Battery/Charging question
 

I would rather post this here b/c there are so many more eyes than the electric forum....and it is a beginner type question.

Will LIPO batteries power regular brushed and brushless motors just the same? I would like to purchase a LIPO battery with either a 2pin or a dean's plug and just plug it into the airplane that has been using NIMH batteries up till now - same speed controller, etc. Is this a pipe dream or do I need to be considering more?

Also, is there a good charger out there that will charge NiCad, NIMH, and LIPO batteries in the field off 12V car batteries AND from the wall at home? Perhaps a converter will be needed for the latter. But, I am looking to get more into electric flying and want to invest in a cost effective charger that will serve all my battery charging needs for a long time.

I already have an Electrifly Peak 400 charger, but it won't charge LIPO obviously.

RE: Battery/Charging question
 

Hi!
The answer on your first question is Yes!
Doesn't matter if it's a brushed or brushless motor when you use any battery. But for a brushless motor you have to use a brushless speed controll (and that one will not work for a brushed motor).

A good charger is the BC-6
http://www.mft.nu/
http://www.smartstep.se/shopimages/371145/f.jpg

RE: Battery/Charging question
 

Bryris,
Your ESC has no idea what type of battery is pushing current into it.
Yes, you can directly repalce a NiMh with a LiPo.

There are many good chargers out there - I am using a Triton II.
Hobby King has many that are very reasonably priced.
There are few that are both 12 VDC and 120 VAC, but they exist.
There is a new Triton that is.

Power supplies can be inexpensive, I use one from a flat screen monitor.
If going this route be carefull, some of them are > 15 volts and will destroy your charger.

Good Luck,
KW_Counter

RE: Battery/Charging question
 

DuraTrax IntelliPeak ICE is also a very capable charger. I have one, I also have a Triton. I like the ICE better. It's menu is easier to follow through. But both the ICE and Triton need a 12 volt dc input.... car battery, cigarette lighter socket, and so on.

CGr.

RE: Battery/Charging question
 

My peak 400 charger was like $30. Do you suppose that I could buy a dedicated LIPO charger that is similar to the peak 400 and save money over getting one that can do it all? The multi purpose chargers seem to be well over 100 dollars for a decent one.

RE: Battery/Charging question
 

Byris
Re: chargers...you might also look at the Multiplex charger. It will do NiCd, NiMH, LiPo, and Pb (lead acid, like the one you probably have for your starter). It operates off any 12 volt source, but has leads with banana clips connected to alligator clamps. Thus away from the field you can simply disconnect the alligators and plug the bananas into a 12 volt power supply. There are a number of these available with posts for the bananas for under $40.

RE: Battery/Charging question
 

Take a look at this one from Hobbycity. http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...lancer/Charger

They have been dropping the price on this one for a while. I think my wife paid about $38 plus shipping last Xmas. It has proven to be an exceptional value, and many people on this forum will vouch for it's quality. It runs off 12V and will balance charge Lipo/Lion/Life as well as standard charge Nicd, Nimh, and Pb batteries. I love mine and wouldn't recommend it if I wasn't 100% satisfied with it.
Regards,
Curtis

RE: Battery/Charging question
 

Byris,
As for buying a LiPo only charger you are buying a unitasker.
For not much more you can buy a multitasker that will be there if you need it.
This hobby is constantly changing and so are our preferences.
Try to not paint yourself into a corner.
This is just my philosophy built from experience.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter