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Life battery's - 2/6/2012 3:36 PM   
Stick 40


 

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LiFe batteries are a newer lithium chemistry. They have all the good things about Lipos (fast charging, no self-discharge, high amp capacity) with a usable voltage for our receiver packs and none of the fire danger. A 2 cell pack gives 6.6v nominal, but the actually voltage to the receiver is very close to the same as a fully charged NiCd. I'm a fan because I can charge them when I have a chance during the week on planes I don't fly much and they'll be ready when I am. They are also a touch lighter than NiCd's but close to the same weight as comparable Nimh's. "


On another thread , Jester put this out about "Life" battery's.

I am ready to swap out some of my battery's and wondered about the Pro's and Con's of the Life battery's???

sticks

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RE: Life battery's - 2/6/2012 4:39 PM   
BarracudaHockey



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Status: online 		Well you already posted the pros.

About the only con is you need a charger that has the right program for LiFe (A123) cells.

www.wrongwayrc.com sells packs with genunie A123 cells and inexpensive chargers (Cell Pro4)

I have them in all my big planes, they make excellent reciever and ignition packs.

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RE: Life battery's - 2/6/2012 6:14 PM   
airraptor


 

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Status: offline 		All i use now is LiFe packs.

The 200, 1100 and 2100 from tower and the 850 from Hyperion.

The 200 is great for small planes 15 ( with 4 servos or less) and smaller. Very light weight. it doesnt bother me if i have to charge it every three flight or so.

I use a single 2100 on H9 mustang with a DLE 30. I get about 6 flights on it before I charge again just to be safe. I usally put back around 500-800 MAH

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RE: Life battery's - 2/6/2012 8:28 PM   
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I'm using 2 A123's 2300 mAhs and have a new LiFe that needs
to be installed. Thanks for the input. I'm charging with a thunder power
610C BTW, it charges both these types of lithium ion/phosphate.

Bob

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 1:17 AM   
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Status: offline 		so if I get a "Life A 2 cell pack gives 6.6v nominal 2500 mAh pack" , it will be the same as a "2500 Ni-Mh 5 cell pack"



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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 2:31 AM   
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Stick 40

so if I get a ''Life A 2 cell pack gives 6.6v nominal 2500 mAh pack'' , it will be the same as a ''2500 Ni-Mh 5 cell pack''





The LiFe is better, 6.6 volts vs nMhi is 6.o volts (Nominaly)
The LiFe uses a balance plug, when charging, as do A123's.

Bob

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 3:24 PM   
jester_s1


 

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Status: online 		It's not better, just a bit more voltage. As quoted above, the actual voltage the receiver sees is very close to the same between the two. The nominal voltage ratings really don't mean much with batteries. The number that actually matters is how much voltage is actually there under load from fully charged to the point where you recharge.

As stated above, the only negatives I see are that you need an LiFe capable charger and some data suggests that the LiFe's won't last quite as long as NiCd's will. But most of us replace our packs every 3 years anyway so that's a non-issue. Besides, LiFe's a generally a little cheaper than top quality NiCd's, so the lifespan issue is a wash.

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 3:25 PM   
Stick 40


 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: dignlivn


quote:

ORIGINAL: Stick 40

so if I get a ''Life A 2 cell pack gives 6.6v nominal 2500 mAh pack'' , it will be the same as a ''2500 Ni-Mh 5 cell pack''





The LiFe is better, 6.6 volts vs nMhi is 6.o volts (Nominaly)
The LiFe uses a balance plug, when charging, as do A123's.

Bob



What is the difference between Life and the A123, and is one better than the other?



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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 4:10 PM   
BarracudaHockey



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Status: online 		The same difference between Acetominphin and Tylenol.

A123 is a brand name, though for me I prefer my packs with genuine A123 cells in a hardcase with the nanophosphate technology.

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 5:16 PM   
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Status: offline 		Another negative (sort of......) is as far as I have read you really can't tell when the end of the reliable "Life" has come for a LIFE. One Flier said he will just recycle his after the two year point. Any input on this issue.

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 6:09 PM  1 votes
airraptor


 

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Status: offline 		The A123 cells are 2300 MAH they weigh more than the other brands of LiFe's. A123 were the first ones on the market and they have a big following like the DA. The DLE perform just as well just cheaper.
I use the hobbico ones from tower :
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXYAS9&P=0

They have them in different sizes. remember most 45 size planes with 4-5 standard servos we used to fly with only 500 Mah 4 cell pack.

One thing wiht all packs of any type is to get to know your batteries. what i mean is that you should cycle any battery so you know if it meets its rated capacity. Charge the pack then use your charge to cycle the battery 3-5 times. most new charges will do this for you. just put it on the number of cycles you want, put the battery (any type) in a fire proof container then start the cycle process. I usally start this in the morning when working on other planes. This way you know if that 2000 MAH pack is putting out close 1800-2000 mah. I have had some NiMh packs that were stated to have 2500 mah capacity yet when cycled were only giving out 1000 mah. these were the true rating of the pack yet the seller was pulling something over on us or just five bad packs in a row.

One thing about LiFe's is that some people think they will explode or catch fire when they crash the plane heli or what ever. i know from experience that the LiFe will not catch fire. i put one plane in at over 140MPH into hard pack dirt. The plane hit straight down and so hard that the engine OS65AX broke the muffler off and riped the muffler mount off the engine, broke the carb clean off, turned the fuel tank inside out, the wing left full span indetations in the ground, every servo split in to many pieces, it even pulled the rubber of the aluminum hub on the tail wheel, and the LiFe battery was (the 1100 hobbico pack) was smashed into a flat pancake with exposed Life substrate. It got to about 99-101 degrees by the temp gun and no fire at all.

I will never use a Nicad or NiMh again.

Oh yeah to guy that says the reciever sees the same voltage no it doesnt its close but a fully charge LiFe is just over 7 volts right around (7.05) some older servos will not handle this.

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 8:18 PM   
Stick 40


 

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Status: offline 		Thanks for all the input

I should have known it would not be that easy to go to another battery, I am still going to switch.

But I will have to look into which ones to get.

The one big plus is, I don't have to buy a charger. My Thunder Power tp 1010 has a LiFe charge setting, I have overlooked for so long I had to go back and run through the different brands to see it.

Anymore input on brands to buy or over look would be appreciated.

sticks

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 8:40 PM   
BarracudaHockey



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Status: online 		All my big stuff uses packs from www.wrongwayrc.com

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RE: Life battery's - 2/7/2012 9:51 PM   
Stick 40


 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BarracudaHockey

All my big stuff uses packs from www.wrongwayrc.com



I just ordered two A123 rx packs from them, going to get my feet wet. I found one of my Ni-Mh's is close to dead, it shows a good cycle on charge but very low on discharge.

thanks

sticks





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RE: Life battery's - 2/8/2012 12:32 AM   
garyr1


 

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Status: offline 		I am also going LiFe this spring, after what I consider to be unsatisfactory life span of NiMh packs.
My 'old technology' NiCd's last longer than the newer NiMh's, and I definitely notice the self discharge thing.
I have several 'name brand' NiMh packs only 2 years old that are done...with not that much flying on them.
The buzz out there seems to be that the LiFe packs have a much better shelf life and minimal self discharge, so I'm in.
Lets see how these work...

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RE: Life battery's - 2/8/2012 1:10 AM   
Stick 40


 

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Status: offline 		I have a lot more years out of my NiMh battery's, and some should last for more years.

I plan to read the instructions for the A123's and follow the instructions for break-in.

I have read there is a break-in procedure for them.

I have a charger that will charge the LiFe and A123 battery's , if you don't have one you should get one.

sticks

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RE: Life battery's - 2/8/2012 2:56 AM   
Minnreefer



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Status: online 		I am thinking about going life as well, most of my batteries are 2+ years old and I am worried about them. I have a couple basic questions, since you don't have much warning on when they run out and recharge at 50%, what size are people getting for a 40-60 size sport plane with standard servos?
Have people been using any from hobbyking? and if so with any problems? I am thinking the cheaper ones for more of my hand me down sport beat up planes.

Thanks

Jon

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RE: Life battery's - 2/8/2012 2:04 PM   
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Status: offline 		Don't believe for a minute that the only difference between A123s and LiFes is the name.

A123s use patented nanophosphate technology and are capable of a much higher discharge rate as well as almost double the life cycle. Not to mention the consistency in quality as opposed to LiFes.

Nothing like the feeling when you lose a multi-thousand dollar airframe because you tried to save five or ten bucks on batteries. To each his own.


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RE: Life battery's - 2/8/2012 3:15 PM   
Stick 40


 

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Status: offline 		What I was told and ordered is the A123's 2300 mAh

http://www.shop.kavarootusa.com/product.sc?productId=26&categoryId=10

If you can go to that site, that's what I ordered for flight packs for my 40 to 60 size planes.

As to the LiFe's and A123's being different, they are. But from what I have read up to this point its might be a Ford/Chevy thing. I am not sure, but at present I am going with the A123's for the time being.

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RE: Life battery's - 2/8/2012 5:29 PM   
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Status: offline 		Good move. Wrongway is a good source for true A123 packs and I have purchased from him before.

Nothing in the world wrong with LiFes in general as long as you buy a quality pack, but they are only close to A123s, not the same.


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RE: Life battery's - 2/8/2012 5:29 PM   
Hill202



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quote:

ORIGINAL: Stick 40


quote:

ORIGINAL: BarracudaHockey

All my big stuff uses packs from www.wrongwayrc.com



I just ordered two A123 rx packs from them, going to get my feet wet. I found one of my Ni-Mh's is close to dead, it shows a good cycle on charge but very low on discharge.

thanks

sticks






You'll be glad you did. I just switched over to A123 packs a few months ago and never looked back. Once you get a feel for how the battery matches up to your flying style, there're great. I know about how many flights I can get on a charge and still be in the safe zone and now I have a routine for charging.

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