IFlyEm35

My Feedback: (5)

Just got off the phone with Aircraft International and was all ready to buy a PowerBox and NiMH battery set up when he turned me onto this LiPo set up. He said that this battery setup eliminates the explosion/fire problem with traditional LiPo's. Any experience with this set up? Thanks


[link=http://www.aircraftinternational.com/catalog/power_box/battery_1500/index.htm]Power Box LiPoly Battery 1500[/link]

[link=http://www.aircraftinternational.com/catalog/power_box/battery_2800/index.htm]Power Box LiPoly Battery 2800[/link]

rc4flying

My Feedback: (21)

I have run this setup with the 2800 Lipoly batteries. Used all last season without any problems. I will be getting the new 1500 for my ign. setup soon.

DKjens

My Feedback: (50)

Can I ask you why you'd rather pay $139.00 for a 2800mAh LiPo battery that weighs 5.57 oz, than pay $44.00 for a 2400mAh Fromeco Peerless Li-Ion battery that weighs 3.4 oz? or $78.00 for a 4800mAh Fromeco Peerless Li-Ion battery that weighs 6.8 oz?

DKjens

HarryJ

My Feedback: (98)

The only LiPo I use is in my cell phone. It will take a lot to convince me they are safe. I've seen to many fires from them. Maybe someday they will get the bugs out but by then there will be something better.








Harry

Supermod56

My Feedback: (36)

The one thing nice about the Powerbox batteries is you don't need to buy a charger, it's built in, and with the mount set-up they have, you can swap em from plane to plane real easy. Other than that, you can keep em, I will use Fromeco's. as DKjens said, less money and less weight, not to mention safer!!
Tom

Wings-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

As far as I know a Li-Ion cannot provide near the current as a LiPO. In our large scale multi digital servo planes, current, not mah is what counts. Li-Ions make up for this shortcoming by putting in more mah (Cells). In other words, one 2400 Fromeco does not equal one 2800 Powerbox. It would take a heaver 4800 Fromeco to equal the performance of one 2800 Powerbox. When you factor in the charger, I think the Powerbox is less money & less weight. As far as safety, it looks like the Powerbox batteries pops out of their holder to be charged, making them safer yet.

rc4flying

My Feedback: (21)

Also, with the charger built into each battery pack, along with a built heat detector that shuts down the charge cycle if the pack becomes to hot before there is any damage done.

jmiracle

My Feedback: (9)

The only thing "unsafe" about LiPo/LiIon is the consumer. When used properly, they're no more dangerous than NiCad/NiMh....

BTerry

My Feedback: (8)

I use many LiPo batteries in my electric planes, they are quite safe if I remain within operational limits. LiPo batteries can generate much higher current than the similarly sized Li-Ions.

This looks like a well-engineered design. That being said, the LiPo batteries are also sensitive to vibration. I have read accounts of LiPo batteries failing under vibration caused by gas engines. Given the relative sensitivity of the cells I would not doubt it.

The technology I am excited about is the new Li-Moly cylindrical cells. I don't know the exact makeup of the cells, but they have a different chemistry than Li-Po, and are rolled into a cylinder. They function much like a LiPo cell, but they have significantly higher current delivery and are quite robust. These cells are being used in the Milwaukee 28V cordless drills. Unfortunately, it seems the manufacturer is definitely NOT interested in selling to RC guys. There is a huge thread detailing these batteries under the Electric Helicopter forum at the "E" site. Guys buy the replacement batteries for the drills, strip out the cells, and make up their own batteries.

The batteries seem to have decent voltage levels at high current, although the heli guys tend to use 7 eMoly cells where they would use 6 LiPo cells. However they are cheap, will soon be readily available, and are able to sustain up to 100A for short duration. The cells weigh 100 g each, and are 3.7 V/3000 mAh batteries.

Sorry if I took this off topic. The Power Box looks very nice, but I don't want to power the radio in my own airplanes with LiPo cells...

I probably can't post a link to the "other site", but PM me and I can send the link. I will try it here though: [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456011]CLICK HERE!!![/link]

BTerry

My Feedback: (8)

True, the "Exploding Cell Phone" stories all used aftermarket batteries without the same control chip used by the OEM's. Thus the cells were used "beyond their capabilities", and exploded. Most of the RC fires were due to overcharging, or careless use.