Battery conditioning / charging
 

A few quick questions regarding batteries:

What does everyone use to cycle/condition rx/tx batteries, and how often?

Also, is it OK to leave the plane (rx) continually plugged in while not in use? I find that good flying weather kinda sneaks up on me around here and sometimes I don't have the plane charged and ready to go. So is it OK to leave the plane continually plugged in and charging, or should I put it on some kind of timer?

RE: Battery conditioning / charging
 

I know people who do it, but I wouldn't recommend it. A rechargeable battery can only hold so much current. After that, excess internal gas is formed, and the battery pack could explode. I don't think it would be good on it at all. My suggestion is to do what I did--get yourself a quickcharger. Plug it in on the way to the field, and it's charged by the time you get there. Also, you can recharge at the field that way as well! Solves many problems. Then, what I do, is recharge my batteries when I'm done flying for the day (with the field charger), and when I get home, my wall warts are on a timer--they come on for a couple of hours per day. That way, when I get ready to go out next time, they are all ready to go! In my situation, this all takes place in my trailer, but you could easily do it in the house or workshop--wherever you store your planes.

RE: Battery conditioning / charging
 

Check out www.rcbatteryclinic.com for good reliable info on all types of batteries. I assume you are talking about NiCad batteries above. If so, try the suggestion in the site mentioned above, get an appliance timer and, plug your charger and batteries into that. Set it up to put a 1 hour charge each 24 hours using the slow charger that came with your system. This will keep the unit ready to go at any time. Of course this is assuming you have them fully charged when you start this procedure. To do that, just put them on the same charger for 10 hours first then switch to the timer routine. While fast charging works if you are diligent, it is also an easy way to turn your batteries into toast if you forget to watch them and accidently let them get overcharged or over heated.

RE: Battery conditioning / charging
 

I discharge my batteries once a month if I haven't been flying.

As mentioned above, I have a timer set to a five-plug powerstrip that goes on for about 75 minutes every day. I keep my flightbox 12v, two planes and one transmitter on this all week so I can be ready at a moment's notice (I live a mile away from our field).

I played around with the time until I found what seemed an optimum daily charge to keep my 9C at a steady 10.8v readout.

I then added what I think is a damned clever idea. I have one of those timers with the pegs for on and off. I set it to come on at 3:00PM and go off at 4:15 PM, and I took just an "off" peg and set it in the noon position. Now, when I come home from the field I turn the timer "on" at 8:00PM and it charges everythng for 16 hours, then switches off the next day, but still comes on for the once daily charge all on it's own thereafter. Slick.

RE: Battery conditioning / charging
 

I don't think it is nessessary or even good to dicharge so much. I do it maybe twice a year, once just before flying season when I am taking stock of the condition of my flying equipment and again about the middle of the season. When storing them for the winter I charge them after the last session and then just let them sit on the shelf and charge every month or so for the duration of the winter.

RE: Battery conditioning / charging
 

<<I discharge my batteries once a month if I haven't been flying. >>

Emphasis on the "if I haven't been flying"

March, April, November and December: two slow times a year. If there's enough snow for skis or the field's dry enough, I'm flying regularly. ;) I much prefer to discharge them through use.

I use an Accu-Cycle to cycle them three in a row, and if they are below 80% capacity at that point they're gone. Usually three years life, some more, some less. Not worth risking a plane for a $16 battery pack every three years.

RE: Battery conditioning / charging
 

Trickle charger is the way to go. TME makes a good one. 16hrs and auto trickle charge. Can sit like that all week.

RE: Battery conditioning / charging
 

Most manufacturers recommend AGAINST trickle charging as it can have some bad side effects, especially on NiMh's. If in doubt, check with your batteries manufacturer. Much healthier to do the slow charge (14 to 16 hours at 0.1C) followed by a daily boost of about 1 hour at the slow charge rate (0.1C). Trickle charge is ,by most diffinitions, .02 to .05C.