Hey guys,

I've listened to what some of you suggested to me in another post and I'm considering Li-Ion batteries for my 28% Edge. I've been looking around a TBM and I've found:

TBM 2 Cell Li-Ions (2800MaH) - $26.95 (each, will need two, one reciever and one ign.)

MAXX Products Miracle switches - $40. Will need 2.

I would still need a charger.. Don't want to spend to incredibly much. But this is all still "up in the air" so suggest what you think I need. It would cost me $87 for NimH batteries but we're already up to about $134 dollars with these.. Plus however much for a Charger..

I have no Idea about the "care and feeding" either. What's the big advantage to these? I know they (for both packs) weigh 7 oz. compared to the 20 oz. for Nimhs. But what else?

Thanks Guys,






P.S. FRANK! If your reading this, dad made his first solo flight today! After only 3 days of flying!

With lithiums you will need a regulator for the receiver/servos, and probably for the ignition depending on what ignition it is.

You also are putting way too much capacity on the ignition, if you are using 2800 mah on the rx you will need only about half that on the ignition to have equal endurance.

If cost is significant, we sell a 2100mah nimh pack for $28 (sanyo cells) and a 1200 for the ignition for $22. $50 gets you in the air, and $30 more for 2 switches. Performance will be very close to Lithiums, the difference is thet lithiums will have a more consistent voltage since they start out higher and are regulated down. Most people will never notice it.

TF

Thanks Tom,

I hadn't realized you offered batteries.. I will go with those first (cost reasons). But I'm trying to decide if I should try to switch to lithiums later?

BTW the Regs were on my first post.. Integrated in the switches

If you want to save weight and have an overall goal of maybe making a 1-2lb difference. The cost goes up a lot as you throw in a lot of light weight goodies.

I.E.

Lithium Ion RX battery and Ignition battery
3 x power regulators
Carbon fiber wing and stab tube
Carbon fiber landing gear
Carbon fiber spinner

You can spend a lot in a hurry on trying to save weight. Try cheap ways first, like switching to Kavan wheels or using some foam wheels. That will save you maybe 4 oz.

Tom offers fiberglass landing gear which is much more robust than carbon fiber, lighter than the stock gear, and looks good to boot!
I really dont see anything wrong with a simple setup using Nimh Rx packs. Get comfortable flying the plane and then decide if you want or even need to loose a lot of weight.

Tom will have much better deals on a lot of things then you could buy from a hobby shop. Not sure why people dont ask him first for things. Even has some hard to get engines!

If you already have a 1000mAh, 4.8volt AA battery pack, you already have your ignition. There is little or no benefit to running li-ons on the ignition. You may shave a few grams, but have offsets in cost and accessories. There is also no benefit to running higher than 4.8 volts on the ignition.

If and when you decide to go with lithiums, think about contacting a manufacturer or distributer that markets a matched system, charger included.

Take silver surfers advice on the lion setup. Otherwise its a mix and match deal which can be frustrating

ICE_MAN,

I'm using 1-5 cell 1100 mAh AA Nicad pack and 1-5 cell 1050 mAh NiMH pack on the reciever, and 1-4 cell 1100 mAh AA nicad for ignition of my DA50. on my Edge. My ignition battery is good for 8-15 minute flights with reserve, and my flight packs are good for 7-15 minute flights. My 1100 Nicad crapped out on me the other day, so I flew it today with just the 1050 Nimh pack. This pack's impedence is only 4 mOhms and is capable of putting out 20 amps! I flew 4-15 minute flights then cycled the battery and got 350 ma out of it. I've got a 1950 mAh FAUPS 5 cell NiMH with two leads coming to replace it that weighs 7 oz. No regs needed, capable of putting out 20 amps also with the low impedence of 4. You can also fast charge these batteries without harming them. BTW my 1050 NiMH only weighs 4.5 oz, so if you didn't mind fast charging at the field, you could get by with just that battery.........

You can look at these battery packs at:

http://www.hangtimes.com/id19.html
http://radicalrc.secure-mall.com/sho...ia=&searchCat=

Triton Charger $130

Fromeco Batteries 7.4 2400 mAh $27 Each

Fromeco Super Regulated Reliaswitch $47.50 Each

$149 without Charger

I have this staff and it works great,, I don't know any other battey brands so I can't tell you anything\,,, about the Charger I think it's the best I had different ones now I only use 2 Triton for everything!!!! it will charge a Dead tree!!!!

.
.
.
.
.
For everything else is Mastercard!!!!!!

Why would you want to charge a "dead tree"?

In case it's threatening you. A good offense is the best defense, so if threatened by a tree charge it before it charges you.

or...


How else will you get paid?


I'm sorry, it's a quiet morning.

TF

Tom,
I don't know how to do quotes but your last post cracked me up! Haven't laughed so hard in ages. Thanks for making my day a good deal better.

I have charged a tree many a times. Of course I charged it with 5.56 and 7.62. Just remember if you dont know where the enemy is to shook known, suspected, likely, and tree locations...he he. I showed those trees whose boss many a times behind a 240B machine gun. Oh the glory days.

The great thing about a Triton is that it will charge Lead Acid, Lithium, NiCad, and NiMh
I have 2 also.