RCU Forums - props & batteries

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props & batteries

Hi all;
A couple of questions:
1) What's the best way to open up a hole in a prop, (not wood)? My Saito 82 has a shaft that's larger than the standard holes in the Master Airscrews I'm using. I've tried the proper bit in my drill press and I still get "grabbing" and a somewhat less than perfect hole.

2) How should I recharge my RX & TX batteries between flight days? I have an Accu-Cycle to cycle/charge, but should I cycle after each flying day? I'm pretty sure I shouldn't "top-off" the bats between days, but should I take them down completely? Most flying days I only fly a few flights and don't fly for maybe a week or so. It seems that there's still a lot of capacity left.

Thanks!

RE: props & batteries

Get a 4 step prop reamer, available at most LHS.

Don't cycle your batteries too often, maybe once a month. Simply top them off overnight with the "wall wart" charger that came with the radio before flight sessions. If the Accu-Cycle will charge without cycling, use that.

Dr.1

RE: props & batteries

Quote:

ORIGINAL: CB36

Hi all;
A couple of questions:
1) What's the best way to open up a hole in a prop, (not wood)? My Saito 82 has a shaft that's larger than the standard holes in the Master Airscrews I'm using. I've tried the proper bit in my drill press and I still get "grabbing" and a somewhat less than perfect hole.

>A prop reamer (a couple of dollars at you LHS) is your best bet.

2) How should I recharge my RX & TX batteries between flight days? I have an Accu-Cycle to cycle/charge, but should I cycle after each flying day? I'm pretty sure I shouldn't "top-off" the bats between days, but should I take them down completely? Most flying days I only fly a few flights and don't fly for maybe a week or so. It seems that there's still a lot of capacity left.

>You only need to recycle your batteries after they have been sitting
>for a long period of time, such as the beginning of the flying season.
>At the beginning of the season I cycle my batteries twice, then record
>the capacity and compare it to the initial capacity to see if I feel it is
>safe to use.
>
>For the way you are flying (very similar to my useage) I suggest
>putting them on charge the night before and let them charge. I use
>the wal-wart chargers hooked to a timer and let them charge about
>14 - 16 hours. I have batteries that are 4 years old and no problems.
>I do keep track of their capacity after charging, and any battery that
>charges up to less than 85% of initial capacity gets replaced.

Thanks!

RE: props & batteries

As was said above, get a prop reamer to open up the hole on the prop. [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXK248&P=7]Prop reamer at Tower Hobbies.[/link] . Don't use a drill to open it up if you can avoid it. The problem is that a drill can wander off center and throw the prop out of balance. The reamer will let you open up the hole evenly

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: props & batteries

Thanks folks!!!! I'll do just that.

CB36

RE: props & batteries

I too have an Accu-cyle. I trickle charge my batterries overnight the night before flying (when you first plug battries into an accu-cyle and the lights are flashing green it is trickle charging)
I then push the charge button to get a regular charge rate when I get out of bed and let it charge for the hour or so that I am drinking my morning coffee and waking up.