Starter Combo question for Rascal 40
 

Guys,

Can I use this Blade CX 12V charger:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodID=EFLC4000

instead of this 12V Tower Starter charger:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL354


To use for this combo(minus the charger) that I am about to buy from tower?

Power Core Starter Pack/Charger/Tower Deluxe Starter Combo:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0161p?&I=LZ2621

Reason is I can save about $8, if there is no difference in Power,amps,Charge Rate etc..

Also I feel this is the cheapest starter , is it so? Can I use this to start my rascal 40's OS FX engine?

Also is this Starter Pack (starter & Battery/base) stable to start the engine ie does it work well to be a cordless starter?
Does the starter motor connect to the base(battery) thru plugs?
Tks!

RE: Starter Combo question for Rascal 40
 

The charge rates from what I can tell are completely different so IMO I would say no.
Spend the $8.

RE: Starter Combo question for Rascal 40
 

the combo is great starter package and work well for 60 sized engine and smaller. The blade has a higher charge rate so don't do it. The power core battery is a very small 12v gell cell. I wouldn't recommend going to haigher charge rate unless you used a computer charger that can detect the statuse of the battery. I charge mine with a triton. But I already had one for all my other batterys that require this kinda of charger

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCJG7&P=0]triton[/link]

RE: Starter Combo question for Rascal 40
 

IMHO the core batteries are so small, that they really aren't worth it. Many looking for portability are spending more money and going with some of the better starters that can take more than twelve volts and using two of the sub-C 6 or 7 cell 3300+ NiMH packs in series. The Sullivan Dynatron will take up to 24 volts. There are also many smaller geared units out there that work well this way.

I have one of the units you are considering sitting on the shelf in my hangar, it is collecting dust. I even replaced the Hobbico gel cel battery with an Interstate battery of the same size, with a higher amperage. The performance was still lack-lustre to say the least.

If you are looking for a strong but reliable set up, get an inexpensive motor-cycle battery that has 12 amps or higher rating, or even a small garden tractor battery (135+ CCA rating). These will give you enough amperage to start up to and greater than 1.20 four stroke engines. My dynatron on a 235 amp ($30) Walmart battery will start my Moki 2.10 and MDS 2.18 with no problem. You can put the battery in a wooden box or plastic container and make a rope, or wooden handle for it. Some even come with an attached plastic handle. Nothing gets more frustrating than a starter that won't crank it over on the last couple flights of a near perfect day!!