I need advice on what Rx battery to use in a Funtana 90 with 5 digital high torque servos, and one analog servo. Radio is a Futaba 9cap with the R149DP Rx. It would be nice to get 3 or 4 flights to a charge if possible. If you can, could you please supply links as to where I could purchase the battery, Thanks.

If you want something nice then go for the DURALITE battery set ups. Lipoly batteries of 7.4V with a regulator to bring it down to 6V if you want. They have some units that are 4,000 Mah. That will last you for a loooooooong time. 3D heli pilots can get heck of a lot of flights on the 4,000 Mah packs.

To save money, just purchase 2 pieces of 6V batteries of say 1,100 Mah and use 2 switches. You can run them in tandem, one into the BATT input another into maybe CH9. You will then have a redundant system. I am going for that in my F90, cheaper and is effective. The twin 1,100 Mah packs should give you 4-5 flights with ease.

Again, it depends on how hard you fly. In my RC car our 1,100 Mah packs do not last that long as in cars you will be using both throttle and steering servos hard so the drain is a lot. I can get up to 6 flights easily on my low wing trainer with a 600 Mah pack on standard servos when I just putter about.

I would try www.Fromeco.org. For $27 you can get a 2200mah Lithium Ion pack and then get the $40 voltage regulator to get you down to 6V. That is assuming you are running 6V capable servos. Some Futaba servos wont accept 6V.

Then get you a Triton Charger and throw all of your other chargers away, it will charge/discharge anything safely. You set it up and just push go!

I just use a Hobbico 4.8v NiMH battery, 1650mA. I buy them from Tower Hobbies. I think they are $18 each. I fly my Funtana and other similar planes at least 5 flights (Icould go more but that's about all the time I can allow) without any problems. I never worry about voltage for a days flying. These batteries do not need to be cycled. I also use digital servos in my planes. This is what I find works for me. I use this battery in all five of my airplanes.
Thanks,
Barry

I have the same servo type set up in my F90 and a Saito 100 on it. I was trying to keep all the weight off of it I could so I have been flying it with a standard Futaba 600 mah 4.8 pack like the ones that come with most systems. With that little pack I get a good solid 5 flights and have no issues what so ever.

I recently went to a 1800 mah 4.8 volt pack in an attempt to put some extra weight on the nose to alter the balance. The plane is now heavier overall and the flight characteristics have changed because it's nose heavier now. The plane is also heavier overall and it's noticeable. I will probably be putting the little pack back on the plane because the weight savings really helped with the 100 up front.

Custom Pack Information

Custom Pack ID: C-5-SPAA1800-22-FT-HITECMAL
Cell Name: SPAA1800
Configuration: FLAT
Number of cells: 5
Wire: 22A
Plug: HITECMAL
Dimensions (approximate): 2.75 x 1.92 x 0.55 inches
Weight (cells only): 5oz
Price: $12.50

http://www.iratebatterypacks.com/cbp...&cmd=&promoid=

These are 5oz total--the cells have low internal resistance & are capable of a 10amp load. Capacity is very good. You will only save about 1.5oz going with lipos and reg.

I think these are perfect for a 1/4 scale 3D plane.

I have 6 digital servos in my F90. With a 720 mAH pack I get 3-4 flights between charges. I have to watch my voltage closely with such a small pack.

If you want peace of mind, I agree with GPSpacewalker's recommendation. I have one of the 1800 mAH packs he mentions and it'd fly a F90 for a very
long time.

No doubt about it, Li-ion is the only way to go when you want great power at an affordable cost. I use Troy Built Model batteries. You can get the 2320 mAh for under $30 and add a regulator for less then $25. That way you have less than $60 in a pack that will allow you to fly from 7-10 times with no worries of charging. Not to mention that theweight is only 3.5 oz!!! About the same weight as a 600 mAh Nicd

www.troybuiltmodels.com

The packs are 3.5 oz. but remember you have to add a regulator which adds roughly another ounce. Another point is that these really aren't that cheap if you don't yet have a charger capable of handling them, add another $50-$130 if that is the case.

I agree with Shogun. Take the LI packs and add the regulator weight to it. 3.5 oz + 1.5 oz = 5 oz for $55.00.
Or you could go with 5 oz of NiMH battery pack for $12.50.

Li does not make sense from a weight perspective until you need more than 2000 mAh of capacity per battery. And a Funtana 90 with digital servos does not.

When comparing Lithium and NiMH capacities, you also must keep in mind that the regulator on the Li setup consumes significant power. At best 10% and at worst 25% of your lithium pack's capacity will go directly into heating up the regulator.

You must also consider the need to remove the lithium packs from your aircraft every time you have to charge them. I've seen reports of at least three people who have burned their homes to the ground because they didn't properly contain their LI packs in a flame retardant container before charging.

If you pay attention to how you charge your packs your not going to blow anything up especially if your using a pack with charge a charge safe circut. They just dont want to admit they plugged it in wrong or charged under the wrong kind of battery power. Its best to use a high mAh pack with hitech digis they drink the juice like crazy [:@], especially if your running something like the 5645 or the 5945. I run a 2200 mAh on my .40 katanaP with "mighty mini" analog servos (all 20 gauge wires) and can fly until I am sick of flying before charging. This helps me keep the plane under 4lbs with a saito .72 (needless to say unlimited torque roll ability). Of course I fly Giant scale too (all Lithium in there too) so I have a way to charge my packs handy. I find it a pain to charge every week, with the lithiums I dont have a need to charge every week. I am running two 2400 mAh packs for the Rx in my 35% and can fly 10 - 12 times with no charge (though I usually torque it into the ground before flight #12). The other advantage of buying a Lithium pack is that you might one day want to upgrade planes and the pack will keep up with your upgrade. Not to mention you need a special charger so when you finally go out on a limb and buy that awesome foam 3D plane with the Lithium pack then you will already have a charger. Im just an advocate of Lithium (other people have good points) and I am sold on the quality and versitlity of these packs