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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> A123Racing Support >> A123 to power IE and PCM Rx.
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A123 to power IE and PCM Rx. - 7/17/2008 9:27:59 PM   
soarrich



Posts: 2339
Joined: 2/1/2002
From: Middletown, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		I flew today using A123 to power IE and Futaba PCM 1024 Rx. It worked, but the trim on the ailerons, throttle kept changing, so I don't think it is something you want to do. I was at the field, I had left the IE on after adjusting the timing the night before, so I charged the Ni-Cad for 125mah, the IE died on landing, rather than sitting in the heat and waiting for the battery to charge I plugged in the A123. I bought a couple packs from A123, but I made 5 up from a DeWalt 36v pack, on these I put two power leads so I could use redundant switches, that made the test easy to do. I'll charge the Ni-Cad and fly again Monday to see that the drifting trims is not a radio problem.

_____________________________

Rich Border
       Post #: 1

RE: A123 to power IE and PCM Rx. - 7/18/2008 2:25:26 AM   
Capt Lou


 

Posts: 284
Joined: 1/3/2007
From: Manahawkin, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		I don't know what "IE" means so I can't respond to that statement. Regarding the Futaba PCM RX, you need to look at what voltage your servos are rated for. An A123 battery pack puts out 6.6 volts (3.3v per cell) and not all servos can handle this voltage. If you are using Futaba servos, some of them are rated only for 4.8 volts while others can handle both 4.8 or 6.0 volts. However, if your servos are rated 6.0 volts, you should check with Futaba to see that they can handle 6.6 volts v. 6.0 volts. Every time I ask Futaba that question, I'm not satisfied with their answer because they give me a boiler plate answer that doesn't tell you much and this is why I switched to JR. A 6.0 volt nicad/nimh pack comes off a charger at above 7 volts so you would think the servos could handle an A123 pack but the A123 remain at a constant 6.6v whereas the nicads/nimhs voltage will drop off as they are used.

(in reply to soarrich)
       Post #: 2

RE: A123 to power IE and PCM Rx. - 7/18/2008 3:34:53 AM   
soarrich



Posts: 2339
Joined: 2/1/2002
From: Middletown, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		IE = electronic ignition.

I'm using HiTec 5985 digitalis, they work great on 6.6v, the only difference was the IE being run off the same battery. 2.4 GHz works OK, no problems, FM doesn't work with Rx and IE on the same battery, this seems safe, but not good. I never had any glitching, just sifting of the trim.

_____________________________

Rich Border

(in reply to Capt Lou)
       Post #: 3

RE: A123 to power IE and PCM Rx. - 7/18/2008 2:27:41 PM   
Capt Lou


 

Posts: 284
Joined: 1/3/2007
From: Manahawkin, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Several comments regarding your situation and you may be already aware of what I'm about to tell you. I fly a Wildhare Extra 300 with a DA-50 and Pitts muffler. I have a JR X9303 2.4 ghz TX with the JR R921 RX, 5 JR 8611a digital high torque servos and two JR 821 digital servos. I use one A123 2300 mah battery pack on my IE. Some people tell me I can use an 1100 mah pack but DA calls for at least a 1500 mah and I'd rather have the extra capacity than be concerned about a few ounces of weight. One thing DA instructs you on its EI is that you must keep your RX at least 12-16 inches away from the IE or you may pick up some interference/noise from the ignition. I don't know where your RX is relative to your IE but this may be giving you chatter in the servos. Another recommendation to isolate your IE from your flight pack is to use non-metalic connectors between your carburetor and choke connections and the servos that they are attached to because a metalic connection will ground the engine to the servos and you'll pick up IE interference/noise thru this grounding. I use ball joint connectors for this purpose because the body of the connector is plastic and acts as an insulator. Finally, I use two 2300 mah A123 battery packs for my RX. These packs are separate from my IE pack. I have read threads where people express pros and cons about using the same A123 battery pack for the IE and RX (for the purpose of saving weight) and my conclusion is that the redundency of the battery packs for safety sake is worth more than benefit of less weight.

(in reply to soarrich)
       Post #: 4

RE: A123 to power IE and PCM Rx. - 7/18/2008 3:50:03 PM   
Bob Pastorello



Posts: 5169
Joined: 2/23/2002
From: El Reno, OK, USA
Status: online 		I was waiting to see what came up on this thread about EI's running on shared A123's. We all know the Hitec's tolerate the 6.6v nominal very well... but I'm curious about whether the Futaba RX can tolerate it without some issue?? Being's how I don't run Futaba, that is really a "what if" question to soarrich.

I use only A123's now on all aircraft and EI's, and I have one that shares the EI with the RX and no problems with trims, but is a Spektrum RX and Hitec 5985's.

Will be interested in your diagnostic reports, Rich. Let us know what you find.

_____________________________

Bob Pastorello www.rcaerobats.net
Learn from others...you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself....

(in reply to soarrich)
       Post #: 5

RE: A123 to power IE and PCM Rx. - 7/18/2008 4:20:38 PM   
Capt Lou


 

Posts: 284
Joined: 1/3/2007
From: Manahawkin, NJ, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bob Pastorello

I was waiting to see what came up on this thread about EI's running on shared A123's. We all know the Hitec's tolerate the 6.6v nominal very well... but I'm curious about whether the Futaba RX can tolerate it without some issue?? Being's how I don't run Futaba, that is really a "what if" question to soarrich.

I use only A123's now on all aircraft and EI's, and I have one that shares the EI with the RX and no problems with trims, but is a Spektrum RX and Hitec 5985's.

Will be interested in your diagnostic reports, Rich. Let us know what you find.

Guys:

FYI - I asked Futaba about A123 batteries being used in their flight system where the servos were rated for 6.0 volts. They gave me a very boiler plate answer that was not helpful. Futaba said that their RX could handle the A123 6.6 volts because their receivers have built-in internal regulators; however, they then went on to say that they "recommend using a voltage regulator" in the flight pack for their 6.0v servos. What annoyed me is that they did not step up to the use of A123 technology and that you could have read their recommendation from their instruction manual without posing the question. When it comes to battery technology, Futuba is very deficient in stepping up to issues that are important to the RC consumer. I had been a loyal Futaba customer for 25 years, but due to their inability to address these battery issues and some FASST issues that have developed with their 2.4 ghz TX and RX, I have sold my Futaba gear and switched to JR.

(in reply to Bob Pastorello)
       Post #: 6

RE: A123 to power IE and PCM Rx. - 7/18/2008 5:12:07 PM   
Bob Pastorello



Posts: 5169
Joined: 2/23/2002
From: El Reno, OK, USA
Status: online 		JR gives exactly the same type of vague, disclaimer kind of responses when asked about it.
I would sure like to know for certain what is to blame for the trim shifts, regardless.

_____________________________

Bob Pastorello www.rcaerobats.net
Learn from others...you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself....

(in reply to Capt Lou)
       Post #: 7

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