After an "unfortunate flying incident" the topic of battery types, chargers, and maintainance came up in my Snipe thread. People had some valuable advice to offer. But I thought it might be worthwhile to start a new thread where scale modelers could give their opinions and recommendations.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_48...44/key_/tm.htm

My own battery maintainance practices are cmpletely haphazard. I've always just charged with the standard "power block" charger than came with my radio. Until recently I didn't know the difference between a NiCd and a NiMH and used the same charger with both. The way things usually worked was that I'd have a (vague) plan to go flying the next day, so the day before I'd plug in the Tx and Rx (usually charging 2 TXs and 2 Rx batteries at once). Sometimes, the weather wouldn't cooperate or sometimes I got busy doing something else, so I wouldn't go flying as planned. Sometimes I'd remember to disconnect the chargers. Sometimes I didn't and I might remember 2-3 days later. I never did anything to condition my batteries.

Yes, I've been a VERY BAD BOY. And now I'm looking to mend my evil ways. I understand that the first step to (battery) salvation is to get myself a real charger. Mode One mentioned both the Accu-cycle and the Hanger 9 Sure Cycle.

http://www.hobbico.com/cyclers/hcap0260.html
http://www.hangar-9.com/Products/Def...ProdID=HAN9525


Seth recommended that I get one of the SR battery packs (maybe the 4-cell 800 packs) and the general concensus seemed to be that NiCd was better than NiMH.

http://www.srbatteries.com/rxpks.htm

Anyway, I'd welcome any equipment recommendations. But I'd also like to hear about your practices for keeping your batteries ready for that "unscheduled" trip to the field.