Question
 

OK, I got one of those gulani A-10's. I want to put a lipo pack in it, so can I get an adapter for the lipo, or do I need to clip the plug on the plane and put the adapter that was included with the battery on the plane. I know this may be a dumb question, but I am really new to this, and I like flying the plane, except it only flies about 2 mins max with the battery that was included. It was a Nimd or something like that. Thanks for the advice.

Kevin

RE: Question
 

Well, first of all, you really have to make sure that the ESC will work with a LiPo battery pack. If it will, then you have to match up the LiPo plug to the one that goes to the ESC.

There are some problems with this, though. First of all, the weight difference will most likely require you to re-locate the battery pack to meet the CG (Center of Gravity) of the plane.

You might be better off swapping out the motor/esc/battery pack to a matching set of LiPo and brushless ESC and matching motor.

CGr

RE: Question
 

Shoot Redfish1976
That's about how long I fly my nitro's. Then I repair it.

RE: Question
 

So, let me get this straight, if the lipo battery can match the other batteries, and the CG doesn't change, then I can change the plug out and will have no problem as long as the motor and Rx will support the lipo? If all that is the case, can I get an adapter so I don't have to cut, splice and sauter the wire that is currently in the plane. That was actually my question, but thanks for the advice on the CG. I had not thought about that. As far as that goes, the lipo I have is just about the same size as the battery that was included with the plane when I bough it. Again, thank you for the valuable info.

RE: Question
 

Lipos are usually lighter than other types, and you can use and adapter, but it will add some resistance to your setup.

RE: Question
 

That's a lot of if's there, Redfish.

You also have to figure out a way to charge that LiPo. There is, of course, only one way, and that's to buy a LiPo charger. You cannot charge it with your NiMH charger. There is a lot to consider here. And, oh, that's "solder". It took me a minute to figure that out.. ;)

Size does not equate to capacity. If your NiMh pack is, say, 1000 mah, then if you get a LiPo of the same size, you have a few other things to consider. One is the number of cells in that pack that will provide the voltage that you have with your NiMh packs. Then, as I said, no matter what you do, you have to get a higher capacity than what you have if you want longer flight duration. And, of course, that's one flight, then on the charger for over an hour (with the right charger), or buy another pack of the same voltage (number of cells) and capacity.

You also have to remember not to overload that LiPo pack. They are not like NiMh or NiCd packs. Those are pretty robust. So, is a LiPo if you get one that has the right max current (listed as C on the pattery pack.. such as a 10C pack can handle a discharge rate 10 times the capacity). And, LiPo packs are, can be, somewhat dangerous. They are not to be charged in your house or in your car. If there is a problem, they have been known to be the cause for burning things down, or gut cars and trucks.

You sure you still want to do this in a plane that may or may not have been designed for LiPo packs? If you are ready to answer all the if's and go forward, keeping in consideration all the things that could be a problem for a novice, well, knock yer self out!

CGr.

RE: Question
 

Hey CG-;Got a flight in today:D:D:D:D

RE: Question
 

Well, hot dog, Irish! I had to work, and it's ccccold here (for NJ that is). Maybe it will warm up this weekend. I still have to take the Volvo in for regular service tomorrow, so it won't be tomorrow. Jeech, always something, eh? ha..

I have three electrics to maiden PLUS that Alpha trainer I put together (as a club trainer to replace the one that I busted up by forgetting to raise the darned antenna.. ha..) how dumb was that!!

CGr.

RE: Question
 

RCG, Thanks for all that info. I have though on some of it. I only e-mail and go on the net on the week days, so sory for the delay. I already have the balanced charger and the battery. I went ahead and tried it. I don't think the brushed motors are going to last very long since there was a certain glow coming out of the when the plane took off and it was on full throttle. It is a display right now, and I am going to order the things you said to. Like I said, I am a true newbie, so I mean it when I say thanks. I also got an exceed f-4 E that I crashed on the 1st flight because of pilot error. Anwhoo, can the plane be glued back together since the front broke off right in front of the intakes? Oh, yeah, and the left wing broke off too. So, should I just order a new fuselage and wing when I can fly the A-10 pretty well, or should I just glue the dadgum thing together until I figure out how not to crash something that goes mach3? LOL!!! Thanks again for the advice guys, I really appreciate all of it.

Kevin

RE: Question
 

You also need to see if your speed controller has a lipo cutoff.If you run the lipo completely dead,you probably will
end it's life.You can only run a lipo down to around 3.0 volts per cell. below 2.5v per cell and it is usually a paperweight.