I am using some 6S packs for a big electric. I hit them at only 3C (actually only at 6amps) and it takes 13 min to fill the pack (1800mA on average).
My turbines run 300mA/flight, so 5 flights = 1500mA, so would be 10 minutes to completely full.

Greg

Just got my two 2300 mah batteries and cellpro 4 charger from Chad. Just wanted to double check before I fly tomorrow.
I used the preset A123 2300mah balanced charge. It charged at 4.0 amp for like 18 min.. that was it 18 min.. WOW.does that sound right.
Just looking for some re-assurance before I go flying tomorrow...I am new to the A123 world
Also should I throw them back on the charger when I get to the field tomorrow morning or is charging the night before OK??
I am only gonna take 2 flights and re-charge just to be safe tomorrow..
Thanks.

The night before, or the month before is fine. 18 minutes is plenty long. GO FLY!

AHH man I am gonna love these batteries.
Thnaks for the help Chad.

Pete,
After you fly once recharge to see how much mah the flight used. I typically charge my 2300 flight pack and ecu 3 cell pack after 2 flights but can get 4 with out recharge safely. Charging after 2 flights is quicker than waiting until 4 flights are completed.
V..

Why bother charging the night before, charge while you are fueling up on the field it takes no time at all.

Mike

First time using the batteries I just wanted to make sure to be safe, but now I do understand what you mean about the fast charging time.
It would have taken alot longer then 18 min to charge 82% of my Nimh batteries. Just got a little scared I guess..hahaha
It looks like I may have replace all my batteries soon....

You got it Pete! Enjoy!

Chad

Pete, we now have 18 flights on a 75# Super Decathlon. I'm using redundant 4600 mah 2 cell A123 battery packs for the receiver and a 2300 mah A123 pack for the ignition. These are excellent batteries and I highly recommend them. I'm using a Hughes RC Spectra 4 to charge them. One very nice trait is that the internal leakage, self discharge, is extremely low. They can be charged a week or more before you go fly. No need to keep being concerned.

\

+1 with my job i'm often gone for weeks at a time.. this last trip, i was home 21 days in 6 months, i put the packs in my euro on charge and only put about 50mah into all 3 packs (2-2cell and 1- 3cell).. God i love these batteries!

I'm actually seeing a trend developing with these batteries that explains the lead in for this thread.

I see people re-charging these batteries after only one or 2 flights because the last time they charged it "just didn't take long enough so I must not have put enough into them". I told my buddy maybe that's cause they were already almost full. Stop worrying and go fly. In reality, most applications that I see are only burning 2-300 mah per flight - total. With two 2300 packs you should be safely able to fly 8 flights and still only be down to 1/2.

Al Watson wrote a really down-to-earth article in the Spring contrails:

http://www.jetpilots.org/contrails/Spring%202009.pdf

Article starts on page 4 - happy reading.

PaulD

Well I had my first day today with the new bateries.
I took 2 flights and charged each battery. Battery 1 only took 196mah and battery 2 only took 192 mah. I believe it took aprox 4 min to re-charge each
battery.Aprox 100 mah a flight. I only flew for 6 min each time.
I then flew 3 more times but I have not yet charged because I am not sure when I am going to be able to get out flying again soon. When I do cahrge I will have to note the mah put back in.
Thanks for all the help guys.

Congratulations Pete. Glad the flights went well. You will love those A123s.