I'm planning on changing from my Dura-Lions to 123's.
Is it a good idea?
Any info. or recommendations will be appreciated.

Thanks;

E.N.T.

Hi,
I have been using A123 batteries from Electro-Dynamics for about 3 years, I run two 2300mAh batteries in my jets and single 1100mAh packs in smaller sport planes.
I am charging with Cell-Pro chargers, I recharge the batteries after 3 flights. Each 8 minute flight takes about 300mAh.
I have never used Dura-Lions, so i can not give you the differences, I would not be afraid to try the A123 batteries.
Good Luck.
John

ElectroDynamics A123 is the way to fly !!!. Finally made the switch after a life time of Ni-Cads and I so glad I have. They charge quickley, VERY little loss during storage, and the main reason I decided to switch is that I don't fly my jets every sunday. My flight sessions can be weeks apart at times. With Ni-Cads I'm always flying off the " top half " of the pack and recharging... With 123's you completley do away with any Battery Memory issues !!! You will like them !!!


Danno

Ditto what Danno said!

I love the A123's. Not all A123's are the same, some are not true A123 brand and may not hold up. Get the packs from ElectroDynamics and you will not have any problems.

other than charge time and high discharge is there any other advantages? I was planning on using IONs with my jet since my switch has a built in digital volt meter/load. I hat having to hook a checker up. Is there anyway to do this with A123s? from what I read you cannot and you have to keep up with mahs used per flight.

I don't know about your switch situation, but there are issues with some chargers with Ion batt's. The newer Ion's are 3.7 per cell and have to be charged on the Lipo setting, even though your charger is Li-Ion capable. I know of several instances where this situation has burnd up a charger and Smart-fly boards. Do not charge both batteries at the same time either... That too causes the smoke to come out of stuff !!! As far as your MiliAmps per flight, once you get to know your draw per flight, you just fly X # of times and recharge. It's not like you have to check voltage/load after every flight for ever

Good luck,

Danno.

Thumbs up from me for the Electrodynamics A123s. I can't remember exact figures but left one pack fully charged for a couple of weeks connected to a Emcotec electronic switch and when I went to top it up it only needed 10mAh or so.

I haven't had good luck with the Duralite A123s but that might have been my fault as I had left them in the packet for quite a while before I used them. By the time I did try them both packs I had were DOA.

I use Fromeco 2600 and 5600 lithium ions and have never had an issue. Great power source.

Sin City Jets...the original A123 battery salesman. I buy all mine from him and he has great service.

I run both LiIon and A123 batteries. So far, no issues with the LiIon. However I did manage to burn out 5 Hitec servos using freshly charged unregulated A123 packs(2 Hitec 5645s and 3 Hitec 5955s). These were 2s2p (30c) 4600mah, A123 Racing batteries. Lucky for me the plane (1/4 scale Corsair) never left the ground.

Been running Fromeco A123 2300 mah batteries with Hitec digital servos for a few years now and never had a problem. I use fromeco charger and no regulator. I am transitioning all aircraft to A123

+1 Chad's the Man.

I have been running 2 2300 mah packs un-regulated in all my jets for the past 2 years not a single problem.

When I began using the Li-manganese batts. 2 Jr servos
fried up. After a call to Duralite, they told me that these
batts. had to be used with a regulator. I bought it from them
and installed it.


E.N.T.

+1 ^^^^^

I use LiMn for ECU's. This is the first time I hear about using them on Rx. They do not require a regulator for ECU's more than likely, but I would never trust any kind of Lithium anything without a regulator for Rx power.
Did the rep for Duralite misunderstood you?

David

Guys,
A 2s Li-Mn pack has a higher nominal and off the charger voltage than a 2s A123 pack. Li-Mn are the same as Lipos in terms of voltage. A 2s Li-Mn pack off the charger is 8.4 volts wheras a 2s A123 pack off the charger is 7.2 volts. That's why you need a regulator for the Li-Mn. Li-ions are ok but they can't deliver the current like A123's can and A123's can be charged at a much higher rate than Li-ions. I have been using A123's unregulated with no problems for a few years now.

Marty

David

I've been using 2 3800 LiMn packs for my RX for three years. Also using a smart-fly regulator regulated down to 6 volts. I charge them using lipo setting. Although when I replace them, I will go with the 123's and no regulator

Hi,

Yeppers on A123, and even more so on Electrodynamics. Best customer support/service I've ever gotten from any RC vendor.

Hi, David. Hector from San Juan. Yes, I told the guy from
Duralite, the batt. was for the reciever. That's why he told me
to use a regulator. On my ecu I use them without reg.


E.N.T.

Good to know. I assumed that because of their voltage variation they would be well suited for ECU applications.
I purchased mine when I converted my P-80SE to Kero start, which demands a little bit more current discharge, but not much.

I charge mine using LiPo setting as well. Good batteries, but at $130 each, they should be!!!

Hector you are not from San Juan, you are from Bayamón.
Actually I thought you were Ponceño like me??

Come on David. I have never been from Bayamon.
From Ponce all the way to death. Remember I studied at
Colegio Ponceno de Varones, Ja, Ja.


E.N.T.

I agree with Doug, I never had any problems with Fromeco

what kind of charger do these a123 batteries require?

I use the CellPro 4s from FMA Direct. It has a setting for A123 cells.

You charge them through the Balance Lead with this charger.

Bob