I'm an RC newbie just about to buy my first plane, a Multiplex Easyglider Electric. It comes with charger which hooks up to a car battery. All the other chargers I've seen at Hobby Lobby appear to be of the same type.

The issue is I'm in Tokyo where owning a car is more trouble than it's worth. I would need to take a half hour train ride to get to a flying field. Does anyone know of another way I could charge the plane? Something I could throw in a back pack without killing myself?

Hi Beercan,

Welcome to RC Flight.

Assuming you are using NiMH, or NiCd packs, just buy a couple more of these and take them with you. They are very inexpensive now.

Buy a transformer that will reduce the mains voltage to 12v DC (rated to 5Amps should be good) which you can use to run your charger in lieu of having a battery inside your apartment.

Now to save yourself some dissapointment before you make your first trip out to fly your plane charge the pack, and then run it to flat (just inside your apartment with the plane teethered), charge it, and run it flat again. Charge your batteries the night before you fly.

You probably only need two batteries originally - if you manage to get through two packs in your first session you are doing well. Don't forget to take some CA with you - the easystar can often be repaired in the field. And don't choose a field that's two small. You probably want at least two soccer fields side by side.

There's heaps of good notes on how to learn to fly - see Aejar thread at the top of this forum. Get some sim time.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7100376/tm.htm - Aejars thread
http://www.oz********.com/2007/03/le...ers-guide.html - a little learning to fly course I wrote some time ago.

Good luck - don't forget to come back here and tell us all how you went.

Cheers,
Oz.

Hello OZ,

Many thanks for the pointers. I'll make sure to have a look at your flying course once my flight sim arrives.

The Easy glider comes with a 3 Cell 2100 mAh 11.1V Li-Poly Pack . The website says "Charge only with chargers designed for Lithium batteries." I'm guessing as long as I have the proper charger I can still hook it up to a transformer as you suggest....right?

I should be OK for space. There's a major river nearby with a fairly broad flood plain between it and the levy. Though I have to admit I was hoping to launch off my 5th floor balcony and chase the crows around my building

Cheers,
BC

Whoops - sorry beercan didn't see your reply...

Your LiPo charger should say what input volts/amps it needs - use that in the first instance. If it doesn't then the specs I gave you should be okay for a transformer.

LiPos are a little more pricey, but in a trainer the battery you have described should give 10-15 minutes flight time no probs. If you last that long on your first flight it is probably time to call it quits anyway, and let your brain absorb everything it just learnt.

Space sounds okayish - just remember - you will probably need more than you expect - about 100mx100m would be the minimum. As for the balcony perhaps not (at least for now ).

Cheers,
Oz.

For the cost of one or two packs for your plane, one of these power packs can
recharge you packs by running your DC charger. Yu can carry them on a bike,
or the lighter ones
could be carried in a back-pack with the rest of your field equipment.

They are simple to use. It is just like using your car's cig lighter plug or
clips on the car's battery. You attach a 12 volt DC charger and charge your
batteries at the field. They can also
be used at the house so you don't need a DC and an AC charger. I use one in my
shop for that purpose.

Examples
http://www.nextag.com/jump-starter/search-html

You can also use one of these gel pack batteries that normally go in a field
box. If your charger has clips, you are set. If not, you pick up a car power
outlet extender or doubler that has a wire on it and add clips.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXL370&P=ML
You will need a charger. This is an example
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXL353&P=V

Oz & Aeajr,

Thanks very much for all your advice! I'm expecting my flight sim to arrive this weekend, so I can at least start playing with that while I wait for my Easyglider.

Cheers,
BC