Mr67Stang

It's amazing what people will do to save 4oz on a 10 lb. plane. Buddy lost one at the feild last weekend to this. 4.8v 3000 mah pack powereing a G20i and the Rx untill it quit responding on the 3rd flight of the day.

Walt and Sage

Hi John,
You are welcome to fly with us if you get out this way and I can prove it...
Mabe we received GOOD diodes and yours are different ??? WHO KNOWS
Mabe because we are using A123 batteries ?????
Walt

mrbigg

My Feedback: (21)

That was his stupidity running a 4.8 volt pack and (my guess here) the stock G20 ignition which is a bad design being as it sucks WAYYYYYY too much juice. Out of curiousity's sake, what radio system was he using?

OldRookie

My Feedback: (13)

The plane wasn't crashed due to an RF interference problem, but because of poor judgment in his battery selection.
The scope of this thread is the necessity of using a device that will allow you to eliminate the ignition battery without the fear of having RF interference crashing your plane. I don't remember it being addressed as a weight saving solution. Unless you are a competition flyer, most people flying the size plane that this device is used in, couldn't care less about the weight of the battery pack.

Greg

JNorton

My Feedback: (2)

Walt and Sage,
1N4001 through 7 diodes are silicon based and have approximately .7 volt drop. It's physics. Vfm is rated 1.0 volt at 1 Amp. I would be using a 3 amp diode with at least 200 PIV rating. something like a 1N5402.

http://www.diodes.com/datasheets/ds28002.pdf

All this aside I would love to come fly with you guys.

Walt and Sage

My friend John,

Jody at Valley View R/C got us started using the diodes because a fully
charged A123 is about 7.25 vdc close to the max for most gas ignitions..

ONE diode drops to around 6.20 vdc here in Washington State and combined
with 7 digital high torque servos turned on at the same time drops it even more...
Maybe we are in the TWILIGHT ZONE......

Looking forward to flying with you !!!!!!
Walt

JNorton

My Feedback: (2)

Walt and Sage,
With 7 digital servos I think you are over loading a 1 amp diode, it could fail at any time! The forward drop increases with current which is what you are seeing.

I would either use a 3 amp or higher diode.

John

JNorton

My Feedback: (2)

Walt and Sage,
Wait a second - Sometimes it takes me a while. The diode is just on the ignition correct. You are not using it on the receiver are you?
John

Walt and Sage

John
That is correct, the diode is just BEFORE the ignition NOT on the receiver or servos....

Jake Ruddy

My Feedback: (40)

I have done it on a few planes with no issues at all.

Ultimately for 3.5 oz I don't see the point. with a 1600mah Nimh you can fly a 100cc twin for nealy 2 hours on one charge. I charge my A123s twice in a day without touching my ignition and never have an issue.

skillet92

Guy's it was for weight and to have one less battery to keep charged. When I go tto the field I usually fly 4-5 times at around 10-15 minute flights. I do have the stock ignition but would have been willing to change it just because it does kill a battery quick. I also was interested because they offer this device free if you buy an engine. I just wondered if it was a safe product!

marios k

I used it on my 50cc extra for over 30 flights with no issues on a 2.4mhz & 3700mah regulated lipo . After 4 -10min flights I charge 1200mah back to the battery.

wyo69cowboy

My Feedback: (2)

I hope they're reliable, because I think it's exactly the point to save 4 oz on a 10lb plane. Lots of guys on these forums asking about a gasser on a smaller plane, and lots of guys try to steer them away and back towards glow to keep wing loading down. I have(had) a Reactor 50cc, and if I hadn't already bought the 42% ignition kill for it, would have probably bought one of these to eliminate that extra battery and switch. I would like to have one of the 70" or so aerobats with a DL30 or Syssa 30, and think this would be a good setup to keep wing loading down.

skillet92

Cowboy that is what I am thinking. I am wanting to get out of glow, but most Gas engines in the 15 to 25 cc range are 10-15ozs heavier than a comparable glow. If not more!!! Something like this can be a savings of 4-6 ozs for the extra battery and when you take off the fuel wieght that a gas saves you can be close to 12-15 ozs saved. I know that people will say why take the risk if you are trying to save the weight on that size plane you just need to go glow. I just like the advantage of gas. I can take a plane to the field with less stuff and fly. I also like the cost of gas compared to glow and the clean-up afterwards. I know that being lighter is the key but that is not the only thing.

PS plus it is a hooby and we are suppose to tinker and have funny with it!