after flight procedures?
 

Turn off plane.
Turn off TX.
Empty fuel tank.
Clean slime off plane.

If only 2-3 flights do I charge batteries to top them off?

NI-MH batteries for the flight pack. Do you leave yours in the plane and charge using the charge plug from the on off switch?

I have a hobbyco field charger and various multi testers but what do I need/how do I check to know if my batteries are good?

I have spectrum DX6i and I know I have to be aware of low batteries...

Thanks for any help getting me pointed in the right direction for battery maintinence.
Pop

RE: after flight procedures?
 

You don't need to be any more aware about low batteries with the 6i than with any other radio. NiMH batteries can be safely charged within the airplane using the wall charger (C/10).

First of all, you need to make sure your tester puts a load on the battery. You'll have to read the instructions to find out. Mine doesn't, so I used some resistors to create a load. A 4.8 volt flight pack should read somewhere around 5.35 when fully charged. When the pack dips to 4.7 it is pretty much dead. Remember, however, that voltage is not a measure of capacity (amperes are a measure of capacity), but because voltage and capacity are linked through Ohm's law you can find a fairly predictable 'dead voltage' for the NiMH battery chemistry.

NiMH batteries don't need much maintenance. You really can't overcharge them with the wall charger because the charging rate is so slow (~C/10). I usually cycle my batteries at the beginning of the season to make sure they are at least 80% of rated capacity. If they fail to cycle at 80% they are relegated to a non-critical application. I usually cycle once mid-season or so as well. There really isn't much you need to do to keep them going.

It's a good idea to top off batteries before you fly again UNLESS you really know your particular battery. I keep an extensive log for all my batteries, however, that's probably overkill for most people. I'm one of those nerds that gets turned on by seeing charts and numbers. :D
Batteries just sitting there will slowly discharge themselves because of internal resistance. Therefore, if you charge your battery and wait a month to fly your battery will have noticably drained even though you didn't use it.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

Probably overkill but I top my batteries off within 24 hours before I fly every time. (2700mah NiMH flight pack and 4x 1500maH NiMH in the TX)

My new TX wont register on the load test volt meter so I am forced to believe the computer in the radio, and since it wont load test Im afraid to use the peak detection charger on it because I dont think the peak detection circuit will work correctly with that silly diode in it.
(Wont remove the diode because A: its a brand new radio under warranty and B: the guys who designed this thing are far smarter than I; there has to be a good reason for it or they wouldnt put it in there!)

RE: after flight procedures?
 

Turn off the plane
turn off TX
Emty fuel tank

Turn on TX
Turn on plane
Attach glow plug
Start engine again untill there is no fuel and engine stalls and quit

Turn off the plane
Turn off TX
Clean slime off plane

RE: after flight procedures?
 

Nobody said use after run oil? My fuel (Omega) says "do not use after run oil" the old farts at the feild all say "use after run oil anyway!" They have been at it a long time.....I have not.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

I use Omega fuel and only use after oil when a particular plane or engine will be stored for more than a month.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

Yes, I use oil. Even more important than that is to run the engine out of fuel when you're done flying.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

Is it bad to run out of fuel?
Would you loose lubrication?
Based on the amount of fuel on my plane I guess there's enough lubricant everywhere to not be a problem?

Pop

RE: after flight procedures?
 

My Tx has 4 rechargable AA batteries in it. I've been taking them out of the TX and using my battery charger to charge them.
When I use the TX charger there is nothing that tells me its working, no light or anything.
Should the TX be on or off? Manual doesnt say much... Still playing around with it though...

Pop

RE: after flight procedures?
 

No, it's not bad to run out of fuel. For my glow engines I usually just empty the tank, leave the glow ignitor on and start the engine until it dies (keep it at idle). I then attempt to start it a few more times until it stops coughing (again, at idle). I then put the after run oil in.

You should charge the TX with it turned OFF. Yes, the DX6i charger doesn't have a light. Leave it on overnight - it will charge the batteries. You can tell by the voltage readout when you turn on the transmitter.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

Ahh...many of the "great debates' all in one thread. *heh* This should be entertaining. :)

RE: after flight procedures?
 

What should I use to cycle/condition/check my batteries? anything else?
Is there one product that would do all of these things?
Right now all I can do is read the voltage with a regular volt meter. no load.
I understand the use of resistors to add a load but not well enough to know what to do.
Spektrum DX6i shows the voltage so I can monitor that.
But the Rec. Battery, other than "topping it off" before flying, what can I use (cheap) to cycle/condition/check battery?

thanks

pop




First of all, you need to make sure your tester puts a load on the battery. You'll have to read the instructions to find out. Mine doesn't, so I used some resistors to create a load. A 4.8 volt flight pack should read somewhere around 5.35 when fully charged. When the pack dips to 4.7 it is pretty much dead. Remember, however, that voltage is not a measure of capacity (amperes are a measure of capacity), but because voltage and capacity are linked through Ohm's law you can find a fairly predictable 'dead voltage' for the NiMH battery chemistry.

NiMH batteries don't need much maintenance. You really can't overcharge them with the wall charger because the charging rate is so slow (~C/10). I usually cycle my batteries at the beginning of the season to make sure they are at least 80% of rated capacity. If they fail to cycle at 80% they are relegated to a non-critical application. I usually cycle once mid-season or so as well. There really isn't much you need to do to keep them going.

It's a good idea to top off batteries before you fly again UNLESS you really know your particular battery. I keep an extensive log for all my batteries, however, that's probably overkill for most people. I'm one of those nerds that gets turned on by seeing charts and numbers. :D
Batteries just sitting there will slowly discharge themselves because of internal resistance. Therefore, if you charge your battery and wait a month to fly your battery will have noticably drained even though you didn't use it.
[/quote]

RE: after flight procedures?
 

You can either buy a checker that has a load or use a multimeter (or voltmeter) in conjunction with a 16 ohm resistor (brown blue black gold). The Hobbico Accu-Cycle charger is fairly inexpensive and will do what you need as far as cycling.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

To easy to charge night before flying not to. Then you know for sure your charged. (not saying you know the battery is any good) but should be fully charged.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

I just look for stretch marks on the prop blades and go home.

RE: after flight procedures?
 

As said above, Rx off, Tx off, bring my plane to the pits, defuel, then keep starting/running engine until it won't start anymore, followed by after run oil (even though fuel says not to use it). I charge my plane over night (that night) with the wall wart that came with my radio. I also charge the night before I fly, again over night with the wall wart. They charge so slow it won't hurt the batteries. I have a nice Venom AC/DC charger that I use for cycling, charging at the field, topping off in a pinch, etc. I have a voltwatch on my plane monitoring Rx battery, and use the screen on my Tx to monitor that battery. If I think there might be a problem, I charge battery with Venom, then discharge at C/5, then recharge and see if the battery took a full charge.