If only powered on once on the stand, and powered off immediately at the end of the stand, probably.
 
I turn mine on when I uncase it and leave it on until I get back to the truck. On a long night it will be at half battery....possibly a smidge below. Actual run time is probably 3.5 to 4 hrs on an average night. The reason I would opt for two regular packs instead of a 20 hr. is if it gets left on or takes a dump you don't gave a spare. You can have one charging in the truck as well. Less weight too.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: varminter .223I turn mine on when I uncase it and leave it on until I get back to the truck. On a long night it will be at half battery....possibly a smidge below. Actual run time is probably 3.5 to 4 hrs on an average night. The reason I would opt for two regular packs instead of a 20 hr. is if it gets left on or takes a dump you don't gave a spare. You can have one charging in the truck as well. Less weight too.

I agree with you on weight and it is so deep that it wouldn't work well on a monocular. I also would opt for 2 - 8 hour packs vs one 20 hr pack if price isn't an issue. In my case, I was able to buy a 20 for the price of an 8 due to a sale, so I thought I would try it. I use it on the Trail, and then you can keep it on all night or not worry about the battery as it really does last a long time. Still prefer using the 8 hour if possible.
 
Thanks guys for the responses. I have pulled the battery and re-seated it in the charging adapter and the light just keeps coming on red. According to the manual, they say put it on charge for several hours while it is on red, take the battery out of the adapter, re-install it in adapter and if it goes green, then you are good to go...but if it stays red, then the battery is bad and to not use it.
I have run it down to half on a couple of occasions and it always recharged fine. After the first set last night it showed probably 90% good...on second set when I had been there for 1/2 hour is when I noticed the battery indicator showed nothing. Thought this was odd and when I got home when I placed the battery in adapter to charge, the red light came on...kind of figured something wasn't right. What really gets me is that I finally had figured out the recording and how to view recordings...remembered to hit the record button, should have gotten some good footage and I cannot access the video to see it until I get a new battery.
Varminter223, do you just use the USB cable to charge extra battery in your truck? Or is there a special car charger that has to be used?
 
You can connect the scope up to your PC without a battery by using the USB cable, a message pops up in the scope saying power source or memory card. Select memory card, and it becomes a drive on your PC. Then copy the files to your PC and view them from there.

I know you asked Varminter, but yes you can use the USB connector and connect it to your vehicle if you have a USB port. I do have several in my truck but I bring a Portable Battery Pack and plug it into there. The reason is my truck will not charge the battery when not running and the portable battery pack will. I used this a lot with the Monocular and Scope. My monocular would typically run low first, so when my monocular was about at 50%, I would take this battery and put it on the charger, and replace with the spare. By the time, the scope got low, the charger had the first one full, etc. With 3 Pulsar battery packs, and 2 Pulsar devices, it works well.
 
Thanks Kirsch...appreciate the information. What battery pack are you using to charge your batteries with? Maybe a pic?
I emailed the dealer where I purchased the scope from to inquire about a replacement battery and will order a spare battery pack as well.

Gene
 
Originally Posted By: KirschYou can connect the scope up to your PC without a battery by using the USB cable, a message pops up in the scope saying power source or memory card. Select memory card, and it becomes a drive on your PC. Then copy the files to your PC and view them from there.

I know you asked Varminter, but yes you can use the USB connector and connect it to your vehicle if you have a USB port. I do have several in my truck but I bring a Portable Battery Pack and plug it into there. The reason is my truck will not charge the battery when not running and the portable battery pack will. I used this a lot with the Monocular and Scope. My monocular would typically run low first, so when my monocular was about at 50%, I would take this battery and put it on the charger, and replace with the spare. By the time, the scope got low, the charger had the first one full, etc. With 3 Pulsar battery packs, and 2 Pulsar devices, it works well.
Hey Kirsch...I did connect the usb to the PC and you were right...it did allow me to watch the video. It was cool to see it all on video. Thanks for that tip.

Gene
 
I've got one that is bad also. It takes no time to charge and shows full battery but then all of a sudden goes dead in the field. Of course at the wrong time. Had bought a spare and that is working good.
 
Originally Posted By: case-nhI've got one that is bad also. It takes no time to charge and shows full battery but then all of a sudden goes dead in the field. Of course at the wrong time. Had bought a spare and that is working good.
Ya, when I charged it before going out last night it was flashing 2 green light flashes, then it went to the 3 green flashes and finally went solid green indicating full charge. Put it on the scope and went to hunting spot. Remember looking at menu across bottom of screen and battery symbol being fully "whited" in...at some time within 30 minutes or so the battery symbol was no longer "whited" at all, but never any kind if indication that battery was dead...scope kept working. Based on what the manual says though, I don't want to use it in the scope. Hopefully I can get a spare headed my way Monday and then get this one turned in under warranty.

Gene
 
Originally Posted By: G AndersonThanks Kirsch...appreciate the information. What battery pack are you using to charge your batteries with? Maybe a pic?
I emailed the dealer where I purchased the scope from to inquire about a replacement battery and will order a spare battery pack as well.

Gene



I actually have many. Anker makes great products but really any portable phone charging battery will work. The first is the smallest I use and it only has one connector. I also run electric hand warmers, so I use take one of the portable chargers which has two connectors as my electric handwarmers are good for about 5 hours as well. I usually have a Pulsar battery and a handwarmer charging at the same time.

Here are some of my favorites:
Anker 10000 mah
Anker 13000 mah
Aukey 20000 mah
Anker 20100 mah
 
Originally Posted By: KirschOriginally Posted By: G AndersonThanks Kirsch...appreciate the information. What battery pack are you using to charge your batteries with? Maybe a pic?
I emailed the dealer where I purchased the scope from to inquire about a replacement battery and will order a spare battery pack as well.

Gene



I actually have many. Anker makes great products but really any portable phone charging battery will work. The first is the smallest I use and it only has one connector. I also run electric hand warmers, so I use take one of the portable chargers which has two connectors as my electric handwarmers are good for about 5 hours as well. I usually have a Pulsar battery and a handwarmer charging at the same time.

Here are some of my favorites:
Anker 10000 mah
Anker 13000 mah
Aukey 20000 mah
Anker 20100 mah
Thanks Kirsch, appreciate it very much. I think I will order one...would the higher Mah be better or does it really matter? Thanks

Gene
 
Higher mAh ratings allow for more charges before you have to recharge the charger. It typically means larger and heavier battery packs. I typically use the Ankers for all my charging but the Aukey got in my calling bag earlier this year because my kids had all my Anker chargers and that is what I have been using for charging the Pulsars and my electronic hand warmers this year.
 
Got with Sellmark/Pulsar and they have issued an RA# for the return of the "bad" battery and will do a replacement under warranty.They were quick to respond and hopefully they will send a replacement soon. Ordered a spare from Tom at NG...haven't gotten an email saying it has shipped yet but hoping it gets headed this way quick...good thing is, the weather has turned crappy, so it broke down at the right time I guess.
 
Quick update...got shipping notification from Sellmark that replacement battery is on the way and did get shipping notification from fedex on the battery I ordered from Tom at NG and it is supposed to be here tomorrow(1-13-18) along with the Stalker tripod.
Really good to know that Pulsar/Sellmark is a stand up company.

Gene
 
Last edited:
Back
Top