BladeCX Transmitter Power

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Ramu - 16 Jul 2006 16:53 GMT

I am new to RC helicopters and I recently bought a BladeCX. Since I am
trying this only indoors, I am wondering whether the transmitter can be
powered using an AC power adapter instead of using 8 AA batteries. There
seems to be a DC power jack which is labled "CHARGE". Can it be used to
power the transmitter using an external AC to DC power adapter? I would
appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks.

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Doug McLaren - 16 Jul 2006 17:58 GMT

| I am new to RC helicopters and I recently bought a BladeCX. Since I am
| trying this only indoors, I am wondering whether the transmitter can be
| powered using an AC power adapter instead of using 8 AA batteries. There
| seems to be a DC power jack which is labled "CHARGE". Can it be used to
| power the transmitter using an external AC to DC power adapter?

Not as built. As built, it can be used to charge the batteries, and
usually the moment you turn the power switch on, it turns the charging
off.

Now, this would be relatively simple to overcome with some simple
soldering, so that power from the charge jack goes straight into the
radio, but why would you want to do this?

The standard wall-warts that we use for charging aren't smoothed out
very well, and it's quite likely that the radio wouldn't work properly
if powered just by them -- they might even fry things. I also suspect
that they don't provide enough power -- typical R/C radios transmit at
around 1/4 to 1/2 watts, but 50 mA at 10 volts is only 1/2 watt.

And then there's the matter of convnenience. You'd be tied down to
your power source, so you couldn't walk around and follow your
helicopter. And if you didn't better fasten your plug, if you tried,
you'd pull the plug out, causing the your heli to crash.

Personally, I'd suggest going to Harbor Freight Tools, and buying two
of their 4 packs of 700 mA AA NiCd cells for $2.50 each (when on
sale.) Total cost $5.00 plus tax, assuming that you already have the
charger.

(If you don't have a HFT nearby, or they don't have the batteries on
sale, get the 4 packs of 900 mA NiCd cells at Wal-Mart or Lowes in the
solar light section for about $5 each.)

Signature

Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzied.us
"Wherever they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn people."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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ian - 16 Jul 2006 22:13 GMT

i have lots of nimh cells. can i use them safely in rc transmitters? Not
in built charging necessarily i have seperate chargers but just for use
instead of nicads?

> | I am new to RC helicopters and I recently bought a BladeCX. Since I am
> | trying this only indoors, I am wondering whether the transmitter can be
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> sale, get the 4 packs of 900 mA NiCd cells at Wal-Mart or Lowes in the
> solar light section for about $5 each.)

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John Allen - 16 Jul 2006 23:12 GMT

> i have lots of nimh cells. can i use them safely in rc transmitters? Not
> in built charging necessarily i have seperate chargers but just for use
> instead of nicads?

Yes, NiMHs work fine in rc transmitters.

For most rc applications, NiMHs are almost always preferable to NiCads.

John

--

John Allen
Bofferdange, Luxembourg
allen{at}vo{dot}lu
http://www.homepages.lu/allen

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The OTHER Kevin in San Diego - 17 Jul 2006 05:49 GMT

>i have lots of nimh cells. can i use them safely in rc transmitters? Not
>in built charging necessarily i have seperate chargers but just for use
>instead of nicads?

Sure you can. You can even use LiPos if you want. If you can squeeze
a lead/acid battery in the Tx, you can use that as well.

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TXHELIJR@dbzmail.com - 17 Jul 2006 20:50 GMT

I have a Lama 2 which is similar to your Blade CX, you can check this:
http://www.linknety.com/modevideos/demo/zoom.php?id=14

I do not use the adapter (told by the seller not to use that), but I
have the rechargeable AA size batteries. Work great

> >i have lots of nimh cells. can i use them safely in rc transmitters? Not
> >in built charging necessarily i have seperate chargers but just for use
> >instead of nicads?
>
> Sure you can. You can even use LiPos if you want. If you can squeeze
> a lead/acid battery in the Tx, you can use that as well.

Reply to this Message

Doug McLaren - 19 Jul 2006 04:10 GMT

| I have a Lama 2 which is similar to your Blade CX, you can check this:
| http://www.linknety.com/modevideos/demo/zoom.php?id=14
|
| I do not use the adapter (told by the seller not to use that), but I
| have the rechargeable AA size batteries. Work great

My Blade CP and CX both have NiMH cells in the TX, and I charge them
just like my other R/C transmitters with my Triton charger, right
through the charging jack. Works perfectly.

(And really, if it didn't, I'd rewire it until it did. But it wasn't
needed.)

Signature

Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzied.us
"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell - you see, I have
friends in both places." --Mark Twain

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The OTHER Kevin in San Diego - 19 Jul 2006 06:20 GMT

>| I have a Lama 2 which is similar to your Blade CX, you can check this:
>| http://www.linknety.com/modevideos/demo/zoom.php?id=14
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>(And really, if it didn't, I'd rewire it until it did. But it wasn't
>needed.)

I've got a 2700mah NiMh pack in my 9CHP. I can fly all weekend on a
single charge and it charges in about an hour on my Triton, Haven't
tried chargin it through the charge jack tho.. I'll have to give it a
try..

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Ramu - 19 Jul 2006 14:46 GMT

Thanks everyone. I have bunch of rechargable batteries, I will use them.

-Ramu

>>| I have a Lama 2 which is similar to your Blade CX, you can check this:
>>| http://www.linknety.com/modevideos/demo/zoom.php?id=14
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> tried chargin it through the charge jack tho.. I'll have to give it a
> try..

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G&B Cross - 21 Jul 2006 14:52 GMT

test

> | I am new to RC helicopters and I recently bought a BladeCX. Since I am
> | trying this only indoors, I am wondering whether the transmitter can be
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> "Wherever they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn people."
> -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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ian - 16 Jul 2006 22:08 GMT

>I am new to RC helicopters and I recently bought a BladeCX.

Is that the orange one with two sets of main rotors? Does it have a platic
ring surrounding the blades?

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Doug McLaren - 19 Jul 2006 04:15 GMT

| >I am new to RC helicopters and I recently bought a BladeCX.
|
| Is that the orange one with two sets of main rotors? Does it have a
| platic ring surrounding the blades?

This is what the Blade CX looks like --

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLH1200

So I'd say no, that's not it.

It is really easy to fly, very stable. Parts are dirt cheap -- for
example, blades are a buck each! If you cut the power before a crash,
most crashes result in no damage.

My only real complaint about mine is that when I fly it outside, the
blades will sometimes crash into _each other_. Inside, no problem,
but outside the wind will sometimes cause that. Apparantly it's a
flaw in the design.

Signature

Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzied.us
"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell - you see, I have
friends in both places." --Mark Twain

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DellDude - 18 Jul 2006 02:00 GMT

You can not power the transmitter off the AC adapter. The power is not
clean enough and will mess up the pulse train and the RF.

>I am new to RC helicopters and I recently bought a BladeCX. Since I am
>trying this only indoors, I am wondering whether the transmitter can be
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Thanks.

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / July 2006

BladeCX Transmitter Power