Boeing

My Feedback: (145)

OK, I am confused, my receiver batteries in my 35% YAK gave up the ghost, so I decided to replace them(2) with the new battery tech i.e. LiFe batteries. The batteries are from Tower and have 6.6V coming off the charger.

Was told by my LHS that I could use them without have a regulator in the circuit.

Asked Futaba about this and they recommeded not to use Lithum batteries with a Futaba receiver - with or without a regulator.

What's a guy to do!!

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

They are talking about Lipo (8.4v full charge) batteries.

A123's are fine.

Boeing

My Feedback: (145)

In my inquiry to Futaba Support, I specifically mentioned LiFe batteries with a 6.6V output. Didn't say anything about LiPos.

crashlander

My Feedback: (10)

I'm using LiFe batteries 6.6v in my Futaba system (flight pack) with no issues (no reg either), straight off the charger.

Orlando

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

In that case, follow what Futaba said.

But I can tell you from plenty of practical use, they will be fine.

What voltage does a fully charged 5 cell pack run at?

flatspinjim

My Feedback: (3)

I've ran A123's on all my Futaba receivers for years with no problems.

nonstoprc

My Feedback: (90)

+1. A123 packs direct with Futaba receivers.

+1. lipo packs with a regulator with Futaba receivers.

4*60

My Feedback: (41)

Don't belive everything a customer service person tells you. Whether you were specific or not does not mean the person heard what you said. I bet he/she had LIPO in their head and that was that. Lithium you know. They get told to use the script I am sure, no lithium, and do not know the difference.

TimBle

By Futaba you mean Hobbico.

Who you speak to there will determine a positive or negative around battery usage.

They market 6.6V LIFE SOurce batteries which they recommend for use with Futaba systems. No doubt they will tell you only the HV.

I've run a 7.4VLipo through my R617FS rx , drove Hyperion DS20FMD and UMDservos capable of 7.4V lipo input and guess what. THe Rx is still working. The sky nor the plane fell on my head.

Life 6.6Vor 6.4V are fine with Futaba FASST systems. Many people on this forum have proven it and are continuing to prove it by running their FASSTRX on LiFE packs.
Ihave ALL muy planes (except the BEE2 I'm putting together for slope duty) on LIFE batteries and have had no issues since Istarted flying in April 2010. I am using the same batteries I purchased then witht the same Rx's (R617FS, R606FS), zero problems.

I am using a Hyperion Life 6.6V 2100mA.hr Rx pack in my T8FG. Hey, noproblems there either and Futaba even released software so I can alter my battery alarm threshold for a battery like that.

Robbe Modellbau in Europe recommends LiFe packs for Rx and even sells their T8FG and FX20 with a Li-ion battery at 7.4V and has done so befpre Futaba made new voltage threshold aadjustment available.

It appears the Marketing departments at the Futaba distributors don't talk to each other...

DrV

My Feedback: (2)

I use genuine A123 2s pack directly plugged into the futaba R6014HS receiver without any problems. I know of many guys in my field using this setup without any problems.