ORIGINAL: opjose
ORIGINAL: Missileman
ORIGINAL: CGRetired
A single RRC Lithium Polymer 4S 1P 14.8V, 3000 mAh 25/30C battery costs about $172.00. That's an awful lot of glow fuel.
That is true but Lipo batteries can stand 20,000 charging cycles (info gleaned online here:
http://www.rc-oval.com/lipobatteries.html )
Maybe optimistic but even 1,000 flights would actually make that $172 battery much cheaper than than the equivalent amount of glow fuel.
Whoa!
I think you misread the article. It talks about a new battery technology that is supposed to be good for up to 20K cycles, but it's not out yet.
LiPo's are rated to be good for 200 cycles, but that's rather optimistic, and there is degradation towards the end.
150 cycles is more realistic, which makes glow still cheaper, until battery technology catches up.
It will happen sooner or later, but the current LiPo's don't do it yet.
I thought that sounded off. I have read in the past estimate of 500 to 1,000. I personally haven't lost a pack,"yet" and have some over 200 cycles. But not much over.
Still even at 200 cycles, thats 10 gallons of glow fuel so at its worst Lipo cost are at par with glow fuel. AND that is using CGretired qoute of $172 for a 4s 3000 mah lipo. I personally own DN 6s 4400 mah 16C lipos that I paid $150 for so if you are carefull what you buy Electrics, in the long run, don't have to cost more than glow. It really boils bown to up front cost.
I expect battery technology to improve (more flights per pack and even longer flights) and cost to go down. At the same time the cost of glow fuel I see steadily increasing, especially with the push for methonol based fuels and the demand on that market.
So if you are concerned about cost, in the long run glow has no advantage over electric. Just my opinion.
Now gasoline powered engines are another story all together. Gas powered planes are much more economical than glow or electric. At least for now.