LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already?  
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LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/14/2008 6:41:48 PM   
joeypm


 

Posts: 54
Joined: 12/3/2005
From: Allentown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		HI,

Soloed last fall on my kit built Eagle 2. The wife...... Yes I said the WIFE purchased a Pulse plug and play for me..... Everything is going GREAT!!!

Then a friends son gives me a foamy..... I found a gread deal at the Lebanon Swap in Pa.... A triton jr charger for 40.00 bucks brand new!!

Everything is still great......!!!! Then I read about lipo's and fire??????? (Can't tell the wife that)... Now I need a 12 volt DC charger supply?????

(Shouldn't tell the wife that)........ OK here is this newbie electical question? Can I not take a AC/DC class 2 power supply ---- input : AC120V 60Hz 18W

Output C 13.5V 850mA and use it for the power supply of the triton jr. The Triton Jr manual page 5 says " if input is below 11.0V or above 15.0V the

display will show and input voltage error"....................... The output for the AC/DC adaptor is 13.5V ( ok some of you electicians are probably shaking

your heads but hey Im new to this and that makes sense to me. thanks for any info...... and im gonna guess you'll say go back to glow and you'll buy

the charger from me!!!


thanks so much for you time.... Joeypm
       Post #: 1

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/15/2008 1:41:40 AM   
v8mini


 

Posts: 90
Joined: 12/3/2005
From: Banbury, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		i'm not an expert, but although the voltage might be ok, i'd guess the 850ma would be too low to run the charger

(in reply to joeypm)
       Post #: 2

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/15/2008 3:08:41 AM   
jdetray


 

Posts: 1184
Joined: 12/7/2004
From: Napoleon, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Joeypm -

v8mini is correct. The voltage might be OK, but the Triton needs more the 850 mA. You need a power supply with enough current to operate the Triton, plus charge the battery, and 850 mA won't do it.

In fact, although the rated voltage of the power supply is OK (13.5V), it's probably an unregulated supply. That means the actual voltage might vary quite a bit from 13.5V. Chargers need a regulated power supply.

Sorry, but you'll need a proper power supply.

- Jeff

_____________________________

My other hobby: www.AstronomyBoy.com

(in reply to v8mini)
       Post #: 3

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/15/2008 3:46:46 AM   
ozrcboy



Posts: 1675
Joined: 10/5/2006
From: CanberraACT, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		joey,

With respect to a power supply, if the budget is tight, and you have an old PC in the house you can always pull the PS out of it - you will find 12v @ plenty of amps available between two pins (just test with the multimeter till you find them - got a feeling the peripheral leads - like the power lead to the CDROM/HDD run at 12v or so). Computer power supply is regulated - you save a bit of toxic waste from the tip, get some more use out of your old clunker and keep some dollars in your pocket - great result all round.

If you do have to buy a new one they aren't expensive. A 12V 20A supply will probably only cost $20 or so.

As for going back to glow - when you turn up at the field, fly all your batteries to flat, pack up, go home and realise you spent 80% of your time at the field flying, 0% wiping slime of aircraft, and that when you get home the only maintenance you need to do is charge your packs I think you will get the idea fast why we love electrics.

Cheers,
Oz.

_____________________________

ozrcboy
http://www.ozrcflying.com

(in reply to jdetray)
       Post #: 4

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/26/2008 3:32:18 PM   
Hypersprint


 

Posts: 59
Joined: 11/22/2007
From: Colchester, VT or Eustis, FL, USA
Status: offline 		No need to quit, just treat lipos with care and respect and you will be fine. read and follow all warnings and use a balancer such as the ElectriFly Equinox to charge them. Check into other topics on this forum, there are a lot of posts similar to yours with a lot of great info and advice about the proper care and handling of lipos.

_____________________________

I Love To Fly - - - - - - - With both feet planted firmly on the ground

(in reply to ozrcboy)
       Post #: 5

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/27/2008 1:09:03 AM   
cjg



Posts: 1088
Joined: 9/6/2003
From: Vermillion, SD, USA
Status: offline 		Get a Lipo Sack or a Lipo container to charge them in, just in case they catch fire.

_____________________________

BX, XXXT, MQ, RC18MT, Rustler; BCX, SuperCub, T-28 Trojan, DX6i
www.usd.edu/~cgutzman/evader; www.usd.edu/~cgutzman/mq

(in reply to Hypersprint)
       Post #: 6

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/27/2008 3:24:48 PM   
Glacier Girl



Posts: 6690
Joined: 7/9/2004
From: SomewhereIn, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Yeah Joey, don't give up. Lipo packs are like anything, you mistreat them and you can expect some nasty results. You poke a dog with a stick and eventually you'll get bit. You get in your car, and somewhere down the line you might have an accident. You still drive a car right? and you're not afraid of dogs are you? Oh gawd don't tell me you're one of those cat people.

Like others have said read up on them and use common sense. Storage can be something as simple as Pyrex cookware with a lid. Or heck you can go to Wally World and pick up a fireproof briefcase style safe for about $20.00. Or the ever popular 50 cal ammo box at the Army Navy store. Or heck steal your kids metal lunch box. Remember them?



And the old PC power supply is a great one, not only do you get the 12 volt line but also a 5 volt one. It's great for running voltage to check your rx/servos/ etc. Stop by a PC repair shop, most of the time you can get them just for asking. Just look at the label on it, will give you the amp output. I have a couple of them.

_____________________________

"The Missing Man Formation"
Looking heavenward you cannot help but shed a tear...mornful...lonesome...a hole that screams out almost as loudly as the roar of the engines that pass over head.

(in reply to cjg)
       Post #: 7

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/27/2008 4:45:05 PM   
Dorsal


 

Posts: 206
Joined: 4/21/2005
From: Tracy, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Yes! Quit!
That way, you won't need to learn anything!

(in reply to Glacier Girl)
       Post #: 8

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 3/29/2008 1:31:34 AM   
ozrcboy



Posts: 1675
Joined: 10/5/2006
From: CanberraACT, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		And it looks like you're just the guy to not teach them

_____________________________

ozrcboy
http://www.ozrcflying.com

(in reply to Dorsal)
       Post #: 9

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 4/20/2008 7:52:42 PM   
hpux735


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 3/22/2008
From: Philomath, OR, USA
Status: offline 		I've written up a description of converting a PC power supply for use with a charger. It takes a little soldering skill, but they are pretty cheap and soldering practice is probably worthwhile if you are getting into electrics.

My website
Also, make sure that power supply has been sitting around for a while before you tear it apart. Those capacitors can hold their charge!

Also, I was a little put-off by the concept of Li-po's but like has been said so far, treat them with respect and they will change the way you think about batteries!

(in reply to ozrcboy)
       Post #: 10

RE: LIPO and fire? Should I quit Elect. Already? - 4/21/2008 1:59:55 AM   
jdetray


 

Posts: 1184
Joined: 12/7/2004
From: Napoleon, OH, USA
Status: offline 		If you wish more information, here are a few discussion threads on the topic of converting PC power supplies for use as 12V bench supplies for chargers and other equipment:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=368639
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315179
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=55555
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=114054
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41161

In addition, here are some helpful web sites on the same topic:
http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/powersupply.htm
http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/DESIGN_GUIDE.HTM
http://www.marcee.org/Articles/PCPowerSupply.htm
http://www.dream-models.com/eco/DIY-powerSupply.html
http://www.extensiontech.net/articles/howto/jb/pstu/
http://reckerclub.tripod.com/id105.html
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fast.electrics/PSU.pdf
http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Teardrop%2012%20V%20Power%20Supply.htm

You can usually get a full 12V from these power supplies, though you may have to put a load on the 5V line (yes, the 5V line) to get the 12V line closer to 12V.

- Jeff

_____________________________

My other hobby: www.AstronomyBoy.com

(in reply to hpux735)
       Post #: 11

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