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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / May 2004Battery charging question
Hi all, Thanks for the responses to my previous inquiry. They were very helpful! Incidentally, am currently assembling an electric powered glider by OK Models, called the "Caraway" (can be seen in the link below) http://www.okmodel.co.jp/shincyaku/caraway/Main_2.jpg The few question I have, though is generic, and not particular to this model. I am using NiCad cells. There is a motor speed controller which the battery pack connects to. I must solder a connector to the battery pack as it came only with wire leads. My question is regarding charging this battery pack. Do you usually disconnect the battery from the plane's electronics before charging? If so, are these white nylon connectors the most convenient with respect to connecting/disconnecting repeatedly for recharging. What I'm wondering is if I should wire in a parallel set of terminals to the battery so I can clip my charger to it, while it's in the plane without disturbing the connection to the plane electronics. As a side-note, I am considering building my next glider with no motor. I am amazed at how lightweight the wings and fuselage of this plane are, as well as the micro receiver and mini servo's. The motor and battery pack are like bricks compared to the rest. If I do that, I'd like to consider using plain alkaline cells. Anyone doing this? Regards, Monkeyboy You will want to remove the pack from the plane to re-charge. Aside from being more convenient (you will be wanting a second pack VERY soon, trust me), if something were to go wrong during charging you are better off to have the pack out of the plane than to be trying desperately to GET the pack out of the plane in a hurry. Any time you fly an electric plane you will want more than one pack so you can be flying while one is charging. If the white plug you mention has a round peg and a square peg and a clip, that is a tamiya or molex plug and I would get rid of that ASAP. You are better off switching to Deans Ultra Plugs (my preference) or similar. There are many brands but those tamiya/molex plugs are crap. Put the male on the controller and charger and female on the battery. I would not go for alkaline batteries period. Many more options if you keep with the nicads and rechargeables are the only way to go both for convenience and cost. Alkalines would be good for one flight then toss em. This would add up something fierce!  SignatureFubar of The HillPeople AMA605992 KE6ERB http://www.fubar1.net "I've heard the screams of the vegetables." > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Monkeyboy I prefer Sermos; they seem to hold up very well, are easy to connect and disconnect, and keep both the battery and charger contacts covered. Also, since the + and - contacts can be soldered or crimped separately and installed in their separate housings which are then locked together, you will miss the joys of soldering the battery leads to the contacts and shorting the battery while doing it. They are a little larger than the Deans, and the Deans Ultra will carry more current. Other than that, I heartily agree with Mr. Fubar ;-) -- Mike Norton > You will want to remove the pack from the plane to re-charge. Aside from > being more convenient (you will be wanting a second pack VERY soon, trust [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > > > > Monkeyboy The Deans Ultra will carry more than the 15A inserts of the Anderson Power Pole connectors. However, there are higher current inserts that fit the small housing that go to 45A - well more than Deans. Here's the website for the "sermos" connectors..... http://www.andersonpower.com/products/pp/pp.html David >I prefer Sermos; they seem to hold up very well, are easy to connect and >disconnect, and keep both the battery and charger contacts covered. Also, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >-- Mike Norton but they're so danged BIG! > I prefer Sermos; they seem to hold up very well, are easy to connect and > disconnect, and keep both the battery and charger contacts covered. Also, [quoted text clipped - 67 lines] > > > > > > Monkeyboy > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > charging this battery pack. Do you usually disconnect the battery > from the plane's electronics before charging? yes. mandatory. > If so, are these white > nylon connectors the most convenient with respect to > connecting/disconnecting repeatedly for recharging. Convenient, yes, cheap, yes, able to take abuse without malfunction - no. They are called 'Tamiya' connectors and are basiaclly ex car racing. There are many better and more expensive alternatives. > What I'm > wondering is if I should wire in a parallel set of terminals to the > battery so I can clip my charger to it, while it's in the plane > without disturbing the connection to the plane electronics. No. You MUST disconnect it. The pack will slowly flatten if left conected to the speed controller. ven if it is 'switched off' as this only disconnects the receiver, not the drive circuitry for the motor. Its good practice to take the pack out for recharging as well. Get in the habit - its mandatory safety wise for LIPOS asd gets you in the habit of using one pack for more than one plane - also mandatory for LIPOS unless you have unlimited access to cash. > As a side-note, I am considering building my next glider with no > motor. I am amazed at how lightweight the wings and fuselage of this > plane are, as well as the micro receiver and mini servo's. The motor > and battery pack are like bricks compared to the rest. If I do that, > I'd like to consider using plain alkaline cells. Anyone doing this? Can do, but a small NiMh pack is usally enough for receivers. Just wait until you doscover brushless motors and lithium polymer cells, and you will be furher amazed at teh low weight, and high power. You will not be amazed at teh cost tho. Not in te same way :-) > Regards, > > Monkeyboy Thanks, everyone, for the helpful information! -MB If the standard charger puts out the standard 50-60 mA the very helpful people at Indwoods are either 1) blowing in your ear or 2) clueless as to basic charge requirements for Ni-MH - As a very minimum (for 30 hours charge time) you should have a charger that puts out 100 mA. Red S. Red's R/C Battery Clinic http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com Check us out for "revolting" information. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Hartley @blairvoyach- farm.co.uk>" <jeffh<antispamantispam> Newsgroups: uk.rec.models.radio-control.air Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 6:07 AM Subject: Re: Battery charging question > On Fri, 21 May 2004 19:12:28 +0100, Jeff Hartley > <jeffh<antispam>@blairvoyach-<antispam>farm.co.uk> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Regards, Jeff. |
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