Okay so what exactly does ESV stand for? I have an electrical supplier catalogue that would probably sell them but I need to know what they are called exactly.

Thanks,

Troy.

expanded scale voltmeter,it test your batteries with a load.

Thanks John, will have a look for one.

Regards,

Troy.

Hi troyp,tower hobbies has there's priced at $9.99
don't know if this will help you. www.towerhobbies.com

Thanks John but can you give me a clue where to look. Ive been looking for awhile now and cannot find them?

Thanks,

Troy.

click on tower hobbies,then click onflight line and track equiment then click on battery testers. they are showing two one for 13.99 and one for 9.99, if you don't have a book they will also mail you one,hope this helps

Thanks John, Have found it now. I see that they will send overseas. Even with the exchange rate its a good price. I might order one.

Thanks,

Troy.

Hi Troy,be sure to get the leads that plug into your brand of equiment,if not you'll have to change the plugin conn.

For the third time !!!

Switch on the TX, switch on the RX, move both sticks (this puts a load on the batteries because all your servos are moving at the same time - which, does not happen continuously while you are flying) if the voltage monitor stays in the green while you move the sticks, then the battery still has a good charge. (theoretically one could still fly if the indicators are in the mid range - when testing under load)! The problem with on-board monitors is that people do not use them correctly !!

Actually a good charger is just about foolproof, if you use it properly, because it loads the batteries to discharge (a given) them while cycling them and if you monitor the charge / discharge times / amps you will have a good indication of the state of the battery pack.

For the second time!!

NOTHING IS FOOLPROOF.
This forum is under the heading of beginners and typically beginners make mistakes. We ALL have done so. Automatic chargers are convenient not better than the chargers that comes with a standard radio. Beginners have been know to plug chargers into a receptacle that is controlled by a light switch which gets turned off when leaving a room. Beginners have been known to plug chargers in reverse polarity. Other mistakes have happened that result in the battery not being fully charged. Testing before flight is the safest proceed. If your happy with your on board gismo as it is made then go fly, I am not happy with it as advertised.
Ace

ACE, sorry if I offended you by disagreeing with some of your comments - however this is a "discussion" forum.

If one does not uderstand how a "gizmo" works or has not used it - don't knock it. The "gizmo" in question does exactly what you suggest by testing the batteries under load!!!

Suggest you re-read my post - I did not say automatic chargers are FOOLPROOF! Obviously if any equipment is not properly used there will be unsatisfactory results - all suggestions made generally assume that users have read the operating instructions properly, understand what they are trying to do and have a modicum of common sense!

Thanks for your input!

Hey Roy, for the FIRST TIME! The load put on your battery by "wiggling the sticks" does not in any way compare to the load put on in flight. Thus the advice to add a testing load (BIGGER than "wiggling the sticks.") I am sorry you are so heavily invested into this device to accept any limitations or suggested improvements. You might want to get your blood pressure checked.
Tom

Onrecess - I bow to your and Ace's superior knowledge!

PS - had my BP checked and it is just fine - but thanks for the advise

I would never get affended if someone disagreed with any of my comments. I think we all learn from comments that disagree. Lets just think of them as opinions. I try to use humor in some of my posts and it doesen't always work. Sorry for misleading you.

Ace

I'll bet troy is enjoing this

Yes as a matter of fact I am now totally confused....... Seriously though I now have a better understanding of the correct way to check my batterys and what I need to buy but Im not going to mention it for fear of starting the "My ways better than your way"... wars.

Regards,

Troy.

Troyp

I guess this thread may help you !!!

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...721&forumid=22]

If you charge for 14 to 16 hrs then go fly for 2 to 4 flights then go home and put them back on charge over nite, then again the nite before you plan to fly again, charge again over nite you will always have good power you can't overcharge with these standard wall wort chargers unless you leave them on indefinatly. If your batt's sit for a week they will lose enough thru selfdischarge to be able to handle another nite of charging. Then they will be fresh for a days flying. I would not however expect to get more than 3 or 4 flights from a 600 mah batt. I use the larger capacity 1000 or 1100mhr bats. Still checking between flights however.

The deterioration of a battery is dependant on how long the battery is being charged not how fast it is charged (see Red's site) This unnecessary charging cycle will only shorten the useful life of a pack.
I would expect to get well over 6 ten minute flights out of a 600mah pack driving 5 standard servos or less. If it went dead in less than 6 ten minute flights, the currant draw would have to average over 600ma ... very unlikely.
Test the battery before every flight and know where you are at and forget the excess weight. Cycle the pack between 5 to 10 trips to the field if you are worried about memory.

Ace