Hey watch it I use the measly 600.

Highplains, I suggest you break down and buy a Voltwatch and test one for yourself before flipping off about how they are uncalibrated and a waste of $$. I did and based on my findings I believe the Voltwatch to be an accurate indicator of weather the receiver batteries are safe for another flight or not. Check out the review here: http://webpages.charter.net/rcfu/FER...ltWatch.html:D

Ok Ok Ok I'll finally buy me a Voltwatch.....[]

Gonna hang it on my christmas tree.....

Hook it up, though. You can monitor the current flow thorugh your tree lights.

You sure the tree will hold a plane with a voltwatch in it. Make sure to hook it up to the blinking lights it is perty that way. I decorate entirely out of Voltwatches. I like the fact you don't have to wind a Volt WATCH lol. If you start now and buy one a week you could decorate your the outside of your home also. rofl i liked that post it was funny.

LOL....

I don't know too much about "loose" airplanes and am surprised to find out that the Voltwatch can predict weather. But I stand by my conclusion that it is nearly worthless when used for it's stated purpose. After finding out that it is based on the National Semiconductor LM 3914 chip or a clone, I may have been too generous in my earlier assessment of it's accuracy.

If I wanted to watch flashing meaningless lights, I'll buy a color organ and hook it up to a stereo.

Right. Ok. Whatever. Have it your way. Don't forget to connect your calibrated digital voltmeter to your organ.

Sorry Admiral, (or is it Rear Admiral?) but knowing the real condition of your flight pack takes a wee bit more understanding of the technology.

Uh huh. Duh.. I guess you're right.

You know, we were having a friendly discussion about the voltwatch, some of us use them, some don't. That's a choice. What we don't need is someone coming in here telling us about degrees in electrical engineering and implying to how stuipid we are for using such a device that works.

Check back in the posts. No one is saying that it is to replace the voltmeter... expanded scale voltmeter... for measuring receiver or transmitter battery voltage.

You are entitled to your opinion. I, for one, and judging from comments here in this string, and in other strings, and from people that have a lot more experience than I do, know that they work as intended, regardless of any doubts about the performance of the National Semiconductor products used in the device.

If you don't like it, don't buy it. Pretty simple? Even an admiral knows that. And I won't even attempt to compare my education or experience to yours.

What a country!!

Well said CG. Careful, I am a U.S. Federal Agent. I can arrest all you guys.

Interesting read this thread is. Personally, since the get go, I've decided to go ahead and slowly begin buying the voltwatch for my fleet. I do have and sometimes use the expanded scale voltmeter, but I do think the voltwatch is a great tool to use in addition to the voltmeter. (opinion based on responses to this thread). I have as you guys do, a lot of money in this hobby. I'd surely hate to lose a plane because of a bad or low rx battery. There are many posts here that contribute the voltwatch to preventing such a loss with some of your models. If it helps, which examples here show that it does, I'd say go for it. If you think they're a waste of money, well then that's okay too.

Keep the posts coming guys. I appreciate everyone's input. Whether you use them or not. Whether you think they're useful or just a waste of money. I think we're all benefiting from this thread. Beginners and experts alike.

"Cruzomatic"

HighPlains,
I removed an earler post replying to one where you mentioned "religious fervor" perhaps I should have left it.
Seems you are the one with a fervor. As an industrial electrician I work hand in hand with many electrical engineers and most do seem to overanalyze things and over engineer. I often have to go behind them and dumb down what they did to make things work but I have not dealt with one as arrogant as you seem to be.
I simply don't need to measure my battery packs to the nearest millivolt to find out if it can handle another flight. That is rediculous.
Voltwatch may not be as accurate as you like but it is close enough to tell me if I can get another flight in which is its purpose, no more no less.
When I want to check my batteries condition I have equipment at home to do that.
Your degree and 37 years of flying are worth a "warm bucket of spit" as far as I am concerned.

This is beginning to get a tad out of hand. Perhaps we ought to chalk this one up to 'experience' and just move on to another subject. Obviously, several of us are having a difference of opinion and are beginning to take this personally, which I'm sure was not the original intent of the subject or the thread.

We should just agree to disagree and use or not use voltwatch as we see fit. No need to get down and dirty about a $10.00 gizmo that some of us feel is worth the money.

So, let's just drop the subject. What do you say?

CGr.

Also remember that this is a 'Beginner' forum; it's a lot easier for us beginners to get a $10 voltwatch and plug it in to get a GENERAL idea of the condition of the battery. It seems a lot easier than using some volt meter and measuring miliamps, then figuring out how many miliamps are safe to fly with. Green lights = go!

Excellent point.

CGr.

The lights are supposed to be GREEN[sm=red_smile.gif]

That's what he said. Green = Go.. meaning it's ok to fly.

Kid, it's a little more complicated. Yellow is a one way ticket and Green is a round trip.

Great description.

so I needed to pull the canopy off my H-9 Mustang any way to mount some of the cockpit do dads and a pilot,so since I use a Voltwatch any way all the time, I ordered a couple off the "Bay"and started installing them,a little black Sharpie to make it blend a bit more, and I am pretty happy with the look of it.
its just one idea for mounting them instead of on the side of the plane,well worth the few $$ for the piece of mind of knowing your battery level before and after flight.

Man been awhile since I looked at this topic rofl. I laughed so hard my wife came to see if I was OK. The one way ticket did it for me I am still laughing. This is a great post and for the most part very friendly. I still just like the bling they add. I also love stickers I use all that come with the planes on them and even started using the ones that i got with my RC cars. I have a Traxx's Eratix. lol. Big Tim that does look cool good job. Don't stop fella's I still have one side not ripped yet.

Since I started this thread and reading all the differences in opinions, I decided to outfit the whole fleet with a voltwatch. I guess 10.00 is cheap insurance for a plane. Some of the planes in my fleet are getting some time on them and I know batteries don't last forever. I also like the look of some bling on the dash of my planes. Gives the pilot something to look at as well while they're yanking and banking on the stick. I know that some of the responses got a bit touchy, but as long as we agree to disagree I think it's all good. I'm now getting into the habit of not only looking at my voltwatch before and after a flight, but I'm also using my expanded voltmeter more.

Well one thing is if your voltwatch happens to quit on you, you can jump start it with your watch battery lol.

Edited: Takes a very small pair of jumper cables you can order them from Horizon they have everything rofl.

Been following this thread for a while. I can see why folks want to use them. I don't personally since I've got a meter. I had the reciept yet so I sent it back to Hangar 9 because some of the numbers in the LCD didn't work any more and it was still under warranty (they sent me a new one by the way. Thanks!) While it was away, I always bummed someone elses at the field before each flight. I never knew how addicted I was to knowing what was left in the battery. Even if it was plenty on the last flight, I HAD to check it again before going in the air. I can see where the voltwatch could be a great investment but I've already got a few bucks tied up in a volt meter. Either way is fine but the main thing is to KNOW what's in your battery.

Right.