So it seems it works out that I get to fly about once every two weeks around here with the weather (january in S.D.) I keep an eye on the weather and if it looks like i can fly I put the rx and tx on the wall charger the day before and just leave it on, is this all I need to do with them? Do I need to charge them periodically in between? The temp in my shop ranges between 40 and 60 F in the winter and when not in use the batts just stay in the plane and the tx. Do I need to let them run down on occasion? when I do fly I usually go 3-4 flights then charge a couple hours on the field charger if it looks like I can fly again. as always thanks in advance!

What you are doing is just fine. If you maintain that routine you're batteries will be just fine. Although not necessary there is one thing you can add that will help keep your batteries ready to fly. Do a full charge on them and then put your wall wart charger on a timer that comes on for 1-2 hours a day. This will keep the batteries "topped off" and ready to fly.

With today's battery chemistry the only advantage you get from "cycling" them is to detect when the capacity of the battery is starting to fall. And you will need a battery cycler to detect that. Basically what you do is cycle the battery when it's brand new to determine it's capacity. Then periodically cycle the battery to check the capacity. When that drops to roughly 80% of the original capacity it's time to chuck that battery and get a new one. Other than that there isn't much benefit from cycling them.

Hope this helps

Ken

I agree with what you do but will add that I keep my Rx bat. on trickle charge at all times. Always at peak charge when ready to use. Do advise you get a ESV to check Rx. at field after each flight. My TX shows their voltage on screen.

What you are doing is what I did for my first year or two of R/C until I got a good charger. I never had trouble. Don't forget to check the voltage before every flight.

Just don't try that with the NIMH batteries. Trickle charging them or "topping them off" may overheat and kill them.

Don

NiCad like the full current charge with the wall wart for 1 hour per day. Works better than the trickle charge, and only cost $6 for the timer.

Read:

http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com/

I have a bunch of NiCd battery packs sitting around. Many are older 4 cell packs. I've since changed over to 5 cell packs (trying to avoid the re-boot issues with the older Spektrum receives), so the 4 cell packs sat around.

I put them on my Accucycle and they seemed to come back with two or three cycle sessions for the NiCd packs that needed it. Some were just fine as they were.. put them on the charger and they showed a charge current of what I would have expected for a NiCd pack that sat around for a while. I don't have any 4 cell NiMH packs, but do have several spare 5 cell packs that I check periodically with the Accucycle.

Oh, by the way, there was an article, I will have to dig it out, on the older Accucycle chargers and the need to calibrate them (can do it at home with a decent digital voltmeter, not an ESV but a real digital voltmeter). The article pointed out that the discharge/charge current showing was not accurate. The article detailed the process of calibrating the thing. Easy to do, by the way, and made a difference on the indicated current draw/dissipated during the charge/discharge cycle.

CGr.

Morning CG

poached egg, 2 strips bacon, oatnut toast and coffee. I, like you, have changed over to the 5 cell batteries. I use one 2500 mAh 4.8v for my gas ingition system.

Yeah, it was much easier to consolidate and use the same battery pack for everything. In my case, 1200 mah NiMh packs on everything, and on at least two aircraft, two of them (which saved my butt, or my airplane.. on one occasion).

I had Wheaties and a banana, 2% milk, and two cups of java. I didn't want to wait in line at the grille at the cafeteria this morning.

CGr.

I use a timer that powers up all my wall warts for an hour a day year round. To top the packs off before flying I use a little peak detecting charger from Batteryspace, it also works for a field quick charger.

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=3064

the breakfast of Champions. Having coffee as we speak. No flying today10* wind 10-15. Sure been a hard winter. [&o][&o][&o] Thank Heavens for the FSOne.

Do you like FS One? I picked it up using a Christmas gift certificat (LHS). I also have G3.5 and Aerofly Pro. I tend to gravitate toward Aerofly, jury is not in yet for FS One. I don't like the way they do their "controller" configuration, though, but that's just me.

On the subject of this thread, I bought one of those multi-chargers.. one input (115 VAC or 12 VDC) with I think 6 outputs.. if I have enough leads, I can trickle/charge up to 6 packs at once. And of course, I do one at a time.. [X(]

CGr.

dang I have been getting a error message alot saying that it has timed out or something to that effect. Maybe I type so slow.

You are right about NiMh batteries. My reply was in regard to NiCds.