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Battery Charger UNSURPASSED! - 12/25/2001 1:47:39 AM   
sideshow



Posts: 2458
Joined: 11/29/2001
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I see the appeal of just charging when you get to the field but I have never had to stop flying because my packs needed a recharge. You still have to recharge the "first" battery and I want some hard numbers on my packs, not just blinking lights. Good discussion though.

Bob

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       Post #: 51

Charger - 12/25/2001 1:55:51 AM   
L454S



Posts: 354
Joined: 12/18/2001
From: Gonzales, LA, USA
Status: offline 		Sideshow, we charge while setting up and fly for the day without having to recharge all day and maybe the next day too. I check my batteries before EVERY flight with a volt meter. Its just a way to eliminate the spider web in the garage the night before. For me it makes for more flying and building time and less clutter.

_____________________________

From the swamp, Lenny ....Bayou Boys R/C
http://www.eatel.net/~l454s

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       Post #: 52

Sideshow - 12/25/2001 2:48:54 AM   
FIVESQUARE



Posts: 625
Joined: 12/9/2001
From: little rock, AR, USA
Status: offline 		Come on now Bob,
You are starting to come around a little
The Sirius (once use by the pilots) IS #1......
Regards,
5

_____________________________

When things start going wrong while airborne, its like the whole world is a tuxedo, and you are a pair of brown shoes.

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       Post #: 53

Battery Charger UNSURPASSED! - 12/25/2001 6:00:29 AM   
sideshow



Posts: 2458
Joined: 11/29/2001
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I would still rather have the Alpha 4 than the Sirius. It does WAY more and gives more info other than blinking lights. If you can charge once and fly all day, whats the big deal about charging at the field?

Oh yeah.....Merry Christmas!

Bob

< Message edited by sideshow -- Dec 25 2001 1:07AM >

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       Post #: 54

Bob - 12/25/2001 6:18:38 AM   
FIVESQUARE



Posts: 625
Joined: 12/9/2001
From: little rock, AR, USA
Status: offline 		Don't miss the point Bob,
He just said he doesn't have to fuss with charging 15 hours or more at night or whenever.
He charges on the way to the field...or when he is assembling his plane. It good for the day, unless one wants to fly some more............Its that simple.......
5
When you get your new battery out of the box....Charge it...15 hours, or whatever.....and forget it.
Down time (weather, etc) check your cycle.....or every time you want....

_____________________________

When things start going wrong while airborne, its like the whole world is a tuxedo, and you are a pair of brown shoes.

(in reply to FIVESQUARE)
       Post #: 55

Sirius - 12/25/2001 10:50:50 AM   
tucson


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: tucson, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Bob,

Here is another prospective.

I use 3 Battery packs in my airplane. They are 1700ma each.
I use all digital servos in this airplane. As a result I can get no more then two fifteen and one 10 minute flight on a full overnight charge on my Alpha 4.

After two flights I charge all 3 packs for 20 minutes total on my Sirius field charger, and I am ready for another two 15 min flights again.

So as you can see Bob It is important for people who fly larger airplanes with high draw servos.

Stan

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       Post #: 56

Sirius Chargers - 12/25/2001 12:01:55 PM   
mglavin



Posts: 5200
Joined: 11/29/2001
From: Elverta, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Well I'm going to enter the fracus, albeit a bit late....

Seems like all the basics have been covered at least once...

There is a difference in the type of charge offered by at least the Victor and Sirius units. The manufacturer ascerts that the pulse/burpe charge cycle conditions the cells. This is not new technology. Just not used often. The manufacturer also ascerts that you can charge the cells without benefit of memory concerns, meaning no harm is done in repeaking the cells, regardless of discharge state/level...


I have the following chargers:

Victor Egineering Super HiQ II, charge-discharge-cycle.
Hobbico Accu-Cycle Plus, charge-discharge-cycle
Sirius Pro-edition dual RX-TX charger
Sirius Limited edition "LE" dual RX charger.
Sirius Super Tester, battery discharge-tester.
Simprop Electronics Intelli-Control, charge-discharge-cycle.
[This is the same unit that is relabled as FMA's Super-Nova, and others]

I use the Sirius equiment routinely prior to actually flying, this eleviates any need to to even think about it, until I'm actually on the way to the field, simple and safe...

I perform scheduled interval cycling and comparison's to known data using the Super Tester, Victor, Intelli-Control or Accu-Cycle.

Without a doubt the simplest and safest equipment is the Sirius Chargers and Super Tester, IMO...

What really counts with all this battery testing, i.e; cycling/grading/use is the "known" discharge abilty of a given battery pack as compared to a previously graded/tested figure... Nothing more, nothing less...

We extrapolate performance figures, into unrealistic safety percentages and weigh this against the all mighty dollar... Go figure...:p

_____________________________

Michael Glavin
RCU Community Moderator
Hitec * Multiplex Field Representative

(in reply to FIVESQUARE)
       Post #: 57

ace super smart charge? - 12/25/2001 6:37:06 PM   
joeyM


 

Posts: 71
Joined: 12/24/2001
From: levittown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		does anyone have the ace super smart charge and how does it compare to the sirius??.....thanks

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       Post #: 58

ACE SuperSmart Charge - 12/25/2001 7:13:04 PM   
Hobbsy



Posts: 10426
Joined: 12/2/2001
From: Colonial Beach, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Joey, from what I'v seen written there doesn't seem to be any differences worth noting, I have a Smart Charger and a Super Smart Charger and use them interchangably on NiCads and NMH. The transmitter side will do small 4 cell batt's as well as transmitters. The receiver side does up to 2,000 MA batt's. I use a FMA SuperNova 250s for larger packs and my 4,000MA glow lighter.

_____________________________

"I have gone faster backwards, upside down and on fire than most people have gone at all" Don Garlits

(in reply to FIVESQUARE)
       Post #: 59

Battery Charger UNSURPASSED! - 12/25/2001 10:57:54 PM   
sideshow



Posts: 2458
Joined: 11/29/2001
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Stan, I use two 2150 6v Rx packs and one 1600 4.8v ignition pack and I have no problem getting at least four 15 minute flights on a single charge. This plane uses 6 JR 8411 digital servos. If you are using nicads you might want to cycle them and check their capacity. If you are using nimh's and you are not showing excessive voltage drops between flights you might want to consider larger packs.

So, as you can see Stan, I just use appropriate packs for those of us who fly larger airplanes with high draw servos. Though if people wanted to use smaller packs to save wieght and charge more often the Sirius chargers could be useful.

Bob

< Message edited by sideshow -- Dec 25 2001 6:14PM >

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       Post #: 60

Battery Charger UNSURPASSED! - 12/25/2001 11:32:09 PM   
tucson


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: tucson, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Bob,

Interesting that you get that many flights using 8411's.
You are using 2150's though that are more than my 1700's. so you will get a little more time there.

I do however check my Batteries capacity on my Alpha 4 from time to time. The last recent check showed my capacity on the 1700ma 5 cell packs to be arond 1800 ma.
So the capacity is not a problem.

I am using a Hitec 5735 digital on rudder, two 8411's on ailerons,
two digital profi's on elevators, and a 9202 on throttle.

I have another 33% with the same battery setup and the only difference is that I am using 4 9202's on ailerons, rest of the servos the same.
I get slightly more time on this setup.

I do not like to run my 5 cell packs below 5.8 on a 1000ma load.

Bob, tell me what I am doing wrong.

How low are you running your packs before you recharge??
What load are you using to check your batteries?

So you see, there is a need for the Sirius charger.

Stan

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       Post #: 61

Battery Charger UNSURPASSED! - 12/26/2001 12:41:13 AM   
sideshow



Posts: 2458
Joined: 11/29/2001
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Yo Stan, I just went to Dave Thackers site (radical rc.com....where I got my packs) to check the difference in weight between the 1700 and the 2150's but there weren't any figures. Since you are cycling them I am assuming they are nicads. I am using nimh because of the weight and their lack of a "memory". I guess the extra 900mah in my two pack setup is the difference, though we would have to check with Red on whether or not there is a difference between a "nimh mah" and a "nicad mah". You wouldn't think so but that kind of stuff is way out of my league. I didn't get the nimh's because I thought they had "better mah". I can't think of a good way to say that. That makes it offical....I'm babbling.

The more I am thinking about it using two smaller nimh packs could significantly reduce weight (for 3D applications).

I know nothing about Futaba (or Hitec or the profi's for that matter) equipment...are the 9202's digital? Have you ever tried nimh packs? Both your A4 and the Sirius charger can handle them. They might save you some weight. You might be able to step up to larger nimh's at the same weight to increase flight time...though if you charge every other flight that's not a concern. What you could do is put in some nimh 1700 packs. Since you charge at the field the capacity is not a big concern and you can save some wieght.

I have heard that you can tell a 3 ounce difference in a 3D airplane....but I can't......I'm not that good but it makes me feel better. Sorry this post is ridiculously long, but its a good thread.

Bob

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       Post #: 62

batteries - 12/26/2001 1:05:00 AM   
RC Accessory



Posts: 592
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: Tampa, FL, USA
Status: offline 		The 1700 nicads are 2/3 A size and weigh 37 grams per cell. The 2000-2100's are Sub c's and weigh 58 grams per cell. That equates to the sub c's weighing 4.35 oz more for the 4 cell pack. Quite a difference.

The Futaba 9202's are analog not digital. The Multiplex digitals do draw more power than other digitals. I have been using Futaba digitals for 3 years now.

On my chopper, I can get 5-6 flights per charge using a 4 cell 1700 pack. That is with 4 Futaba analog 9101's, Futaba 601 gyro and digital servo.

I recharge with my Super Nova 250S. In my 33% Extra, I have 6 Futaba 9206's, 2 Futaba 9151's, and 1 Futaba 9304 and use 2 1600 5 cell Nimh packs into 1 receiver. 5 flights and plenty of juice left.

In my new 40% Extra, I will have 10 Futaba 9206's, 2 Futaba 5050 giant digitals (296 oz of torque each, Futaba prototypes) and 1 Futaba 9304 using 2 receivers and 2 2700 5 cell Nimh packs.

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       Post #: 63

Battery Charger UNSURPASSED! - 12/26/2001 2:05:17 AM   
tucson


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: tucson, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Bob, Evan,

No one is saying what load they are using in checking their packs after that many flights, and what they consider a safe voltage to run their packs down to under that load.

I said that I stop when my 1700ma 5 cell nicad packs are at 5.8 volts with a 1000ma load. (two receivers with one 1700ma pack each receiver)

If I choose to run them down to 5.7, I might get another flight, but I do not.

Again, what are you guys running your 5 cell packs down to, with what load, before you stop flying????

Stan

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       Post #: 64

ESV - 12/26/2001 2:48:34 AM   
RC Accessory



Posts: 592
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: Tampa, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I run the 5 cell packs down to 5.78 volts using a 1 amp load. I use the Duralite ESV, the digital readout version. I use the same ESV on my 4 cell 1700, which I run down to 4.7 volts. Also, in my chopper I have the Gem 2000 and I check it by maximing the current draw and checking it to see if the load makes the lights solid.

(in reply to