My 12v hobbico battery is just about dead and I'd like to replace it with a lipo attached to the starter.
What C rating and mah do I need to drive the starter?

Thanks

Steve

I use a 25c 1350mah on my hobbico starter! I dont fly big airplanes only 40 and 60 size so the starter works perfect for me.

Thanks, I dont fly anything over .60 also... How long does a charge last?

I'm using a 4 cell 30c 3300mAh flitepower lipo.
My largest glow engine is a 4 stroke 120 OS.

I charge it once a Month,

Bob

Hi!
14,8V, 2200mAh Lipo!

Interesting, is that a glow driver attached to the same battery?

If so I'd worry about the cord getting caught in the prop?

steve

I guess my question should be What is the minimum battery you would recommend as I'm on a limited budget????

I'd like to get a weekend out of it? probably 10 - 20 starts.....

steve

I use this one...

http://www.hobbypartz.com/83p-4000mah-4s1p-148-20c.html

Pretty cheap for the power it puts to the starter.  I can start my 40cc Zenoah with it! 

Just be cautious...Ive burned starters out on gas engines using a 4s by holding the button too long.  Smoked it!  lol

But that was my own fault.  The engine wouldnt start and I kept on and on and on...then the magic smoke left from the starter?!?!?!?! lol

Glow drivers require 1.2v

LiPo will burn out your glow plug instantly.

-

I use a cheap 12c 4000mAh 14.8v LiPo pack with my Hobbico starters.

With a larger cone the starter can turn over 1.20-1.60 glow engines w/o problems.

If I switch to 18v packs I have no problems starting 50cc gas engines.

I charge my pack once or twice a MONTH during the heaviest part of the flying season.

Mine will last the week-end, and it was a very cheap battery.
Try Value Hobby, they sell them cheap and usually delivered in less than a week.

I was going to the first reply to the original post thinking that perhaps 1350 mah was a tad short. If it were me, I'd go for at least 4000 mah and probably four cells with a good C rating. But, that could be a tad bit more expensive than a replacement 12 volt lead-acid or gel-cell pack.

Jose, that must take at least a couple hours to recharge??

CGr.

Here is an alternative to a battery for a starter

http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ply-38391.html

This will start anything!!

CGr

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXJC37&P=ML this starter and a 3 cell 2200 lipo 25c battery will start a 1.80 two stroke glow engine
it lasts at least a month (id guess around 250 starts) turning 40-90 sized engines

Just a word of caution, if you use a lipo and see its slowing down stop and recharge the battery.There is no automatic voltage cutoff and if you discharge it too far the battery wont recharge. Ask me how I know?

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">LiPo batteries are pretty cool, so are NiMh.</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; ">
<span style="background:white">But the problem is: You don't always have to go Hi Tech to perform a simple task.</span>
<span style="background:white">Running a Starter is a simple task and its failure would not cost you hundreds of dollars or hundreds of hours of building time. Such as a battery failure of the receiver or electronic ignition system.<o></o></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So why not keep is simple and keep it inexpensive?<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Here is an idea: How about any Rechargeable Sealed Battery. <o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Probably one that is in your workshop right now?<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">How about the Battery Pack from your portable electric drill &ndash; saw &ndash; flashlight.<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">And think about it &hellip; You Do Not have to buy a battery charger. And some of the chargers are FANCY <o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">With Check lights &ndash; Charge lights and Cycle completion lights.<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Or if one is insistent on spending money &ndash; Go to a catalog such as McMaster or Granger and find a <o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Gel Cell that fits the size requirement for your operation.<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Size being BOTH physical and electrical.<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Oh, LiPo battery sizes&hellip; Or any battery rated in mAH:<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">m = mili - - meaning one thousandth&rsquo;s of a whole ie: 1000 mA = 1 Amp. 1 mA is 1/1000^th of an Amp.<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">AH = Amp Hour = How many Amps a battery can deliver for an Hour. Example: a 100 AH battery is rated at 1 Amp for 100 hours or 100 Amps for 1 Hour. NOW! Don&rsquo;t yell at me&hellip; I don&rsquo;t believe it either, but that is what the AH and rating system says.<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So, a 2000 mAH LiPo is ONLY &ndash; ONLY &ndash; a 2 AH battery. The cheapest Tractor Battery or Motorcycle Battery or Drill Battery is WAY OVER 2AH (2000 mAH).<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Just read the writing on the <st1lace w:st="on">Battery</st1lace>.<o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o></o></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Barry<o></o></span></p>

Hobbyking 3S1P 1800mAH, 20-30C discharge on Sullivan Dynatron. I start my DLE30cc engine about 10 times over the last weekend, and I used 10% of the batt according to the Cellmeter pro.
It spins the engine with ease.

3S works fine as long as the batt can provide sufficient current to the starter without voltage drop.

hey there, i just started experimenting with this last week and am very pleased with results. i hace 3s 4s and a 6s all on different starters. i think 4s on any 12v starter will give you plenty of starting power as it will easily spin my brand new Magnum 120 2-stroke and my buddies YS 170. i have a sullivan Dynatron laying around and strapped the 6s batt to it and HOLY-JESUS it'll just about start a Mac truck. Wayyyy toooo much but now i know. 3s should be fine for up to .60 size but i would recommend 4s 2000-3000mah and 20c is plenty.

just my opinion!!!
Scotty

What about A123 batteries? is anyone using them on the starter???

I have a cellpro multi4 which will charge them...

steve

they will work just fine

You guys got me thinking. I have five 28cc motors and my shoulder is not getting any younger! When one gets balkly my shoulder aches!

I have a cheap Hobbico Torquemaster 180 starter. After studying this thread I took it out of storage and tried it with a 5000 6 cell lipo. Oh my god was it wicked! I then scaled back to a Hobbyking 3000 4 cell nano tech. Worked great on my MLD28 engines. The photos are the finished product. A starter, small piece of plywood, 4 4/40 blind nuts, bolts, washers and cheap Hobbyking connectors.

Very light and very strong. Blew everything off the workbench when I tested it. Started the engine great even at 40 degrees!

Thanks guys.

YUP!!! I use the 6cell and it will take the lug nuts off my truck. Love it. Everyone borrows it

I think I could fly the plane with the six cell.

I wonder how long these starters will last with this kind of power?

I use my on a sullivan dynatron which is designed to operate on 12 or 24 v. Just don't stay on the starter to long. It will get hot in a hurry.