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RX battery question

Old 03-11-2010, 12:07 AM
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toyotatruckin
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Default RX battery question

The two words "What If" are buggin me, the standard RX pack consists of either 4 or 5 2/3a cells of various mah thats a given My question is Why are smaller sized cells not used? Like 2/3aa, aaa etc to save space in the radio box the mah will be lower the smaller the cell BUT 700-1000mah will last quite a while running in the ol' radio box all above are 1.2v and can be purchased in various drain rates and mah know your packs you can run really low capacity cells to? Sorry just Ideas I have bouncin around
Old 03-11-2010, 12:25 AM
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Angel727
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Default RE: RX battery question

I have used 2/3 AAA from Batteries America Nicad 2000mah (Sanyo) with no problems. With proper care they last long. BTW the price is reasonable.

Here's the link to them: http://www.batteriesamerica.com/newp...CEIVER%20PACKS
Old 03-11-2010, 12:35 AM
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Ron Olson
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Default RE: RX battery question

A buddy of mine used to run 50 mah packs in his boats and they would last for a day of racing. Not me as I have used some 400's in my boats as the smallest. Even then I like to throw them on the charger after a couple of runs.
In the .12 boats generally there isn't a lot of room in the radio boxes plus there's a lot of weight difference so I have used some 4-cell packs from backyard flyers.
Old 03-11-2010, 12:40 AM
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toyotatruckin
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Default RE: RX battery question

Thanks for the link angel, ron thats why im debating it room in the box ive even made flexible packs (wire not tabs) to get them in a tight spot before
Old 03-11-2010, 12:50 AM
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R.J. West
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Default RE: RX battery question

I remember back in early 90's I bought some tiny Sanyo individual batteries,I forgotten what mah they were but theymeasured about 3/4inch long at best.I wired5 of them together and heat shrinked them together in a tiny little stick, they were just as reliable as anything else, but yeah about a days worth of racing.
Nowadays I use a Futaba 4.8v nicad pak and I'm looking to buy a 6v pak for my racing boats.
Old 03-11-2010, 01:17 AM
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Default RE: RX battery question

I might wait for the Toledo show ot buy some packs or get them custom-made locally. We've got a battery shop in town that handles any size battery that anyone would need and have built some trick packs for the university for their special projects like their solar powered racer.
Old 03-11-2010, 11:02 AM
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Default RE: RX battery question

Mike,
I have been using 5cell 2/3 A in my gas boat. For my SSP 21, to which we all know that the front mounted radio box is quite restricting when it comes to a battery pack, I have been using 5 cells AAA's, 1000mAh.
the pack size for the AAA is 1.74" x 1.20" x 0.76".
pretty much last all day.

Dan
Old 03-11-2010, 11:34 AM
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Default RE: RX battery question

I used the link @ the bottom of the page, cheapbatters.com I don't mean to change the subject,receivers, the new Fast futaba has 2 antenna's How are you sealing them, from water? 2 holes in the cover? I don't have one yet . I need a new system. Just looking for a little imfo .I have seen the video on the waterproof Spectrum, got it floating in a bowl of icewater ,underwater -working fine
Old 03-11-2010, 03:34 PM
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Default RE: RX battery question

are you talking about the 603FS and 604FS FASST receiver?

the 603FF has one antenna, the 603FS and 604FS has 2 antennas, however only one sticks out. The other antenna is built in the receiver,

Dan.
Old 03-11-2010, 05:20 PM
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G.McClintic
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Default RE: RX battery question

On the battery question - the only way to really know if your battery pack is adequate, is measure the current draw while running. I think Eagle Tree Systems makes a data logger to do that but is very expensive.

Since I don't have any real data, I will just add my $.02. From my experience, equivalent size NiCads hold voltage better under load (less internal resistance) than NiMh cells, so if choosing a small capacity pack, I would use NiCad over NiMh. However, with enough capacity, NiMh's are great. A 2/3 A 1600 mAh 4 cell pack would work fine in 20 boats and maybe larger. I would stay away from AAA cells altogether as they don't handle high currents well. A standard servo can draw as much as 2 Amps if stalled, so it would be drawing less than that while running - and even with a throttle servo and mixture servo running, the current draw would be maybe 1-2 Amps? If the pack can sustain 4 volts under a 2 Amp load, it should be ok. Again, I would need some data on the battery pack of voltage vs current to really know.

Just food for thought

Glenn
Old 03-11-2010, 06:09 PM
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Default RE: RX battery question

Thanks Dan, Just what I needed
Old 03-11-2010, 08:28 PM
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Default RE: RX battery question


ORIGINAL: G.McClintic

On the battery question - the only way to really know if your battery pack is adequate, is measure the current draw while running. I think Eagle Tree Systems makes a data logger to do that but is very expensive.

Since I don't have any real data, I will just add my $.02. From my experience, equivalent size NiCads hold voltage better under load (less internal resistance) than NiMh cells, so if choosing a small capacity pack, I would use NiCad over NiMh. However, with enough capacity, NiMh's are great. A 2/3 A 1600 mAh 4 cell pack would work fine in 20 boats and maybe larger. I would stay away from AAA cells altogether as they don't handle high currents well. A standard servo can draw as much as 2 Amps if stalled, so it would be drawing less than that while running - and even with a throttle servo and mixture servo running, the current draw would be maybe 1-2 Amps? If the pack can sustain 4 volts under a 2 Amp load, it should be ok. Again, I would need some data on the battery pack of voltage vs current to really know.

Just food for thought

Glenn
I won't dispute your point about AAA's, unfortunately for some boats that is the only size that will fit (and a bigger radio box is not an option).

the 5 cell AAA packs that I use have the following:

6v 1000mah NiMH 5 cell (ELITE) AAA Hump Pack
Cell: 1000mah AAA
Discharge rate: 1amp
Wire: 22ga Rx, 14/16ga on larger connectors
Size; L 1.74" x W 1.20" x H .76".
Weight; 3oz.

now just for fun, here is the specs for my other packs I use in the bigger boats;

6v 1500mah NiMH 5 cell 2/3 A Flat Pack
Cell: ELITE 1500mah 2/3 A
Discharge rate: 30amps
Wire: 22ga Rx, 14/16ga on larger connectors
Size; L 3.30" x W 1.12" x H .66".
Weight; 4oz.

Dan

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