Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       


FISHER FUEL PRODUCTS 5 GALLON & 2.5 GAS FUELERS
Seller:  hunternfla
Details:   $220.00   |  10/2/2008   |  Classified Ad
We will rotate YOUR AD in this spot if you select "Forum Featured" when placing or editing your ad!

All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S
Page: [1]

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S - 7/5/2003 7:27:37 AM   
Treker NCC-1701



Posts: 52
Joined: 4/29/2003
From: Savage, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Hi All,

I have a question for you regarding charging NiMH packs with the FMA Supernova 250S charger. (Actually I own the Simprop Intelli-Control v.2 charger that I got from Dymond, but I understand they are the same.)

The problem is with regards to fast charging NiMH packs. When I program the charge cycle parameters, and I select NiMH, it will only allow me to charge at up to a 1C rate, not the higher 2C rate that I understand NiMH batteries can handle. In my case, I have a 730 mAh, 8 cell GWS pack, and it will let me program in a charge rate of up to 0.7A, but no higher. If I select NiCad instead of NiHM, it will allow me to set the charge rate at whatever I want, all the way up to 5A.

What I need to know is is there a way to "trick" the charger into letting me charge at the higher 2C rate with a NiMH battery pack? Should I tell it it is seeing a NiCad pack? That way I can program it to any charge rate I want. Or should I tell it it is seeing a 1400mAh NiMH pack, and then it would allow me to charge at a 2C rate of 1.7A. What is the best solution? Or should I just get another charger, like the GP Triton?

Thanks for your input.

Regards,


_____________________________

Jay Bickford
aka "Treker in Minnesota"
       Post #: 1

Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S - 7/5/2003 11:50:00 AM   
jacs



Posts: 394
Joined: 1/27/2003
From: Uddevalla, SWEDEN
Status: offline 		You just set battery capacity to 1500mAh and charge rate to 1.5.
But I have never had done it this ways because I'm not found on fastcharge NIMH packs


_____________________________

Jacs

(in reply to Treker NCC-1701)
       Post #: 2

Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S - 7/5/2003 1:41:47 PM   
smck


 

Posts: 23
Joined: 6/30/2003
From: Poole, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Like the previous post, I do no charge NiMh above 1C. Most recommendations I have seen support this. Would be worried about temperature with such a charge. Presume you have looked at the battery clinic website
Have not tried to force my Supernova. Am now off to the workshop to see what happens.

_____________________________

Stuart

(in reply to Treker NCC-1701)
       Post #: 3

Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S - 7/5/2003 2:50:44 PM   
smck


 

Posts: 23
Joined: 6/30/2003
From: Poole, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Have checked instructions, they state you cannot charge metal hydride above the stated capacity.

_____________________________

Stuart

(in reply to Treker NCC-1701)
       Post #: 4

Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S - 7/6/2003 4:55:56 AM   
N1EDM-RCU



Posts: 89
Joined: 5/20/2002
From: Brockton, MA,
Status: offline 		Maybe it would be a good idea to check with FMA themselves.....

The reason I say this is that, does the SuperNova use a different type of charge detection for NiMH than it does for NiCads? Perhaps trying to get 'around' the settings might bite you in the rump with a pack that has a shortened life.

I'm not saying that's a fact, I'm only suggesting that perhaps asking FMA might be the best thing to do - to get their opinion.

They understand batteries a lot better than most of us do, and they might have a trick or two up their sleeve....

If you contact them, I'm sure that everyone here would like to know what you found out....

Bob

_____________________________

You can never have too much fuel, unless your plane is on fire.

(in reply to Treker NCC-1701)
       Post #: 5

That "NiCad dodge" is something FMA THEMSELVE... - 7/6/2003 8:05:15 PM   
The PIPE



Posts: 703
Joined: 10/5/2002
From: Weymouth, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Dear Trekker NCC-1701:

The PIPE here again-a diehard Trekker myself (ENTERPRISE is a great and evolving series-a LOT of good stuff already shown, and even BETTER stuff to come!) AND an owner of TWO FMA-branded SuperNovas!

As I'm now switching over STRICTLY to NiMH batteries for my airborne battery needs (I make ALL my own battery packs, and the Sanyo 1650 AA sized NiMH cells, at JUST $2.00 EACH from TNR Technical, are a GREAT bargain) I've starting trying the "NiCad dodge" for doing the regular charging duties on my NiMH packs-in fact, as I write this to you, I'm "excer-cycling" my second 1650 mAH NiMH airborne pack to readiness for flight!

I am also using a VERY reasonable, rougly C/8th charge rate on my NiMHs so that I can even SAFELY charge them in NiCad mode on the SuperNovas.

The "NiCad dodge", of using the manual NiCad mode on the SuperNova to charge NiMH batteries, IS factory recommended by FMA THEMSELVES to avoid the old NiMH "false peaking" problem they've had, which I've had to wrestle with myself occasionally.

But MY advice on using the "NiCad dodge" for NiMH batteries with the SuperNova, especially for use with electric power RC plane NiMH battery charging, would be BEST supplemented by using the procedures that BOB ABERLE mentions in his "Introduction to Electric Power" article that starts on page 56 of the July 2003 issue of the AMA Model Aviation magazine! In that article, Bob mentions using a 3-inch-diameter 12 VDC FAN with a one-foot length of 3" diameter PVC piping fastened to it as a battery cooling device to use while fast charging-and on page 63 of that issue Bob recommends a charge rate of 2C, or a current setting as close to, but NOT over, twice the amerage/hour capacity of the NiMH pack one is charging.

Setting the SuperNova to its "NiCad Manual" charging mode WILL get you out of the built-in 1C limit on NiMH charging...but make sure to build yourself one of those 12 VDC fan driven cooling setups to place your NiMH pack inside of, to insure that the pack being charged will NOT overheat too much AT that higher "2C" rate with the SuperNova in the NiCad Manual mode!

You can also press the CHARGE and DISCHARGE left hand and righthand buttons SIMULTANEOUSLY while charging OR discharging with the SuperNova, and after releasing these two buttons, press the upper button until you get a display that shows you a "CHAR." number figure in mAh on the upper line of the display, and a similar looking "DISC." number figure on the lower line. Keeping a watch on the total charge placed into the battery-using this PARTICULAR display mode [that updates constantly as you charge OR discharge a battery] that I've mentioned here-will allow to use the "NiCad dodge" VERY safely, and will allow you to "pull the plug" when the upper line on the display, showing you the charge placed into your battery, just about EQUALS the stated capacity of the NiCad or NiMH cells used to make up your battery pack with to avoid over charging your NiMH pack in NiCad Manual mode with the SuperNova.

If you can get a copy of the July 2003 AMA mag in your hands, MAKE SURE to read Bob Aberle's article-there seems to be a LOT of good practical info in there for BOTH electroflight "newbies" AND "old hands" in that article-and just make up yourself one of those 12 volt DC power fan driven coolers for your batteries, and use your SuperNova in NiCad Manual mode with that "CHAR/DISC" special display mode showing to monitor EXACTLY how much charge has gone into your NiMH pack-and you SHOULD be all right, if you just keep a CLOSE eye on everything!

Hope this all helped!

Yours Sincerely,

The PIPE!

< Message edited by The PIPE -- Jul 6 2003 4:29PM >

(in reply to Treker NCC-1701)
       Post #: 6

Page:   [1]
All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> Trouble charging NiMH on FMA Supernova 250S
Page: [1]





Jump to:


Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Member Video Posts | RCU Video Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

© 2001 - 2007 24-7 RC, LLC, all rights reserved.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America

Kaango.com Classifieds

0.656RCU3