A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ?  
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A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 1/29/2008 10:07:53 AM   
propnuter


 

Posts: 44
Joined: 11/3/2003
From: span, MT, USA
Status: offline 		A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ?

The 1100Mah A123 battery pack weighs 3.5oz (99g) and is ideal for a pattern model.
Has anyone tried the A123 1100Mah or 2300Mah A123 packs for this purpose ?

see
http://www.sincityjets.com/store-batteries.htm


Propnuter
       Post #: 1

RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 1/29/2008 12:29:45 PM   
serious power


 

Posts: 74
Joined: 11/19/2007
From: wexford, IRELAND
Status: offline 		Hi Shane,
Provided you are happy with the weight these should be perfect.
They offer a lot of advantages over others inc,, lipo's.
In that application up to 2000 cycles.
They are ok with being completely discharged (eg; if you forgot to turn off rx). If you do this once with lipo its a bin job.
NO FIRE HAZARD AT ALL.
Can withstand substantial physical abuse ,they've punctured them with nails in testing ;no fires!!.
Can be zip charged 5 to 10c.
30C continuous discharge, would survive just about anything imaginable servo failure wise.

Regards

Brian

(in reply to propnuter)
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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 1/29/2008 4:35:48 PM   
tommy s


 

Posts: 1187
Joined: 1/14/2004
From: houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I'm using the 2300 mah A123 pack in my 2 meter pattern ship but I'm thinking
about switching to the 1100 mah pack because it's 1/2 the weight. There is almost
no voltage drop when the circuit is loaded and an hours flying only uses about
500-600 mah. Recharges quickly with the Cell Pro 4s charger.

tommy s

(in reply to propnuter)
       Post #: 3

RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 1/29/2008 8:09:32 PM   
Jon Wold



Posts: 456
Joined: 8/2/2002
From: Oslo, NORWAY
Status: offline 		Tommy, do you have electric or glow power in your model, and do you use all-digital servos? I remember measuring about 150 mAh pr flight on my OS 160 with digital servos using NiMH cells. Electric models don't vibrate and use a lot less mAh

< Message edited by Jon Wold -- 1/29/2008 8:10:43 PM >

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(in reply to tommy s)
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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 1/30/2008 2:01:24 PM   
tommy s


 

Posts: 1187
Joined: 1/14/2004
From: houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Jon,

Glow power, YS DZ 1.60 , 4 digital on surfaces, standard on throttle.
Current usage will vary depending on what and how many maneuvers
during the flight. The A123's seem to hold a steady voltage for a long
time and I figured that would be one less worry with the 2.4ghz radio.

tommy s

(in reply to Jon Wold)
       Post #: 5

RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 1/30/2008 2:23:10 PM   
nonstoprc



Posts: 1044
Joined: 9/9/2003
From: austin, TX, USA
Status: online 		another advantage with A123s is that there is no need for a voltage regulator, if the servos are OK with 5-cells nicad/nimh packs.

(in reply to tommy s)
       Post #: 6

RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 3/6/2008 10:35:22 AM   
propnuter


 

Posts: 44
Joined: 11/3/2003
From: span, MT, USA
Status: offline 		I have had about 16 flights on my majestic 40 using the 1100Mah A123 battery pack charging with the FMA Cellpro 4s balancing charger.

So far so good.
The plane uses 300-325 Mah per flight and I am charging after 2 flights. The charger has two displays one of which displays the remaining battery fuel as a %. I don’t use this as I don’t think it is accurate due to the flat discharge curve of the A123’s. Instead I just monitor how many Mah are required to charge the battery back to 100%.

The charger needs a 5AMP power source which means you need a big field battery to recharge. The batteries are charged at 4AMPs and it takes about 5-8 mins to charge and balance itself.

Every battery has some disadvantage. In the case of the A123’s not being able to check the battery before flying is an inconvenience. However I think it just requires a change of mind set and more disciplined charge monitoring.

I will try it in my F3a model in a few weeks time.

Shane

(in reply to nonstoprc)
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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 3/6/2008 12:30:10 PM   
BTerry



Posts: 888
Joined: 4/24/2002
From: Silverdale, WA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: propnuter


Every battery has some disadvantage. In the case of the A123’s not being able to check the battery before flying is an inconvenience. However I think it just requires a change of mind set and more disciplined charge monitoring.



This is easy, just plug it back into the FMA charger and read the "fuel gauge". This only takes about 5-8 seconds and gives a somewhat-accurate depiction of the remaining charge.

(in reply to propnuter)
       Post #: 8

RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 3/7/2008 4:00:26 AM   
nonstoprc



Posts: 1044
Joined: 9/9/2003
From: austin, TX, USA
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: propnuter

I have had about 16 flights on my majestic 40 using the 1100Mah A123 battery pack charging with the FMA Cellpro 4s balancing charger.

So far so good.
The plane uses 300-325 Mah per flight and I am charging after 2 flights. The charger has two displays one of which displays the remaining battery fuel as a %. I don’t use this as I don’t think it is accurate due to the flat discharge curve of the A123’s. Instead I just monitor how many Mah are required to charge the battery back to 100%.

The charger needs a 5AMP power source which means you need a big field battery to recharge. The batteries are charged at 4AMPs and it takes about 5-8 mins to charge and balance itself.

Every battery has some disadvantage. In the case of the A123’s not being able to check the battery before flying is an inconvenience. However I think it just requires a change of mind set and more disciplined charge monitoring.

I will try it in my F3a model in a few weeks time.

Shane



Interesting numbers. Just wonder the cut-off voltage at which CellPro 4S charger stops charging.

(in reply to propnuter)
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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 3/7/2008 5:46:01 PM   
Anthony-RCU


 

Posts: 354
Joined: 1/9/2002
From: Ossining, NY, USA
Status: offline 		In the A123 program 3.59 volts/cell

_____________________________

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Wrong rudder is the most powerful force in the universe.

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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 5/23/2008 12:18:00 PM   
propnuter


 

Posts: 44
Joined: 11/3/2003
From: span, MT, USA
Status: offline 		Update

I have been using the 1100Mah A123 battery pack on my 2m pattern Rx for about 1 month now. On my Osmose I have 2x9154, 2x9551, 1x9350, 1x9602, duralite 5.2v Regulator.
The plane consumes 90-120Mah per flight (11mins). Out of habit i charge after 2 flights and it takes ~200-240Mah. You could probably do 5 flights safely per charge but I havnt tried it yet.
If you are getting the FMA Cellpro 4s balancing charger make sure it has the new v3.02 software as you cant download an upgrade.

So far I am very happy.

Shane


< Message edited by propnuter -- 5/23/2008 12:20:54 PM >

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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 5/23/2008 12:24:56 PM   
BaldEagel



Posts: 4218
Joined: 10/12/2005
From: Wychling, Kent, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: online 		Hi guys

It looks like you have not seen the Fromeco Kodiak switch, it is designed for the A123's and has a digital read out of how may apms have passed though it during your flight, it has a memory so that multiple flights are added together, simple to zero by a quick switch on and off and on again, Deans plug compatable and a charge socket on the front face, so you can re-charge without taking the battery out of the aircraft.

Oh yes the switch is a fail safe on and can handle a 30amp draw.

Hope this helps.
Mike

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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 5/23/2008 2:31:04 PM   
klhoard



Posts: 544
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Collierville, TN, USA
Status: offline 		.
.
I'm using the 2S-1100 A123 batteries made from a Black and Decker VPX pack purchased at Wal-Mart. I wired it so the Node 1 tap is the white wire on the Futaba plug, then I stripped out the white wire between the charge switch and the receiver. Every time I take the plane back to the parking spot after a flight, I plug in the CellPro and it is re-charged by the time I am done refueling. I have the old CellPro that can only charge at 3 amps, but the new one goes straight to 4 amps. The A123's are great, I don't think its possible for these batts to be over-abused in our application. Go read how the car guys treat these cells. . . .
.
.
Futaba FASST 6014 receiver, Futaba S9151 servos, and S3151 on throttle. . . . so far all components seem happy with the 6.5 volts. . .
.
.

< Message edited by klhoard -- 5/23/2008 2:33:27 PM >


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Collierville, TN

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RE: A123 Batteries for Pattern Rx ? - 5/23/2008 6:54:02 PM   
nonstoprc



Posts: 1044
Joined: 9/9/2003
From: austin, TX, USA
Status: online 		That is what I did in order to use 2 packs of 1100mah A123 on my WH Edge 540. I use the Triton charger with a cut-off device and a balancer to limit the charge current t 1.5A. Slightly longer charge time but would not let high current pass through the two switches.

I can have 4 flights without recharging. The plane has 5 high-current digital servos.

Cheers.


(in reply to klhoard)