Voltwatch, you all use 'em?

Voltwatch, you all use 'em?
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Beginners >> Voltwatch, you all use 'em?

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Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 1:42:14 AM

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I've been flying a good while now and have never used a voltwatch until recently when a friend gave me one. I do have a Hobbico loaded voltmeter and do use it, but probably not as much as I thought I would. Anyway, just curious if you all use those Hobbico voltwatches.

I kind of like the idea of knowing whether go or no go with just a glance at the voltwatch.

< Message edited by cruzomatic -- 3/16/2008 1:43:11 AM >

RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 1:54:04 AM

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I have used a voltwatch from time-to-time and they work well. Wiggle the sticks from corner to corner to put some load on the electrical system. You can see the voltage drop a little but you know that it is not too low to fly. I also use a loaded voltmeter after the third flight.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 2:08:52 AM

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I just bought one. Sometimes there will be days or even a week or two before I can get to a field, so Voltwatch will tell me if I need to charge; keeping the batteries charged all the time will create "memory" from what I am told-If you keep the batteries charged between 3/4 and full all the time, the batteries will think that that is all the capacity they have. Voltwatch will give me a better idea of where I'm at.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 2:53:51 AM

springhillflyer

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i've got a voltwatch on all my planes....gives me great piece of mind cause i KNOW where my battery is at and never have to guess. so i figure the ten bucks you pay for one is well worth it when you consider the possibility of ditching your plane cause its outa juice.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 3:07:49 AM

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I have one on every plane I own.
Loaded voltmeters are fine and I do own and use one but Voltwatch is a quick check every single flight plus it also verifies your switch and battery connections to your receiver are good, something a loaded voltmeter won't due simply because you are taking readings directly from the battery.
This is one, some times heated, topic. You will hear both opinions here.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 4:01:40 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: FatOrangeKat

I just bought one. Sometimes there will be days or even a week or two before I can get to a field, so Voltwatch will tell me if I need to charge; keeping the batteries charged all the time will create "memory" from what I am told-If you keep the batteries charged between 3/4 and full all the time, the batteries will think that that is all the capacity they have. Voltwatch will give me a better idea of where I'm at.

Another Ol Wives Tale. In the good ol days batteries weren't as good as today and "memory" did exist enough to worry about. I keep my batteris on the wall warts 24/7 when not at the field and in almost 30 years have never experienced it.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 4:11:16 AM

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I'm addicted to them also. One on every plane. I too have a loaded volt meter and a expanded scale volt meter. As Missleman said neither one of them will tell you what your system is seeing, only what the battery looks like, and then not at a peak load like all servos moving. They also provide a great "ON" light, which is important if you are like me and sometimes forget to turn off the radio when you get back to the pits.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 6:24:45 AM

5focus

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I just installed a Voltwatch on one of my planes. The idea of a quick look see to check the battery is slick. Low battery voltage is the nightmare of R/Cers. Alot of planes have gone in because of missed battery checks. Our club is trying to get our flyers to do a battery check before each flight. Now the bitter pill might easier to swallow with the Voltwatch.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 8:34:39 AM

bigtim

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I definatly use one as a spot check to see where I am at,and to see what my charge status is I need to get a couple more for my planes.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 12:08:00 PM

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i got a few

one on my trainer, one on my bossanova and one on the four star, just wiggle the sticks as mentioned previously and it should give you a general idea of battery condition

i run one on my HPI Savage aswell to help keep an eye on battery condition (im running a big 15kg servo and lights, so the hump pack can deplete quickly)

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 1:38:12 PM

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Besides that they are cheap and provide peace of mind, they look cool under a tinted canopy. I have a couple with the pilot head that has dark visors on them and the lights reflect off the visors and just looks cool. Just turn switch on and you know right then if you need to recharge or not. That is pretty darn good. I also keep my batts. charged up alot. Even if your batt does develop memory and think it only has full to 3/4 charge that is usually more than you will use in a day. But mine I might leave plugged in for a 24hr. period and then not for a week or more and they are fine. Batterys are alot more gooder than they used to be lol.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 2:18:54 PM

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I don't understand these things

the volt watch provides NO load so if you wiggle the sticks you will see the light drop again but thats nothing like in flight i mean unless you have a real binding issues.

Would it not be better to use a LOADED voltmeter so simulate and IN FLIGHT load not just servos moving on the ground with no air resistance.

Does no one else think these things might sorta give you a false impression that your good to go even though......

Steven

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 3:04:27 PM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Flying freak

I don't understand these things

the volt watch provides NO load so if you wiggle the sticks you will see the light drop again but thats nothing like in flight i mean unless you have a real binding issues.

Would it not be better to use a LOADED voltmeter so simulate and IN FLIGHT load not just servos moving on the ground with no air resistance.

Does no one else think these things might sorta give you a false impression that your good to go even though......

Steven

Duh!

You understand very well!

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 3:10:12 PM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Flying freak

Does no one else think these things might sorta give you a false impression that your good to go even though......

Steven

If you check the voltwatch at the END of each flight it tells you what you have immediately after being under actual flight loads. That should tell you if you're ok for more flying.

If you check it before a flight it could possibly give you a false sense of security.

The voltwatch argument will probably still be going on when we're all dead. Another argument is cost. Voltwatch costs about 10 bucks per plane. A loaded voltmeter and lead costs anywhere between 20 and 40 bucks and should be a one time purchase.

I have a loaded voltmeter.
I have a voltwatch or two.
I have a few MPI switches with LED charge indicators built in. These are my favorite.

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RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 3:23:54 PM

Rodney

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IMHO the Voltwatch is much superior to a loaded voltmeter or expanded scale voltmeter for the following reasons. If you see the lights dance when you wiggle the sticks it is telling you that you have a potential problem in your plane as you are getting voltage drops at the receiver (you do have the voltwatch plugged into one of the receiver channels, right?) due to either to small a gage wire between the battery and receiver, a high impedance switch, a servo drawing excess current when excited or some other problem causing this voltage drop between the battery and reciever. It is almost as good as monitoring the voltage with an oscilloscope. When everything is properly installed and you check it at the end of each flight before turning off the transmitter and receiver, you can be quite assured that another flight is safe to do.

(in reply to carrellh)

RE: Voltwatch, you all use 'em? - 3/16/2008 3:38:38 PM

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