My grandson and I are just getting started with an Avistar and would like some input as to which "field" quick charger we should get. Is there is a good one that also cycles and conditions the batteries? If so, who has the best prices?

Thanks

Hobbico quick field charger, less than 39.99
It will fast/peak charge 4.8,6.0 and 9.6 volt packs.

I also does a good job with Nickel Metal Hydride(lower amps so they don't overheat)

I would probably leave the cycling and conditioning to do at home.

Just my .02 worth

The new Triton field charger from Great Planes is an excellent charger. It able to Fast Charge, Discharge, and Cycle. It will do NiCd, NiMH, Li-ion, and lead acid batteries(field box). You will need to purchase a table top power supply for home use. A 12 volt 10 amp power supply should be great for most needs. Pyramid makes some very cheap power supplys around 50 bucks.

Thank you for each of your responses. I just trying to save some money by not buying a separate quick field charger and a cycler/conditioner. I did not realize that the Hobbico unit would also condition the batteries.

Save even more money by not buying one at all, properly used the wall wart charger that came with your radio will do the job just fine.

Modern Nicads as generally used to power radios in sport/trainer airplanes will last for well over 500 charge/discharge cycles (104 saturdays a year, or, at least 5 years in normal sportflyer use).

On a plane like your trainer charge overnight before you fly and you should get 90-120 minutes before your batteries are tired.

A cycler just burns another charge/discharge cycle unnecessarily.

ctdahle

By Your formula its time I replace the batts in My Focus 4 I bought in 95 fom TowerH. Its been a good radio all along but I have not used it in the past year either. Thank's for the tip

But I have never owned a cycler or peak charger, I have cycled the batteries down with the switch on method usally every three months and recharged them for no more than 16 hours.

I have several radios and have never had a battery in the trans. go bad in less than 4 years I know of. and only lost Rx batt due to a crash.

retnuh

It is Your choice to make, but the amount of flying You do has a role in it. When I flew a lot I had a radio for each plane, and I was not flying all day off the same trans. with different RCVR's and planes like many are today.

Have fun" You and Your Grandson

Dan Z (east plano area)

retnuh,
I'd recommend the Hobbico charger that does Tx and Rx batteries. I have not found a need for a cycler in my years of modeling, and my batteries have lasted for a very long time. To cycle your batteries, just run them down and put them on your overnight charger for the length of a good, full charge. I went quite some time without a field charger, but now I don't know how I made it without one. One of the uses I found for it is when I'm not planning on flying but the weather turns out perfect. All I have to do now is quick charge my packs while assembling the plane at the field, rather than sitting the day out. In addition, you might find that you left your receiver switch on by accident, or even the normal reason that you are having so much fun flying that your batteries are getting low. In addition, if you go to larger planes then you are going to need one anyway, so have fun and get in on the action now!

Thank you to each of you for taking the time to share your knowledge with an "absolute" beginner. I know I will have a lot of questions in the future and it's nice to know I can ask them here without being "flamed".

retnuh

Get the New Hobbico Quick Charger Mark 2. It will do two packs of either size.

Note that the 500 comes from a conservative estimate that cells have a 1/2 life of 2500 cycles (some say 5000 lot more, but I am chicken). Half life means that with normal use, half the cells in a large sample will be dead after 2500 cycles. Since one dead cell can kill your airplane....

I figure that since a new pack is in the 15 bucks range, it's cheap insurance to recycle them after 500. When I was practicing law, I'd cut up the packs and use the cells in my dicataphone and give the remainder to my father in law to use in his mini mag lite.

Anyway don't take my word for it, go to the battery forum and look for links to Red Scholefeld's website. He knows more about Nicads than anyone on the planet and he will even tell you how to build a simple little gizmo from Radio Shack parts that will measure your remaining capacity.

He will also tell you how to use a CHEAP lamp timer to guaranttee that your batteries are always charged and ready to go if you have a chance to make one of those "sneak to the field after work" mid week trips.

Whatever else you may do, have fun flying will ya?

Batteries are still like a religion...some do it one way, some do it another way, but everybody will SWEAR that their way is the best. I use the wall-wart for charging and have no problems.

Christopher

Thank's for the response, I appreciate the info and I have been to Red's site. the group cell average I was unaware of. But makes sense, Not all cells will read the same when they are new. So 500 hundred would seem to be a good point for reference. (I only wish My Dewalts would last that long)!

Bet wishes for fair weather and safe landings"
FUN= flying until nightfall

Dan Z