Looking for a little more "oomph" for starting my Saito 100...

http://www.afineredgemfg.com/

For those who do not want to click the link. It is an adapter that lets you attach a Makita tool battery to an electric starter.

It is out of my price range. 40 bucks for the adapter, and you still have to buy a Makita 18 volt lithium battery and charger.

I just saw one in use yesterday, looks very nice and slick. The guy who has it has a ton on the 18v batteries for his tools, so he just uses those batteries. I may have to get another drill with one of those lith batteries.

Might not be such a bad deal for people that already have the battery and charger for their other tools.
You can hook up a couple of 3000mah 7.4v NiCAd packs in series (the ones used for RC cars) and get about the same effect.

I start my Saito 180 with the sullivan starter and a 300 amp car jump start battery...just an idea

It looks like he just has the adapter for Makita at the moment, I wrote to him and asked if it would fit (my) DeWalt batteries, it looks like the same type of connection. I'll post what he says if/when he gets back to me. There is a better picture of the adapter on page 125 of Model Airplane News, Dec edition.

PS: Some of the tool manufactures are offering a Life Time warranty on the 18 volt LiPO batteries too.

I've used that arrangement too, but was looking for one less heavy thing to lug to the pits. <;-)

It is one of the slickest easiest starter systems that I have seen. I agree that there are other systems, but if you have a drill with the battery already it looks good.

good luck I don't blame you for looking for less weight