Well guys,

When the question comes if it is safe to fly with the CDI, I have to say the following,

You can do it the RIGHT way, the creative way or the WRONG way.

The right way is as per the instructions, use a separate battery, the worst that can happen is a flame out, which can also happen on the glow version (ask CPLR)
The creative way, use one battery and combination of regulator, wires, empty connection on the receiver, etc, using experience, own and from others, and some basic knowledge and common sense.
The wrong way, take the power from a non fail safe "on" regulator on a limited capacity battery, you are going to crash sooner or later.

On my tests today, a 12min flight, took 100mAh from the ignition battery and 80mAh from the receiver battery.

The ignition battery, Flight Power 7.4v 1350mAh was at 49% charge after 4 flights on left accidentally on for 20 more min.[sm=confused_smile.gif]

The Rx battery, Flight Power 7.4v 1800mAh was at 69%.

If you add the consumption on both together you will end up with around 40% or less on the Rx if using two regulators on the same battery, as both will drain the battery in a different manner.

The regulators are really not magical devices, they can't really regulate the output voltage without sacrifice, what I mean is, from the 7.4V around 1.4V will be dissipated as heat, as the energy can only being transformed, there's no way around it, you will use some voltage and burn another, if you have two regulators this will also increase, then add the actual consumption of the powered devices.

So, If somebody wants to use a single battery (I Was planning on that but CG needs made me add another battery), check your voltage and recharge if you are under 60% charge to be on the safe side, if not, then blame yourself if something wierd happens not the CDI.

If using a separate battery, if you are under 5Kg, then what's the big deal? I prefer to be double safe on my $3500 plane than save 50 grs I don't need to save anyway.

I hope this reflections will be of some good to the people that are afraid of the CDI just for what they read here.

Regards to all.

Alejandro Pereira