Been out of the game for awhile and need some help
12-13-2009 | 11:47 PM
#1
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From: Eagle River, AK
Been out of the game for awhile and need some help
I started flying R/C airplanes around 12 years old and flew them for quite awhile. Ieven got a pretty good air force started. Currently Iown a t-rex 450x, an extreme flight extra 300, a raptor 30, and a showtime 4D (my baby). Anyways, Igot out of R/C flying to fulfill my dream of being a real pilot. I do have my private license and Iactually am almost done with my instrument rating and my commercial license.
Anyways, I am only 19, and it has only been a few years since I have been flying but the battery technology and the radio equipment is very different. Right now, Iam not interested in changing to a 2.4ghz radio, I am not content at the moment with my FM radio. However, Ihave many questions that Ineed answered before I can get back into the air again.
First off, what type of charger do I need for the lipo batteries and what is cell balancing? I have gone through quite a few lipos because of improper charging and I need to find a good, simple charger to use.
Secondly, for my showtime 4D, Iam still using Nicd batteries to power the servos. Is this still the norm or are those becoming lipos as well?
Those are good starter questions,
thanks for any help.
Anyways, I am only 19, and it has only been a few years since I have been flying but the battery technology and the radio equipment is very different. Right now, Iam not interested in changing to a 2.4ghz radio, I am not content at the moment with my FM radio. However, Ihave many questions that Ineed answered before I can get back into the air again.
First off, what type of charger do I need for the lipo batteries and what is cell balancing? I have gone through quite a few lipos because of improper charging and I need to find a good, simple charger to use.
Secondly, for my showtime 4D, Iam still using Nicd batteries to power the servos. Is this still the norm or are those becoming lipos as well?
Those are good starter questions,
thanks for any help.
12-14-2009 | 07:39 AM
#2
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Been out of the game for awhile and need some help
Well, as a starter, balancing happens with multiple cell packs. When you charge the pack, the cells charge at different rates. Balancing insures that they are all charged to the same level and the discharge rate is equal among the cells in the pack.
As far as the NiCd packs as secondary packs, well, some do that some don't. It comes down to a personal choice. As for me, well, I don't do that, or better worded, have not yet done that. There are advantages to powering the receiver and servos with a secondary battery pack. You just have to weigh the differences and see if there is an advantage to your setup. But, always keep in mind, with electric power, weight is always a condideration and adding a secondary battery pack adds that much more weight and raises the required power to fly that particular plane.
CGr.
As far as the NiCd packs as secondary packs, well, some do that some don't. It comes down to a personal choice. As for me, well, I don't do that, or better worded, have not yet done that. There are advantages to powering the receiver and servos with a secondary battery pack. You just have to weigh the differences and see if there is an advantage to your setup. But, always keep in mind, with electric power, weight is always a condideration and adding a secondary battery pack adds that much more weight and raises the required power to fly that particular plane.
CGr.
12-14-2009 | 08:24 AM
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From: Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA
RE: Been out of the game for awhile and need some help
Hi Bushpilot, welcome to RCU! You'll enjoy it here.
RE LiPo charger: Youll need a dedicated lipo charger to charge your lipo packs. Lipos require a complex charging algorithm from a charger and an ordinary NiMH or NiCad charger does not have this. There are plenty lipo chargers on the market these days with all the bells and whistles. Get one that suits your needs and you should be fine. For some interresting reading on electric flight, go read the Amp'ed articles in the magazine section written by Gregg Covey.
As for the receiver packs, some people are changing over to LiPo packs for their recievers and servos but it does require either a regulator to bring the voltage down from 7.2V to 5/6V. Or you need to get the new generation recievers and servos that are LiPo compatible. The second option is not that popular yet(expensive) but many people are using 2cell lipos with voltage regulators to power their receivers. Obviously a seperate receiver pack is not required on EP planes because of the BEC most ESC's have.
Hope this helps.
Cheers and good luck!
RE LiPo charger: Youll need a dedicated lipo charger to charge your lipo packs. Lipos require a complex charging algorithm from a charger and an ordinary NiMH or NiCad charger does not have this. There are plenty lipo chargers on the market these days with all the bells and whistles. Get one that suits your needs and you should be fine. For some interresting reading on electric flight, go read the Amp'ed articles in the magazine section written by Gregg Covey.
As for the receiver packs, some people are changing over to LiPo packs for their recievers and servos but it does require either a regulator to bring the voltage down from 7.2V to 5/6V. Or you need to get the new generation recievers and servos that are LiPo compatible. The second option is not that popular yet(expensive) but many people are using 2cell lipos with voltage regulators to power their receivers. Obviously a seperate receiver pack is not required on EP planes because of the BEC most ESC's have.
Hope this helps.
Cheers and good luck!
12-14-2009 | 09:25 AM
#4
Senior Member
My Feedback: (4)
RE: Been out of the game for awhile and need some help
What this all boils down to is...
The equipment you have now is just fine. I would say that probably 85% of the fliers out there are still using a standard battery pack to power their receiver and about 60% are still using FM radios.
As for Lipos... IF you decide to ever use them, you MUST have a balanced charger. Without it, one cell could over-charge and catch fire or explode. (Go to YouTube and search for "exploding Lipo" and you'll see what I mean)
The equipment you have now is just fine. I would say that probably 85% of the fliers out there are still using a standard battery pack to power their receiver and about 60% are still using FM radios.
As for Lipos... IF you decide to ever use them, you MUST have a balanced charger. Without it, one cell could over-charge and catch fire or explode. (Go to YouTube and search for "exploding Lipo" and you'll see what I mean)
