ceecrb1

Ok my trainers had 2 years without use... it was stored with the RX battery being charged (an nimh 4cell pack).

Tomorrow i'm intending on flying the trainer for the last time, i'll be swapping the radio and motor into something better very soon!

Can i trust the reciever battery though??

When i initially turned on the RX there was power and it controlled servos for a few minutes then it ran out of juice.
I'll be leaving it overnight with the supplied futaba charger sold with my TX....

Comments??

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Only real way to find out is cycle it a few times, that sort of leaves out thomrrow though.

proptop

My Feedback: (8)

It might be ok for one flight...if you keep it short...the key word is MIGHT.

As you said yourself.."flying the trainer for the last time"
You can hope that it doesn't necessarily mean "the LAST time"

As Gray Beard said, you'd be better off to cycle your batteries a few times to be on the safe side.

ceecrb1

fact of the matter is the airframe is going in the bin.... but i'd rather not "crash" it...
MOSTLY to be honest for the danger factor of others on site...

KW_Counter

NiMhs that have been sitting for awhile generally need reforming.
This battery may still be good but you need to cycle it while measuring
its input and output. If it fails, discharge it, form it and then cycle it.
If it fails again, replace it.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

jaka

Hi!
What does your Volt-watch say???

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Jaka, not everyone runs a volt watch, I'm the only one I know that even has one on a plane and I only put it on for fun. The loaded volt meter is used here most often before flights. I also use one of the GEM 2000 flashers but like the volt watch I tend to forget it's there and use the meter.

ceecrb1

A volt-watch wont really help anyway.. as its CHARGE the batteries fail with, not voltage..
This means they will charge to their full 1.2V but wont hold enough current to sustain long usage periods..

In the end I charged up over night and went to the flying site with the aim of just spending the day tuning the engine, and if all went well a short flight.

The battery only help up for the tuning (which didnt go well at all anyway, I hate this magnum motor it has!!)

going to find a small motor or soemthing to cycle the battery a few times......... or i'll just buy a replacement.. they arnt exactly expensive.

Rodney

I'll have to disagree with those who do not trust the Voltwatch. Properly used, it is far more reliable than a loaded voltmeter. You need to cycle the sticks as you watch the Voltwatch; if you see the LED's drop down into the yellow or red when you cycle the sticks, you know you have a wiring problem or a battery with a high internal impedance. This will also show any tendency for a servo to be drawing excessive current. This will show up a fault with the wiring, switch etc. where the loaded voltmeter only shows the static battery condition under a constant load. The Voltwatch shows up the problems associated with a transient condition and, if checked right after each flight, is a more accurate indicator of battery charge than the loaded voltmeter. Also, it is always there, no fussing with connectors, finding the meter etc. that keeps most guys using a loaded voltmeter from using them when they should. Note: this is not a condemnation of a loaded voltmeter which is a very useful item, just not as useful as a Voltwatch.

ceecrb1

I do agree totaly for other aspects.. but a bad RX battery will have such a highly accelerated "discharge rate" that the goalposts will move so quickly that 2 mins after your volt-watch test.. different results would come out...... ie just after take off....