I am re-entering RC after a 25 year absence. What a wonderful but bewildering array of new equipment.

My new Futaba 7c didn't come with a Rx battery pack so the Hobby shop sold me a 6v NMIH. The charger that came with the radio is a 4.8v so I need to buy a separate charger. I can spend $8.00 to $130 for this item - thus my questions. I will now have 3 different battery types to deal with - Nicad, NMIH and lead acid (field box). I will by flying 40 size glow A/C but could warm to the idea of electric flight at some point which would add a 4th variety to the mix.

1. How do you check the charge status of your receiver battery pack in the field? I used to rely on the old expanded scale voltmeter....
2. Can I use the power panel on my field box to quick-charge the NIMH or am I better off buying back-up battery packs for those long days of flying?
3. Should I spring for one of the new do-it-all battery chargers or is that not needed until I get into electric flight?

Thanks for the input.

Bruce

Welcome back to the hobby!!!!

Here are the answers for you.

1. You can still use the ESV to check your batteries. This is what I use to check my batteries before every flight. It's probably one of the better practices you can have.

2 & 3. In your case you might want to consider something like the Great Planes Triton 2 charger. It can charge Ni-Cad, Ni-Mh, Li-ion, Li-pol, and lead acid batteries. You can take it to the field and quick charge your batteries at the field if you need to extend you flying day.

A quick note, with the larger size of battery packs these days you may find that you don't need to field charge. A 2000+ Mah battery pack can easily handle a full day's flying without needing recharged.

Hope this helps

Ken

personally i would go with the Triton Charger. It is def. more than you need right now but the information it gives you is very nice plus if you do go electric you won't need another charger. That is what i bought when i got my first non RTF electric plane and now it's the only charger i use.

Welcome back

Geoff

you can charge your 6v rec battery with the wall wart charger

I use just one charger for my transmitter and my two planes. One plane is 4.8v and the other is 6v. The Gel cell in the field box came with a wall wart for charging.

My airplane charger works from house current, my truck battery, my extra garden tractor type battery, or my field box. so I charge up at the field too. My glow starter is charged off my field box. My field box can also be charged by my automotive type battery charger at home.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXEYD4&P=ML

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