Starter battery setup
05-25-2009 | 08:43 PM
#1
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From: Rochester,
NY
Starter battery setup
My Hobbico TorqMaster 12v starter works great but the lead acid battery pack that bolts on the bottom of it, after one season, won't hold a charge anymore.
I want to make up a pack to power it using two wolfpack 6C 7.2 NiMH packs and a series wire connector, links below. That'll end up being a 14.4 Volt pack with alot of amperage.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XTJH4&P=ML
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMTZ3
Should this setup work?
I want to make up a pack to power it using two wolfpack 6C 7.2 NiMH packs and a series wire connector, links below. That'll end up being a 14.4 Volt pack with alot of amperage.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XTJH4&P=ML
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMTZ3
Should this setup work?
05-25-2009 | 08:53 PM
#4
RE: Starter battery setup
$60 dollars compared to $15 dollars doesn't make much sense. </p>
</p>
Remember, a lead acid battery wether sealed or wet lasts much longer if you keep them charged. </p>
05-25-2009 | 09:04 PM
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From: Rochester,
NY
RE: Starter battery setup
ORIGINAL: jrcaster
$60 dollars compared to $15 dollars doesn't make much sense.</p>
</p>
Remember, a lead acid battery wether sealed or wet lasts much longer if you keep them charged.</p>
$60 dollars compared to $15 dollars doesn't make much sense.</p>
</p>
Remember, a lead acid battery wether sealed or wet lasts much longer if you keep them charged.</p>
Someone suggested this setup and said in their experience a single charge lasts a couple weeks!If that is even close to being true I'll gladly spend the money as I've had to borrow someone elses starter often in the past and I hate to do that. I also don't like lugging around the large 12 volt lead acids and don't have one in my flight pack, just the bolt on hobbico lead acid pack.
A few people suggested I not buy this hobbico thing last year.I should have listened
05-25-2009 | 09:10 PM
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RE: Starter battery setup
http://www.all-battery.com/72v3800ma...umorobots.aspx</p>
or</p>
http://www.all-battery.com/twonicd72...onnectors.aspx</p>
the second is only 20 bucks for two 7.4 nimh. 24 amp discharge. (the first is 38 amp discharge but at 25 a pack) </p>
05-25-2009 | 09:15 PM
#7
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RE: Starter battery setup
I get the used 12V batteries from emergency lights for $5 at the swap meets and they last several years. I can series or parallel them.
I have used the garden tractor batteries but I only get about 3 yrs out of one and they are greater than $25 now.
I have used the garden tractor batteries but I only get about 3 yrs out of one and they are greater than $25 now.
05-25-2009 | 09:18 PM
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From: Rochester,
NY
RE: Starter battery setup
The second one looks real interesting at less than half the price!And I like all-battery, having used them before. Wish they were in stock
ORIGINAL: jimmyjames213
http://www.all-battery.com/72v3800ma...umorobots.aspx</p>
or</p>
http://www.all-battery.com/twonicd72...onnectors.aspx</p>
the second is only 20 bucks for two 7.4 nimh. 24 amp discharge. (the first is 38 amp discharge but at 25 a pack)</p>
http://www.all-battery.com/72v3800ma...umorobots.aspx</p>
or</p>
http://www.all-battery.com/twonicd72...onnectors.aspx</p>
the second is only 20 bucks for two 7.4 nimh. 24 amp discharge. (the first is 38 amp discharge but at 25 a pack)</p>
05-25-2009 | 09:20 PM
#9
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RE: Starter battery setup
Jim, you haven't been in the hobby a full year yet; you should still have a warranty on that battery. Hobby services is really good about that stuff - if you call they may just send you a new one.
My Hobbico Power Pack setup seems to be working fine, and the charge lasts quite awhile. It doesn't get used much these days - heck it never really did get used all that much. My OS engines to this day still start up with one stick flip when I decide to do it that way.
My Hobbico Power Pack setup seems to be working fine, and the charge lasts quite awhile. It doesn't get used much these days - heck it never really did get used all that much. My OS engines to this day still start up with one stick flip when I decide to do it that way.
05-25-2009 | 09:23 PM
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From: Rochester,
NY
RE: Starter battery setup
Hey, Joe,
Be honest, you rarely use that thing! I've seen you start your plane and it usually starts on the first or second flip, by hand
Thanks for the tip though. I may send it in for replacement, then sell it if they send me one. In my opinion, it's not that great of a product.
Be honest, you rarely use that thing! I've seen you start your plane and it usually starts on the first or second flip, by hand
Thanks for the tip though. I may send it in for replacement, then sell it if they send me one. In my opinion, it's not that great of a product.
05-25-2009 | 09:41 PM
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RE: Starter battery setup
ORIGINAL: cappaj1
The second one looks real interesting at less than half the price!And I like all-battery, having used them before. Wish they were in stock
The second one looks real interesting at less than half the price!And I like all-battery, having used them before. Wish they were in stock
ORIGINAL: jimmyjames213
http://www.all-battery.com/72v3800ma...umorobots.aspx</p>
or</p>
http://www.all-battery.com/twonicd72...onnectors.aspx</p>
the second is only 20 bucks for two 7.4 nimh. 24 amp discharge. (the first is 38 amp discharge but at 25 a pack)</p>
http://www.all-battery.com/72v3800ma...umorobots.aspx</p>
or</p>
http://www.all-battery.com/twonicd72...onnectors.aspx</p>
the second is only 20 bucks for two 7.4 nimh. 24 amp discharge. (the first is 38 amp discharge but at 25 a pack)</p>
ya me too. usually i recommend allbattery because they work well and are cheap. when i saw those i started to think if it was worth replaceing my starter battery (dinky and old 4.5 lead acidah battery). ill be placeing a order with them soon, for 20 bucks youcant beat it,
i dont mind back-ordering with them. if they start to get really late just call/live chatthem and tell them that you need the batterys asap, they usually speed up the order.
05-25-2009 | 09:50 PM
#12
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RE: Starter battery setup
ORIGINAL: cappaj1
In my opinion, it's not that great of a product.
In my opinion, it's not that great of a product.
I had my 55AX out today, and all Ihad to do was practically breathe on the thing to get it started, and it's been sitting idle for weeks. Ididn't even bother bringing it's starter (Hobbico).
05-25-2009 | 09:58 PM
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From: Rochester,
NY
RE: Starter battery setup
Most of the things on my initial purchase list that you and others recommendedI was very satisfied with.Thanks again to you and others for all the great tips! This site is great for that. I posted my comments on each item I purchased at
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8189104
in case anyone is interested
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8189104
in case anyone is interested
ORIGINAL: gaRCfield
No, it's not. But if a phone call can score you a free replacement it's not a bad thing. It would be good enough to sell a new guy cheap to get him started...
I had my 55AX out today, and all Ihad to do was practically breathe on the thing to get it started, and it's been sitting idle for weeks. Ididn't even bother bringing it's starter (Hobbico).
ORIGINAL: cappaj1
In my opinion, it's not that great of a product.
In my opinion, it's not that great of a product.
I had my 55AX out today, and all Ihad to do was practically breathe on the thing to get it started, and it's been sitting idle for weeks. Ididn't even bother bringing it's starter (Hobbico).
05-26-2009 | 01:22 PM
#14
RE: Starter battery setup
You were talking about your walwart charger and the light that is suppose to dim and go out but doesn't. Maybe that is your problem - a faulty charger that will destroy a new battery as well?
05-26-2009 | 01:27 PM
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RE: Starter battery setup
When I try my Multplex charger, the end of charge beep goes off within a few seconds. I think it's the battery. It won't take a charge.
ORIGINAL: LouisB
You were talking about your walwart charger and the light that is suppose to dim and go out but doesn't. Maybe that is your problem - a faulty charger that will destroy a new battery as well?
You were talking about your walwart charger and the light that is suppose to dim and go out but doesn't. Maybe that is your problem - a faulty charger that will destroy a new battery as well?
05-26-2009 | 02:47 PM
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RE: Starter battery setup
ORIGINAL: cappaj1
Not mine. I charge it after each use as it seems almost dead after a few flights, even when it was new. I use the walwart hobbico charger that came with it, overnight.The red light is supposed to dimm and go out when it charges completely but it never goes out.
Someone suggested this setup and said in their experience a single charge lasts a couple weeks!If that is even close to being true I'll gladly spend the money as I've had to borrow someone elses starter often in the past and I hate to do that. I also don't like lugging around the large 12 volt lead acids and don't have one in my flight pack, just the bolt on hobbico lead acid pack.
A few people suggested I not buy this hobbico thing last year.I should have listened
ORIGINAL: jrcaster
$60 dollars compared to $15 dollars doesn't make much sense.</p>
</p>
Remember, a lead acid battery wether sealed or wet lasts much longer if you keep them charged.</p>
$60 dollars compared to $15 dollars doesn't make much sense.</p>
</p>
Remember, a lead acid battery wether sealed or wet lasts much longer if you keep them charged.</p>
Someone suggested this setup and said in their experience a single charge lasts a couple weeks!If that is even close to being true I'll gladly spend the money as I've had to borrow someone elses starter often in the past and I hate to do that. I also don't like lugging around the large 12 volt lead acids and don't have one in my flight pack, just the bolt on hobbico lead acid pack.
A few people suggested I not buy this hobbico thing last year.I should have listened
05-26-2009 | 08:58 PM
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From: Rochester,
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RE: Starter battery setup
ORIGINAL: gaRCfield
I don't remember that wall wart to be a 'peak' charger, I thought it was just always on.
Lead-acid batteries will fail if they are over charged, so that may have caused it to crap out.
I don't remember that wall wart to be a 'peak' charger, I thought it was just always on.
Lead-acid batteries will fail if they are over charged, so that may have caused it to crap out.
I never left the charger on longer than overnight, except recently to try and get the pack to hold a charge which it doesn't, even after 18 hours which is the longest I tried.
When it was new, it'd charge overnight, and last a few days. Now, it lasts less than a day, a few flghts at most, and never seems as strong as it used to, even fully charged. It lasted a few months during last season, when I bought it, then sat from September to April before getting a charge.
Could letting it sit that long have caused the problem?
05-26-2009 | 11:57 PM
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RE: Starter battery setup
That could have caused the problem when it sat with no use for so long. I know car batterys lose their charge over time if not kept fresh, and motorcycles especially. They make a trickle charger that syays on motorcycles throughout the winter to prevent the battery from going dead. I would try another and not let it sit so long without some type of use on it. Mine charges lipos and powers my spinner and has been good for almost a year now with never a single low voltage problem.
05-27-2009 | 12:56 PM
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From: Poolesville, MD
RE: Starter battery setup
No this has nothing to do with the charger, or being on concrete, etc.
The battery pack that Hobbico sells is not up to the demands of the starter motor.
I've burned through several myself in only one season of use each.
IMHO the small Lead/Acid batteries are too small and because of that a POS.
The racing packs connected together not only last far longer, but produce considerably MORE sustained torque.
The higher capacity packs also retain more charge for longer periods of time.
It is not unusual for me to charge my starter packs only once a month, even after 18+ starts a day each weekend.
The battery pack that Hobbico sells is not up to the demands of the starter motor.
I've burned through several myself in only one season of use each.
IMHO the small Lead/Acid batteries are too small and because of that a POS.
The racing packs connected together not only last far longer, but produce considerably MORE sustained torque.
The higher capacity packs also retain more charge for longer periods of time.
It is not unusual for me to charge my starter packs only once a month, even after 18+ starts a day each weekend.
05-27-2009 | 03:18 PM
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From: Rochester,
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RE: Starter battery setup
I think you're right on track with the POS. Icharged this thing last night vor 14 hours and just came back from the field. It didn't h ave enough power to turn over the engine even twice!I'lll be sending that thing back.
Thanks for your help.I will either end up with the Wolfpacks or two 7.2v NiCd 2400mAh packs for $10ea.
Thanks for your help.I will either end up with the Wolfpacks or two 7.2v NiCd 2400mAh packs for $10ea.
ORIGINAL: opjose
No this has nothing to do with the charger, or being on concrete, etc.
The battery pack that Hobbico sells is not up to the demands of the starter motor.
I've burned through several myself in only one season of use each.
IMHO the small Lead/Acid batteries are too small and because of that a POS.
The racing packs connected together not only last far longer, but produce considerably MORE sustained torque.
The higher capacity packs also retain more charge for longer periods of time.
It is not unusual for me to charge my starter packs only once a month, even after 18+ starts a day each weekend.
No this has nothing to do with the charger, or being on concrete, etc.
The battery pack that Hobbico sells is not up to the demands of the starter motor.
I've burned through several myself in only one season of use each.
IMHO the small Lead/Acid batteries are too small and because of that a POS.
The racing packs connected together not only last far longer, but produce considerably MORE sustained torque.
The higher capacity packs also retain more charge for longer periods of time.
It is not unusual for me to charge my starter packs only once a month, even after 18+ starts a day each weekend.
05-27-2009 | 07:48 PM
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From: Rochester,
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RE: Starter battery setup
I ordered two 6C 7.2v 3400 mAh NiMh packs and a y cable to connect them in series. This will supposedly fit inside the hobbico case the lead acid is in. I'm trying to figure out how I can go about charging these two packs using a Multiplex without taking the outer shell apart.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
