lipo battery for starter
 

Hi...

I'm trying to lighten up may flight box and was considering using a lipo to power my starter. Has anyone done this? If so did you use a 3 celll or 4 cell and what milliamp and "c" rating?
What kind of amps would the starter pull on spinning a nelson?
Just tired of having one arm longer than the other at the end of a race day..

RE: lipo battery for starter
 

I've been using A123 lithium ion batteries for over a year. I measured 3 amp draw spining a thunder tiger 40. I am using a inexpensive tower starter and runing it on 5 cells ( 18 volts) . It will easly turn over a Saito 180 I only charge it every few months and with A123 batteries that only takes 15 min. to recharge .Runining more than 12 volts doesn't seem to bother the starter as the load is relitivley small. and it does not heat up at all. With the small amp draw you could use the least expensive lipo available ( 15c) 4 cells should give it a good kick. Also a 2000 ma capacity would be plenty.

RE: lipo battery for starter
 

That sounds like a good idea to me. BUT then what size of Li-Po would be used to run a fast field charger?

RE: lipo battery for starter
 

A three or four cell should work.Just check the specs o0n the field charger. By the way on my starter the A123 battery is attached to the base of the starter so there are no wires, a better set up.

RE: lipo battery for starter
 

With those batteries, you shouldn't need a "fast field charger" :)

RE: lipo battery for starter
 

The fast field charger is for recharging the flight pack battery. We race 1/2 A Pylon and use 110 mah ni-cads to power the RX & servos. by the end of a race day the 110 mah battery is dead. I fast field charge about mid way thru the race.
I like the idea of not hauling around a flight box with a 12 volt 7 ah battery on board.

RE: lipo battery for starter
 

IF you put the battery pack on your starter you could just tap off it to run your charger, all in one that way.

RE: lipo battery for starter
 

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...0C_Lipoly_Pack

Here is a link for a 4 cell 2150 ma pack for $36.00