Beeza

My Feedback: (1)

This is unbelievable but true. A few yrs back I got a RTF EasyStar, but I wound up being gone for several years. I have it out now, for its first flights. I charged the batteries. Tx battery says nicad on it and I'm guessing the Rx is niMh, seeing as there's an ESC unit in the plane. I can't find ANY charging info in the phamplet that came with the plane. I had a good flight that ended early as the motor lost power after maybe 45 seconds.

I came home and recharged and now the plane acts like there's interference. I turn on the power, TX first, and the plane does nothing, then the servos start wildly twiching. And the motor doesn't run at all.

My voltmeter says the Tx battery has 10.8 volts and the Rx battery shows 9.6.

The plane isn't new anymore, but are batteries, etc still available for it? I'd love to hear some ideas about where it all went wrong.

Thanks, Beeza

Lnewqban

Maybe the electrical connectors are somehow corroded after several years, specially if the plane was stored in humid conditions.

I would check all the connections first.

Also, the battery could show good voltage and be weak to some amps.
Check for black wire disease.

Check these links:

http://www.hangtimes.com/black_wire_disease.html

http://www.hangtimes.com/rcbattery_faq.html

http://www.hangtimes.com/redsbatteryclinic.html

Beeza

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks for the response Lnewqban. The connectors are OK, I have checked them. Do the battery voltages I listed sound correct?

I just hate to give up on flying this great trainer due to a battery problem.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

I presume that is the one with the Hitec 72mhz transmitter and NiMh batteries.  Has a speed 400 brushed motor.

Battery voltages would depend on how many cells in the pack.

The TX pack is probably 8 cell so up to about 11.3V for that pack, fully charged, is fine. 

The motor pack that came with that RTF was a 6 cell as I recall so pack voltage is nominally 7.2V or something under 8 at full charge.   So 9.6V for the motor pack sounds way too high.  It may be over charged and damaged.

How are you charging the packs?  What charger and at what rate?

Most TX packs want to be charged at something less than 1/2C

NiMh motor packs typically about 1.5C, but if it has been sitting for years I would bring it back to life VERY slowly, say 1/10C.


But batteries do degrade over time and if your NiMh have been sitting for years maybe they need to be replaced.   The motor battery is likely to be more of an issue as it has to put out high amperage and may not be up to the task.

www.cheapbatterypacks.com can make up any pack you like.   For the Easy Star I would use a 7 cell 2/3 A pack of 1200 to 1500 mah capacity if your battery charger can handle 7 cell. 

Personaly I would switch to 2 cell lipo today rather than 6 cell Nimh.  Lighter and more capacity.  But you would need a Lipo charger.

Change the connector on the ESC to match the battery pack.  cutting and soldering Lipos can be a bit tricky if you are not good with a soldering iron.