UPDATE....We bought 6 new Alivk robots for my STEM class earlier this year. I unboxed them, updated the software, and returned them to storage for a few weeks. I recently tried to turn them on for use in the classroom, and 2/6 of the batteries are dead, and they do not accept a charge. This caused instructional downtime and put the class behind pace.
Be careful if you buy replacement batteries from Amazon, there are a lot of fakes!
At the bottom of the Education page on Arduino.cc is this link for direct contact with Arduino.
Post some pictures of the battery so we know what it is.
Ok, those are rechargeable LiIon batteries, you can order on Amazon, be careful lots of fakes, mAh should be between 2,000 and 3,500, any more is a fake. You can get them at Vape stores as well. Did the kit not come with a charger, maybe it plugs into the base somewhere. Careful, it's Lithium so you need a specific charger for it.
From what I can see, you just plug the Alivk into a computer and let it charge. It will take several hours. See the following. BUT if it was allowed to discharge below a certain voltage it is dead and cannot be re-charged. This kit needs to be responsibly maintained, it can't be just left to it's own.
https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/alvik/getting-started/
Hi @daviddowling ,
I am having the same problem. I ordered the
INR18650-25R 3,6 V/2,5 Ah and
INR18650-35E 3,6 V/3,5 Ah Batteries.
Did yours arrive, and did you try running the Alvik? I hope new battries work.
Best Wishes,
Shishir.
The batteries I bought did not work. Be careful, there are a lot of fakes.
Hi @daviddowling and @shishirpokhrel. I see there is some related information in the user manual here:
https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/alvik/user-manual/#battery
To preserve the battery life of your Alvik, always store it fully charged. We recommend charging Alvik completely between working sessions. If you won’t be using it for an extended period, it's best to remove the battery until you're ready to use it again.
If Alvik is left unused for several months with the battery level below 20%, it may become fully depleted, leading to a voltage drop. In such cases, the battery will need to be charged externally using a compatible battery charger.
Arduino shipped many Alviks without the tab that you are supposed to pull out before you use it for the first time. So many batteries died while in inventory.
Arduino sent me new batteries when this happened to 12 of my Alviks.
