volt watch or esv
 

I presently only have one glow trainer. Does the volt watch http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHDJ2&P=ML
do a decent job monitoring your battery?
Also, it's a alpha trainer, do I need to replace plastic clevises on the alpha?

RE: volt watch or esv
 

People using the voltwatch seem to be quite happy with them. I'm "frugal", so I prefer having one volt meter that can handle all my planes.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

No, you don't need to replace the clevises, the plastic ones that came with the plane are more than enough for your trainer.

As for your batteries, either one will do the job. I personally use the extended scale voltmeter. I check my planes before the first flight, then again after 4 flights. If I still have enough to fly then I will fly again. I'm completely comfortable that the ESV is good for my needs. But other pilots do like being able to constantly see their battery state using the voltwatch. And if it makes them comfortable then it may be worth the money to them. But for myself, I'm like Chuck, I'm cheap. I have other things to spend money on. So I would say go with what makes you comfortable.

Ken

RE: volt watch or esv
 

Hey wait a minute!..I'm cheap too!..more importantly, I'm lazy and $10 is to easy to pass up for insurance on any plane...Rog

RE: volt watch or esv
 

I recommend you get a loaded esv first. Then later, as you get more into the hobby, consider putting voltwatches on your planes.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

One important point to watch out for when replacing clevis's or other hardware is that on most of todays ARFs and RTFs they use METRIC parts. If you dont have matching parts you may have slippage. If in doubt, replace the entire control rod including ends.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

The volt watch wouldn't show voltage under load, correct? Unless I work my sticks. Sounds more accurate to get the esv.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

That is true and unless you wiggled your sticks the same way every time it would be less accurate and is also influenced by control drag. The ESV should give you REPEATABLE data showing ONLY battery condition.

How much that other stuff will throw off your readings is unpredictable and that is part of the problem.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

I am cheap as well and use the volt watch all the time, I just have one in my flt. box and if I think my battery might be low I will pop the wing and check them wheather you have a volt meter or not you still have to open most planes to check your batterys.
most of my planes are scale so having a light strip mounted in the cock pit or on the side just does not work for me the VW are good indicators of your battery condition for a quick check item with out having to think about it .

RE: volt watch or esv
 

bigtim,
When using an ESV I don't have to remove the wing. I have a charge jack mounted on the side of the plane with the switch. To check the battery all I have to do is plug the ESV into the charge jack on the side of the plane.

Ken

RE: volt watch or esv
 

A Tower Hobbies Volt-Watch saved my GS World P-51 / Saito 180 from a bad battery cell.

I was tuning my engine in our "break-in area", ten minuets max on a full charge, removed the charger from the plane when I left the house one hour before. Shut everything down after tuning and moved to the "Hot Pit" area.

OK, time for the first flight, turn on the trans, open the hatch on the side of the fuse under the cockpit and flip the switch and out of the corner of my eye I see a red flash.... the Volt Watch in the rear of the cockpit shows low battery.

If not for the V-W I would have flown, after all I just took the plane off the charger and everything is working and the 2700 NMHD battery is only one month old, bad cell... a $10.00 V-W saved a $1000.00 plane.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

I just ordered an ESV. Hopefully I'll have it by the weekend.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

I try to keep my switches as small and hidden as I can those switches are a little big I do have a couple on my sport planes I agree there handy I never thought of checking the voltage through the charge jack though I always use a aileron servo lead.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

Plastic clevises are good.
I have a on-board volt meter on each plane.
I check it after and before each flight.
I find that many times my voltage is low after the flight and checks good after setting for 20 minutes.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

I AM NOT CHEAP, I'M FRUGAL! [sm=48_48.gif] [sm=punching.gif] [sm=wink_smile.gif] [sm=lol.gif]

RE: volt watch or esv
 

True, but when you get up to a half dozen or more planes, especially the smaller ones, the $ spent on the voltwatches represents another engine, plane, set of servos, etc. Like Ken, I check the batteries at the beginning of the day and then before every flight after I've put in 4 or so. I also cycle my batteries a few times per season to confirm that they are still performing up to spec.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

I'm a cheap frugal, I have voltwatches on my planes - got them from a site called batteries r us , 3 for $15.95. Don't know if they are the same quality as the ones from Tower or not but they look just like them and work fine, beats $11.00 each all to peices. 4.8v or 6.0v I can't tell them from the ones I got from Tower

RE: volt watch or esv
 

RCKen, where is the best place to buy a ESV?

RE: volt watch or esv
 

Hobby shops and online dealers have ESVs. I buy lots of my stuff from Tower, so I have this one: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXNK81&P=ML

RE: volt watch or esv
 

This is the one I use. You not only get an ESV but you also have a tachometer to use too. It's nice having it all in one unit, which means one less thing to lug around in the flight box!! :D

[link]http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN111[/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: volt watch or esv
 

Got some good info coming in, thanks. Here's another question. I'm used to rc cars, electric and glow. When your receiver batt runs low, you either see the failsafe light flashing, servos slowing down or the failsafe kicks in. On planes, a battery w/o enough juice could mean disaster.
Question> Would a charger like this do what an esv does? http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXMAJ0&P=ML
I'm thinking I need to invest in a good charger/discharge cycler unit anyway to get my batts up to snuff. Is this a good charger to do what I need. All I have now is a superbrain 959 peak charger which doesn't charge slow enough and doesn't discharge.Or mention what type you use.
Thanks for your patience and help.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

Thanks Ken. I saw that on Horizon's web site. The bad part is that I got a tachometer for Christmas from my wife. For best results I think I'd best use it. Don't want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.;)

RE: volt watch or esv
 

Sorry but no. Not meant to be used like an ESV.

RE: volt watch or esv
 

I have a Voltwatch on each of my larger planes..but I keep one in the flight box for my 1/2A stuff ..but I know some of them are only good for a few flights, I have batteries down to 110 Mah for the small racers..most of them are 270Mah but they only fly for 3-5 minutes per tank..Rog

RE: volt watch or esv
 

IMHO the Voltwatch is far superior to an ESV (expanded scale voltmeter) because it gives you a lot more information than an ESV does. Of course it has to be mounted where you can see it when you start or finish a flight. If you see the little lights jumping back and forth when you move the sticks, it is telling you that the voltage is varying at the point you have the Voltwatch plugged into which means that 1: the wiring between the Voltwatch and battery is to small or 2: the switch contacts have high impedance or 3:one of the servos is drawing excessive current when in transient conditions. If you monitor the reading at the end of a flight before turning off the switch, it gives you a very reliable "State of Charge" that exists under the actual load you are using. If you use a Voltwatch, it gives the most reliable information when plugged directly into one of the reciever unused channels, a Y off one of the other channels can have the information slightly distorted by the IR drop in the wire between the receiver and Voltwatch. If plugged directly into the battery connector (before the on board switch) the information you get is severly compromised as it eliminates any info you get about the voltage drops in the switch and associated wiring; the same lack of information you get when you plug a ESV into the charging plug. This is not a condemnation of an ESV, just that the Voltwatch is a much better option.