Can you use batteries other than duralites with a powerbox?  
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Can you use batteries other than duralites with a power... - 7/20/2008 9:52:17 PM   
LGM Graphix



Posts: 2363
Joined: 4/20/2003
From: Abbotsford, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		I know that duralite says to only use their batteries with a Powerbox, but can you use another brand of Lithium Ion batteries with them? The packs in my Kingcat after sitting for a year are toast. It's my own fault, I had everything put away and have been to busy to use them. They're 4 years old now anyway.
Anyway, there are so many other batteries out there that are way cheaper than the duralites, can you use another brand of lithium ion's with the powerbox? Can you use LiPo's with a powerbox? I don't want to blow anything up, or risk losing the jet, so if the duralites are the only battery I can use I will, just thought I'd check before I drop $140 per pack...

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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a p... - 7/20/2008 10:54:10 PM   
DelGatoGrande



Posts: 981
Joined: 3/25/2004
From: ATHENS, GREECE
Status: online 		you can use 2 cell lipo packs

like the ones from powerbox :

http://www.powerbox-systems.de/e/powerbox_systeme/powerbox_battery/start.php

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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/20/2008 11:32:52 PM   
highhorse


 

Posts: 616
Joined: 11/16/2006
From: Memphis, TN, USA
Status: offline 		Isn't there a new duralite line of batteries with 123 chemistry?

I'd ask Todd at Dreamworks. He sells the Duralite line, including powerboxes. He will know what's compatible and what isn't........

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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/21/2008 12:53:50 AM   
rcjet lynch


 

Posts: 287
Joined: 3/30/2006
From: tamarac, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I use two Flight Power 2500 evo lite 7.4 packs and get plenty of flying with this set up. They are also only about 50 dollars per pack and are 20c rated batteries.

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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/21/2008 1:12:03 AM   
bevar



Posts: 669
Joined: 9/8/2002
From: Lake Worth, FL, USA
Status: offline 		You can use any kind of battery with a Powerbox. You can even run 6 cell nicads in the Lithium unit and it will work fine. I have used Powerflite, Fromeco and Troy Built batteries in Powerbox System units since the first day they came out many years ago.

The unit Duralite sells is a regular PB with "Duralite" painted on it.

Beave


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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/21/2008 5:26:42 PM   
LGM Graphix



Posts: 2363
Joined: 4/20/2003
From: Abbotsford, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Beave,
Thanks for the info. I've often wondered about that but never wanted to try as when I bought my powerbox there were 2 models available, one for the li-ion's and one for nicad's specifically. But you're saying it doesn't matter? I can run essentially any battery in there as long as it's in that 7.4V range?

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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/21/2008 8:42:39 PM   
bevar



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From: Lake Worth, FL, USA
Status: offline 		LG,

Basically...the only difference between the Lithium and Ni Cad PBs are the lights are calibrated differently because of the different input voltage. You can take a Lithium PB and hook up a 3 cell Ni Cad to one port and a 5 cell to the other port and the PB will work just fine...the only difference will be that the battery strength lights will be reading low. There are potential issues in using Lithiums on a Ni cad unit so that is not recommended, however there is no problem in using lower voltage batteries (A123s) with the Lithium or Ni Cad units.

Beave


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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/22/2008 7:22:36 AM   
LGM Graphix



Posts: 2363
Joined: 4/20/2003
From: Abbotsford, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Beave,
I spoke with Jack at Duralite today and he told me as well that yes, any Lithium battery can be used with the Lithium powerbox. He didn't recommend nicads on a lithium PB but that's fine as I don't want to run Nicad's anyway. I think I might try some of the Air Thunder batteries, they are a non-puff battery like the A123's. I think they're slightly heavier, but that's not really a concern of mine in the Kingcat. I can also get them locally without having to pay for shipping and waiting for them to arrive which is a bonus.
Thanks again
Jeremy

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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/24/2008 7:50:24 AM   
lucapieroni


 

Posts: 9
Joined: 10/15/2007
From: UmbertidePerugia, ITALY
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: bevar

LG,

Basically...the only difference between the Lithium and Ni Cad PBs are the lights are calibrated differently because of the different input voltage. You can take a Lithium PB and hook up a 3 cell Ni Cad to one port and a 5 cell to the other port and the PB will work just fine...the only difference will be that the battery strength lights will be reading low. There are potential issues in using Lithiums on a Ni cad unit so that is not recommended, however there is no problem in using lower voltage batteries (A123s) with the Lithium or Ni Cad units.

Beave




Is there the possibility of using lipo cells on a nicd powerbox entering the voltage regulators between the battery and the PB?
Thanks for the info

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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/24/2008 2:15:32 PM   
bevar



Posts: 669
Joined: 9/8/2002
From: Lake Worth, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Yes, that will work just fine.

B


quote:

ORIGINAL: lucapieroni


quote:

ORIGINAL: bevar

LG,

Basically...the only difference between the Lithium and Ni Cad PBs are the lights are calibrated differently because of the different input voltage. You can take a Lithium PB and hook up a 3 cell Ni Cad to one port and a 5 cell to the other port and the PB will work just fine...the only difference will be that the battery strength lights will be reading low. There are potential issues in using Lithiums on a Ni cad unit so that is not recommended, however there is no problem in using lower voltage batteries (A123s) with the Lithium or Ni Cad units.

Beave




Is there the possibility of using lipo cells on a nicd powerbox entering the voltage regulators between the battery and the PB?
Thanks for the info


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RE: Can you use batteries other than duralites with a ... - 7/25/2008 11:29:14 AM   
David Gladwin



Posts: 1960
Joined: 2/5/2002
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		I thought that the light calibration on Duralite Powerboxes was different to ordinary units. Dave Wilshere assures me they are all the same and quotes his source as Emmerich Deutsch of Powerbox, so he should know. I am using A123s on my PB Royal and works fine BUT the analogue voltage display shows empty, digital shows exact voltage !
Regards, David Gladwin.

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