George E.

My Feedback: (16)

I was thinking of getting some 5 cell packs for my fun fly planes to speed up the standard BB servos (Hitec 425's and Futaba 148's).

Anyone running a 5 cell pack?? Do you notice a speed difference?

Do I need a regulator???

Thanks
George

Alastair

You probably won't notice the difference in servo speed. The only reason I use 6.0v in some plane is to get extra torque in something like a 60 size plane. Also, on most chargers you have to remember to switch them over to 6v or they won't charge the battery properly.

Gordon Mc

My Feedback: (11)

I run 5 cell packs on my giant scale aircraft and my jets. There is a speed difference, but its so small that I can hardly notice (I'm using high-speed servos anyway).

As for the regulator - YES - use one. Don't be misled by the fact that many people talk about a 5 cell pack as a "6v pack" - the voltage from a 5 cell pack can be MUCH higher than that. I found that a freshly cycled 5 cell nicad pack gave me 7.4 volts. That's considerably higher than the voltage that some servos, gyros etc are gauranteed to work at.

Regs,
Gordon

Alastair

I think it depends on the type of servos. I don't use a regulator with my 5 cell packs and don't have any problems, but O am using standard Futaba servos, I don't know how it might effect a larger servo. I would definitely use one on digital servos, but I don't own any and neither do most people.

Geistware

My Feedback: (16)

I run 6 volts and I find that I don't have to recharge nearly as often as I have done in the past. I fly a 1/4 scale plane with 2 1300 maH packs

Gordon Mc

My Feedback: (11)

Umm ... what capacity and number of 4 cell packs were you running previously ? In other words, is your reduced need to rechange caused by running 2 packs instead of 1, or running 1300 mah packs where you previously ran smaller capacity packs ??

The reason I ask, is that for the same capacity and same number of packs, increased voltage to the RX and servos should result in increased current draw. It's simply an application of Ohms law... I = V/R, so as V goes up (and R stays constant), I goes up.

Gordon

Geistware

My Feedback: (16)

I was using two 1300maH NiCad packs.
What I understand is that the smaller high capacity cells have more internal resistance.