trpastor

Hi Guys,

I picked up a field box used, and it has a 12v battery that is inside and removed with screws. It's kind of a pain to unscrew it each time to charge it. Can I charge it with a wall wart charger through the "starter" plugs? I use banna clips to charge my rc car bump box, but it has sockets that specifically say to "charge"

Thanks
Tim

DMcQuinn

My Feedback: (13)

Yes, the "starter" plugs on the panel are connected directly to the battery.

flaminheli

I charge mine thru the starter banana plugs.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Some of the Automobile type chargers have a "Gell Cell" position. That's the kind of 12v battery that is most likely in your box. They are commonly used in emergency lights in commercial buildings.

I have a Schumacher digital automobile 10A/2A charger with a gell cell setting that I use and I set it on 2A charge. I also have a 500ma wall wart from Tower but it doesn't shut off.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXJC38&P=ML

http://store.schumachermart.com/sc-1000a.html

skyraider71

I assume your starter box has a panel. I use a Hanger 9 wall-wart for my field box and starter box, no
problems. BTW, I prefer Slimline's bannana plugs. They attatch to the wire with a set screw and heat-
shrink tubing, I use them on everything. [sm=shades_smile.gif]

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

BANANA PLUGS

I've been using the Hobbico standard duty Banana plugs for the last 10 years and I consider them lousy. One of these days I'm getting better ones

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXL362&P=7

Here are some first class ones

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...t=1#largeimage

http://www.muellerelectric.com/banana_plugs.html Though they do not show any of these in stock.

Radio Shack has a selection

RevGQ

I have 12v ATV or motor cycle battery from Auto Zone. I use a battery charger to charge. I usually charge this battery once every two months or so, and it has a two year guarantee I believe.

trpastor

So do you get more life out of the motorcycle type batteries? How often should I be charging my hobbico 12v battery? I pretty much plug it in to a wall wart trickle charger, and leave it on all the time.

Is this ok to do?
Tim

Rodney

Check out www.rcbatteryclinic.com for some good advice on the care of all types of batteries. Two of the quickest way to destroy or lower the lifetime of a Pb based battery is deep discharge (below 11.7 volts under load) and too fast a charge or overcharge. Always recharge as soon as the open circuit voltage falls below 12 volts and never charge a gell cell at a rate greater than 0.1C (700 milliampers for the typical 7 AMP hour gell cell used in our hobby).

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I've had the gel cell 12V battery in my field box for 10 years. In the meantime I've had four different garden tractor lead acid batteries to run my big starter. The lead acid batteries go bad after a couple years.

RevGQ

I probably swap out my cycle batteries once every three years or so if needed, unless they show signs of wear, then I will usually take them back to Pep Boys or Auto Zone for a simple swap.

rlipsett

the amazing thing about batteries in field boxes is that they are inside of panels that have to be unscrewed to gain access to them. I think that a good safety idea is to put a fuse inline with the gnd terminal in case of a short occuring the fuse would blow and you would no panic while you try to get access to the battery while your battery is melting down.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

A good idea or you could have a melt down fire

Some field box panels have a fuse already mounted in their face

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFKZ1&P=ML

riadh

Fuse!! What a good idea. I don’t have one installed in-line with the 12V gel battery in my field box .So what Amp value of the fuse would one use for protection?

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

"Fuse: 7.5A spade type"