Axe CP-L "stock" battery & chrgr. questions
02-01-2008, 08:13 PM
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Axe CP-L "stock" battery & chrgr. questions
Hey All,
I've had my Axe since 01/07/08. A total noob to helis (but not r/c flight). I have a few questions about the included (combo) 950 LiPo batt. & chrgr...
a. Has any one experienced any hazardous conditions (heat, fire, other incidents) using the INCLUDED COMBO BATTERY & CHARGER???
The stories, and AMA Warning, about LiPo fires concern me but might be due to "pushing it" with more exotic set-ups as some are prone to do.)
b. It seems as though the batt. is geting weaker every day. Being a noob I get about 4-6, 20 sec. tail-in, hovers per charge before it gets "jumpy" (due to low head speed?) and then I park it due to bad experiences with the the jumpy nature.
I check batt. after charge (green LED comes on) with a DMM and get 4.15 - 4.13v/cell, so it seems the included combo charger is BALANCING the battery pack well... but way too short useful batt./flight length.
c. could I have damaged the Battery by running the pack down during my first dew days playing with it?
I ran it full power until after the LED on the ESC began blinking while running the heli clamped down!
( I've never measured the voltage after running (before charging))
d. anyone else with any insight as to my observations?
I have two more 950 batts. on the way so maybe I'll be able to tell if it's a charger or batt. pack problem afetr some more experiments.
TIA...RWW
.
I've had my Axe since 01/07/08. A total noob to helis (but not r/c flight). I have a few questions about the included (combo) 950 LiPo batt. & chrgr...
a. Has any one experienced any hazardous conditions (heat, fire, other incidents) using the INCLUDED COMBO BATTERY & CHARGER???
The stories, and AMA Warning, about LiPo fires concern me but might be due to "pushing it" with more exotic set-ups as some are prone to do.)
b. It seems as though the batt. is geting weaker every day. Being a noob I get about 4-6, 20 sec. tail-in, hovers per charge before it gets "jumpy" (due to low head speed?) and then I park it due to bad experiences with the the jumpy nature.
I check batt. after charge (green LED comes on) with a DMM and get 4.15 - 4.13v/cell, so it seems the included combo charger is BALANCING the battery pack well... but way too short useful batt./flight length.
c. could I have damaged the Battery by running the pack down during my first dew days playing with it?
I ran it full power until after the LED on the ESC began blinking while running the heli clamped down!
( I've never measured the voltage after running (before charging))
d. anyone else with any insight as to my observations?
I have two more 950 batts. on the way so maybe I'll be able to tell if it's a charger or batt. pack problem afetr some more experiments.
TIA...RWW
.
02-01-2008, 09:17 PM
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RE: Axe CP-L "stock" battery & chrgr. questions
It is possible that one of your 950mah Lipo's is weak or has a weaker cell. You CAN damage Lipo batteries by running them down too low in voltage per cell, or too high of an amperage draw for to long. Even excessive temperatures above 120 degrees, does not help battery performance or overall life.
My AXE CP came with the 10.8v 650mah NiHM "crap-pack" good for about 3 minutes, since then I upgraded to a Mega-Power 11.1v 1350mah 20c Lipo's, before a vast amount of mods to my AXE I used to get around 12-15 minutes on the 1350mah 15c packs (stock AXE CP). You can get the Mega-Power Lipo's from Helidirect, there about 30 bucks. I use the 120v ALIGN RCC-4CX Balance Charger from HD as well (I've got 2 of them), they do a great job for not alot of money.
I use a low battery warning device on my AXE, set to alarm at 9.6 v (green LED changes to flashing red & warning beep sounds). It has kept me from PUFFING anymore Lipo's within the AXE frame. Adding a barrier between the main motor & the battery, will protect your Lipo as well (I have a piece of DS foam tape & popicle stick as heat sheild) see pic below.
Shadow
My AXE CP came with the 10.8v 650mah NiHM "crap-pack" good for about 3 minutes, since then I upgraded to a Mega-Power 11.1v 1350mah 20c Lipo's, before a vast amount of mods to my AXE I used to get around 12-15 minutes on the 1350mah 15c packs (stock AXE CP). You can get the Mega-Power Lipo's from Helidirect, there about 30 bucks. I use the 120v ALIGN RCC-4CX Balance Charger from HD as well (I've got 2 of them), they do a great job for not alot of money.
I use a low battery warning device on my AXE, set to alarm at 9.6 v (green LED changes to flashing red & warning beep sounds). It has kept me from PUFFING anymore Lipo's within the AXE frame. Adding a barrier between the main motor & the battery, will protect your Lipo as well (I have a piece of DS foam tape & popicle stick as heat sheild) see pic below.
Shadow
