I am using an on-board receiver battery indicator called Voltwatch made by Hobbico. It has a series of LEDs indicating "safe" and "low" levels. I have not done a voltage calibration on it to verify its accuracy. Is the Voltwatch accurate and reliable ? I hope that some users will be able to give me some comments. Thanks..........

While the Volt-watch is a great addition to your plane by all means don't let it replace your standard volt meter. Use it as a second tool to help find any problems BEFORE you fly. Use your volt meter to check before each flight and then glance at the Voltwatch to confirm that your battery is indeed charged. Remember both of them are electrical components that can fail so by having a Voltwatch your covering your butt not once but twice...

While I am not a battery expert by any stretch, I know a great one. Red of Red's Battery Clinic is a member of our club. While I would ask him for specifics, he has tested these things and (if I remember correctly) found them to be EXTREMELY accurate. For all these type questions and more, try out his site. (I think it is liked from the battery page in the forums.)

Zee

I put one on every plane. Well... I don't put them on the 6-volt planes. They're great $11 insurance. The plane in my Avitar has one concealed beneath the white Ultracote. The LED's shine through it nicely.

Losing a plane to a low battery is just Nonsense! Nonsense! I concur on the accuracy. I've tested 3 comparing to a digital meter - they're very accurate.

A suggestion: Don't just turn on the receiver and glance at the Voltwatch. Watch it while you're throwing the servos around. I don't fly if it dips into the yellow zone.

Hi BGI, When you did the DVM test, what was the voltages you got when the LED was in the "safe" zone and "low" zone. Thanks...........

The Hobbico Voltwatch units are extremely accurate.
I got this picture from Red. I hope he doesn't mind me uploading it.

The Voltwatch is good....but it has its limits - it doesn't show you the condition of the battery because it doesn't put a load on them.

That is what your Voltmeter is for! The Voltwatch is great as an indicator when servos are moving - it should stay mostly in the green when they are all flying around

Jerry

tailskid,
I disagree,
If you move both stick around while sitting on the ground, you will load the voltwatch. Flying it would be better and if you can slow the plane down, you can see if it is green, yellow, or red.

The voltwatch chart says it all ! Thanks Red (if you're around)............

Hey, Rajul,

To answer your question, "What Red's chart shows"

To address the loading question, sit the plane on the ground and slam the sticks around. That will definitely load up the battery and you can see the voltage slide up and down the LEDs as the load changes.

Yes, the VoltWatch has it's limits. I can't use it on my 6 volt planes!

Actually I agree with Geistware. I mount mine on the dash in the cockpit of my planes. When I make an inverted pass over the runway and pull to vertical, I can see the green and yellow with my bionic eye. (I can also see if there's any bubbles in the fuel line, but that belongs in another forum) :spinnyeye

Funny stuff, Bear.

I use to smoke that stuff too.

I put one in my 60 sized Hawker Sea Fury. After 3 flights the Volt Watch was suddenly reading Red. I wouldn't have expected a dead battery after 3 flights but stopped flying it and took it home. It turned out to be a cell that went bad in my battery pack. I put one in every plane I build now! I tested it and "Yes" it is very accurat.

But seriously folks,

I put one in my first 4 planes, never had a question about the accuracy. I've also got one in my flight box with reversed pins that I use on the planes that don't have one mounted to them. If you use them, you'll probably never use the battery's full capacity, but who would want to do that anyway??

Another vote for the Voltwatch.

I installed one in one of my helis and it already saved it when a cell started going bad just as I was spooling up!

In my books, It paid for itself and the next 500!

I use the GEM 2000 on my planes. Basically gives a go / no go
on the battery condition. Best part is it can be seen while the plane is in the air.

Just a happy customer......

http://www.electrotekrc.com

Expert sells one for a 6 volt system. I have it on my Giles. While it is not as compact as the Voltwatch, it is just as functional!

Many of the "plane finder" devices will beep if the battery gets too low. I use one of them *and* the Volt Watch. I wouldn't fly a plane without either.

Who makes a 6v version of the voltwatch? It would be very helpful.
Thanks

Hi Craig! Here's one from MPI for you to consider http://www.maxxprod.com It can be adjusted for a range of battery voltages. However, I have no experience with this type. Perhaps someone in the forum can comment

The following is a link to a post under another heading.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...527#post491461

All they are doing is adding a resistor in series for the six volt range. I am not in favor of using the voltwatch by itself without adding more load then what you induce by actuating the servos. You don't need to buy one for every plane all you need is one set up with a resistor (20 OHM for 4.8V pack) that can be switched in when you take a reading. As long as you have your charging jack to the exterior of the pane you can test the battery before every flight. This eliminates the weight and the minor drain of the battery through out the whole flight.

Acee

I have one in my helicopter and found it to be very innacurate. Don't know why, but it was showing dead the other day and the battery was good. I left it in there and will test it some more. Might be a bad one or I may just have too many servos plugged in but I can't change that. Others have seemed great.

I assume you are speaking of a Voltwatch. How do you know the battery was good and how did the indicator indicate that the battery was dead?
Ace

did somebody used the "volpsy" from graupner?
it's a single led flickering, red, orange, or green
is that a reliable stuff?