Bad Elf Flex: Charging the Bad Elf Flex

Overview

This guide walks you through charging the Bad Elf Flex™ GNSS receiver.

What You’ll Need

To successfully charge the Bad Elf Flex, make sure you have the following:

1. Bad Elf Flex→
2. Mini-B USB cable→
3. Wall wart power adapter→

Charge the Bad Elf Flex

1. Charge your Bad Elf Flex using the supplied USB wall power adapter and Mini-B USB charging cord.
2. Wait for the Bad Elf Flex to fully charge, indicated by the left LED turning solid green.
   

You can operate your Bad Elf Flex while it is charging. Connecting to a power source of 5V/2.4A or greater sustains unlimited operation regardless of the charge state when paired with a high-quality USB cable

We recommend using the Mini-B USB cable and wall wart power adapter linked above.  However, if you choose to use your own charger and cable, we recommend they support 18W of power output for optimal charging times. Do not use a power adapter with an output of below 10W.

Left LED: Power Status Chart

Color	Meaning
Solid Green	Fully charged
Pulsing Green	Charging, battery > 75% ~2.5 sec interval ⇒ high current charging source
Pulsing Green	Charging, battery > 75% ~5 sec interval ⇒ low current charging source
Pulsing Red	Charging, battery < 75% ~2.5 sec interval ⇒ high current charging source
Pulsing Red	Charging, battery < 75% ~5 sec interval ⇒ low current charging source
Fast Red	Charging, USB power source not usable ⇒ invalid or low current charger
Fast Red	During normal operation without USB power ⇒ battery low
Fast Yellow	Battery temperature out of range for charging
Purple	On-the-go (OTG) port in use
None	Not charging

Battery Specs and Temperature Limitations

Charging only occurs within the valid temperature range defined below. Battery temperatures outside the listed charge temperature range prevent the Bad Elf Flex from charging to protect the battery.

The battery temperature may differ from the ambient air temperature as internal temperatures vary during usage.

Internal Battery	Non-replaceable 3.7VDC, 12000mAh, Lithium ion
Battery Life	11 hours in RTK, SBAS, or autonomous modes  7 hours with L-Band corrections enabled
External Power	Mini-USB power input from 10W or greater USB power source
Temperature	Operating: –20°C to +55°C (–4°F to +131°F)  Storage: –40°C to +75°C (–40°F to +167°F)
Recommended   Power Adapter   Specs	DCP Max   Input: 100V to 240V  Output: 3.6V to 6.5V/3A, 6.5V to 9V/2A, 6V to 12V/1.5A

Charging System Information

View charging system info under the Global device settings > Charging System Information.

            

1. Actions
1. Press the enter button to show the charging system details.
2. Press the back button to return to the settings menu.
   

Text Shown	Meaning
No Input	No charging input provided
USB SDP	USB standard downstream port (500mA)
USB CDP	USB charging downstream port (1500mA)
USB DCP	USB dedicated charging port (1500mA)
DCP Max*	Dedicated charging port (12V/3000mA)
Unk (500 mA)	Unknown adapter (500mA max)
Non-std	Non standard adapter – not recommended
OTG	On-the-Go cable attached

*Recommended configuration

Battery Safety

1. To prevent injury or damage:
1. Do not charge or use the product if it appears to be damaged or leaking.
   
2. Charge the product only with an approved USB power source that can provide at least 2400mA of charging current at 5V.
3. Discontinue charging a battery that gives off extreme heat or a burning odor.
4. Use the product only for its intended use.

Troubleshooting

If you run into battery issues, try the following: 

Slow Charging

1. Look at the label on your USB charging source. Ensure the power adapter and cable supports either 5V/3A, 9V/2A, or 12V/1.5A.
   
2. On the Bad Elf Flex LCD in the Charging System Information screen, confirm the receiver is detecting a high-power power adapter:
1. A good charger will display “Fast Charge” under “Charging Status”.
2. If the status displays “Slow” or “Low Power”, try a different power adapter.
   
3. Use a high-quality USB cable (thicker cables generally handle higher charge rates).
4. Let unit completely power down and try charging again.

Fails to Charge

1. Check your USB charging source as described above.
2. Inspect the charging port for dirt, debris, or damage.
3. Inspect your cable for damage or loose connectors.
4. Try another high-quality cable and charging source meeting the recommended specifications.

No LED activity while plugged into power

1. Press the power button while the unit is plugged into power.
2. If there’s still no response, try a different charger and cable as described above.

Need Help?

Please include pictures of Charging Information screen and Charging Information Details (accessed by pressing the enter button on the Charging Information screen).

1. Email: support@bad-elf.com
2. Explore: Bad Elf Flex Documentation → 

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