glow starter
05-06-2004, 09:53 PM
#26
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RE: glow starter
I used a Gates cell (gell-cell) like the ones in that picture for years as a starter battery.
For 1.5v plugs I just had a lead with thinner wires than the one for 2V plugs -- worked fine. I never blew a plug through over-voltage and despite flying virtually every weekend I only had to charge it twice a year or so.
Unfortunately, when I got back into modelling, I found my cell had sulfated up and was stuffed -- but what do you expect after 20 years of storage :-)
For 1.5v plugs I just had a lead with thinner wires than the one for 2V plugs -- worked fine. I never blew a plug through over-voltage and despite flying virtually every weekend I only had to charge it twice a year or so.
Unfortunately, when I got back into modelling, I found my cell had sulfated up and was stuffed -- but what do you expect after 20 years of storage :-)
05-06-2004, 09:59 PM
#27
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RE: glow starter
Tim:
Larry's post reminded me of another source. If you can get "In good" with an alarm company, the fancier units have 6v and 12v gel cells for emergency power, as do many emergency lights. I have seen them with ratings as high as 15 amp hour. A whale of a starter battery. And they are indeed changed by time in service.
The company may sell them for a greatly reduced price, but a 12v 15 amp hour gel cell is new about $80, so one that has done nothing but sit on trickle charge for two years is a real bargain at $10 or so.
Bill.
Larry's post reminded me of another source. If you can get "In good" with an alarm company, the fancier units have 6v and 12v gel cells for emergency power, as do many emergency lights. I have seen them with ratings as high as 15 amp hour. A whale of a starter battery. And they are indeed changed by time in service.
The company may sell them for a greatly reduced price, but a 12v 15 amp hour gel cell is new about $80, so one that has done nothing but sit on trickle charge for two years is a real bargain at $10 or so.
Bill.
