F4U Corsair

My Feedback: (22)

Since it is well known that low voltage can lead to a temporary shut down of the Spektrum Rx, I thought it would be interesting to see what type batteries and voltage folks were using in their nitro or gas airplanes.

MikeL

My Feedback: (3)

Many types. So long as a person doesn't get sloppy there aren't any problems. That's always been the case with anything in this hobby.

BuschBarber

My Feedback: (2)

I use 3cell 2500mah LiPos in my Tx. Lasts a long time and charges quickly. If I had to, I could Top Off in between flights and fly indefinitely.

DSTIEBS

I use 2-6Volt 1400mah nicad but checked 6volt Nicad. Maybe 2-6volt should be added.

Druss

Since all the newer receivers have the latest update of the firmware, the receiver should reconnect immediately. If you still have an older version then send it to horizon hobby so they can update it.

Ed

I flew a bunch of AR-7000's on 4 cell, 1300 sub "C", parallel packs for about a year without any problem, until the "scare" came along. Any R/Cer who allows his airborne system to drop below 4.8 volts, should probably be in another hobby.

Since then, for additional insurance, I have switched to 5 cell, 1400 AA size packs, and always two in parallel. A lot of us giant scale guys use parallel packs for redundancy.

Ed

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

With shoddy radio installation and lack of pre-flight inspections, any radio installation can fail and any receiver can shut down from low voltage cut off

DougV

Until about 4 month ago all I use was 5 cell nicad’s, but I started replacing them with A123’s now. I didn’t trust them at the beginning, but after reading all the success that guys like Richard Hanson, Onewasp and others had with the A123’s, I just started replacing all my nicads with A123's, and man what a different.

Half the weight
More flight time

Regards,
Doug.

LAN

When you use a 2S A123-pack, do you also have a regulator or do you feed those 6,6 volts directly to receiver and servos? I'm also considering such a pack in my next project.

DougV

Hi Lan,

I don't use regulators.

Thanks,
Doug.

LAN

Thanks Doug, good to know.

F4U Corsair

My Feedback: (22)

No regulator required as long as you have servos that can handle the voltage. NiCad and NiMH 6v batteries put out close to 7v when fully charged so A123 are about the same, plus if you go with the 1100mAh 2cell they weigh less than 5 cell Nicad/NiMH. The only disadvantage I see with A123 is that you can't field check your voltage to see how much you have left due to the nature of their performance curve. They maintain voltage to near the end and then drop off a cliff.

onewasp

In fact you can. However the discharge curve for A123 cells looks like the top of a billiard table it is so flat.
In order to have a loaded meter be useful you would have to read to the third or fourth position to the right of the decimal point.

If you use an FMA 4S; FMA Multi 4 : or FMA 10S you can instantly read the capacity at the field.
OR, you can just take 10 to 15 minutes and fully recharge them with any of the above chargers.
Life with NiCads or NiMH was never this good.

pilotpete2

If you use a lipo charger that tells you how mAh you've put back in when charging, you can get a good idea of how many flights you can get safely get out of a full charge, leaving some reserve.
If you're already using a Cellpro charger for Lipos in your electric models, then A123's for receiver/servo power is a very attractive option for your IC powered models.
Pete

helicrazedout

im using a 1500mah nihm JR sport battery

jaka

Hi!
I mostly use 4,8V , 850mAh "red" GP cells (Weight 50g)in all my pylon racers (Ar 6200 and Ar 7000 receivers) + capacitor for added safety.
Two 6,4V ,2000mAh LiFePo in my 50cc Yak-54.

vasek

My Feedback: (4)

Hi Jaka,

did you run into any problems using the capacitors in planes?

Some people connected to Spectrum keep saying the capacitor is for use in ground vehicles ONLY and I wonder why they say that (?) I don't see any difference for their use in any Spektrum application as they should prevent "short time" current drops...

Feel free to comment

Thanks,
V.

jaka

Hi!
No problems what so ever! Spektrum recommends capacitors to be used in all appliances , planes , cars etc (for all their early DSM2 receivers).

onewasp

No Problems in Planes ____ it simply does nothing!

Search the Horizon site or the former "Ask Danny at JR/Spektrum" site. He covered that several times in detail.

I have never seen a Spektrum recommendation for its use save for cars !
I would like to see one cited.