Herb-RCU

What is the best procedure for discharging Rx and Tx batteries without a discharger? Do I just leave them on for a long time until they reach a certain voltage level? If so, what is the voltage level? The Rx battery is a 4.8v.

My Tx is a Futaba 8uafs. It beeps when it is low. How much further below that value do I need to go?

Thanks,
Herb

flmgrip

My Feedback: (2)

if you can afford it, get a "sirus pro charge" charger. that'l solve all your problems and worries. charge it and forget about it.

TampaRCGuy

My Feedback: (282)

Pro Charger doesn't cycle. If you want a charger with a cycler, the Super Turbo is the way to go.

Herb-RCU

Thanks, but my budget is limited at this point. I was hoping to be able to do this without a cycler.

Where can I find this "Super Turbo" cycler?

Thanks,
Herb

slam

Ace Smart Test will draw down your packs and is reasonable cost.

flmgrip

My Feedback: (2)

With sirus charger you do not need a cycler.
I was just amazed how fool proof and easy that thing was to use. And I recovered old batteries with that charger to full capacities, while other chargers would just give up.

MTT

My Feedback: (8)

All very nice, but Herb's question was if there is a method for doing it without a cycler. Is there ? Would like to know, too.

Michael

Rodney

Just put any load accross the battery, a light bulb or a 10 ohm resitor for the 4.8 volt battery or a 22 ohm for the transmitter battery. Make sure the wattage rating is 5 watts or more, even then it will get hot while discharging the batteries. Monitor the voltage while discharging the battery. Stop when the voltage is about 1 volt per cell, i.e. when the 4.8 volt battery drops to 4 volts. If you are discharging individual cells, you can go all the way to 0 volts without damaging it. The reason for stopping the discharge with more than one cell in series is to prevent the stronger cell from reverse charging the weaker cell near the end of the discharge cycle. A reverse charge will most likely damage the weak cell beyond recovery. You really don't need to discharge a pack very often, maybe check it out once at the biginning of the flying season and again a couple months later. Repeated recycling only reduces the lifetime of you batter pack.